GALVESTON, Texas — Some West End homeowners, worried about the city’s plans for beach-front properties acquired through a federal buyout program, want the city to restrict what it does with the newly public land in their neighborhoods.
As part of its agreement to buy 64 hurricane-damaged houses under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, the city asked those property owners to obtain releases from the homeowners associations so the city wouldn’t have to pay association fees or follow deed restrictions.
Homeowners associations typically have some legal authority through deed covenants over how property is used.
However, some homeowners associations are refusing to release the properties until the city agrees to leave the land as open space, City Attorney Susie Green said.
Although the federal government allows it, neighbors don’t want the city to transform the properties into camping sites, public bathrooms or unpaved parking lots, she said.
Some homeowners associations said they would refuse to release the land until council members agreed to lease the land back to the associations, but council members put the kibosh on that plan Thursday night.
Four council members and Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas agreed Thursday that the city would not enter into leases with the homeowners associations. Council members also balked at the idea of putting any restrictions on the property, such as prohibiting parking or camping.
"This isn’t private property," Councilwoman Elizabeth Beeton said.
While Councilman Tarris Woods characterized the groups’ requests as "blackmail," Councilwoman Karen Mahoney, who represents the West End, said homeowners are worried about beachgoers drifting from the city-owned properties onto private properties next door.
Homeowners in the Sands of Kahala, an upscale gated subdivision on the West End, don’t like the idea of a public park next to their houses because that could drive down property values, developer Bruce Reinhardt said. They’re also worried about the additional financial burden on the remaining homeowners who will have to pick up homeowners dues not paid by the city.
In the Sands of Kahala, five of 16 property owners have requested buyouts.
"That’s a huge burden on the remaining 11 who didn’t want to do this," he said.
The city has not purchased any of the 64 properties, and unless the homeowner associations release the properties, the city won’t be able to buy out those houses.
That would be fine with Reinhardt.
"The frustrating part is these houses should have been rebuilt," he said. "These guys are just getting a sweetheart deal."
City officials, including Mahoney, are meeting with the homeowners associations to discuss resolutions to their members’ concerns.
This story was brought to you thanks to khou.com's partnership with The Galveston County Daily News.
