Commission Agenda Item No. 4
Presenter: Ted Hollingsworth

Action
Approval of Conveyance of Land – Harris County
Approximately 10 Acres at Lake Houston Wilderness Park
May 26, 2016

I.       Executive Summary: In 2006, the 4,920-acre Lake Houston State Park was transferred to the City of Houston for development and operation, and re-named Lake Houston Wilderness Park. The City requests Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) authorize a transfer of land for highway right-of-way purposes.

II.     Discussion: In the 1980’s, TPWD acquired 4,920 acres of forest land straddling the Harris – Montgomery County Line and bordered by Peach Creek and the East Fork of the San Jacinto River. Consisting of pine and hardwood forests, creeks and swamps, Lake Houston State Park was open to the public, but very little development took place. In 2006, the City of Houston and Harris County, with more funding available for development, approached TPWD about transferring the site to the City in order that it might more fully realize its potential to meet the recreational needs of the region.  The Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) Commission agreed to the transfer and the site was renamed Lake Houston Wilderness Park.  As a condition of the deed, the City is prohibited from using the Lake Houston Wilderness Park for non-recreational purposes.

Segment “H” of the Grand Parkway is in final planning stages and will run along the northern boundary of the park. TPWD and City staff have worked with the Grand Parkway Association, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration for more than a dozen years on highway siting and development strategies that would minimize impacts to the park and provide safe public access.  The final plan negotiated among the parties requires the transfer of approximately ten acres of park land to TxDOT for implementation.  The deed from TPWD to the City will need to be modified to allow this transfer.

III.    Recommendation:

“The TPW Commission adopts the Resolution attached as Exhibit A.”

Attachments – 4

  1. Exhibit A – Resolution
  2. Exhibit B – Location Map
  3. Exhibit C – Vicinity Map
  4. Exhibit D – Site Map

Commission Agenda Item No. 4
Exhibit A

A Resolution by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Regarding the Conveyance of Approximately Ten Acres of Land by the City of Houston at Lake Houston Wilderness Park in Harris County

Resolution

Whereas, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) conveyed 4,920 acres of land now known as the Lake Houston Wilderness Park (the Park) to the City of Houston in 2006; and,

Whereas, the Grand Parkway Segment “H” is in final planning stages, and will be a major thoroughfare for the region of Harris and Montgomery Counties where the Park resides; and,

Whereas, TPWD and the City of Houston desire that there be good public access to the Park; and,

Whereas, TPWD and the City of Houston have worked with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), the Federal Highways Administration (FHA) and the Grand Parkway Association (GPA) to design the Grand Parkway in such a way as to maximize access to the park while minimizing impacts to the Park’s natural, cultural and aesthetic resources; and,

Whereas, the design of the Parkway recommended by staff of TPWD, TxDOT, FHA, and the GPA will require the conveyance of approximately 10 acres of land from the City of Houston to TxDOT; and,

Whereas, the current deed does not allow use of any portion of the Park for non-recreational purposes; and

Whereas, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (the Commission) finds that as required by Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 26, notices of today’s hearing of this matter were published at least once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation which is published at least six days a week in the community nearest to the Subject Tract in which such newspapers are published (Houston Chronicle in Harris County), with the last day of publication being not less than one week or more than two weeks before the date of today’s hearing and that such notices specified the date and time at which the Commission would hear testimony regarding this land transfer; and,

Whereas, the Commission finds, in accordance with Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 26, that (1) there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use or taking of approximately 10 acres of City of Houston land which will be conveyed to the Texas Department of Transportation; and, (2) the program or project that requires the use or taking of land includes all reasonable planning to minimize harm to the Park; and,

Now, therefore, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes the Executive Director to modify the deed under which the City of Houston acquired the Park from TPWD and take any other necessary steps to authorize the City of Houston to convey approximately 10 acres of land to TxDOT for the purposes and subject to the conditions described herein and in the motion approved in this Resolution.

Adopted and approved this 26th day of May, 2016.


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T. Dan Friedkin, Chairman

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Ralph H. Duggins, Vice-Chairman

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Anna B. Galo, Member

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Bill Jones, Member

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Jeanne W. Latimer, Member


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James H. Lee, Member

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S. Reed Morian, Member

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Dick Scott, Member

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Kelcy L. Warren, Member

 



Commission Agenda Item No. 4
Exhibit B

Location Map for Lake Houston Wilderness Park
Harris and Montgomery Counties

Location Map for Lake Houston Wilderness Park - Harris and Montgomery Counties


Commission Agenda Item No. 4
Exhibit C

Vicinity Map for Lake Houston Wilderness Park – 20 Miles Northeast of Houston

Vicinity Map for Lake Houston Wilderness Park - 20 Miles Northeast of Houston


Commission Agenda Item No. 4
Exhibit D

Site Map Showing Grand Parkway and Subject Land Transfer
Lake Houston Wilderness Park Outlined in Yellow
Grand Parkway Segment H Main Lanes in Black
Grand Parkway Segment H Feeder Road in Blue Tracts Requested for Transfer in Red

Site Map Showing Grand Parkway and Subject Land Transfer