In a nutshell
On Sept. 11, League City City Council voted to approve the Clear Creek Master Plan, which outlines plans for transforming the watershed area along Clear Creek to allow the public greater access to Clear Creek and Clear Lake.
Instead of traditional development, the plan would pursue partnerships with landowners in the area to create natural areas, such as wetlands and gardens.
According to a draft of the Clear Creek Master Plan created by consulting firm Halff, the land in the proposed plan includes 30% residential land, and 29% parks and open spaces.
One of these open spaces, Myrtle Park was deeded to League City for the purposes of conservation, wildlife protection and education because the area’s tree canopy and wetland habitats made it unsuitable for housing development when the adjacent Clear Creek Village was established, according to a presentation during the meeting.
At the council meeting, some Clear Creek Village residents voiced concerns that creating access to the park through their neighborhood poses a safety concern for residents walking their dogs or children playing in the street.
In their own words
Clear Creek Village resident Mike Holmes said he felt because the Clear Creek Village subdivision does not have sidewalks, creating access to the park through the neighborhood threatened residents.
“We now have kids literally playing on Williamsport [Street], where the proposed street access is to go,” Holmes said. “I see it as a major, major safety risk.”
Council Member Tommy Cones introduced an amendment to the plan that would restrict any public entrances, exits or parking from any street or access area in Clear Creek Village into or exiting Myrtle Park.
“You’ve seen the citizens who spoke tonight with regards to their concern of traffic moving in and out of the subdivision,” Cones said. “ ... My concern is to not have any entrances for public access.”
The two streets that would be affected are Williamsport Street and Audubon Street, which are owned by League City.
Council Member Chad Tressler opposed the motion to restrict access to Myrtle Park through the subdivision because it would require the city to build other access sites. A previous consultant estimated development could cost the city millions, said Chien Wei, director of parks and cultural services.
“So we’re probably talking $2 [million] or $3 million on this project when Audubon is a city street that dead ends into a park when we could only have the expense of building a parking lot,” Tressler said. “I just want to point that out; we all like to pat ourselves on the back and call ourselves fiscal conservatives.”
Historically, League City has paid for parks of this nature with park dedication fees and grants, not taxes, Wei said.
