Garden Oaks Homeowner Survey

Rebuild Houston Storm Water Project:

Streetscape Design for Alba and Golf

(1) response per household allowed

Your opinion matters!

All Garden Oaks homeowners are being asked to provide their opinion.

This survey could determine the redesign of Alba and Golf streets during the $18.5 million Shepherd Forest – Garden Oaks Storm Water Drainage Project.

The survey, requested by Council Member Ellen Cohen (District C), will provide guidance to the City of Houston Public Works & Engineering (PWE) for rebuilding Garden Oaks streets, when future needs arise.

Background – Storm Water Drainage Project

The project requires rebuilding Alba Street, then eventually Golf Street and Sue Barnett. Of the three project phases, only the Alba portion is currently under design. Alba construction is scheduled to begin in 2015.

City’s original street design

The City’s proposed design was a City standard streetscape that would:

a. widen both Alba and Golf streets to 27’

b. add curbs and gutters

c. add 5’ sidewalks on both sides, with 2’ between curb and sidewalks

d. widen total streetscape to 41’ (sidewalk to sidewalk) from current 20’ (aprx.)

Homeowner petition / Civic Club resolutions

Alba Street homeowners sent a petition signed by 130 residents to CM Cohen, whose office also received letters supporting the wider street design. Petitioners felt the design does not fit with the character of the neighborhood, that greenscape would be lost, that the size of Triangle Park would be decreased, and that wider streets could increase cut-through traffic, potentially creating safety issues.

At the May 2014 Garden Oaks Civic Club meeting, three resolutions were brought to the floor and passed that objected to the City’s design, specifically the increased street width, the addition of sidewalks and the inclusion of curbs. Garden Oaks Civic Club members began meeting with CM Ellen Cohen’s office and PWE to determine if alternative street designs were possible.

Our options

Alba and Golf phases

PWE is now offering Garden Oaks residents a choice of streetscape designs.

Recognizing that traffic loads are different on Alba and Golf, this survey provides Garden Oaks homeowners the opportunity to support different designs for each street. A map of the street segments is included.

Sue Barnett phase

Any street design would be impacted by HISD’s final design for its reconstruction of Garden Oaks Montessori Magnet, set to begin in 2017. Council Member Cohen agreed with GOCC representatives that – until the school design is finalized – residents’ input on this phase can be delayed. This way, residents can recommend a streetscape design that fits the needs of both a rebuilt school and surrounding homes.

ALBA / GOLF Streetscape Design Survey

Directions

1. Only (1) survey response per Garden Oaks homeowner.

2. Fill in full homeowner name, address and phone number.

- Contact information will not be shared. Phone numbers are for verification purposes only, if needed.

3. You are selecting a choice of Streetscape Width for both Alba and Golf streets, based on choosing either 0, 1 or 2 sidewalks.

- Your choice could determine the final width of the streetscapes and whether the streets will be curbed and guttered.

4. PICK ONE (1) BOX FOR ALBA.

5. PICK ONE (1) BOX FOR GOLF.

6. Mail in enclosed stamped/addressed envelope by Nov. 10, 2014.

Name:

Signature:

Physical Address (Garden Oaks):

Phone #:

	1. Pick ONE BOX in Alba column 2. Pick ONE BOX in Golf column
Streetscape width		ALBA	GOLF	Sidewalk(s)
23’ – 30’ streetscape width * Similar to existing GO streetscape (0) sidewalk = 23’ total streetscape (1) sidewalk = 30’ total streetscape - No curbs, no gutters - 5’ sidewalk: either none or one - Existing speedbumps replaced				(0) Sidewalks
				(1) Sidewalk
27’ – 41’ streetscape width * City standard design (0) sidewalk = 27’ total streetscape (1) sidewalk = 34’ total streetscape (2) sidewalks = 41’ total streetscape - Curbs and gutters added - 5’ sidewalk(s): either none, one or two - 2’ grass buffer between curb & sidewalk - Existing speedbumps replaced				(0) Sidewalks
				(1) Sidewalk
				(2) Sidewalks

Survey approach

Volunteers assembling this survey will separately quantify results by GO section and by street directly impacted by the project. Final recommendations are up to the City of Houston.