Shoreacres' Shorts
Archive
Posted: Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Have you ever misplaced your
city utility bill without reading the Shoreacres' Shorts on the back
first? Don't despair! You can find (almost) all of the past issues right
here.
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4th of July
Holiday Schedule
Posted: Thursday, July 2, 2009
City Hall offices will be
closed all day on July 3 in observance of Independence Day. No building
inspections will be scheduled or made on Friday (7/3). No recycling
collections will be made on Saturday (7/4). Routine trash collection
will take place on Monday (7/6).
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Hurricane Ike
Stress & Anger Workshops
Posted: Thursday, July 2, 2009
Last year Hurricane Ike took
a big toll on our property and lives. We can easily recognize and deal
with the physical damage, but the emotional damage may be much more
difficult to repair.
The Houston Galveston
Institute (HGI) would like to help. In cooperation with the City of
Shoreacres HGI is holding a series of two-hour Hurricane Ike stress and
anger workshops at City Hall.
6:30pm to 8:30pm - Tuesday,
July 14 & 28, 2009
Come learn what you can do
to help your family and yourself overcome the lingering affects of this
traumatic event.
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Join
Congressman Pete Olson For a Town Hall Meeting
Posted: Monday, July 6, 2009
Rep. Pete Olson
will visit Pasadena on Saturday, July 11th to hold a
town hall meeting. The
Congressman will provide an update on recent activities in Congress
involving NASA funding levels, “cap and trade” energy and health care
proposals being discussed in Congress. The town hall meeting will also
give him an opportunity to hear local concerns and answer any questions
about federal issues.
Date: Saturday, July 11, 2009
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Location:
San Jacinto College Central (Monte
Blue Music Bldg, Rm 105) – 8060 Spencer Highway, Pasadena TX 77505
Contact: Tyler Nelson, (281) 486 -1095
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Aerial
Photographs of Shoreacres: 1930 to 2008
Posted: Tuesday, July 7, 2009
A collection of nearly 100 aerial photographs of Shoreacres has been
placed on the City's Flickr photo
website. See the changes that occurred from 1930 to 1944 to 2007
before Ike to 2008 after Ike.
You might be
surprised to discover that the yacht club had an airport or that there
were very few trees east of Highway 146. [more]
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City
Launches e-Mail Newsletters & Special Bulletins
Posted: Wednesday, July 8, 2009
The City is pleased to offer another means of sharing information with
the community. Anyone can now sign-up for Shoreacres newsletters and
bulletins via the Internet. Subscribers can pick and choose between
bi-weekly newsletters, more frequent news briefs, emergency bulletins,
meeting notices, and special notices for lost & found pets. Selected
mailings can be changed at anytime.
The city established a temporary e-mail list in 2005 during Hurricane
Rita to keep residents informed about the status of the city and the
storm impact. During Hurricane Ike in 2008 the city relied on the
website to disseminate information. This hurricane season residents can
avail themselves of both.
To subscribe visit the city's website
www.CityofShoreacres.us.
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Hurricane Ike
Stress Workshops
Posted: Thursday, July 15, 2009
Last year Hurricane Ike took
a big toll on our property and lives. We can easily recognize and deal
with the physical damage, but the emotional damage may be much more
difficult to repair.
The Houston Galveston
Institute (HGI) would like to help. In cooperation with the City of
Shoreacres HGI is holding a series of two-hour Hurricane Ike stress and
anger workshops at City Hall.
6:30pm to 8:30pm - Tuesday,
July 28, 2009
Come learn what you can do
to help your family and yourself overcome the lingering affects of this
traumatic event.
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Stay Connected Texas:
Ike Recovery Fair
Posted: Wednesday, July 22, 2009
If
you live in Harris County, have ongoing needs caused by Ike, and are not
receiving rental help from a Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP),
you can sign up for services at one of these Stay Connected Texas Ike
Recovery Fairs:
La Porte Neighborhood Center, 526 San Jacinto
Friday, July 24, noon to 7pm
Saturday, July 25, 10am to 5pm
Cleveland-Ripley Neighborhood Center, 720 Fairmont Parkway
Friday, July 31, noon to 7pm
Saturday, August 1, 10am to 5pm
For
more information call: 713.667.5853
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Since
standard homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flooding, it’s important to
have protection from the floods associated with hurricanes, tropical
storms, heavy rains and other conditions that frequently impact the
Texas.
Find out more about the
National Flood
Insurance Program and how it can help you protect yourself. [more]
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The Shoreacres Planning & Zoning Commission will hold a Public
Hearing on Wednesday, July 29, at 7:00pm at City Hall. In
addition to the Public Hearing the meeting
agenda includes
discussion of fences, garages, and the maximum allowable height of
houses.
Fence issues under consideration are height, placement between houses
and the street, allowable distance from a street, and construction
materials.
Garage issues under consideration include allowing full or partially
unenclosed garages (parking under elevated houses) and requirements for
garage doors.
Height considerations are generally a clarification of the current
regulations.
The public is invited to attend and comment on these issues.
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Homeowners Disaster Recovery Program
Posted: Monday, July 27, 2009
For
nearly a year we've all been waiting for housing repair and
reconstruction grant funds to work through the federal and state
bureaucracy. Finally we have an indication that some funding may arrive
at the end of 2009.
Eligible
applicants could receive money toward reconstruction, rehabilitation
and/or elevation of their storm damaged home.
Applications will be processed directly by Harris County and not the
City of Shoreacres.
During
the first phase of the program assistance will only be available to the
elderly (62+), disabled, and/or low-to-moderate income homeowners who
received significant housing damage from Hurricane Ike. Eligible
homeowners must also have owned and occupied the property as their
primary residence at the time of the storm and remained the owner of the
damaged property.
The
Harris County Homeowners
Disaster Recovery Program will not however release grant
guidelines and other information about applying for assistance until
October 2009.
Homeowners who want to request assistance will be required to wait until
October.
Applications for housing assistance will be received through Harris
County's website,
www.HarrisRecovery.org in October. Once applications are submitted
another four weeks may be required before approval notification. No word
yet on how long the wait for money may take after approval.
Check the
www.HarrisRecovery.org
website for updates.
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Hurricane Ike Milestone
Reached
Posted: Friday, July 31, 2009
This week
the City of Shoreacres reached a post-hurricane milestone.
On July 29, 2009, the city issued the first
Certificate of Occupancy for a new house built in place of a house
destroyed by Hurricane Ike. Work began after the demolition permit was
issued on December 8, 2008.
Following the impact of Hurricane Ike on
September 13, 2008, the city determined that 79 houses were so damaged
that they could not be repaired unless elevated to meet current flood
prevention standards. During the last ten months 41 houses have been
demolished. Today another eight have demolition permits. The city
anticipates 90 or more houses may ultimately be demolished as a direct
result of hurricane damage.
As of July 31, 2009, the City of Shoreacres has
issued 284 Fast Track Building permits to repair flood damage; three
permits to elevate houses; and nine new house construction permits.
Several new homes are currently under construction and dozens more are
expected to obtain permits for new homes in the next few months.
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City Council to
Consider Restrictions
on the
Use of Fill Dirt for
Elevated Buildings
Posted: Friday, July 31, 2009
At their next regular meeting, Monday, August
10, the Shoreacres City Council will consider designating a flood surge
hazard area and prohibiting the use of fill to raise the grade of any
lot above the minimum required to achieve proper drainage in that area.
Under the staff proposal the city would
designate the area east of Sunrise Drive to Galveston Bay as a flood
surge hazard area.
Within that area the use of fill dirt would
be restricted and could not be used to create a hill upon which to build
a house or other building.
[ Draft
of Proposed Revisions - Subject to Change Without Notice]
SECTION 30-97. BASIS FOR ESTABLISHING THE FLOOD SURGE HAZARD AREAS
The areas of flood surge hazard is hereby
identified by the City of Shoreacres as the entirety of the area east of
Sunrise Drive to the shoreline of Galveston Bay within the jurisdiction
of the City of Shoreacres. The City Council finds and declares that the
area set forth in this section was inundated by waters from tidal surge
and hurricane wave wash on or about September 13, 2008.
SECTION 30-98. FLOOD SURGE HAZARD AREAS
Located within the areas of flood surge
hazard established in Section 30-97, are areas designated as Coastal
High Hazard Areas (Zones V1-30, VE, and/or V) and special flood hazard
areas (Zone AE) east of Sunrise Drive to the shoreline of Galveston Bay.
These areas have flood surge hazards associated with waters from tidal
surges and hurricane wave wash where the control of fill and grading may
reduce flood damage; therefore, in addition to meeting all provisions
outlined in this ordinance, the following provisions must also apply:
(1) All new construction and
substantial improvements in Coastal High Hazard Areas (Zones V1-30, VE,
and/or V) shall be elevated on pilings and columns so that the bottom of
the lowest horizontal structural member of the lowest floor (excluding
the pilings or columns) is elevated to or above the base flood level
plus one foot free-board.
(2) All new construction and
substantial improvements in special flood hazard areas (Zone AE) shall
be elevated on pilings and columns so that the lowest floor is elevated
to or above the base flood elevation plus one foot free-board.
(3) Prohibit the use of fill for
structural support of buildings.
(4) Prohibit the use of fill to raise
the grade of any lot above the minimum required to achieve proper
drainage.
The public is invited to comment on proposed
changes to the City's Flood Prevention Ordinance. This discussion is
scheduled to appear on City Council agenda for Monday, August 10, 2009
at 7:00pm.
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