Texas A&M Provides More Details... They Do not Have Any.

3/29/2017

Texas A&M Provides More Details... They Do not Have Any.

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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.

I think that A&M is going about this the wrong way. I would like to see Bill 1964 go away and leave the Jones State Forest as it is, a beautiful nature preserve.

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??

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.

There is plenty of land in Montgomery County that is legally and openly for sale for development. I say, build somewhere else! Leave the forest as it is.

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.
Save the forest!

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.

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!

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!!!

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.

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....

Sara A Fox

4/6/2017 11:44:34 am

The RCW does reside at the park, it uses pine trees as nesting habitats.

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.

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.

FM 1488 already serves as the "bathtub ring" around the Woodlands. We like the forest on 1488 as much as you like it on 242.

There is plenty of land in Montgomery County that is legally and openly for sale for development. I say, build somewhere else! Leave the ENTIRE Jones State Forest as it is.

Boni Wallen

3/30/2017 07:42:32 am

Why not use the Outlet Center in Conroe?

Sandy Wilganowski link

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.

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!!!
KILL SB 1964!!!

Jeff Williams

3/29/2017 11:01:34 pm

Kill this bill NOW! Arrogant Aggies....

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.

Lisa

3/30/2017 05:50:06 am

Kill the Bill
We need NO new development in this area! Too many apartments and townhomes as it is and I can't believe you're thinking about taking even a PART of the forest away! Like someone else said - there are plenty of vacant buildings you can use - explore that. Leave the forest alone!!!!!

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.

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.

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!!

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.

This is the perfect place for horse back riding to all of us locals and for those that come from Tomball, Hockley, Magnolia, Spring, or etc. This forest isn't very far for many people and has some of the best trails. The part that you are wanting to destroy has some of the best trails in that 173 acres. WG Forest is one of the best parts of Montgomery county. It's our little piece of serenity in the middle of the crazy city that keeps growing and growing.

You A&M are wanting to destroy 173 acres of the most amazing forest that the community doesn't want you to destroy. There is tons of land for sale closer to college station that will be a much better pick for you and your school. LEAVE THIS FOREST ALONE.

HELP STOP THIS BILL!!!!

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 !!!!!

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.

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.
If your interest is to educate and promote research then you should start by asking yourself, did we do our reaserch by asking what type of environmental impact is already happening in the area? Is it wise to destroy the last habitat of an endangered species? The answer is no.
Use other land that A&M has in College Station or other extension Research areas.

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!

A&M - you all should be ashamed of yourselves. I have two wonderful scholars who are of age to select colleges within the next two years - do the right thing or we will make the "right choice" for us.

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.

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
Do not even realize what lies within the forest! Running streams, swinging bridges, picnic benches, observing benches. Walking trails, education events. We just enjoyed the Owl walk! Our protected forests hold treasures for not only this generation, but for many to come. We can't destroy what was intended to be preserved and protected. There is no value on the Jones Forest because it is priceless. It is truly the land of the living. Please save the forest!!

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.

http://www.theeagle.com/news/a_m/texas-a-m-announces-plans-to-expand-riverside-campus/article_f69bbd26-0e48-11e6-ad33-c705d484e3d2.html

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.

In 1995, a task force composed of the Texas Forest Service, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Stephen F. Austin University and the Houston Audubon Society determined that the best use of the W. Goodrich Jones State Forest is to utilize it for a forest conservation and education center. A forest conservation and education center would meet a threefold purpose.

One, although Texas has significant forestry resources and a $14.6 billion forestry industry, it does not have a means through which to educate the public about the complexities and benefits of the forest environment.

Two, the Jones Forest has become unusable as a working forest as urban development has surrounded it. Wildlife as no way to safely enter and leave the area.

Three, Texans have a growing need and demand for access to outdoor areas as 80% of Texans live on 3% of the land.

A forest conservation and education center in the Jones State Forest would be open to the general public, three million of whom live in and around Houston and are within an hour drive of the Jones Forest. Some of the basic goals of a conservation and education center are to increase awareness of the forests and how they impact our lives, how a forest works, and how a forest may be used in a sustainable manner for timber management and for environmental pursuits.

Because the Jones Forest is home to a significant population of the endangered Red Cockaded Woodpecker, a center could highlight the use of forests for endangered species. School children could learn where their pencils and paper come from and at the same time learn about deforestation and reforestation. While striving to meet these goals at a conservation center,adherence would be given to maintaining a balance between the presentation of the many possible uses of a forest and the advantages and disadvantages of each one.

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

Texas A&M Provides More Details... They Do not Have Any.

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