Future of land tract on Kluge Road unclear

The future of a 9-acre tract of land off Kluge Road across from White Oak Lake Estates that could have been used for a psychiatric facility is up in the air.

About two years ago, Pat Kelly, a commercial broker and Cypress resident, was researching ownership of vacant land tracts in the area through the Harris County Appraisal District when he discovered that a company called Texas Providence Investments owns the land. After conducting research on the company, which is owned by Clay Hill, Kelly found out the landowners are in the private psychiatric care business.

Kelly knew residents in White Oak Lake Estates and let them know a psychiatric facility could potentially be built on the property, which he said raised concerns for many homeowners in the area.

"You've got people with brand new homes right across the street in Alden Woods, White Oak Lake Estates and Kluge Lake Estates," Kelly said. "It seems like this would affect the character and personality of the neighborhood."

In unincorporated Harris County, builders must obtain approval from a municipal utility district board for sewer service. In this case, the Grant Road PUD turned the company down.

"They submitted building plans to Harris County indicating they were going to get sanitary sewer service, and the county shut down their permitting activities," Kelly said.

The company still owns the land, but it is unclear what may be built there since they lack the permits to move forward.

"It's pretty typical of a situation in Harris County where you have land tracts that no one has control over," Kelly said. "You can get low income housing or a psychiatric facility, and that doesn't benefit the neighborhood."