LAS TIERRAS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

Notes From The President

Dear LTNA Members and Tierra del Este Resident:

Here are a couple items of interest...

1. Last week (August 20th) Rep. Quintana and her Legislative Aide, Dennis Melonas, visited our community. We drove around the neighborhoods looking particularly for lack of street lights. (They saw tall weeds and graffiti as well!)

There are some monies available for installing street lights. Various places along Edgemere were identified as needing lights. Hopefully, in the not too distant future, Edgemere will not be so dark at night. Please call Rep. Quintana to encourage her to fulfill this task (541-4701).

2. River Oaks' Rezoning Request of Rich Beem Land

The other issue that has been of concern to our residents is that of River Oak's request for rezoning the land north and south of Rich Beem as it intersects Zaragoza Blvd. This case (ZON08-00015) will be before City Council on September 9, 2008.

The City Plan Commission, at the July 17, 2008 public hearing, granted River Oaks a "C-3 with restrictions" zoning. While on the one hand Las Tierras Neighborhood Association is satisfied with this rezoning because of the numerous restrictions that would safeguard our community, I am, however, concerned about the practical enforcement of the restrictions. In talking with the City's Development Service Dept., it seems that the C-3 zoning classification looses its definitional significance and practical enforceability with the numerous restrictions attached to it. In my understanding, the numerous restrictions applied in effect describe a C-2 zoning category.

Though we can live with a "C-3 with restrictions" we could certainly support and encourage a C-2 zoning because of practical enforcement concerns.

If you have the time and are available, please plan on attending the Sept 9th City Council meeting, 2nd Fl. Chambers, 9:00 a.m. Also, please contact Rep. Quintana (541-4701) to express your opinion. She is looking to hear from Tierra del Este residents so that she can make an informed decision about this rezoning issue.

Thanks,
Manuel Padilla, LTNA President

Dear Tierra del Este Resident,

As you may know River Oaks’ request to rezone land in Tierra del Este from Residential zoning to C-4 commercial has been changed. Your actions and participation were effective in causing River Oaks to change their request. Thank you for acting swiftly to preserve the integrity of our community!

However, River Oaks’ new application for rezoning includes an additional parcel of land. The first request identified one parcel of land on the corner of Zaragoza and Rich Beem (north side). In this new request, the parcel south of Rich Beem (and the corner of Zaragoza ) has been added. In other words, the parcel behind Raphael Hernando Middle School and Sgt. Roberto Ituarte Elementary School is affected.

Consequently, it is the position of the Las Tierras Neighborhood Association that we will support the City’s Development Coordinating Committee’s recommendation of C-2 zoning usage only. Although River Oaks is requesting C-3 usage, we consider that some of the potential businesses allowed under C-3 (such as transportation terminals, small collection facilities) are incompatible with our residential community and the two nearby schools.

There is no way for us to know what will actually be built in the future, but if we allow the City Plan Commission and River Oaks to successfully obtain C-3 uses, then we will have no recourse when construction begins.

I urge you to act today. Please do not delay. Your response will make a difference in preserving the integrity of our community.

You have several options:

1. Call 541-4192, ask to speak to Mirian Spencer and voice your opposition to rezoning to C-3, and state that you support C-2 zoning usage. Please mention that it is case number ZON08-00015. If she is not available, please leave a message.

2. Email Mirian Spencer at spencermd2@elpasotexas.gov

3. Fax a letter of protest to Mirian Spencer at 541-4028

4. Write and mail a letter to Mirian Spencer and address it to:

City Plan Commission
c/o Planning Division, 5th Floor
City Hall
2 Civic Center Plaza
El Paso, TX 79901

5. Attend the City Plan Commission public hearing on July 17, 1:30 pm at City Hall in order to speak against this rezoning.

In all communications or correspondence please state your name, your address and the case number (ZON08-00015). Mention that the potential businesses allowed under C-3 uses would undermine the safety and quality of life of our residents, the children in particular since the middle and elementary schools will be directly affected. Also, state that you are supportive of C-2 rezoning.

If you have any questions, please give me a call at 856-9989 or at 740-9207. Thanks for your participation in making Las Tierras a great community!

Sincerely,

Manuel Padilla, President - Las Tierras Neighborhood Association

Dear Tierra del Este Resident,

This past week I received a letter from the City Plan Commission stating that it will consider a request by River Oaks Properties to rezone 14 acres of land from Residential zoning to C-4 commercial. The land is on the corner of Zaragoza and Rich Beem (west of Zaragoza and north of Rich Beem).

The implication of rezoning to C-4 is potentially harmful to us as residents of Tierra del Este. C-4 rezoning permits the following:

Adult entertainment businesses
half-way houses
contractor's yards
motor carrier terminal
light manufacturing uses
wholesaling establishments
large collection facilities

In addition, all C-1 to C-3 uses are also included. In other words, just about anything could be built in our residential area where we have nearby schools where children and families can be negatively impacted.

There is no way for us to know what will actually be built in the future, but if we allow the City Plan Commission and River Oaks to successfully obtain C-4 uses, then we will have no recourse when construction begins. Now is the time to act. On May 8 the City Plan Commission will hear this case at City Hall (1:30 pm).

I urge you to act today. Please do not delay. Your response will make a difference in preserving the integrity of our community.

You have several options:

1. Call 541-4192, ask to speak to Mirian Spencer and voice your opposition to rezoning to C-4. Please mention that it is case number ZON08-00015. If she is not available, please leave a message.

2. Email Mirian Spencer at spencermd2@elpasotexas.gov

3. Fax a letter of protest to Mirian Spencer at 541-4028

4. Write and mail a letter to Mirian Spencer and address it to:

City Plan Commission
c/o Planning Division, 5th Floor
City Hall
2 Civic Center Plaza
El Paso, TX 79901

5. Attend the City Plan Commission public hearing on May 8, 1:30 pm at City Hall in order to speak against this rezoning.

In all communications or correspondence please state your name, your address and the case number (ZON08-00015).

Also, mention that the potential businesses allowed under C-4 uses would undermine the safety and quality of life of our residents, the children in particular since we have a middle and elementary school less than 200 yards away, and a future new high school.

If you have any questions, please give me a call at 856-9989 or at 740-9207.

Thanks for your participation in making Las Tierras a great community!

Sincerely,

Manuel Padilla, President - Las Tierras Neighborhood Association

LAS TIERRAS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOC.OFFICER ELECTIONS COMING IN JANUARY, 2008

Every January it is time for election of officers for the Association. Now is the time to decide if you would like to run for any of the board positions. There are 4 officer positions:

President
Vice-President
Secretary
Treasurer

If you are interested in running for any of these positions or would like to nominate someone else,
please contact Colleen Lewis or Manuel Padilla
(see side panel of newsletter or website for phone #'s and email addresses)

Now is the time to help your community by stepping up and getting involved.

We also need volunteers for several other positions.

Website Maintenance and LTNA graphics
Newsletter Editor
Neighborhood Watch Chairman

Please volunteer and help assist the Officers in making LTNA a great Neighborhood Association.

Thank you,
Colleen

As you know, LTNA has been working with El Paso Parks and Recreation dept for at least a year and a half trying to get the Salvador Rivas Park built. We recently had another meeting with them to get the current status on the park. We find that the construction drawings are still not finalized and the estimate for the park has now gone up $200,000 from the last estimate we were given. We have had nothing but the runaround from Parks and Recreation.. we have consistently been pushed back when other projects came into the department and were given priority over our project. So we are asking for your help to see if this cannot be remedied. We are asking that everyone call or email our District 5 Representative, Rachel Quintana with your concerns to see if she can assist in this issue.

District 5 Representative Rachel Quintana

(915)541-4701
district#5@elpasotexas.gov

Thank you,
Colleen

A serious concern has been brought to my attention about car thieves starting to move into our neighborhoods. No longer are the shopping mall parking lots the favorite hunting grounds of these thieves, but our neighborhoods and in particular, the Tierras. The thieves are apparently targeting trucks, especially the F150 trucks, so be aware.

We need to get more vigilant in watching our neighborhoods and reporting suspicious activities.

If you do not have a Neighborhood Watch on your street or in your neighborhood, please call Officer Montelongo and get one started.

To setup a Neighborhood Watch in your neighborhood call:

Officer A. Montelongo #1712
Crime Prevention Officer
Pebble Hills Regional Command
10780 Pebble Hills
(915)599-5898
(915)599-5504 (FAX)
MontelongoAX@elpasotexas.gov

Another tip from the police is to consider using the anti-theft devices such as a Car Boot and also considering adding another alarm to your cars and trucks besides the one that came with them.

There will be an article on this in the El Paso Times, Borderland section, this Thursday, Sep. 13th.

Thank you,
Colleen

LTNA has been busy working on many projects!

We are setting up a Membership Discount Program with area businesses

We are having a cleanup on Pebble Hills on June 16th

We are helping with the watermelon giveaway at Album Park after the Lions Parade on July 4th

We have 3 requests in to the city for Neighborhood Watch Signs

We are getting the application ready for another round of NIP funding from the city

We are helping at Fort Bliss with their Operation Santa Claus

We are setting up a Bag of Info project along with Eldorado High School students to deliver a bag of information about LTNA to area residents to let them know we are here

We are working with the Sierra Providence Hospital representatives and LTNA members to resolve issues

We have set up an ad hoc committee for fundraising

We had a Groundbreaking Ceremony at the soon-to-be Salvador Rivas Jr. Park by the Esperanza Acosta Moreno Library

We donated a tree and attended the Freedom Tree Planting at the Sgt. Roberto Ituarte Elementary School

We maintain this website to keep you updated on what's happening in the neighborhood

And of course, we set up our monthly meetings to bring you important information and try to help whenever necessary with issues that you bring to us.

As you can see, Las Tierras Neighborhood Association is very busy trying to make our community a better place to live, help out wherever we can to be good neighbors and to improve our quality of life in our neighborhood. But we do need help. Please volunteer, your time and your ideas, when you can to do your part in maintaining and improving our neighborhood. Tell your friends and neighbors about the Association and urge them to join and help too.

Thank you,
Colleen

We would like to bring to your attention an important event coming up in May. The city-wide elections will be held. Our District 5 will need to elect a new City Representative, so be prepared.

Register, attend Candidate Forums and Vote for the leader of your choice.

This is extremely important to you, the voter, and to the Neighborhood Association, because we work closely with the District 5 Representative in matters that pertain to our neighborhood.

Thank you,
Colleen