This petition is to oppose the proposed Briar Forest Loft Development Low Income Housing Project, to be located at Highway 6 S, adjacent to and south of 1725 S TX 6, for the following reasons. Please sign this petition to show your support of the opposition of this development.

1.        This building will significantly increase the risk of severe flooding to the surrounding existing properties, particularly to the homes located directly behind the proposed building. The developer indicated the structure will be elevated 2-3 feet with a large parking lot built behind it. Given the resulting decrease in porous surface area and the higher elevation, the neighborhood behind the structure will take in a significant amount of water anytime it rains.

2.        The current neighborhood schools at all grade levels are currently operating at above maximum capacity and cannot take on any more students.  Adding this multifamily unit will add strain to the already stressed and overcrowded schools in the neighborhood.

3.        The projected structure will add to the pre-existing heavy traffic on Briar Forest and Highway 6 and beyond. Traffic in the general area backs up daily.  Adding a new multifamily complex in this densely packed, heavily populated area will exacerbate the current traffic issues. Currently the traffic pileup in the morning and afternoon in this area adds an additional 30-45 minutes to many people’s commute; adding a multifamily complex will cause a significant increase to that time. Importantly, Fire Station 86 is located in the heart of the area the proposed building will be.  Adding this new multifamily complex that will increase the level of traffic will cause many logistical issues for the Fire department when responding to emergency calls.

4.        The proposed building site off of Highway 6 is particularly unsafe for future residents of the proposed building.  There are no bus stops, no traffic signals, and no walkways/sidewalks in place. Additionally, this proposed building’s entrance and exit will be located directly off of TX Highway 6 with no alternative entrances and exists possible.  This is extremely unsafe for anyone that drives into and out of the proposed complex, and it is unsafe for any children that will reside in the complex that wish to walk to school. 

5.        A similar project was proposed for this area a few years ago and it failed for a multitude of reasons, a few of which include: lack of utility capacity, insufficient water pressure, and overall added stress the existing infrastructure. This area already suffers from frequent power outages not related to storms, and when there is a storm the loss of power is almost guaranteed.  Adding a multifamily structure will tax the existing power grid.  Previously there was an attempt to build a medical facility on that same side of Highway 6 and that project did not go through because it was determined there would be inadequate water pressure.  A multifamily structure will come against the same problem.