What you need to know
The Ruffino Tract is a 76-acre tract of land that served Bellaire as a municipal landfill for years before being closed in the early 1990s, according to a May 19 Bellaire City Council agenda item.
According to the July 23 agenda item, Houston looked to acquire the 76 acres to turn it into a flood detention zone as part of Houston’s efforts to fight against future flooding. Houston previously acquired 73.08 acres of land at Ruffino Road from West University Place back in 2022, according to previous Community Impact reporting.
Bellaire also purchased Houston’s 13.15-acre Beechnut Tract for $6.46 million, as part of Bellaire’s project to expand the Cypress Ditch in hopes of improving flood mitigation and drainage.
Bellaire City Manager Sharon Citino said during a May 19 City Council meeting that with the city not having much land, they needed to find extra land they could use to help with their stormwater detention project.
More details
As part of the land swap deal, Houston has agreed to treat Bellaire’s wastewater over the next 100 years. Citino said, although this isn’t connected to the city’s decision on what to do with its wastewater plant, the agreement gives the city a clearer picture of what the city of Bellaire should do.
The city’s wastewater treatment plant is on its last legs, described as in “poor shape” and “well beyond its useful life,” according to previous Community Impact reporting. Bellaire is currently weighing on what to do with the plant—rehabilitate it, build a completely new one at a different location, or decommission it.
What they’re saying
Council member Abbie Kamin, whose district covers the Meyerland, University Place, Braeswood and Braeburn area, said this is a “historical agreement” that will help not only the residents in Bellaire and the surrounding areas, but also residents in Houston’s District C and J from future flooding as well.
“Bottom line is this is a win-win for the city, for Bellaire, but primarily for the residents in a very large portion of this city that has been impacted by repetitive flooding,” Kamin said. “The bottom line is we are going to see significant improvements that are going to help protect homes. Whether it’s from flooding, or it’s water quality.”
Bellaire City Engineer Beth Jones told Community Impact the city will conduct a survey and site investigation. City engineers will also work on the design of the Cypress Ditch South Pond, which will be on the tracts Bellaire acquired from Houston. She said the city hopes to have a bid out by the fourth quarter of 2025 to demolish the structures on the acquired land.
Bellaire Mayor Gus Pappas said in a July 25 statement that the land swap deal is a “win-win” for both cities.
“Bellaire conveys land it no longer needs but benefits Houston, and the Houston property makes Bellaire’s dreams possible in terms of its long-term drainage plans as well as its always-present desire to increase its inventory of usable greenspace in town,” Pappas said. “I’m very excited about the obvious benefits this land provides to Bellaire, but even more so over the possibilities we have yet to imagine.“
Council member Edward Pollard, whose district covers the Gulfton area and areas near the city of Bellaire, said this is a step in the right direction and hopes to discuss with Houston Public Works what the plans are for this land, as well as the timeline and estimated costs once they start working on it.
