In an unexpected move, the Cinco MUD 12 Board backed away from its controversial proposal to build eight new monument signs marking the entrance to Cinco Ranch.
Bill Odle, the MUD’s architect for the proposed project, announced the change at the beginning of the Cinco Ranch Residential Homeowners Association board meeting at the Cinco Ranch Lake House Tuesday evening.
The Cinco Ranch residential board had been expected to make a final decision on the $1.4 million proposal that had generated a storm of debate in recent months.
MONUMENT SIGNS WITHDRAWN – Cinco Ranch Residential Property Owners Association board members listen as Cinco MUD 12 announces it will not go forward with its controversial monument sign proposal. Board members are, from left, Annabel Terrell, Tim Dore, Bob Pennington, Bob Russell and Michael Price.
Odle made the surprise announcement at the start of what had been planned as a presentation about the sign proposal by the MUD board.
Odle said the MUD board had decided to remove the controversial monument signs from the project. They instead proposed to only update the landscaping around existing entrance signs, enhance lighting, repair irrigation and install sidewalks in areas where there were none.
“The modified proposal is to just do landscaping; not to do anything else, but just re-do the landscaping at the entries,” Odle said. “(It would involve) landscaping, putting in the sidewalks that are missing in those areas and to repair and re-do the lighting. That’s the proposal (the MUD 12 Board) would like to present to the board tonight.”
He added the landscaping work would “essentially refresh what’s there.”
The scaled-back proposal was a marked change from the MUD board’s previous position on the project, and appeared to take the CRPA Board by surprise.
“So essentially we’re talking about taking the eight monuments out (of the proposal),” Cinco Ranch Community Manager Michael Meagher said.
Rick Wagner, vice-chair of the Cinco Ranch Neighborhood Representatives Committee, had been prepared to read a statement on behalf NRC Chair Morgan Stagg urging the CRPA Board to reject the proposal. Odle’s presentation made that statement unnecessary, Wagner told CRPA board members.
“Based on what I just heard, I don’t think her statement is appropriate at this time,” Wagner said. “I believe this proposal will be much better accepted.”
Bruce Thomas, who chaired the NRC working group assigned to study the monument sign proposal, agreed.
“There’s no longer an issue; I’m pleasantly surprised,” Thomas said. “This is more in line with what the community wants.”
R.J. Linton, an NRC member and vocal opponent of the MUD proposal, also endorsed the revised plan.
“Since the monuments have been removed, there’s nothing for me to say other than, ‘hurray,’” Linton said.
Another NRC member, Joe Axline, complimented the MUD board for listening for the desire of the residents.
“You’ve done a good job of listening and I just want to say thank you,” Axline told the MUD board members present.
Three members of the MUD 12 Board of Directors – Stephanie Faulk, Marsha McCoy and Joe Horak – were present for the meeting. Patti Porter Hopper, legal assistant for MUD 12 attorney Stephen Robinson, also attended.
Faulk was the only MUD board member to publicly comment. She said board members came to the conclusion residents did not want the project.
“We didn’t realize the community wasn’t interested in doing it,” Faulk said.
The MUD board members left the meeting during a brief recess following the initial presentation and before the CRPA Board took any action on the revised proposal.
As they were leaving, several reporters asked the MUD representatives when they made the decision to scale back the proposal. Hopper said the board voted to make the change at a special meeting last Wednesday. MUD board members left the meeting without responding to other questions.
After the CRPA Board reconvened, they again polled NRC members in the audience for their opinion of the revised project. All urged approval in principle, but contingent on making certain the landscaping is done within existing Cinco Ranch standards.
CRPA Board Vice President Bob Pennington made the motion to approve the MUD board’s scaled-back proposal with the provision that it conforms to established landscaping guidelines.
The motion passed on a 3-1 vote. Pennington, Tim Dore and Annabel Terrell voted in favor of the measure, Bob Russell voted against and Board President Michael Price abstained.
Please excuse me, it’s cincores.
cincres,
Yes, my complete understanding is quite certainly aware, that MUD Boards have in fact been known to pay for sidewalks. If that is what you think I did not say? Well, in fact I did not. I know more, but at this I’m handing you the floor….ha sidewalk.
Kat_Princess you must be one of the people who were against the project. Too bad the MUD caved into the minority.
By the way you are showing you complete misunderstanding
of the project. Just fall in line with the other sheep and believe what the misinformers of the NRC published.
NOT ONE DOLLAR WAS COMING FROM THE HOA!!!!
Ha!
Generating storms to debate..now that’s a “charette” worthy to speak about! Kudos to standing up against wasted HOA dollars…
Knock, knock. Please miff me in?
Good to hear they finally came back to reality.