Women In Community Service Inc.

October 2002 Looming Airport Acquisition ?

Dec 04, 2002

Residents Seek Reliable Information Concerning the Acquisition of their Neighborhoods by the City of Houston Aviation Department?…

A concerned resident called the WICS office recently with questions about rumors circulating the homes of Glen Lee. This was not the first of these calls and we decided to go straight to the source of information concerning acquisitions by the Aviation Department.

A detailed conversation with Mr. John Poree of District B Council member Galloway-Mims office, confirmed that there was indeed some mention of the Glen Lee subdivision at a recent public meeting. Some members of the Aviation Department attended that meeting. When the topic of airport expansion was raised, it sparked questions by attendees about the ?‘buying-out?’ of the properties adjacent to the existing airport boundaries. It has been a long-time discussion by residents and property owners of the Glen Lee area, that it would only be a matter of time before the airport ?‘took over?’ their homes.

Mr.Poree shared that there was no plan in place that called for ?‘taking of property in regard to Glen Lee?’. He reminded us that there are Federal Guidelines in place that must be adhered to before any acquisitions can take place - all parties on both sides of the issue must be afforded due process to make a case in their interest. And, if there ever did come a time when the airport did ask for such property, we would have significant forewarning. He referred us to the Houston Airport System Planning Division Office, to Mr. Kent McLemore who is the Senior Manager of Planning.

A call to Mr.McLemore yielded a wealth of information. He said that he and other City Planners had been in attendance at that meeting to answer questions concerning the airport. I told him about the phone calls that we had been receiving and about my conversation with Mr.Poree. He said that there has, from time to time, been some thought of building a runway on the South side of the airport, but that ?‘there are no plans for such a runway at the present time?’.

We all know that many residents have lived almost their entire lives in this area. Many of us built our first and present homes here. We have raised our children here and many plan on retiring here. We have stood in the face of rising water and rebuilt our homes, businesses, and churches, time and again. The thought of having to leave for any reason is quite disturbing to many and downright frightening to some. When the airport first moved in, back in the early 60?’s, it began to change the ?‘face?’ of our community. The few residents that had chosen to settle in the woods North of Houston soon found themselves citizens of one of the largest cities in the world.

The years of not participating in the planning process, not building safeguards into the viability of our neighborhood has taken its toll. It wasn?’t until the early 80?’s that we began demanding that we get a return for our tax dollar. With the help of knowledgeable and experienced community leaders, we began to see remarkable improvements in our quality of life. There was so much catching up to do in the areas of city services including Police protection, but we prevailed and grew, and are learning to adapt to the ever-changing complexion of Glen Lee.

It is this new and developing Glen Lee area that so many residents now see as being under threat of extinction. There has always been the ?‘thought?’ of the airport expanding in our direction, in fact there have been some that bought, in hopes of making a profit from such acquisition. There are also some that I?’ve spoken to who are looking forward to the day that they can sell and leave.

That day has not yet arrived folks. Mr.McLemore said that the planning process for the next Master Plan would not even begin until the Spring of 2003. I was told that it has not been found whether or not ?‘a runway in that location (Glen Lee) would be of benefit?’ and that a runway on the South side of the airport ?‘is not shown on any Master Plan?’. McLemore was adamant in stating that acquisition of Glen Lee into the airport complex was ?‘definitely not imminent?’. He did concede though, that Glen Lee has been brought up in discussion.

According to McLemore, a Comprehensive Planning Process typically involves four public meetings. The purpose of the public meetings is to receive input on the plan before submitting it for final approval by the Federal Aviation Administration and the City of Houston.
The first time is for ?‘feedback, thoughts and concerns?’. The Department will be seeking to explore what the community may be worried about in relation to expansion, and how it might impact their quality of life. They can also let the airport know what they may need from the airport in order to integrate their mutual needs for healthy growth.

The second time, is a presentation from the Department, to the community, saying, ?’ here?’s what we found?… What do you think??” This is the time for serious discussion of the present and future impact to the immediate community and to the community at large; a time for studying whether the concerns brought up at prior meetings have been addressed by all stakeholders.

The third meeting is usually where the Department will come to us with a draft of a plan. There will be opportunities to discuss the feasibility of the plan and the ability of the community and the airport being able to live with the plan as it is.

The final date will be the ?‘unveiling of the plan for FAA approval?’.

There is no guarantee one way or the other that Glen Lee will be a part of the next Plan. But, please take this advice. It is important, at all stages of this process that we remain aware of what is going on. It is true that they (Aviation Department/City of Houston) have to make this information public, but it is not their job to drag us out of our homes and make us listen. In my many years of community service I have heard the complaint too many times to count ?– ?‘nobody told me?’, ?‘why didn?’t somebody call me??’.

The longtime presence of the airport may have lulled many into complacency; some stand, dumbfounded and get run over; others jump and run. For those who want to be a part of the planning process and have a say in the goings on of the City, the opportunity is always available through your City Representatives and more specifically, beginning in the Spring of 2003. There is also ample information posted on the website of the Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH).

Mr.McLemore has stated that he is happy to speak with anyone about their airport related concerns. He left me with the statement that (they) are well aware of the seriousness of asking anyone to give up their home in favor of someone else?’s plans and that before they ask anyone to do so ?‘there must be strong justification that the general public will benefit?’. His phone number at the airport is 281/2331973. Also, calls concerning noise from/by the airport can be made to 281/2333900.

In closing, let me remind you that the community of Glen Lee is a living and growing organism. We have had periods of immaturity, stagnation, times when we were in ill health, struggling to find our place in this huge city. We have endured growing pains and faced stark realities; experienced highs and lows, good and bad, but through it all, we have remained ?‘The Little Neighborhood That Could?”.

WICS