City Council approves Pecan Lakes Phase III
The Navasota City Council held a Regular Meeting Monday, March 9, and after a public hearing with no comments for or against, approved developer James Hassell’s petition as presented to annex 102.4197 acres for Phase III of Pecan Lakes Estates.
Council’s motion for development of the PUD (Planned Unit Development) specifically approved Hassell’s lot sizes and allowed sidewalk construction on one side of the street without any fees attached. The 5-0 vote was contrary to Planning and Zoning Commission’s (P&Z) recommendation to require Hassell to install sidewalks on both sides of the street or pay a fee in lieu of sidewalk construction. See related article page 1.
During the public hearing, Hassell provided an overview of lot sizes, construction materials and pricing and said he has a contract with D.R. Horton for 109 lots. In addition, he purchased 50 acres to build a concrete street to SH 105 to provide a third access to the subdivision and will enter into an agreement with the City for gas line work.
Citing gas line issues in that area, City Manager Brad Stafford said, “What I asked him to do as part of this development agreement was to go ahead and tie into his gas line and run up to 105 and run down 105 to Fairway Drive. We’d pay for that, but he’d give us the right of way, get it installed and then assign the utilities to the City once we inspect it”
Addressing P&Z’s issue with sidewalks, Councilman Geoff Horn said, “The reason we added the sidewalk component to the ordinance is because all great cities have walkability and we want to be a great city. But when you drive around that subdivision out there, I don’t think that a sidewalk on each side of the street helps walkability I think it’s plenty good out there because it’s not Washington Avenue. They are very quiet, low speed streets. I would feel perfectly comfortable walking in the street.”
Referring to Hassell’s plan to create a walking trail to the retention ponds at his expense and P&Z’s desire to factor it into sidewalk equation, Horn said, “I don’t see the reason for us to hold his feet to the fire and change that, make him go back to renegotiate his lot prices to compensate for the extra sidewalk that he has to build...what’ s going on out there is really nice the way it is. I just can’t see requiring the extra sidewalks that P&Z talked about.”
Councilman Bernie Gessner said, “The substitution of that road which is a tremendous boon to the whole project now with three entrances instead of two, and one of them being an old county road going in the wrong direction coming into Navasota, more than compensates.”
Mayor Bert Miller said, “The houses are sold before they’re even built! They know there is one sidewalk when they buy it.”
GIS mapping services enhanced
After public hearings with no comments for or against, council approved the first reading of two ordinances that will enhance Navasota’s GIS mapping services by requiring GIS requirements to as-built plans.
Ordinance 920-20, amending Chapter 14 of the Zoning Ordinance requiring developers to submit underground construction location information, will allow city staff to add additional layers to the existing GIS map to provide “accurate locations of sewer, water, gas and storm main/sewer lines and taps installed within the right of way of public utility easements.”
Ordinance 921-20 amends Chapter 10 of the Subdivision Regulations to add GIS as-built requirements for utility taps locations within easements. With current requirements that utilities be placed underground, the ordinance will allow a measure of safety distance-wise between transformers and water taps, requiring water taps be extended to the end of the utility easement.
In addition, meter boxes will be required to be halfinch above grade or sticking half-inch above the grass.
Washington closure March 23
Streets and Sanitation Director Jose Coronilla announced that electronic signs will be put in place March 13 advising drivers that Washington Avenue will be closed beginning March 23. The maximum period of closure is two weeks and traffic will bypass the construction area by utilizing Holland Street between LaSalle and Tenth streets. Coronilla said there will be limited lane closure this week with westbound traffic utilizing the center lane.
Coronilla also reminded that the Annual Spring Clean-Up begins Thursday, March 12, and ends Sunday, March 15. Drop off hours at the Malcom Street Vehicle Services Center will be 9 a.m. — 4 p.m.
TBB success
Marketing and Communications Coordinator Madison Brooks reported 2,654 ticket sales, up from 1,800 in 2019. Revenue from ticket sales, vendors, sponsorships totaled $52,000. Five local media outlets were on-site Friday and Saturday. Local hotels reported almost 100% occupancy with shuttle service available Friday and Saturday. Brooks said reviews have been positive.
Other council action:
• Conducted a workshop and approved a capital improvement project for utilities and streets. (See related article page 3.)
• Approved the sale of city owned property described as Park Place, Block H, Lots 1 and 2 utilizing the sealed bid method with a minimum bid of the Grimes Central Appraisal District’s appraised value of $8,800.
• Approved Consent Agenda items that included Minutes and Expenditures for the month of February, second reading Ordinance 916-20 regarding signs, second reading of Ordinance 917-20 adopting cell tower regulations and second reading of Ordinance 918-20 amending Uniform Right of Way ordinance.
Staff report:
• Recognition of Navasota Police Department Records Division employee Marla Gurka for 30 years of service.
• Announced Mayor Bert Miller’s receipt of an Excellence Award from the Texas Municipal League.
• Councilman Grant Holt reported on the Airport Advisory Board.
City council agendas, minutes and videos are available at www.navasotatx.gov/city-council.