SUBJECT: An Ordinance making findings related to the use or taking by Houston Public Works of 7,404 square feet (0.17 acres) of Sylvan Rodriguez Park (Park) property for a 20-foot strip of permanent park property for construction and future maintenance and a 30-ft strip of temporary park property for construction only to replace the existing 42-inch water line with a 54-inch water line along State Highway 3 for the 54-inch Water Line Project (Project) portion of Southeast Transmission Water Line (SETL) Program.
RECOMMENDATION: An Ordinance making findings related to the use or taking by Houston Public Works of 7,404 square feet (0.17 acres) of Park property for a 20-foot strip of permanent park property for construction and future maintenance and a 30-ft strip of temporary park property for construction for the 54-inch Water Line Project portion of Southeast Transmission Line Program.
SPECIFIC EXPLANATION: The city acquired Parcels KY23-008 and TCY24-001 as part of Sylvan Rodriguez Park, a 110-acre park consisting of a central plaza, labyrinth, jogging trail, playground, picnic pavilion, and sports fields located at 1201 Clear Lake City Boulevard, Houston, Texas. Houston Public Works (HPW) has identified a need for 7,404 square feet of permanent park property and a 30-ft strip of temporary park property as a portion of the alignment needed for approximately 11.4 miles of large diameter transmission water line from the 96-inch discharge line from the Southeast Water Purification Plant at Grayson Rd to League City’s pump station along State Highway 3. The new transmission line will replace the existing 42-inch water line along Highway 3 which is nearing the end of its service life.
Section 26.001 of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Code provides that a city may not approve any program or project that requires the use or taking of land designated and used as park land unless, after notice and public hearing, its governing body determines that: (1) there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use or taking of the park land, and (2) the program or project includes all reasonable planning to minimize harm to the park land.
The SETL Feasibility Study Report assessed three alignment alternatives to identify the most beneficial water line placement. Each alignment was assessed for overall feasibility to construct, impacts to the public, proximity to existing connection points, and cost. Efforts were made to minimize the overall water line length, amount of roadway pavement disturbed, pipeline crossings, the number of easements required as well as minimize impacts to businesses, residences, parks, green spaces and other public facilities. The route through the Park meet the best criteria set by the City and the Co-Participants. The proposed alignment is not within the active area of the Park. The permanent water line will have minimal, if any, effect on the park operations and the park can utilize the surface for park purposes other than planting trees or placing permanent structures over the water line. Temporary construction area will enhance the portion of the park by clearing underbrush and undesirable vegetation.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Code Chapter 26 requires the City to publish three public notices and hold a public hearing prior to authorizing the use or taking of park land for non-park purposes. Notices were published in the Houston Chronicle on March 3, 2025, March 10, 2025, and March 17, 2025. City Council held a public hearing on the use of the park land on March 26, 2025.
_________________________________
Kenneth Allen, Director
Houston Parks and Recreation Department
_________________________________
Randall V. Macchi, Director
Houston Public Works
WBS No. S-000900-0143-3