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City eyeing new subdivision annexation
BY JAY WORKMAN
The Port Lavaca City Council moved closer Monday night to annexing 463 acres at the request of the developers of a new subdivision and began a process of involuntary annexation of two other pieces of land on the FM 1090 loop south of the existing city limits.
The 463 acres are on the west side of FM 1090 (Alcoa Drive) running from Larry Drive south to Chocolate Bay, including what used to be Neil Road. Dirt work including a privacy berm and drainage improvement has already begun on what is to become Red Fish Retreat subdivision.
Jesse Valeriano, one of the developers, said there would be 54 homes in the first phase with an eventual potential for 340.
The final public hearing on the proposed annexation is scheduled Nov. 10 before the council votes on the matter.
After some discussion on the other proposed annexation, which would in clude 73 acres inside the FM 1090 loop and 69 acres east of the loop, council members voted 4-2 to begin that process.
City Manager Gary Broz said he will start developing a plan for sewer and other services and send letters to 16 residences in the area explaining the plan. He said the process could be stopped if the council decides to.
Three owners of property in the area – Nic Harrison, Philip Gonzales and John Martinez – spoke in opposition to the annexations.
Councilman Raymond Perez, Greg Falcon and Floyd Felder expressed reservations about involuntary annexation. Councilman Tom Innes questioned any advantage to the city regarding cost verses income from taxes.
Felder and Falcon were the councilmen who voted against the idea.
On another matter, the council agreed to sign engineering contracts and apply for an additional Texas General Land Office grant to extend the Lighthouse Beach fishing pier and connect the new section to the old part, which will be repaired. The construction budget is $500,000, half grant money and half local funds.
The council also approved an agreement with the City of Seadrift to provide mutual fire protection in the city limits when requested. There is an identical agreement with Point Comfort and no money is involved.
The vote was unanimous, but Councilman Ken Barr said, “Pretty soon it’ll be Port O’Connor, and the county is over behind the shed saying ‘We got ‘em again.’” The council and the county commissioners have disagreed over reimbursement for city fire department services and the council has voted to end service in unincorporated areas after Dec. 31.
In other action, board members:
• Named Bishop David Sanders to replace Gilbert Grimaldo and reappoint Fong-Ping Hwang to the Planning Board.
• Reappointed Ceanne Hons, Ken Lester and Johnny Martinez to the Port Commission.
• Reappointed Donna Davis, Mac Sistrunk and Marcos Padilla and added Ralph Cormier to the Parks Board.
• Agreed to sell a 1998 sewer jet truck to Point Comfort for $18,000.
• Hired CivilCorp of Victoria for engineering on a new pedestrian and bicycle trail at Lighthouse Beach.
• Approved surplus property for sale at the Chamber of Commerce auction Nov. 8 including a 1997 Ford Expedition, 12 wooden desks and three fajita cookers.
• Waived permit fees for a Veterans Day parade Nov. 8 and a Festival of Lights parade Dec. 5.
• Agreed to buy electricity from 2009 to 2013 from Florida Power and Light Co. through the South Texas Aggregate Project for 8.3 cents a kilowatt-hour.
The 463 acres are on the west side of FM 1090 (Alcoa Drive) running from Larry Drive south to Chocolate Bay, including what used to be Neil Road. Dirt work including a privacy berm and drainage improvement has already begun on what is to become Red Fish Retreat subdivision.
Jesse Valeriano, one of the developers, said there would be 54 homes in the first phase with an eventual potential for 340.
The final public hearing on the proposed annexation is scheduled Nov. 10 before the council votes on the matter.
After some discussion on the other proposed annexation, which would in clude 73 acres inside the FM 1090 loop and 69 acres east of the loop, council members voted 4-2 to begin that process.
City Manager Gary Broz said he will start developing a plan for sewer and other services and send letters to 16 residences in the area explaining the plan. He said the process could be stopped if the council decides to.
Three owners of property in the area – Nic Harrison, Philip Gonzales and John Martinez – spoke in opposition to the annexations.
Councilman Raymond Perez, Greg Falcon and Floyd Felder expressed reservations about involuntary annexation. Councilman Tom Innes questioned any advantage to the city regarding cost verses income from taxes.
Felder and Falcon were the councilmen who voted against the idea.
On another matter, the council agreed to sign engineering contracts and apply for an additional Texas General Land Office grant to extend the Lighthouse Beach fishing pier and connect the new section to the old part, which will be repaired. The construction budget is $500,000, half grant money and half local funds.
The council also approved an agreement with the City of Seadrift to provide mutual fire protection in the city limits when requested. There is an identical agreement with Point Comfort and no money is involved.
The vote was unanimous, but Councilman Ken Barr said, “Pretty soon it’ll be Port O’Connor, and the county is over behind the shed saying ‘We got ‘em again.’” The council and the county commissioners have disagreed over reimbursement for city fire department services and the council has voted to end service in unincorporated areas after Dec. 31.
In other action, board members:
• Named Bishop David Sanders to replace Gilbert Grimaldo and reappoint Fong-Ping Hwang to the Planning Board.
• Reappointed Ceanne Hons, Ken Lester and Johnny Martinez to the Port Commission.
• Reappointed Donna Davis, Mac Sistrunk and Marcos Padilla and added Ralph Cormier to the Parks Board.
• Agreed to sell a 1998 sewer jet truck to Point Comfort for $18,000.
• Hired CivilCorp of Victoria for engineering on a new pedestrian and bicycle trail at Lighthouse Beach.
• Approved surplus property for sale at the Chamber of Commerce auction Nov. 8 including a 1997 Ford Expedition, 12 wooden desks and three fajita cookers.
• Waived permit fees for a Veterans Day parade Nov. 8 and a Festival of Lights parade Dec. 5.
• Agreed to buy electricity from 2009 to 2013 from Florida Power and Light Co. through the South Texas Aggregate Project for 8.3 cents a kilowatt-hour.
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of portlavacawave.com.
Itsallabouttax wrote on Oct 21, 2008 4:24 PM:
But why is the city only what to annex new subdivisons. It seems to me older existing subivisions receiving city water and sewer are being left out.
Before the City Council reviews this I would agree with Falcon and Felder and not allow this to happen. It seems to me that the Our City Council is only looking for new big tax dollars.
We should annex those subdivisions all ready recieving city services first. Instead of spending alot of tax dollars installing the new water and sewer lines to connect to this subdivsion. "