So How Big are We Talking?

3/30/2017

So How Big are We Talking?

Read Now

So Senator Creighton has taken a step in the right direction. His updated plan calls for only 10% of Jones State Forest Park to be eligible for development by the Texas A&M University System-- a big improvement from the initial blank check approach. But how much are we really talking here?

TAMU was kind enough to publish a map indicating the area they would like to use. Roughly 178 acres in total on the south side of the park, right next to 242. Well we at Save Jones State Forest Park thought it would be a good idea to put that in perspective with three landmarks in the area.

As you can see 178 acres may not sound like a lot of land, but it is a great deal of land. Some examples:

178 acres is nearly equivalent to all road front development along the south side of 242 from Gosling to St Luke's Hospital. This includes College Park High School, which has an attendance level of more than 2,500 students.
The entire commercial development area on the northwest corner of 242 and I-45 frontage, which includes Wal-Mart, Kohls, At Home, Burlington Coat Factory, and multiple restaurants, would equal less than HALF of the requested area.
The total area requested would dwarf Lone Star College-Montgomery's entire campus, a school that serves nearly 13,000 students per year.

Do not be fooled friends... This is not a small ask from Texas A&M University. This total amount of land equals the size of many small-to-medium size four year institutions in Texas. We're not talking about a small program area, this looks like Texas A&M- The Woodlands.

9 Comments

Kami Stevens

3/30/2017 11:35:11 pm

Thank you for taking time to give an idea of comparisons for the 178 acres. This is a massive amount of land taken away from the state forest, and I find it appalling that a school deemed for its preservation of land and wildlife would even consider this. I've decided I'm not going to let this steal my joy bc everything is so temporary in this world but is doesn't mean I won't put in a good fight for what's right. So, what exactly is a "State Forest" if it's not protected by the State? Tx has only has five State Forest and none of them are remotely close to the Houston
area. If A&M takes 10% today, that also opens the door for more acreage taken for "education and research" tomorrow. Just 5-10% at a time until the forest is a parking
lot. Meanwhile in K-12 classrooms and College students alike are learning in school every day about the importance that trees play on air quality, water conservation, and land preservation, all while Texas A&M wants to bull dose 178 acres of a nature sanctuary saying "Do what I say, not what I do!"

Brian Temple

3/31/2017 08:28:40 am

Thank you for taking the time and energy to publish this information. We all know that submitting a bill in the Texas Senate to "have a discussion" is a ruse. This is nothing more than people in power trying to wield their power for personal or professional gain.
There is plenty of space near the Texas State Forestry Office on 1488 for the proposed use by TAMU. The clearing of 178 acres on the south side of the forest is not a proper use of the forest.
Please keep up the activism to fight this misuse of political power and of the forest.

TMG

3/31/2017 08:45:05 am

Please note the bill has not been withdrawn or amended. The senator has said on social media that he will alter the bill, but nothing has happened yet.

3/31/2017 10:57:38 am

Does anyone believe that an amendment will happen after passing the Bill in its original form? Does he really think all the general public is that STUPID...What an insult to our intelligence.

Donna

3/31/2017 11:30:24 am

Compare to Blinn-Brenham campus. 62 acres, academic and admin buildings, dormatory & campus apartments, athletic buildings & fields, and agriculture facilities.

Scott

3/31/2017 03:02:20 pm

Creighton wanted to find out if he could word the bill as broadly as possible, and float the possibility of allowing the Entire Park to be open for commercial/educational development (with emphasis on COMMERCIAL).

Good day for vigilant citizens has become Bad day for greedy land developers

3/31/2017 10:46:55 pm

Um... No. TAMU wants to make a small campus for student to learn. Not put in a Wal-Mart. But I'm sure this bill was enough to keep your attention away from the black helicopters flying above your house and searching for the listening devices the government had planted in your home while you were at work.

Becky Zitterich

3/31/2017 11:41:15 pm

As my funny and perceptive neighbor said, " I know when the camel has his head in the tent." We must band together to stop this right now. No 10%.

Ana Cosio

4/2/2017 03:28:11 pm

Please keep me informed of all, what I can do.

So How Big are We Talking?

Leave a Reply.