Published Thursday, July 09, 2009 6:05 AM
CS street work placed on agenda
By CASSIE SMITH
cassie.smith@theeagle.com
College Station residents on Thursday will have an opportunity to weigh in on plans that could eliminate as many as 137 parking spaces from the Northgate area.
The College Station City Council will hold a public hearing on three options for street renovations at 7 p.m. in the council chambers, 1101 Texas Ave.
City officials have said the work on Tauber and Stasney streets is needed to replace water and sewer lines, improve drainage and pedestrian safety and increase access for emergency vehicles.
The City Council was presented with two options at meetings in April. The 14 residents who spoke at the last meeting were divided on how the city should proceed. Many have expressed concern about the loss of parking spaces in the area. The council put off a vote on the project at both meetings.
Depending on the extent of the work approved by the council, the project could cost $890,000 to $2.5 million.
Three options will be presented to the council on Thursday. City planners recommend the one that would replace or maintain parallel parking where possible, remove head-in parking along Tauber and Stasney streets and include 8-foot sidewalks along Stasney Street and along Tauber Street between Church Avenue and Cherry Street.
Most of the sidewalk along the east side of Tauber Street between University Drive and Church Avenue would not be modified in that plan, and existing 6- to 8-inch caliper live oaks immediately behind the sidewalk would be preserved.
The plan would replace water and sewer lines and construct a new storm sewer system along Tauber and Stasney streets. It would also maintain two-way traffic.
Street renovation is the issue that Councilwoman Katy-Marie Lyles said prompted her to run for her City Council seat.
Lyles is the director of college ministries at A&M United Methodist Church, which is in Northgate. Several churches in the area have said the reduction in parking spaces would create a hardship for them and could hurt their attendance.
Lyles has said she was opposed to removing parking spaces from the Northgate area and planned to be a voice for the Northgate community. She said she didn't think it was a conflict of interest for her to vote on the issue, but the right thing to do.
City employees have met with property owners in the area to discuss alternatives, and several landowners have indicated a willingness to dedicate a few feet to an access easement, but none has supported the idea of sidewalks and parallel parking, officials said.
Another plan would replace water and sewer utilities but would not result in the permanent loss of parking spaces along Tauber and Stasney streets.
City planners developed a third alternative after the April meetings in an attempt to appease the property owners. That option would result in the loss of about 96 parking spaces along Tauber and Stasney streets.
Comments
[comment]
8 comment(s) found!
Posted by:
On:
Thursday, July 09, 2009 3:00 PM
Comment Title: Kick them Katy
I think the citizens of CS are glad you are there so keep it up, we have your back.
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Posted by:
On:
Thursday, July 09, 2009 9:03 AM
Comment Title: get real
Katy should vote against this and rightfully so. It is not a conflict of interest. Katy has the duty to represent the voters. The council is so out of touch with us, all they think about is wasting money and getting richer. We need churches, we need community culture, we dont need to be a congested mess. Northgate use to be alive and well before this council ruined it and ran off the churches. Remember the Lutheran Church, the Presbyterian church, the Church of Christ, the Baptist Church, and others all gone thanks to this council. I hope all who read this will start voting and get involved. The anti-church council meets tonight. BE THERE. BE LOUD!!!
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Posted by:
frank_the_tank On:
Thursday, July 09, 2009 8:46 AM
Comment Title: conflict of interest?
This is about as much of a conflict of interest as Crompton living in Foxfire and voting against the Weingarten rezoning. No one was screaming about that being a conflict, but now the bitter McIlhaney supporters come out in droves.
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Posted by:
On:
Thursday, July 09, 2009 8:31 AM
Comment Title: As for a conflict of interest....
1. Please show me where there is a LEGAL conflict of interest and I can show you that there is NONE. Homework has been done so nice try. You should do your homework and study some law. 2. Maybe KM is going to stand up for the entire community of NG and be a voice for them because NOBODY else will or does. Remember she was the ONLY one to vote against the payment plan for the convention center ($40 million) and was not for it because the PEOPLE do not want it and she was the one concerned about raising property taxes to the community to help with the budget deficit. 3. Was KM not elected to represent the people?? Is that not what she has clearly been doing since she was elected?? If you do not want a council member who listens and tries their best to serve the people and the community then I am sorry because that is clearly what you got and have with KM....
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Posted by:
On:
Thursday, July 09, 2009 8:08 AM
Comment Title:
Great, less parking more tickets, more income for city to buy cameras. Less places for students to park, patrons of businesses, and folks to go to church; sounds like a win win situation to me. More than church loses, sic 'em Katy.
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Posted by:
E On:
Thursday, July 09, 2009 8:06 AM
Comment Title:
This is a move that will remove most of the parking spaces for one apartment complex and, all parking for some small units, and half of the spaces for another complex. Is this a ploy to force sale of these properties? Will the city come up with alternate parking nearby, like the parking lots at Church & Tauber and Church & College Main. It is totally unreasonable that these residents should battle drunken dumba$$es for a few metered parallel spots, or walk several blocks to park in the garage, which fills up with guess what: drunks.
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Posted by:
On:
Thursday, July 09, 2009 7:31 AM
Comment Title: Issue??
Apparently there is no conflict of interest for Ms. Lyles though she states that this is the issue that caused or inspired her to run for office. Ms. Lyles ran for office to protect parking spaces for her employer, her church?? This is now not a conflict of interest for her to vote on this issue? It might be that this is her self-appointed mission in life, but it is clearly a conflict of interest. It might appear to be worthy to some as her employer is a church, but it is still the very sort of relationship that SHOULD cause any city council person to NOT participate in a vote. It is very thoughtful of Ms. Lyles to publicly show her true colors.
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Posted by:
On:
Thursday, July 09, 2009 7:26 AM
Comment Title: Conflict of Interest
Lyles does not consider this matter to be a conflict of interest. Ms. Lyles might want to read up on what constitutes a conflict of interest or perhaps just take a moment during her work day to consult with a higher power on that matter. Clearly being employed by a church that is directly impacted by the proposed changes in the parking at Northgate constitutes a conflict of interest. Get a clue. Abstain - it is the right thing to do.
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