SUBJECT: Public hearing on the proposal to use 19,700 square feet 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: Approve a motion establishing a date for a public hearing on the proposal to use 19,700 square feet 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 19,700 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. A Feasibility Study Report recommended the existing 42-inch WL be replaced with a 54-inch water line along State Highway 3 and crossing through the Park. This project will improve the water supply reliability to residents of City of Houston and Co-Participants in the project and eliminate the maintenance and repair costs of the existing line. The proposed alignment is not within the active area of the Park and the project will have minimal impact. Permanent above-ground appurtenances placed by the Project which will not adversely affect the surface use of the Park and the temporary construction disturbance will last a duration of 3 months.
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 will be published in the Houston Chronicle on March 3, 2025, March 10, 2025, and March 17, 2025. The proposed date of the public hearing is Wednesday, March 26, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. in City Council Chambers, 901 Bagby Street 2nd Floor, Houston, Texas. At a later date, an ordinance will be presented to Council to make findings relating to the public hearing.
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Kenneth Allen, Director
Houston Parks and Recreation Department
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Randall V. Macchi, Director
Houston Public Works
WBS No. S-000900-0143-3