Today the Texas A&M University System provided further details behind their request for Senator Creighton to file Senate Bill 1964. Looking to the future, the system envisions an opportunity to develop up to "only 178 acres" of the state forest for the purpose of establishing what amounts to a campus in the region.
Texas A&M believes that the best route to begin the discussion around this concept is to seek legislative authority to move forward with the project... Before a project is even planned, budgeted for, or presented to the community it will purportedly serve. It's almost like asking us to go steady before we have a first date. We think this may be putting the cart before the horse, but would appreciate hearing from our neighbors. Share your thoughts below and on our Facebook page. And stay tuned as we plan for more opportunities to have your voice heard by Texas A&M and Senator Creighton.
31 Comments
Stacy Kimpel
3/29/2017 09:54:30 pm
I think 178 acres is way too much forest to lose. The last thing we need is another large campus on 242, the traffic is awful already with the high school and college already there.
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Judy Granata
3/29/2017 09:58:33 pm
Why don't they build on the north side of 1488 where it won't interfere with the main Forest land or the trails??
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Marian Booker
3/29/2017 10:40:42 pm
The north side of 1488 is where the last remaining habitat for the Red Cockaded Woodpecker is. Have you driven on FM 1488? It is a zoo already - ugly 4-story apartment buildings cropping up on every square inch that is NOT currently state forest.
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Roger Werchan
3/30/2017 09:43:47 am
Having moved here from just SE of A & M I can tell you that there is a heck of a lot more land available very near their main campus. No need to go 75 miles away.
Susan Reese
3/29/2017 11:17:42 pm
Those of us on the north side value our section as much as those on the south. Many of us paid high premiums for yards that border the forest, as we were told it would always be protected due to the Red Cockaded Woodpecker.
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Jessica thornhill
3/29/2017 10:06:57 pm
I just can not fathom what is going on here. Go buy property somewhere else! Leave this Forest alone!
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Stephanie McGallion
3/29/2017 10:21:01 pm
Ridiculous!!! 178 acres is a ton of forest to destroy! Pull the bill, find land already cleared and build your campus there!!!
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Kami Stevens
3/29/2017 10:28:44 pm
Using even 1 acre to lay concrete in a State Forest shouldn't be acceptable. That's why it's protected and declared a nature preserve in the first place. This is all about money and I am ashamed of Texas A&M who seems to pride themselves on land, animals and preservation. Go build your college on commercial property like every other college.
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Jackie Hare
3/29/2017 10:44:31 pm
Please do not allow the "economic development" or even the "educational development" of the precious Jones State Park. Texas A & M, I am told, already has land in Conroe this project could be built on. Would you verify that? With the horrific clear-cutting of the Boy Scout camp for "economic development" (code for housing division) just a few miles away, it is extremely disappointing to see SBill 1964 pop up, especially with no community discussion. Given there is an endangered animal habitat, (I was told it does not "reside" on the land they want to develop, it just flies through it for food!), kill SB 1964 NOW! Based on increased traffic congestion, kill SB 1964. Based on lack of specific and limiting (in writing) plans for the project, kill SB 1964, NOW! Thank you for your time....
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Sara A Fox
4/6/2017 11:44:34 am
The RCW does reside at the park, it uses pine trees as nesting habitats.
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Steve Garbs
3/29/2017 10:44:33 pm
This forest should remain as it is. It has been a state forest for 90 years. I think if this is something they need to do then do it on the north side of fm 1488. There is plenty of land across fm 1488. This state forest should remain intact as WG Jones State Forest. Over 100k people a year use and enjoy this beautiful park.
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Marian Booker
3/29/2017 11:12:47 pm
As I stated above, the north side of 1488 is where the last remaining habitat for the Red Cockaded Woodpecker is. Have you driven on FM 1488? It is a zoo already - ugly 4-story apartment buildings cropping up on every square inch that is NOT currently state forest.
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Boni Wallen
3/30/2017 07:42:32 am
Why not use the Outlet Center in Conroe? 3/29/2017 10:50:47 pm
Kill The Bill, plenty of empty buildings in montgomery county that could be used, You can never replace a forest.
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Patty Adams
3/29/2017 10:57:07 pm
KILL THE BILL! We do not need more development in this area! We are overdeveloped now, and have another enormous development in the works at Loop 336 South and I-45. NO MORE DEVELOPMENT!!!
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Jeff Williams
3/29/2017 11:01:34 pm
Kill this bill NOW! Arrogant Aggies....
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Katy
3/29/2017 11:03:45 pm
Looking at where they propose to build just fills me with dread. Just the start of chipping away at the forest. There are loads of brownfield sites that could be made available to them instead of using one of the last remaining remotely nice areas to visit in the vicinity. Look to other places for examples for a change instead of following a short sighted route. Great cities retain their green spaces. They don't cover them in concrete.
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Lisa
3/30/2017 05:50:06 am
Kill the Bill
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Angela
3/30/2017 07:00:48 am
It is ludicrous for A & M to use the state forest to build a campus. Are they saying they don't have the money to buy property?? We moved here in 1986 when FM 1488 was a two lane with almost nothing but trees on both sides all the way to Hempstead. Now look at it! It is a concrete parking lot. It is disgusting for them to ruin something that has been here for so long. THIS BILL NEEDS TO DISAPPEAR. They can find the money to buy property elsewhere. This has to be stopped. We do not need anymore development around here.
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Bridgett Belin
3/30/2017 07:47:07 am
As an Aggie, I am deeply disappointed. Has anyone from A&M assessed the community impact of adding even more commercial facilities and traffic. It is out of control already. Please reconsider this proposition.
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Joanne
3/30/2017 08:10:20 am
Save the forest! Humans have taken away too much of the beauty of our land and it's natural inhabitants by building, building, building! Leave it be the way God created it!! My goodness, it started with the white immigrants running the Native Americans off their land and has never stopped!!
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Vanessa Thornhill
3/30/2017 10:24:13 am
This is just plain sickening to me and to everyone else in the surrounding area. This forest is used by the community and by many people in the surrounding area also by people that drive hours to enjoy WG. We all come to enjoy WG Forest to just go hicking, walking, running, biking, walking our dogs, and lastly horseback riding.
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Jim Laney
3/30/2017 10:32:26 am
KILL THE BILL. We moved to The Woodlands because of the beauty, We totally agree with everything concern previously stated. KILL THE BILL !!!!!
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Susan Beckemeier
3/30/2017 11:48:03 am
As a volunteer who has worked with other people for hundreds of hours trying to enhance the habitat for the endangered woodpeckers, I am incensed at the idea that TAMU would want to develop even more of the area. I could see putting in a little interpretive center or otherwise enhancing the existing buildings in the park but to put in a satellite campus there is insane. Jones Forest is a little oasis of nature in the midst of a desert of concrete. Don't take it away from those of us who care.
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IMELDA MERCADO
3/30/2017 02:07:39 pm
I am one more resident of the area who is expressing a complete disapproval of this bill. I can't believe that Texas A&M having so many properties everywhere else such a as extension Research areas would like to develop this last patch of forest is left in our area.
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David
3/31/2017 01:46:28 am
Opposed! Send this bill back to where it came from. I live right across the highway from this wonderful nature preserve. Poor ole man WG Jones must be a rollin' in his grave after seeing what these politicians are trying to pull off. Respect the original intent of the land that was given to the state!
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Kitty
3/31/2017 07:38:26 am
No, no, no! Leave Jones State Forest as it is for the birds, animals, hikers, and horseback riders. Montgomery County used to have lots of rural acres. They are being gobbled up more and more rapidly and it is such a shame.
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Nicole Maggart
3/31/2017 04:16:27 pm
178 acres is not a little amount! Honestly one acre is way too much to give up! It won't stop at 178 acres either. It wouldn't be long and another 178 acres would be desrtoyed. I wish I could post pictures here. The wildlife is thriving in the Jones Forest! We have been blessed with several different kinds of woodpeckers feeding at our feeders. Even our special endangered woodpecker. We have at least 7 different kinds of birds frequent our backyard, but many other kinds of birds enjoy our forest. Most people
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Rick Jones
3/31/2017 08:43:51 pm
Texas A&M owns the Riverside Campus which is 1900 acres in the Bryan / Collage Station area (Texas 47 and Texas 21). They plan to build this out in the near furture. I don't see a reason they would need any part of Jones Forest.
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Mike Bass
4/1/2017 03:47:54 pm
I agree that 178 acres is whey two much. in my mind a better solution is what was recommend by a multi entity task force in 1995.
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Sharon Linnehan
4/9/2017 04:45:19 pm
This is totally unnecessary there are so many empty building that could be used. I am very sure when this land was donated to A&M the family's intend was for it is remain in it's natural self a forest. When is a enough a enough!!!There needs to be untouched places all Thur the world.Every tree removed affects all of us one way or another.Think the bigger picture
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