Comments on: Council Moves Forward With New Basement Recommendation

By: Lucille Gallman

Lucille Gallman — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 21:03:38 +0000

Why does anyone need a wine cellar in a basement under their house? There are places to buy the best wine close to West U, so I am told.

By: Brian Hoogendam

Brian Hoogendam — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 13:16:20 +0000

Bob – I do agree that zoning is what makes West U a great place to live but this is a red herring. Zoning is one thing – private property rights is another. Can you honestly tell the public that basements endanger citizens? In my 9 years of living in in West U, I have never seen nor heard of a basement failure. Can you please give us the facts on this issue?

Frankly, the most dangerous thing I have seen in West U is a 40 foot Chinese Tallow tree fall on my neihbors house because it was dead at the roots – why not ban trees?

Just give the public the facts on this issue – that is all I ask. Do not try and solve a problem that does not exist.

Brian Hoogendam

By: Mayor Bob Kelly

Mayor Bob Kelly — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 14:30:45 +0000

Brian, hope all is well with the family. Your point about foundation failures is well taken. Even though WU has strong building regulations concerning them, we still have some failures. The reason, in my opinion, is not the regulations, but instead the workmanship. And, as you point out, we can’t ban foundations. But, we do not need basements. While the landowner who has one built may want it, the structual problems may not show up till several landowners later. I also am a strong property rights person, and is Ed Heathcott, but as both of us have been Council Members and Mayors, we appreciate how good intentions can go wrong. I stress again that strict zoning is one of the things that makes WU a great place to live. I assure you your comments will be considered.

By: Lucille Gallman

Lucille Gallman — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 14:23:13 +0000

Once upon a time, West U made restrictions on new construction. Exceptions were then allowed which permitted new construction to bypass restrictions in the name of private property rights. As a result, small lots were almost completely covered with huge structures which negatively impacted the value of adjoining properties and destroyed the lifestyle of their residents. An ordinance permitting basements of a certain size may pass but how can anyone think, that as in the past, exceptions would not be made. I remember when the new West U housing boom began in the 1980s. I seem to recall a rash of poor foundations that caused pain, suffering and expense for buyers of these new homes. Changes were made and houses that followed had better foundations. I’m certainly not an authority on the subject, but I would hope that if the door is open to basements in West U, careful study be given to everything basement because repairing a bad basement would be almost as hard and expensive as repairing those bad foundations.

By: Brian Hoogendam

Brian Hoogendam — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 12:52:50 +0000

First off, if you post on this site, i think you need to use your real name. Just my opinion.

I sat on the BSC for several years and applaud this decision by Council. Also, I respect John Brown and his reccommendation to allow but regulate. If engineers can design a 90 story skyscraper, they can engineer a basement in West U.

Furthermore, the argument by Mr. Heatchcott (whome I have never met) and Mr. Kelly on property values being impacted and public safety concerns is ridiculous. West U has allowed basements for many years under the current ordinances and all we have seen (except for the past 2 years) is rising property values. I would like them to show the public the numeric FACTS about their property value assertion. I would be willing to be in West University place we have seen more house foundation failures than basement failures – are house foundations next to be banned?

Also, Mr. Heathcott asserting it is Council’s job to protect home values is very scary. That is not the role of Council. The role of Council is to provide public safety and public services while being good stewards of the taxpayers dollars. You cannot protect citizens from their own actions – if I want to put a basement in, build a pool, paint my house orange, that is my right as a citizen. As long as i dont impact the public safety of my neighbors, that is my right. If you think basements pose a clear and present danger, then show the public the facts – show them all the failures that have occurred.

I really want to know what else Mr. Heathcott would ban if elected in the name of either public safety or property value preservation – what about tree limbs that overhang streets? They could fall and hurt someone. What about if someone paints their house a color you do not like? Are those things next?

What will really hurt West U property values in the long run will be all the rules and regulations that are placed upon the private property rights of its citizens. We have bans on tree cutting, cell phone usage etc. What is next?

In 2011, this city is seeing a 13% rise in water rates, a 4% rise in sewer and trash rates along with a city wide tax increase. Why not comment on those things? Those are things that matter.

Brian Hoogendam

By: CDW

CDW — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 21:40:12 +0000

While I wouldn’t personally put a basement on a house in this part of Texas I really don’t understand why the city council should prohibit one if someone wants one. Basements flood in other parts of the country so what’s the big deal there?

By: West U Resident

West U Resident — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 14:19:33 +0000

Why would you outlaw basements, but allow swimming pools? I can’t see a a basement. But a pool takes away greenspace. Someone please explain the logic for this?

By: PE

PE — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:56:56 +0000

I have been a professional engineer for many years. And I can say this without qualification: there is no technical reason for prohibiting the construction of basements in West University Place. They have been built all around us with success. These rules would make them very expensive to build, and few would likely build them. But there is no engineering reason to prohibit basements.

By: Citizen West

Citizen West — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 04:57:46 +0000

There are a lot of things you are not allowed to build or do on your property in West University Place. This will just be one more thing added to the list. You cannot build over a certain height. You cannot build a new house that is structurally unsound. You cannot build your house up to the property line. You cannot build a new house without a garage. You cannot build over a certain foot print on your lot. You cannot build stairs that have a riser of 8 inches. You cannot build a new house that doesn’t pass the energy code. You are not allowed to have stagnant water on your property for longer than 4 days. You are not allowed to drill a water well on your site for consumptive purposes. I digress. Basements should be left to the experts and they have already given their opinion.

By: Ted Ferguson

Ted Ferguson — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 03:43:39 +0000

It’s their problem, not YOURS. If you don’t want a basement, don’t build one. What’s someone else building one got to do with you?

By: Lighthouse

Lighthouse — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 03:09:51 +0000

Does the ordinance actually provide any risk to a neighboring landowner? I just can’t see how. The ordinance only allows for a tiny basement in the center of the property. It seems like a swimming pool would provide a much greater risk to a neighbor than one of these small basements because they would be much closer to the property line. I just can’t see how this proposal provides any measurable risk to a neighboring property owner. If I am correct, it really is only about individual property rights.

By: Mayor Bob Kelly

Mayor Bob Kelly — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 02:39:21 +0000

Good points. But remember the risks are to neighbors as well as landowner building basement. Come to Council meeting March 28th to find out why.

By: Hole in One

Hole in One — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 22:57:18 +0000

Gotcha Patrick Henry. I wouldn’t build one either. But I also wouldn’t build a swimming pool, a tennis court or a basketball court. I don’t drive corvettes, own any lava lamps or invest in foreign stocks. But I don’t think the law should prohibit others from doing these things if they want to.

By: Patrick Henry Jr.

Patrick Henry Jr. — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 21:34:16 +0000

Agreed!

By: Patrick Henry Jr.

Patrick Henry Jr. — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 21:32:59 +0000

From personal experience, mechanical basements in Houston are nothing but PROBLEMS!

By: Oh Please.

Oh Please. — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 16:23:59 +0000

If I read this right, people woud only be permitted to build a basement limited to 200 feet for only mechanical euimpent, storage or a wine cellar. This is pretty restrictive. If someone wants to spend the money to do it, why would the city care. This sounds like a personal decision.

By: Atlas Shrugged

Atlas Shrugged — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:45:27 +0000

Every city allows basements. Look at River Oaks, Courtland Place parts of the Heights, South Blvd. North Blvd. Why would we want to prohibit someone from building a basement just because we may not want one? If you don’t want a basement, don’t build one.

By: Citizen West

Citizen West — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 14:47:56 +0000

I’ve lived with a mechanical basement in Houston. If you like mold and being sick all the time, then by all means . . . build it. In all seriousness, in a city that consistently floods, who thinks it is a good idea to dig a hole under their house and put stuff down there? Correct me if I am wrong, but Flood Insurance only covers contents above ground. Mayor Kelly, Councilman Segal, candidate Heathcott, and the commission of experts are right on this one.

By: Mayor Bob Kelly

Mayor Bob Kelly — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 03:56:30 +0000

Excuse me, the Council meeting is Monday, March 28th.

By: Mayor Bob Kelly

Mayor Bob Kelly — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 03:54:32 +0000

I would urge all those who have an opinion on allowing basements in West U to come to the Council meeting on Tues, March 28th, and make those opinions known. This is a very important issue for our City.