June 6, 2023; City Council Meeting RE: Proposed Waterman Highlands Landscape District We have two parcels (0156-120-270 and 0156-120-280). One parcel borders Hilborn Road for only about 20 feet, and there is no city maintained landscaping there. The other parcel borders Hilborn Road and continues behind the Fire Station to border Vista Grande to the City property line. There is no city maintained landscaping on that entire border either. On this parcel we have landscaped it ourselves and maintain it from the immediate backyard fence down to the sidewalk for the length of about 100 feet along Hilborn Road. From that point along Hilborn Road to the Fire Station is about an additional 400 feet that is not landscaped, either by the City or us.
The consultant has used the same cookie cutter approach and methodology that is being used across the state in other "Districts" as well. This cookie cutter approach has not allowed for special circumstances or individual analysis. Our two properties are unique in the following ways and require extra thought and consideration:
#1. In respect to the parcels that are actually in Waterman Highlands, the city landscaping abuts to their back fences on Hilborn and Waterman. Our two properties do not abut to, nor are anywhere near, city landscaping at any point. In fact, it is totally out of our line of sight. #2. The city landscaping goes down to the sidewalks on Hilborn and Waterman. There is no city landscaping at any point on our property where it borders city streets, therefore, no city landscaping down to the sidewalk as is the case for all the Waterman Highlands properties which border Hilborn and Waterman.
#3. 1 think the rationale for determining "special benefits" is very flawed, and is patently unfair. And quite frankly, no matter how many obscure studies are quoted, I think very few, if any, parcel owners would agree that a larger size lot gives more "special benefits" than a smaller lot, unless the property actually abuts to city landscaping.
#4. Our property line goes all the way down to the sidewalk. The city has an easement of specified number of feet. Again, there is no landscaping on the easement area. I don't know if the property lines for parcels that are actually in Waterman Highlands that back up to Hilborn and Waterman go down to the respective sidewalks, but if they do, and are currently landscaped, and ours is not, then I think that supports my thoughts that our properties should be excluded since our properties are being treated differently than Waterman Highlands itself.
#5. Our two parcels should be excluded from the Waterman Highlands district. The original intent of the builder was to put apartments or condos on the remaining vacant land, but that did not happen. 10 years later we bought the lots from Centex and had houses built. We are far removed physically from Waterman Highlands itself and stand as separate property and receive no "benefits" from city