A public hearing on a Master Plan for College Station’s proposed new municipal cemetery is scheduled Monday, November 27, at 7 PM in City Hall Council Chambers, 1101 Texas Avenue.

The cemetery will be located on 57 acres at 3800 Raymond Stotzer Parkway, on the northwest corner of FM 2818 and FM 60. Approximately 20 acres will be designated as the Aggie Field of Honor and marketed to former students and families, faculty and friends of Texas A&M University. The remaining acreage will be developed as a municipal cemetery. Phase I is anticipated to be approximately 10 acres in size, with 5 acres each for the municipal cemetery and Aggie Field of Honor sections, and is scheduled to be operational in Spring 2008.

The November 27 public meeting is one of several design meetings that will be held in the next few months to assist with development of the Master Plan for the new site.

Further information on the design process and other related topics will be available in late 2006 or early 2007 on a website to be created and maintained by Edwards & Kelcey. Links to this site will be placed on both the City of College Station and Association of Former Students websites.

For additional information, contact Ross Albrecht at 764-3410.

Not trying to be a Debbie Downer here, but why put a cemetary at one of the main entry points to our city (Hwy 47 and FM60)?

Also, this will be great for airline passengers to fly over as they land/takeoff from Easterwood.

i agree, poor location.

is this where they are currently clearing the land?

I am assuming the cemetery will extend along 2818 to Turkey Creek Road. That sort of boxes in the CS side of Traditions as well as the proposed location of the College of Medicine.

The cemetery will be welcome neighbor on the north to Easterwood ... The airport will not be bothered by complaints about noise from arriving and departing flights on the north end.

No land has been cleared yet. It's still in the design phase.

AGnCS,
If done well, a cemetery can be a very nice entrance to a community or near an airport. A large park-like setting that is maintained in perpetuity.... I'd rather see that then see the stuff that is located around most airports. Think about it - pawn shops, cheap motels, and car parks..... or green lawns and big trees....

then what is the land being cleared for on that corner???

How many of you are aware that a small cemetery is located on campus ... and has been for more than 100 years? President Lafayette Lumpkin Foster (who succeeded Sul Ross) is buried there along with a dozen or so others.

I'm not sure, but I don't think it's for the cemetery.

fossil, what's the location? I was talking to someone about it at lunch, but couldn't remember the location. I was thinking somewhere near Marion Pugh.

[This message has been edited by dave99ag (edited 11/10/2006 3:13p).]

It's not on campus. It was at one time but it was moved before Duncan was built. It's on Luther now.

It used to be COMPLETELY run down. One of the classes finally raised some money to restore it and it's quite nice now.

Foster was the first grad of TAMC to serve as President. He died Dec 2, 1901 and was the first person to be buried on the A&M campus at a newly designated location for a college cemetery. That location was near where Duncan Dining Hall is now located. In early 1939 or so remains in the old cemetery were disinterred and moved to a location west of the railroad tracks. That location, thanks to recent development, can now be found at the northwest corner of the intersection of Marion Pugh Drive and West Luther Street. (In the southeast corner of TAMUs horse pasture.) The old cemetery was "lost" for many years but in recent years has been appropriately cleared and fenced.

Re: Original Post .......

It sounds like the city has the plan locked in and all decisions and benchmarks for the project have been established. Why have a public hearing?

At best, it is like: "Here's what we've decided to do. Do you have anything to say about that?"


[This message has been edited by AC Hopper (edited 11/10/2006 7:42p).]

From what I've heard there's still a fair amount to do in the design process and the committee is looking for public input.

FYI, here's a letter I just received:

quote:

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November 9, 2006

Dear College Station Citizen University participants:

As you probably know, the City of College Station has purchased land for the development of a new municipal cemetery. The city has acquired approximately 56 acres located on the northwest corner of F.M. 2818 and Raymond Stotzer Parkway.

The site will be unique in that approximately 35 acres will be for the development of the new municipal cemetery, and approximately 20 acres will be for the development of the Aggie Field of Honor. This portion of the cemetery will be available for "former students, spouses, faculty, and friend of Texas A&M University". The entire cemetery will be owned and operated by the City of College Station.

The City has hired Edwards and Kelcey to develop the master plan for this project and to determine where the first phase will be located and what amenities will be included. Phase I is anticipated to be approximately 10 acres in size, with 5 acres each for the municipal cemetery and Aggie Field of Honor sections.

I would like to inform you of a public input meeting to be held on Monday, November 27, 2006, starting at 7 p.m. in the College Station Council Chambers, 1101 Texas Avenue. The advertisement for this meeting will be sent out through various means to reach a cross section of the community. As citizens that have participated in the Citizen University program you have show your willingness to help the City of College Station in various capacities. Perhaps you would also consider attending the meeting and providing input as you see fit.

Thank you for your attention to this information. If you have any questions, please contact me.

Sincerely,



Ross Albrecht
Urban Forest and Landscape Manager
College Station Parks and Recreation
979-764-3410
ralbrecht@cstx.gov

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It doesn't sound like it is a done deal - they have a consultant and site selected, but other than that the design of the cemetery is up in the air.