Kevin O’Connor Kommentary March 27

Blinn College Trustees Pursuing Land Purchase To Build A Campus In Waller

Blinn College trustees take the next step to building a campus in Waller. Trustees at their September regular meeting approve the recommendation of executive vice chancellor Leighton Schubert allowing administrators to negotiate the purchase of 100 acres off Highway 290 on Binford Road. There was no public discussion before the board’s unanimous vote. Click below to hear Leighton Schubert’s comments about the land purchase:   A Blinn spokesman tells WTAW News that the college has enough unrestricted cash to buy the land and build the Waller campus. Trustees were also told that fall enrollment at Blinn’s temporary campus at Waller High School is three students. Vice chancellor Becky McBride said the three students do not include over 200 high school students who are taking dual credit classes. Click below to hear a question about enrollment in Waller from Blinn trustee Diane Kettler and the response from vice chancellor Becky McBride:   Additional information from Blinn College: At its regular meeting on Tuesday, the Blinn College District Board of Trustees authorized the purchase of a 100-acre site in Waller-Harris County, taking a significant step toward establishing a new campus in the eastern portion of Blinn’s service area. Regarding the Waller-Harris County land purchase, the board unanimously authorized the College to purchase the property located on Binford Road near Highway 290. Blinn plans to transform the site into a comprehensive commuter campus that will offer both academic and workforce training programs. The next step in the development process is to create a programming and facilities plan to ensure the campus meets the needs of students and the community. “This acquisition marks an exciting and significant milestone in our commitment to serving the growing needs of our community,” said Dr. Mary Hensley, Chancellor of the Blinn College District. “The greater Waller-Harris County area is experiencing rapid development, and this new campus will provide students in the eastern portion of our service area with convenient access to Blinn’s renowned educational programming. By expanding our presence in Waller and Harris County, we offer these students the tools they need to succeed academically and professionally.” The location will be Blinn’s sixth, joining its Brenham, Bryan, RELLIS, Schulenburg, and Sealy campuses. Blinn currently offers evening courses at Waller ISD facilities, and these will remain available as the College develops its new campus site.

Downtown Bryan Parking Committee Presents Recommendations To The City Council

In February 2024, Bryan mayor Bobby Gutierrez created a committee to look into parking in the downtown area. Committee recommendations given at the council’s September 10th meeting included hiring an outside consultant to develop a long term parking action plan and promote other areas of public parking that includes what is considered to be the under utilized parking garage south of the courthouse. While there is a charge to park in the garage except for some special events, there was no support to bring back paid on-street parking. Councilmembers were told that 75 percent of parking spaces are taken in the area between 23rd and 26th and between Bryan Avenue and the railroad tracks east of Main. The mayor brought up having some sort of enforcement in a seven block area where people are parking longer than allowed. One example is placing “courtesy reminders” on vehicles exceeding the 90 minute limit, something that was done during August. And the mayor repeated an observation from before the committee was created that he believed that there is not a parking problem in downtown Bryan, but there is a walking problem…referring to those who don’t want to walk from the parking garage. Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the Bryan city council’s workshop meeting on September 10, 2024. Click below to hear comments from the September 10, 2024 Bryan council workshop meeting.  

College Station City Council Denies A Request To Delete A Future Street Project

A College Station city council majority denies a request to delete a future street project. After more than two hours of discussion at the September 12th meeting, the council voted six to one to keep on the city’s thoroughfare plan, connecting Balcones Drive between Welsh next to First Baptist Church and the rear of Jones Crossing shopping center. City staff was directed to work out the project, at the city’s expense, with the Jones Crossing developer and the church, who both requested the deletion. Bob Yancy voted against the motion. There was also council support for the city to split the cost of adding traffic signals at Harvey Mitchell Parkway at the intersection that serves the center and the Campus Village and Woodlands apartments. Click HERE to read and download background information from the city of College Station. Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the city of College Station. Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the Jones Crossing developer. Click below to hear some comments from the September 12, 2024 College Station city council meeting.