BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS TO DISCUSS PARKING AT NEW BLINN DORM
The Brenham Board of Adjustment will address a request by Blinn College at their meeting Monday evening.
A public hearing is scheduled for a request by Blinn for a special exception to allow a reduction in the minimum required off-street parking spaces for a student dormitory. The dorm, which would house around 500 students, would be located on property at 911 and 811 West Fifth Street.
Blinn College, proposes to develop a west lot into a dormitory complex that will be comprised of two structures and a parking area. The east lot will be developed as an accessory off-street parking lot and dumpster area for the dormitory.
City staffers are supporting approval of the item.
The Board of Adjustments meets Monday at 5:15 p.m. in council chambers, 200 W. Vulcan Street.
How much of a reduction in the minimum requirement? This is not a very wide street. Will parking be allowed only on one side? Or is Blinn going to pay to widen it, making those two blocks as wide as the 1000 block of West Fifth is now?
Why do city staffers support approval of this request? What do the police department, fire department, and emergency medical services think about it?
It sounds to me like poor planning. If there isn’t room for enough off-street parking, then the dorm shouldn’t be that large.
“City Staffers support approval” Nobody from the City or Blinn Trustees as far as that goes lives in the area. 500 students equals 500 cars. FM 389 is a drag strip all hours of the night and no law officials are around to enforce speed limits. Between Blinn and the apartment complex on Farewell the INDY 500 lasts all year long. Blinn is already building a three story Science Building and surely these apartments will be multi story also, so much for the skyline. As far as the dumpsters on the East side, go by the apartments on Green Street and you will see most of the trash outside the dumpsters so a good East wind and all the trash is in the Cemetery. Who is going to pick that up? I am sure BIG will not! I am sure City will approve this item no matter how hard people object. Election time is not far away. Time to clean house!
Louanna Estates is correct in his/her assessment of the current situation, as well as what is likely to follow. I sent emails to the Brenham Police Chief, various officers of the Blinn Police department, as well as the Chancellor of Blinn regarding cars parked facing the wrong direction, vehicles parked up to four feet from the curb, and other such infractions. No one ever responded to my emails. What would make anyone think that what goes on currently on the campus will not be practiced along the street where the proposed new buildings and parking will be?
If the Chancellor of Blinn lived on campus as President Spencer and President Atkinson did, she would certainly take action on the number of illegally parked cars, as well as speeding and other moving violations by students in their vehicles. As well, it seems strange that more cars are not stopped along Prairie Lea St. as it is on the route to the police station, and many vehicles can be seen driving much faster then the 40 mph limit. If you think that the intersection of Prairie Lea and West 5th Street is difficult to navigate now, just wait until all of this building takes place.
Maybe the old football field might be used for a building site, and parking for it be in the rear and across West 5th Street. Dorms were located there many years ago, maybe they should be again.
Street parking is a very bad idea!!!
Less parking lots for Blinn Students. Sounds like the city planner has a great idea for less student parking lots. No one should have to provide parking lots when there is plenty of curbside street parking available. Just park on the street and plant a tree on your property instead. Every developer should do this, not just Blinn College. This is a great concept that city planner iis now allowing for Brenham.