MoodyB

It's actually a meeting scheduled by our Municipal Utility Destrict (50). Moody Rambin will be there to answer a few questions regarding the development of the commercial site between our neighborhoods. I've heard that the turn lanes and lights are required by the County as a part of the development. Support to the development also includes approximately 11 restaurant/shop pads as part of the 98 acre development. Moody Rambin also owns the southeast corner of TX99 and Bellaire. It's the big field in front of Meadows of Parkway Lakes. I've heard they develop and manage their properties...not just develop and sell. I too will be at this meeting on the 19th since I live in the District. I have a list of questions as well. This should give us a good idea of what's up and coming in our area.

I totally understand and have questionioned everything you mentioned. Well, here goes the short version: We don't have an HOA. Two men decided they wanted to keep farm animals, pens, equipment etc on their personal property. They strong armed our community and previous board, then took positions of President and VP. Two men aren't a board or quoram. We've collected no assessments in three years, no annual meetings or elections. We will lose our street lights in a matter of weeks for non payment of the electric bill. Our fountains were turned off immediately to save money. We have to take independent civil action against these two men just to view the records and books of our (ahem) Association. Folks park boats, RVs, abandoned cars and semi trucks in front of their homes for weeks, months and even years on end. Without an HOA or management company for maintenance, I personally spend my own time, energy and expense mowing the North Lake area and its easements, for which I live. This I do because I can't stand to see the grass thigh high nor do I care for the rodents this invites. My husband and I do this to preserve the property value we have left. Do I think WalMart is going to hurt my property value? Are you kidding me? Do you understand now? The Grand Parkway wasn't completed or open when I moved in. We knew this area (this particular spot surrounding 99) was slated for commercial development, as did everyone else who purchased here. Peole are crying that they weren't told this in advance...or that Bellaire would eventually extend through! I don't see the construction because I have homes on the other side of the lake that separates this view. That is where the woman lives that said she feared for her children's safety. That's Canal Road. I specifically chose not to raise my family on a busy street and bought the interior property instead. Common sense. She hasn't lived here that long. Her children were born before buying on that street. Why would you subject your little ones to traffic when you had other choices? Residents haul ass down that particular stretch of street. I hate it. It won't even be used or accessed by the development or shopping center traffic. This is also a street that a certain BUILDER promised to install sidewalks and curbs (incentive for the buyer). They new homeowners on this street (17 of them) had one year to fight this builder and did nothing. So now, not only do they have traffic, but a steep ditch with no sidewalk to look at out their front window and this is their children's play area! Personally, I think this is really why she's moving. It was the view of the completed Grand Parkway that they've always seen. A green wall (a line of many trees) could only be an improvement. Lakes of Bella Terra sits just behind my subdivision. They start at a half a million dollars. I suppose those in Million dollar homeowners may not normally shop WalMart, but even they are still building with no concern for property value demise. Wow. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest!!!! It wasn't my intent to defame, but I'm due a little ranting after 14 years!

It was Channel 13 and they were brought here under false pretenses (by the outraged man). There is a ton of history here that everyone is up in arms about and has nothing to do with WalMart or commercial development. That's what we should be rallying against. I won't bore you with those details but our high turnover in property ownership is HOA related. (The outraged man is our HOA VP.) Realtors and Home Builders are nothing more than sales sluts that will tell you the grass will be pink; as long as you sign on the dotted line and they make the sale. They have been cautioned many times to stop misleading the public with talk of parks and other recreation areas to be placed on ROWs and easements. They can and will say anything. Just ask them to put it in writing and see what happens. As a "public" attendee, I've personally attended every one of our MUD meetings since the concept of "WalMart" was put on the table--hence my theory on people educating themselves before casting stones. No sham whatsoever. As for high property taxes, they're not. We even get a certain percentage of annual WalMart revenue to be used to pay off bonds, improve the district, or just use as the district sees fit. Yes, it's all in writing. I'm telling you, it's a win, win situation. A sound wall and green wall, along with huge detention areas will also be erected and separating us. No eye sores here. Construction phases are always unappealing and noisy. The finished product is why people "give in" and shop. As this IS the country, you can imagine lengthy debates between County and developer over who is responsible for maintaing or improving this or that. At last, we will have our street lights, curbs and curb appeal. Again, this is all in writing and has been agreed upon. I can also understand how in some areas under other conditions, this isn't always the case with WalMart, Kroger, Shopping Centers etc. But in this particular case, it is.

I've lived in this subdivision off Canal and Waterlily for 14 years. People here don't want commercial development? WalMart will lower our property value? We've been the armpit off the Grand Parkway for too long. We've self inflicted our lower property values. Change is inevitable. Personally I'm elated that it's a large anchor like WalMart going in and not some one story, strip mall with Jim Bob's liquor and XXX Video, frequent turnover and lack of maintenance. I've no fear this is the best thing that could have happened to us. People need to educate themselves on the matter, not relying on misinformation or heresay, before casting blame on progress.