Sondra Meyer

Have you ever noticed how fast time seems to fly by?

It seems just like the other day, I was working on New Year's resolutions, planning to run a 5K, and most recently waiting on the bluebonnets to come out. (In this part of Texas, we look forward to the blue bonnets each year.)

As I sit here today, I realize tax season is done. The spring home buying season is in full swing. My son will be graduating from high school next month.

I wonder how much longer are the bluebonnets are going to last?

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the filed grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these." --Matthew 6:28-29

I wanted to remind everyone that the City of College Station is having a Council meeting on Thursday, Feb. 28th at 7 p.m. The agenda is at http://www2.cstx.gov/councilAgendas/2008/regular%20agenda%20packet%202282008%20saturday%201238%20pm.pdf

For better or worse, it should be an interesting meeting for those of you who are following the Growth Management and/or Annexation Issues.

Last spring, the City announced plans to annex about 6,700 acres. Those plans were derailed last May when the Texas Legislature passed Texas House Bill 1472 which said that a city cannot annex areas that are appraised for agriculture purposes -- unless a development agreement is first offered to the owner. If the agreement is signed, the land can't be annexed for 10 years. Once the development agreements were signed last fall, the city was left with roughly 3,300 out of the initial 6,700 acres. Then in February, after the council listened persons at a couple of public hearings, they carved out an additional 279 acres. This Thursday, they are scheduled to vote on a plan that will annex about 2,800 acres. If it is approved, the annexation will be effective at the end of March.

Although my summary is being shown in a very "business oriented way", it affects the people being annexed in a VERY personal way. To briefly summarize, they realize that they have no real rights in the process. They will be taxed more. Most will not be receiving any additional services. Emotions are high.

The City on the other hand, appears to be looking at annexation as a way of managing growth and controlling the corriders into the city. If I understand correctly, the consultants they hired suggest that the city needs to aggressively annex and to do so sooner rather than later when the State Legislature could make the process even more difficult.

I wonder how long cities will be able to annex areas without the public being able to vote on the matter?

I would highly recommend that concerned citizen contact the City Council members prior to the meeting. The following link will take you to a list of the council members. If you click on each each council member, it will give you all of that persons contact information. http://www.cstx.gov/home/index.asp?page=2

What follows are some sentimental thoughts about the old Rock Prairie Baptist church building in College Station, TX that dates back to 1894. The church is located one of several prime tracts of land that was purchased by Weingarten Investments within the last couple of years. Collectively, the land has a tax appraised value in excess of $5 million dollars. The quaint old school house/Rock Prairie Baptist Church building is not exactly the highest and best use for this property-even if it does have a historical marker. Located at the corner of Highway 6 and Rock Prairie Road East, the developers initially planned a Super Walmart until they encountered rezoning problems. As a Realtor, sometimes I struggle with desire to hold onto the past yet I understand the importance of moving forward.

My facts about the church history are largely coming from the Application that was submitted for the Texas State Historical Marker - which was awarded in 1992. This information will be presented in quotes. See http://bchc.co.brazos.tx.us/sites/bchc/files/RockPrarie.pdf

To put things in context for this area, Texas A&M College, Texas's first state institution of higher learning was founded in 1877. College Station was incorporated as a city in 1938.

In the late 1800's, the education of most rural children was often conducted in one room school houses with all grades attending. While most of these former school houses have disappeared from the Texas landscape, the Rock Prairie Baptist church building has remained -in it's original location.

In 1891, a German immigrant, Adam Royder, had donated one acre of land for school purposes. A one room school house was constructed where area students received instruction through the 7^th grade.

The Rock Prairie Missionary Baptist church was organized in 1900 and church services were subsequently held there as well. A steeple was not added to the original building until 1982.

"In 1984, the Rock Prairie Baptist church expanded on it's original site and a new facility and Sunday school building was built to meet the needs of it's growing congregation. The original church and school house was kept in place and was still used from time to time."

Tomorrow morning at the church service in the new facility, I'll see people that saw their children and grandchildren grow up in the old church buildings.

The old church building hosted marriages and funerals. It was a place where families and friends spent time together. Where they spent time worshiping the Lord.

For whatever reason, I keep thinking about how much my boys used to enjoy getting to eat a donut before the Sunday school classes. The memory makes me smile. But, do you know what....it was people that brought the donuts.

The good news is that the people, the spirit of the church, and the spirit of the Lord will be at the new location along with the memories of the past. The old facility is just a building and a location where memories where made. It still saddens me, but I must keep this in mind:

"Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"

"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this:'Hear o Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this:'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.

Mark 12: 28-31 NIV

Howdy to all! Lately, I've been trying to learn about the City of College Station's growth management initiatives. This process has included reviewing the annual operating budgets. I thought I'd take a few mintutes to share some interesting tidbits of information that I've come across.

Did you know that according to the City of College Station's current, FY 2008, annual operating budget? http://www.cstx.gov/docs/fy08_final_approved_120907.pdf

• In 2006, College Station sales tax revenues was $16,748,283.
• In 2006, College Station ad valorem (property) tax revenues was $16,646,519.

Sales tax revenues obviously have a significant impact on College Station's budget. Despite what the consultant's, Kendig Keast Collaborative, Growth Management Plan report states, the staff and City Council members should remember that persons living in the extra territorial jurisdiction and in the other parts of the county ARE helping fund the City's operations every time they shop in College Station.

Note: final numbers for the FY 2007 year have not been posted online yet.

In 2006 Weingarten Realty Investors planned to build a Walmart Super Center on their property that is located at the corner of Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6. In order to do so, the property had to be rezoned. Home owners that live on the East side of Highway 6, mounted a HUGE public outcry. After listening to almost 5 hours of public comments, the City Council voted (4-3) to deny the rezoning request. http://www2.cstx.gov/council%20minutes/2006/complete%20060720%20workshop%20and%20regular%20minutes.htm

Fast forward to February 7, 2008...City of College Station Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. http://www.cstx.gov/home/index.asp?page=30 At 7 p.m. the council chambers was packed. This time, it was with a combination of Texas A&M students that were attending as part of some course and with residents that represent the "East Side Group of Home Owner's Associations."

As the chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) later told the A&M students, tonight's meeting was relatively boring with administrative issues. This time there was no huge fight between the home owners and Weingarten Realty Investors. Patricia Klien, speaking on behalf of the Eastside home owners simply told the P&Z that they wanted to work with the developers to create a plan that would be acceptable to both groups. They hoped the two groups could agree upon something that was different than the master plan that was being submitted tonight.

Weingarten Realty Investors, on the other hand, appears to be attempting to do something, instead of nothing, with the property. Given the "power" of the East side home owners, they decided their best course of action would be to submit a Master Plan that could work within the property's current zoning. (This property consists of three tracts, each with different zoning.) They did not indicate their specific plans for the property. Nor, were they required to do so.

Derek Dictson, one of the Planning & Zoning Commissioners, hoped that the two groups can work together to develop something that we, as a city, can be proud of for this prime tract of land.