Chron: Blue Ridge Landfill Expansion Update!--follow the title link for more--

Group wants landfill operator to yield more

January 28, 2010 2:11 pm Zen T.C. Zheng, Houston Chronicle

Here is an update on a grassroots group’s fight against the proposed expansion of the Blue Ridge Landfill on the east side of Fort Bend County.

Last week, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality approved a revised application for a permit to pursue the project by BFI, which is now Republic Services after a corporate merger.

The revision reflects the terms and conditions in an agreement reached between the company and the city of Pearland last year, which includes what municipal officials regarded as “substantial compromise” by the trash disposer.

Previously, three television stations opposed to the project had all struck undisclosed deals with the company, leaving the Coalition Against Blue Ridge Landfill Expansion the lone party still in the fight...

http://cabrle.spaces.live.com/

FB Star Reports On Blue Ridge Landfill Settlement Talks--click the title link for the full story--

Residents’ group opposed to landfill expansion
continues negotiations with trash company on landfill

By Cheryl Skinner

The city of Pearland and the three Houston television stations who were attempting to stop the issuance of an expansion permit for a landfill operation in Fort Bend County, have reportedly come to a settlement agreement with Republic Services. However, the grassroots group, Coalition Against Blue Ridge Landfill Expansion, continues “a good faith negotiation” with the company and no settlement has been reached, says Richard Morrison, the attorney representing the group.

The negotiations between the Coalition Against Blue Ridge Landfill Expansion and Republic Services Inc., is ongoing, Morrison says but no terms have been reached. The company reportedly came to a compromise with the three Houston television stations— KTRK (Channel 13), KRIV (Fox 26) and KHOU (Channel 11) and the city of Pearland during recent weeks. . .

MCC comment: This is the landfill company that has made contributions to Missouri City council members and some county commissioners along with signing a contract not to oppose this landfill planned for near 20 stories by giving these governmental entities "tipping fees" often called in the press "legal" bribes. Some of the key political players in supporting landfill expansion have been Bob Hebert, Allen Owen, Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council, Oberg PAC...

More From The Houston Chronicle On The Blue Ridge Landfill Near Missouri City--click here for more--

Residents' group opposed to landfill expansion tries to make deal with operating company
By ZEN T.C. ZHENG HOUSTON CHRONICLE

In a twist in a near four-year battle, a grassroots group fighting a landfill expansion plan in east Fort Bend County is seeking an out-the-court settlement with the company behind the project.

The negotiations between the Coalition Against Blue Ridge Landfill Expansion and Republic Services Inc. come on the heels of a string of compromises between the company and other opponents that included three local television stations — KTRK (Channel 13), KRIV (Fox 26) and KHOU (Channel 11) and the city of Pearland....(follow the link above for the full story)

MCC comment: This is the landfill expansion project that the mayor of Missouri City (Allen Owen) and our county commissioners (Bob Hebert) agreed not to fight for "tipping fees" some years ago.

FB Star Covers Update On McKeever Rd & SW Airport Issues--click here--

...At the heart of the contentious debate were the apparent adverse feelings of many Arcola residents and city administrators who felt Houston Southwest Airport owner Jamie Griffin was promoting the road changes to further his expansion of the airport.

The issue surfaced when Fort Bend County appeared to be about to purchase Griffin’s airport about 10 years ago. The projected road changes that accompanied the pre-purchase studies including closing McKeever Road to allow for the airport’s eventual expansion.

The county eventually found that purchasing the airport was not a feasible option and abandoned the idea. However, Arcola city officials and many of the town’s citizens felt the county and Griffin were still trying to push through changes that would allow for the airport’s expansion.

Griffin has, from previously published reports in the Star, wanted a “curved” design for the intersection of South Post Oak and McKeever.

However, after months of negotiations between the city and Precinct 2 Commissioner Richard Morrison the issue was worked out. The signed agreement approved by the court will include the “T” intersection preferred by Arcola officials.

During court, Commissioner Morrison said Griffin, who was called the “developer” by court members asking if he was in agreement, has the paperwork and had verbally agreed to the conditions approved by both the county and the city.

“Mr. Morrison, I want to commend you,” Hebert said after the court voted to approve the agreement. “This has taken longer than Gone with the Wind, with a cast of thousands.”

Chronicle: Blue Ridge Landfill Gets Closer To Expanding!--click the title link for more--

Click the title link for this full story on how Missouri City council, our Fort Bend County Commissioners signed off on a contract deal (for tipping fees) to allow this expansion by this GFBCEDC corporate member in the areas of Missouri City, Arcola, Fresno, Sienna Plantation, Shadow Creek Ranch, etc...

5/26/09 CHRON UPDATE: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/fortbend/news/6440352.html

CHRON: Blue Ridge Landfill Expansion, Near Missouri City,...Update!

Landfill opposition group to get new attorney
Waste company makes deal with 2 TV stations

By ZEN T.C. ZHENG CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT
Jan. 2009,

A grass-roots group battling a landfill expansion plan in east Fort Bend County is expected to have a new attorney within a month now that Richard Morrison, their current lawyer, has decided to devote himself exclusively to his new county commissioner’s job.

“I will find a very capable counsel for my clients within 30 days and maybe sooner,” Morrison said on Jan. 7.
Morrison also said there is no truth to rumors that the group, Coalition Against Blue Ridge Landfill Expansion, has reached a settlement with the trash-disposal company, Allied Waste, which is now Republic Services, after the two companies merged late last year.

The two-year fight began after the company applied for a state permit to add 1,345 acres to the 599-acre landfill on the west side of FM 521 north of Fresno. With the plan, the landfill would rise in height from 58 to 170 feet in 40 years.
Strong community opposition resulted in opponents being granted a contested case hearing by Texas Commission for Environmental Quality, which had preliminarily approved the expansion. The contested case hearing to be conducted by the State Office of Administrative Hearings is essentially a civil trial.

In order to avoid the hearing, in early 2008, the company sought a settlement with the opponents that also include the city of Pearland and three local television stations — KTRK (Channel 13), KRIV (Fox 26) and KHOU (Channel 11).

Negotiations failed last year between the company and two opposition groups, including the city and the coalition, which comprises residents from numerous subdivisions near the landfill.

However, Gary McCuistion, a company spokesman, said on Jan. 8 that the company has struck a deal with two of the TV stations, KTRK and KHOU.

“We are still reaching out to the city of Pearland although we haven’t been talking to the citizens group,” McCuistion said. . .


Follow the title link above for the entire piece.

MCC Comment: This is the landfill near Missouri City that city council officials and county commissioners (except for Morrison) agreed to not oppose for "tipping fees" and recorded highly toxic Barium leaks in 2005.

FB Star Covers Houston SW Airport Compromise Offer (This airport expansion would impact negatively many hwy 6 MC neighborhoods if allowed to continue)

They are waiting to see if he “bites”
Morrison: Houston Southwest Airport owner
handed a new carrot by officials

By Cheryl Skinner

Commissioner-elect Richard Morrison says the controversial McKeever Road project could take a bend in the road if Houston Southwest Airport owner Jamie Griffith bites on a new carrot thrown his way. Morrison says that he hoped the road dispute could be settled before he settles into his new elected position in January.

Morrison said he has followed events in Arcola on a number of issues and attended an Arcola City Council meeting last week where discussion of alternative road plans was discussed.

“I have listened to both sides of this issue and feel that I bring a fresh set of eyes to the table to look at the proposals. I don’t have any baggage on this issue, so I figured why not jump in and see what I can do,” Morrison said.

Arcola City Council members discussed the McKeever Road project with Morrison and Marc Grant, the county’s road and bridge supervisor. One councilmember suggested a change in the planned road that would be more beneficial to the city and would, if accepted by Griffith, actually give the airport owner more opportunity to make money off of the land he has suggested would be annexed by the city if the planned road improvements go through.

However, Morrison admits that Griffith, who has steadfastly pushed for the current road improvements, holds the “wild card” in the plan to potentially change the current plan.

“I understand that he (Griffith) wants to get as rich as possible and I certainly don’t begrudge him that. He wants hangars on that land and we have offered him a different kind of carrot. We just have to see if he bites. I think that opening that land up to more commercial development would be very beneficial to him in the long run and it would be good for the city but it is in his court and he is out of town right now,” Morrison explained.

Under the new proposal, city officials have suggested rebuilding McKeever in two phases, extending Post Oak in two, and establishing a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, or TIRZ, for a large parcel of land belonging to Houston Southwest Airport owner Jamie Griffith.

Morrison said that is where Griffith could ultimately benefit. “I really think he would make more money and benefit by a TIRZ,” he noted.

The city of Arcola, Fort Bend County officials and Griffith have been in somewhat of a stalemate for years over improvements to McKeever Road and the extension of South Post Oak Road. . . (get the full story by following the title link above)

More at: http://fbindependent.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=1&twindow=&mad=&sdetail=1060&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=2531&hn=fbindependent&he=.com

Chronicle Covers Strong Arm Tactics By County Against The City Of Arcola To Possibly Advance The Airport Expansion Project-click the title link-

Follow the title link above for more-

Thursday update on airport expansion/McKeever Rd. project: http://www.fortbendnow.com/pages/full_story?article-Pulling-Plug-On-McKeever-Road-Project-Will-Cost-Arcola--400-000--Officials-Say%20=&page_label=home&id=103975-Pulling-Plug-On-McKeever-Road-Project-Will-Cost-Arcola--400-000--Officials-Say&widget=push&instance=home_news_lead_story&open=&

MCC Exclusive: Blue Ridge Landfill Contested Hearing Begins In Richmond

MCC Exclusive: Blue Ridge Landfill Contested Hearing Begins In Richmond


At 10 am yesterday morning (Tuesday) the contested hearing began in the case of the Blue Ridge Landfill Expansion proposal being advanced by Allied Waste (formerly BFI) lawyers for this billion dollar corporation in Richmond at the commissioners courtroom. This hearing was almost history 6 months ago, but because of the efforts of about a dozen communities in the Missouri City/Fresno/Arcola/Pearland areas and several t.v. stations this permit is undergoing a court-like review by the state.

During the morning session Allied attorneys spent much of their time challenging the viability of witnesses and whether or not they had “effected party status”. Much of the argument stemmed from earlier actions by the company to limit the numbers of parties claiming an environmental and health impact.

In January of ’07 a petition was presented to the TCEQ with nearly 1100 homeowners within a 3-4 mile radius of the landfill. These numbers have been severely restricted as this process moves forward. One individual on the original petition questioned how this could happen, “How can lawyers decide who is effected and who is not, it is almost like thousands of us don’t even exist”.

This hearing was further complicated when it was learned that a 2005 Barium leak may have made it to the areas water table with hundreds of wells in the nearby communities. Barium is a highly toxic nerve agent that poses serious health risks to animals and humans. Additionally, in 2006, it was learned by media sources that Missouri City officials (approved by the current mayor and some on council) and the Fort Bend county commissioners, lead by Bob Hebert and Tom Stavinhoa, had signed a contract with Allied Waste agreeing not to oppose the future expansion of the landfill to the great dismay of many area voters and taxpayers. This was, and has been, defended by current commissioners and city officials because of the controversial “tipping fees” paid by Allied for this “non-opposition”.

Richard Morrison, a Sugar Land attorney, is representing the group and vigorously defended those remaining on the effected party status list. At the hearing, several news and media outlets were present to cover this event. Another hearing is expected to be scheduled in June and we will follow this as it progresses.

Stay informed and keep in touch!




Pict above from FBN>

Chron: Perot's Hillwood buys Sienna Plantation South

Perot's Hillwood buys Sienna Plantation South
Developer says first lots could be ready in mid-2009

By SESHADRI KUMAR
Chronicle Correspondent

Sienna Plantation in Missouri City has a new neighbor.

Hillwood, a Dallas-based development company, has purchased the 3,827-acre Sienna Plantation South to build a community of about 7,000 single-family homes. About 300 acres will be used for retail and commercial development.

The property was purchased from The Godi Group of Scottsdale, Ariz.

Hillwood spokesman David Pelletier said that the company would keep the same name, Sienna Plantation South, for the new development. He declined to disclose the sale price.

Hillwood, a Ross Perot company, is known for its development of the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas project northwest of Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, the $420-million American Airlines Center in Victory Park in Dallas and the 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia development near Los Angeles. . .(click title link for more)


MCC comment: This appears to be the 4th owner since 2006. Many of the statements about the area are almost repeats regarding city officials comments (see "If they do what they have done in other places, it is going to be a very, very first-class facility," he said.
The city wanted to ensure that the integrity of the plantation as well as the history of the place are preserved, Owen said, and the developers have agreed to do so."). I wonder if they will soon be on Owen's campaign finance reports and disclosure statements???


calvin (c) 2007

FB Chronicle (front page)-- Permit Hearing Approaches Oct. 16th

Sides prepare for landfill hearing
Coalition seeks to derail permit request

By ZEN T. C. ZHENG
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

A waste management company that plans to expand a landfill in east Fort Bend County will face off with project opponents next month at a hearing in Richmond.

The hearing on Allied Waste's request for a permit for expansion is set for 10 a.m. Oct. 16 at the county's commissioners' courtroom and will be conducted by a judge with the Texas State Office of Administrative Hearings.

On its Web site, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, which granted the contested case hearing in July, described the contested case hearing as a legal proceeding similar to a civil trial in state district court.

The commission previously gave preliminary approval to the company's plan to add 1,345 acres to the 599-acre landfill, known as Blue Ridge Landfill at 2200 FM 521, which would rise in height from 58 to 170 feet in 40 years.

A request for a hearing came from project opponents, including residents in east Fort Bend County and Pearland who formed the Coalition Against Blue Ridge Landfill.

Also opposed to the project are three local television stations, KTRK (Channel 13), KRIV (Fox 26) and KHOU (Channel 11), who claim the expansion could block their weather-forecasting signals.

The administrative hearing judge will make a recommendation to the three-member state commission based on evidence given at the hearing, according to Lisa Wheeler, a spokeswoman for the state commission.

The commission may or may not follow the recommendation or can chose to modify it in its decision, she said.

Richard Morrison, an attorney for the coalition, believes the judge's opinion from the administrative hearing will have an impact on the commission's decision....(follow title link above for full story)

Chron Metro UPDATE: SUSPECT captured in Sienna Plantation Robbery Near Missouri City

Click the title link for more...

Another ARMED ATTACK IN SIENNA PLANTATION!!!

From FBN:

Armed Men Burst Into Sienna Plantation Home, Steal Jewelry
by Bob Dunn, Sep 04, 2007

Two armed men walked into an unlocked Sienna Plantation home Saturday evening, tied up a resident with duct tape and made off with several pieces of jewelry.

Fort Bend County Sheriff’s detectives reported the men both had red bandannas covering their faces and wore Los Angeles Dodgers baseball caps.

The robbery occurred just before 8 p.m. at a home in the 20 block fo Steve Fuqua Place, according to a sheriff’s report. . .(click title link above for the full story).

See related links on Sienna crime:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/fb/texansfront/5104938.html

http://blogs.chron.com/fortbend/archives/2007/01/armed_robbers_a.html

http://blogs.chron.com/fortbend/archives/2007/08/deputies_search_11.html

MCC Exclusive: Blue Ridge Landfill Expansion Contested Case Hearing Set For October 16th!!!

Just In: BRLFE Contested Case Hearing Set For Oct. 16th!!!
Published on 09/01/07 - 15:12:24 by MCCNewsUpdates

The contested hearing for the hotly disputed Blue Ridge Landfill Expansion Permit Hearing is set for 10:00a.m. -- Oct. 16th 2007 in the Fort Bend County Commissioner's Courtroom on 309 South 4th Street, Suite 701 in Richmond Texas. This landfill is located near Missouri City, Arcola, Fresno & Pearland, TX. The permit seeks to expand this landfill to nearly triple its current height and double the land area despite recently reported Barium leaks.

This case gathered immediate attention when it was learned that elected officials from Missouri City (including the mayor) and Fort Bend County Commissioners accepted "tipping fees" in order not to oppose the expansion. These endorsements also included our own Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council, with little explanation ever given for this move. Several Houston t.v. stations have joined the opposition case with many area neighborhoods which may be impacted lead by state and national representatives, namely Dora Olivo. Some of the stations believe this height may block some of the doppler radar signals and create a potential threat to S.E. Texas when tracking major storms.

Background On This Case Can Be Retrieved Through Searching The Following Sites:

http://missouricitychatter.blogspot.com

http://www.fortbendweb.com

http://www.fortbendnow.com

& Other local media sources.

The official CABRLE website is also an excellent source:

http://cabrle.spaces.live.com/


Stay informed and keep in touch!

FBN: FBISD Approves November Record Bond Referendum To Address Excessive Growth!

FBISD Board Approves 3.25% Modified Salary Plan, $428M Bond Referendum
by Bob Dunn,
Aug 2007

Teachers at Fort Bend Independent School District will see annual raises in the coming school year of either $1,750, or 3.25% of their current salaries, whichever is greater.

According to a revised salary proposal, which the FBISD Board of Trustees voted to adopt Monday night, non-teaching employees at the district will receive a raise of either 3.25% of their current pay, or 3.25% of the mid-point salary within their district pay grade, whichever is greater.

Trustees also approved a $428 million bond referendum – which will be put to a vote of FBISD residents in November – that would allow the fast-growing district to build four elementary schools, two middle schools and a high school within the next three years or so, in addition to making more than $138 million in repairs, refurbishments and maintenance to existing campuses. . . (click title link above for more).

TCEQ Grants Contested Hearing On Blue Ridge Landfill!

Just in:

The Texas Commission On Environmental Quality just ruled this morning at a hearing in Austin that sufficient evidence did exist to allow for a contested case hearing on the proposed application for the Blue Ridge Landfill Expansion near Missouri City, Arcola, Fresno & Pearland. This is good news for the nearly 1100 homeowners who signed the petition against this project. We will update this section as time and information permits.


Stay informed and keep in touch!

FBS Reports On BRLE 7/25 Hearing--

Landfill hearing still on for July 25

By Cheryl Skinner
Both sides of the proposed landfill expansion are gearing up for a July 25 meeting in Austin. Landfill officials are expected to plead their case for allowing the Blue Ridge Landfill, near Fresno, to expand its size and opponents, ranging from a grass roots organization to local television stations, will appear to try and stop the expansion.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality agreed to hear the arguments to determine if a contested hearing will be granted. Allied Waste wants approval to increase the size of the existing landfill that would allow the company to take in additional acreage and, over a 40-year period, increase the height of the refuse 58 feet to 170 feet.

Three local television stations, KTRK (Channel 13), KRIV (Fox 26) and KHOU (Channel 11), joined the fight against the proposal late. They voiced concerns that weather-forecasting radar signals will be blocked if the expansion were to take place. The stations say this will pose a threat to public safety, according to attorney Richard Lowerre, who is representing the stations.

Richard Morrison, attorney for the Coalition Against the Blue Ridge Landfill Expansion, said while the odds are stacked against the group, he is hopeful the hearing will result in a contested hearing. He said a contested hearing is equivalent to a court case where all sides can present evidence to try and substantiate their claims.

The expansion plan was approved by Fort Bend County Commissioners and the city of Missouri City due to an agreement with Allied years ago.

Under the agreement, which resulted in the controversial tipping fees paid to the city and county by Allied, the agreeing entities would not oppose any future expansion to the landfill. However, governmental entities that did enter into an agreement have organized to oppose the plan. The city of Pearland and some Brazoria County officials have also voiced opposition to the plan. . . (get the entire story by following the title link above)

Chronicle Covers BRLFE Case Hearing In Austin July 25th!

Click title link for more on the case hearing granted after 1000+ homeowners, Pearland, Brazoria County officials, dozens of neighborhoods and politicians (except for GFBCEDC, Fort Bend Commissioners & Missouri City Council) push for contested hearing!

Stay informed and keep in touch as the '08 Missouri City council at large races approach!

FB Star Looks At New Make-up Of City Council--

Missouri City women make history

By Barbara Fulenwider
History was made in Missouri City when District C Council Member Barbara Gibson was sworn into office in May and joined District A Council Member Eunice Reiter. They made history because it was the first time two women had served on city council simultaneously.

With the votes of the runoff canvassed on June 25, District B Council Member Cynthia Gary was sworn into office at Missouri City’s July 2 council meeting and more history was made. Gary is the first black woman to serve on council and now there are three women serving at the same time. When Reiter was first elected to office 13 years ago she became the third woman to ever serve. The first woman elected to council was Carol Eguia who served from 1978 to 1981.

The second was Maris Reynolds, who was in elected in 1985 and held office until 1991. . .

. . .On July 2 a beaming Gary, who ran against an incumbent and soundly defeated

him in the runoff, was sworn in before a room of supporters who stood and clapped well after she had raised her right hand and taken her oath of office. After the oath was administered by Mayor Allen Owen, he said gesturing toward her seat on the dais, “All right council member, take your seat,” and there was more long and loud applause as she did.

Gary is a southwest Houston native who has lived in Missouri City for 25 years. She received a bachelor of science degree in chemistry and a master’s degree in sociology at Prairie View A&M. She is currently working toward on a doctorate at Texas A&M. She and her husband of 25 years have three sons and work as real estate investors. (click the title link above for the full story)

MCC/CRD comment:

A more different group of elected officials couldn't be more possible. You have two Owen backed council members and one reform council member. The real history is that for the first time a non "insider" was elected and will attempt to bring about more changes and is leading the reform spear-head on a council that has been characterized as out of touch and linked closely with Houston development special interests (that is what makes Reiter's comment so interesting and somewhat misleading IMO).

Stay informed and keep in touch (and keep an eye on this council)!

FB Sun Covers Landfill & T.V. Station Problem (Near Missouri City)-

Television stations claim landfill will block Doppler
By: John Pape

The proposed expansion of the Blue Ridge Landfill in eastern Fort Bend County is facing a new obstacle after two Houston television stations claimed the increased height would interfere with their weather radar signals.

Both ABC station KTRK (Channel 13) and CBS affiliate KHOU (Channel 11) said that if the landfill was allowed to increase its height from 50-feet to 170-feet as proposed in Blue Ridge's pending expansion permit, the two stations' Doppler weather radar signal toward Galveston and the Gulf of Mexico could be compromised.

The landfill currently has a permit pending before the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to increase the height of the landfill to add more capacity. That application has drawn vocal opposition from area residents and environmental activists.

Rick Lowerre, an Austin-based attorney representing the television stations, said that the reduced effectiveness of the weather radar could present a significant threat to the public during severe storms.

"The stations would no longer be able to give the same type of advanced warning of some hurricanes, tornadoes and other adverse weather conditions," Lowerre said.
Allied Waste, operator of the Blue Ridge facility, did not return calls for comment. . .


Click the title link above for the full story--