CenterPoint Energy has requested an easement from the City of Houston for the construction, maintenance, repair, replacement, removal, and operation of electrical facilities within an area consisting of approximately 13,734 square feet within and adjacent to Cambridge Drive within Hermann Park. Hermann Park is comprised of approximately 445 acres of land, generally bounded by Fannin Street on the west, Hermann Drive on the north, Almeda Road on the east, and Brays Bayou on the south.
Chapter 26 of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Code requires the City Council to hold a public hearing before approving the request for an easement. Section 26.001 of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Code provides that a city may not approve any program or project for the use of land designated as park land unless, after a public hearing, its governing body determines that: (1) there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use of the park land for the program or project, and (2) the program or project includes all reasonable planning to minimize harm to the park land. The Public Hearing was held on September 13, 2017 at the City Council meeting.
Memorial Hermann Hospital (“Memorial Hermann”) is in the process of constructing a major new facility on Cambridge Drive across from the Park. Due to the location of Memorial Hospital directly across Cambridge Drive from the Park and the need for electrical facilities to provide power to the new Memorial Hermann facility, there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use of a portion of the Park for the Project. CenterPoint and Memorial Hermann have worked with the City to plan the Project in a way that minimizes harm to the Park. The amount of consideration that CenterPoint will pay for the easement is $985,000.
Therefore, the Houston Parks and Recreation Department requests City Council approve an ordinance making the findings required by Chapter 26 and authorize the conveyance of the easement to CenterPoint.
Director's Signature:
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Stephen Wright, Director