H-E-B TO SCOOT GROUNDBREAKING BACK TO END OF SUMMER BREAK, SCOOT BUILDING UP TOWARD N. SHEPHERD Work on that Fiesta-supplanting H- E- B on N. Shepherd Dr. is now scheduled to kick off on August 25th, Scott McClelland tells Landan Kuhlmann in The Leader this week. That’s purportedly due to variance-related pushbacks — namely, to H-E-B’s request to put the edge of its proposed 2-story structure closer to the street (like the request it briefly filed around the start of November but pulled just before the alcohol sales election). That variance request was re-filed in January and was granted, but triggered another round of permitting approvals and associated waiting periods, McClelland says. Estimates on an opening date have also slid back to the end of next year’s summer vacation — by which time we’ll know whether the rest of the area’s alcohol sales laws have gone the way of the off-site sales rules H-E-B helped campaign to remove last fall. [The Leader; previously on Swamplot] Rendering of H-E-B with N. Shepherd setback variance approval, as originally filed in 2016: Houston Planning CommissionÂ
Homeowners in the area would be wise to keep a keen eye as to the elevation of the current Fiesta property, document with photos and watch as the builders elevate the ground of the property two or more feet above existing grade. This elevation of property will push water off the commercial property and onto lower lying homeowners and existing small businesses. I attended a talk this week with a flooding expert from Texas A and M who pinpointed development as the primary driving cause of Houston’s flooding. This was a highly intelligent and well regarded college professor and researcher. He says he gets phone calls from first time flood victims and always asks if anything was recently built in the area. Often they will say that a Wal-Mart or something similar was built immediately before their flooding problem started. This is real, everyone. Document your lawsuit evidence today.
Tired of flooding: the property where the entire block had already been overlaid with impervious ground cover? Barking up the wrong tree here
Whether it’s impervious or not is only one part of the equation. How high are they going to elevate the ground over what it was previously? That is the issue and what will determine if they flood their neighbors or not. But you’re right – all city of Houston permitting office cares about is what you just mentioned. Too bad for everyone.
Thank you HEB for flooding the neighborhood and erecting a concrete monstrosity in our neighborhood. Wish I lived closer to the Dunlavy store. Actually considering moving now that the alcohol petition is coming back. Our neighborhood, like the concrete monstrosity, is losing charm.
If you’re worried about flooding, one block isn’t going to make much of a difference compared to all of the forest leveling and paving that’s happening north and northwest of the city where all the water flows from. To stop flooding, the region needs to maintain its natural protection of the forest and prairie sponges outside of town.
As for water that falls on the city, a green roof ordinance and permeable paving would do some good. If the city required buildings over a certain square footage to have a green roof, then that would slow down quite a bit of the runoff. Also, requiring permeable paving and tree cover in parking lots would help slow down water flow and mitigate the urban heat island effect.
That’s the kind of regulation that needs to be going on, but this ridiculous setback rule needs to go along with the parking requirements.
Houston must incorporate green infrastructure requirements for new development so as to mitigate storm water on site. New Orleans, another flood prone city, requires the 1st inch of all stormwater to be mitigated with green infrastructure.
If you are “Tired of Flooding” then be apart of the solution and push for green infrastructure and an end to car dependent development.
Jeez, you people need to get a grip. Can’t see if the problem with anything that increases property values in a neighborhood. Buy flood insurance and move on with your lives!
Thank you for this story, we have been wondering what is going on with building the store. It will be a good thing when the store is finally built.
Trumpsupportet you’ll be dead from cancer before it effects your children or grandchildren so get you money now cause that’s what you want. Heavens that people care just a bit about the future that they won’t be in