Contact:
Nina Johnston
Clear Lake City Green Space Preservation Committee
Press Officer
281-480-0791
281-480-0791
Email located at www.clccl.org
February 27, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Community Group Forms to Battle Golf Course Development:
John Davis Attends Public Forum
(Houston, Texas) - A formidable group of residents and homeowners have formed a new organization, the Clear Lake City Green Space Preservation Committee (CLCGSPC), to help prevent the development of green space in Clear Lake. The group’s first project is to protect the 178-acre golf course, the Clear Lake Golf Club on Diana at Reseda.
Development plans presented to Representative John Davis by the current owners, Renaissance Golf Group LLC (RGG) include the development of all 178-acres into $200,000 to $300,000 homes with 20-acres designated as a park. According to the Clear Lake City Community Association (CLCCA), no plan has been presented to homeowners to date.
Davis attended the public forum held by CLCGSPC on Saturday, February 26th, to answer homeowners’ questions and hear their concerns about the development. Davis communicated his position to some 200 in attendance that he will remain open to dialogue with homeowners and he will support the group’s opposition to development in his meetings with Exxon, who holds the current deed to the property. Davis emphasized that it is up to the homeowners and residents of Clear Lake City and Exxon to work out an agreement on the issue. Residents were vocal about their concerns regarding storm runoff and flooding, police and fire protection, traffic congestion, property values and environmental issues, should the development succeed.
That development of the 178-acre parcel is a concern community-wide and not limited to the residents on the golf course, was well stated by Frank Weary, President of the Bay Oaks Community Association, who was in attendance.
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Community Group Forms (page2)
Mr. Weary said that in meetings that his association had with Exxon, he communicated that this acreage is more than green space in our community, but that it is part of the “character of Clear Lake.” Mr. Weary said he and other community association heads discussed the issue at the monthly Association of Clear Lake Communities (ACLC) meeting and were unanimously opposed to the development of this acreage.
The CLCGSPC is well represented community-wide. Teaming with the Clear Lake City Civic League (CLCCL), the new organization benefits from the experience and expertise of three co-chairs: Bob Savely (Oakbrook), Treasurer of CLCCL, John Branch (Bay Forest), President of CLCCL, and Pinebrook resident, Katie Chimenti, Vice President of Pinebrook Community Association.
At the forum, Mr. Branch, Co-Chair of CLCGSPC, outlined the plan of action on the part of the steering committee for the new group, and introduced the committee chairmen. Committees have been formed for legal research, public outreach, public officials, fundraising, and communications. Mr. Branch emphasized that the community has an excellent relationship with Exxon and that letters reflecting positive aspects, while opposing the development could be helpful in preserving the green space in Clear Lake City.
Residents are urged to sign the petition that will be circulating in Meadowgreen, Oakbrook, Oakbrook West and Camino South communities from March 15th to March 21st, as volunteers plan to go door-to-door for signatures opposing development. The petition will be used to show elected officials at the city, county and state levels, and all other parties involved in the development discussions, that the community is united against development of the green space.
The next public forum will be held in April.
For more information contact:
Nina Johnston
Clear Lake City Green Space Preservation Committee
Press Officer
281-480-0791
281-480-0791
Email located at www.clccl.org
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