The details
The land in question involves 27 acres of county-owned land in Spring’s Champion Forest neighborhood that previously housed the Raveneaux Country Club, CFPUD Vice President Tom Petrick said.
If the bond is approved, Petrick said the PUD would exchange roughly 72 acres of floodway land owned by the PUD for the 27 acres owned by the flood control district. Additionally, Petrick said the PUD would agree to spend $10 million to construct several detention ponds across the 72 acres that would go to the county.
If approved, Petrick said the bond would result in an incremental tax increase beginning with a $0.02 per $100 valuation increase in 2026. The rate would then rise annually until 2030 once the tax rate reaches a total increase of $0.09 per $100 valuation. By 2030, Petrick said the tax hike would amount to an increase of roughly $100 per $100,000 valuation annually for area homeowners.
Some context
According to previous reporting by Community Impact, HCFCD acquired the Raveneaux Country Club clubhouse and nearby facilities for roughly $11.4 million in January 2020 with the goal of replacing the golf course with a regional stormwater detention basin.
Officials noted the property has been subject to flooding in the past alongside neighboring Champion Forest homes, including during Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
What they’re saying
Mark Peters, a 29-year Champion Forest resident and former member of the Raveneaux Country Club, said the bond’s approval would prevent HCFCD officials from potentially selling the land to developers.
“[The bond] offers an opportunity for Champion Forest to continue to control [the 27 acres] or lose it to developers that would have the opportunity to construct high-density housing,” Peters said.
Petrick said the PUD worked closely with Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey to develop the proposed plan.
“It’s important to understand that one of the key elements [of the proposal] is to mitigate flooding,” Ramsey said in an April 7 emailed statement.
What’s next
Early voting for the May 3 election runs April 22-29. Visit www.harrisvotes.com for polling locations and more information.
