The College Station City Council on Thursday approved two projects worth almost $7 million combined for neighborhood and area improvements.
Both projects passed unanimously and one was met with applause by a handful of residents who attended the meeting. Several of those spoke to the council, agreeing that, while they may not have received everything they wanted in the Southside Area Neighborhood Plan, there was a ?tremendous? compromise from all parties.
Almost 80 improvements likely will be built, including sidewalks, street lights, zoning options and more.
City Planner Jennifer Prochazka said the project is expected to cost about $3.2 million and will be done over the course of the next seven years. The project, which is in one of the oldest parts of the city, is in the area south of George Bush Drive, east of Wellborn Road, west of Texas Avenue and north of part of Holleman Drive and Southwest Parkway.
It also covers 10 apartment communities, 10 churches, four parks, a city-owned greenway, the College Station Conference Center, the Lincoln Center, three schools and commercial areas.
Mayor Nancy Berry said the plan will be a ?living, breathing document? that can be altered over the years to meet the area?s changing conditions. She said it was created by many individuals with competing interests, which translates into a successful formula.
Prochazka said the process for the plan began about a year ago and it addresses community character and land use, neighborhood integrity, mobility and public facilities in the area. The council also approved a $3.7 million contract with Elliott Construction for the South Knoll-The Glade Utility Rehabilitation Project, as well as a resolution declaring intention to reimburse certain expenditures with proceeds from debt.
The project includes improving water and wastewater utility infrastructure in the area generally bounded by Glade Street, Haines, Langford, and Bee Creek Drive. The infrastructure needs replacement due to an increase in service disruptions, deteriorating lines and a need to improve fire protection, staff said. Sidewalks will also be repaired as part of the project. Streets impacted by the installation of new utilities will get a two-inch overlay of new asphalt.
Also at the meeting, the council:
? Held a public hearing on the proposed 2012-13 fiscal year budget. No one spoke at the meeting, and the council is scheduled to vote on it and the tax rate at its Sept. 13 meeting.
? Approved almost $100,900 for a contract with Hawkins Architecture for the design of an expansion to Veterans Park?s maintenance facility so it includes two additional maintenance bays, a tool room, a chemical room and additional storage. It will also add a fence around the storage yard to create a secure area to store sports and maintenance equipment.
? Approved a deductive change order of almost $160,200 to the contract with Follis-Cole Construction for the Emerald Forest Drainage improvements project. The neighborhood contacted the city in 2010 requesting the improvements. The project will include clearing and grubbing of overgrown brush and trees and work to prevent future erosion along the creek channel. With this change order, the existing contract will be canceled and the project will be rebid this fall.
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