1981-07-15 Joint Public Hearing and Regular Meeting

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• La Porte, Texas 77571 City of La Porte The Honorable J. J. Meza, Mayor Members of the City Council P. 0. Box 115 • P. 0. Box 455 10910 Monument Drive La Porte, Texas 77571 July 13, 1981 Re: Zoning Ordinance Gentlemen: Upon receipt of the "Notice of Public Hearing", I drove by the City Hall to discuss the agenda with Betty Waters. During our conversation, I was informed that one of the items that would be discussed would be a change iri the. building code for private dwellings. This change, would allow the construction of homes with a living area of~$50 square feet. The present code calls for a minimum of 1,2~ square feet. The land requirements would remain the same as t~iey are now, which is 6,000 square feet of land per lot. I have discussed this matter at length with Mr. Malone and Mr. Simons, and with my neighbors. The citizens of this area with whom I have discussed the lowering of these restrictions are much concerned. In most cases, private enterprise development are producing homes in the medium price range with square footage of approximately 1,700 square feet on up. My own home has 2200 square feet of living area with a detached garage. If you should vote to lower the standards of the building code to 850 square feet, it is projected that the following conditions would become a reality. 1. The value of our property would decline. 2. The building of medium priced homes would cease. 3. It is a proven fact, that when housing code standards are lowered, the crime rate increases. 4. The sewer system during moderately heavy rains become flooded as water pours under the man hole covers. Some of my neighbors are experiencing water from the sewer lines coming up in their bath tubs. Since we have no storm sewers to carry off the water that fills the ditches during these rains, this condition would be worsened by the addition of a heavier concentration of housing units per line. Obviously this becomes a health hazard.