River Oaks residents, I urge you to not vote for the current proposed restrictions for they are extremely weak and watered down. As it stands, the restrictions for trees no longer requires board consent for the removal of trees nor does it allow the Board to disapprove construction plans if it believes that the plans fail to adequately address the preservation of trees.

The latest restrictions on leaf blowers are the same as the December 15^th restatement barely limiting the hours that 3^rd party contractors can operate on weekdays (8 am - 5 pm) and weekends (9 am - 1 pm). No references were made to replacing gas-powered leaf blowers with their electric counterparts or other inexpensive, quiet and pollution free alternatives. Our survey conducted after the release of the first draft of the restriction restatement revealed that 81% of those surveyed favored a total ban or more restrictions. The board was made well aware of these figures and claimed they would take them into consideration while drafting the third and (possibly) final draft.

-Jane Dale Owen, President

River Oaks property owners are in the process of reviewing various proposed amendments to the neighborhood's deed restrictions.Jane Dale Owen, President of CLEAN, has recenlty sent out over 1,400 questionnaires to the residents of River Oaks to find out where they stand on the issues of leaf blowers and the removal of large healthy trees, the subjects of two currently proposed amendments.

For more help in understanding deed restrictions please see McCoy on Deed Restriction. This book is designed to assist civic associations and others in the implementation and administration of deed restriction programs.

Historic Preservation: see our new page on historic preservation in River Oaks.

Removal of Large Healthy Trees:

Concerning the removal of healthy trees, there is no doubt that the removal of large healthy trees is having a devastating effect in River Oaks. Recently, articles have appeared in the Houston Chronicle and the River Oaks examiner on this very subject. Apparently survival of the trees depends on homeowners groups. Other areas in Houston have enacted strong restrictions to protect their trees and River Oaks should follow these fine examples.

Restrictions on Leaf Blowers:

Not only are leaf blowers hazardous to your health and to the safety of the operators, they also contribute enormously to noise pollution. By imposing restrictions on times of use on leaf blowers, River Oaks will join other prestigious communities like Beverly Hills, California; Winnetka, Illinois; Scarsdale, New York; and Oyster Bay on Long Island. For more information on the negative impacts of leaf blowers click here.

Currently nearly all leaf blowers, except for those which are electric powered, are in violation of the City of Houston's noise ordinance. Click here to read the current city ordinance on noise levels.

For alternatives to gas powered leaf blowers click here.

Contact D. Rose's Landscaping for lawn service with electric electric non-polluting leaf blowers at 281-236-0621.

Comments

Find out what River Oaks residents are saying, click here.

View letters from Jane Dale Owen, President of CLEAN, sent to ROPO Board President David Heaney by clicking here.

View Our latest letter to the River Oaks Board of Directors articulating our concerns over the recently passed deed restrictions by clicking here.

Tally of Response

Find out how many people are for and against these issues by clicking here.

Latest Headlines

Classic Del Monte home delivered from demolition - forever , River Oaks Examiner, April 2006

Almost but not quite: ROPO needs amendments ballots signed yet again, River Oaks Examiner, February 8, 2005

Group pushing historic status for homes, River Oaks Examiner, November 9, 2005

River Oaks gains another historic landmark, River Oaks Examiner, September 1, 2005

Friends of Architecture, River Oaks Examiner, July 2005

Historic River Oaks home to be demolished, group to hold vigil, River Oaks Examiner, May 12, 2005

River Oaks ponders its deed restrictions , Houston Chronicle, May 5, 2005

Former Enron trader to raze historic home, Houston Chronicle, May 3, 2005

Group says proposed restrictions overlook wishes , River Oaks Examiner , April 28, 2005

Lowering the Boom, Houston Press , April 21, 2005

ROPO hopes third time a charm for land use guidelines, River Oaks Examiner, April 4, 2005

Tree removal, noise trouble River Oaks, Houston Chronicle, March 3, 2005

And the survey says..., River Oaks Examiner, February 17, 2005

Concerns raised over ‘single family’ interpretation, River Oaks Examiner, February 3, 2005

River Oaks neighborhood group barks up new tree, Houston Business Journal, January 21, 2005

Area residents fume as house, trees removed / RiverOaks group seeks stiffer deed restrictions, Houston Chronicle, January 6, 2005

Group Seeks Historic District Status for RO, River Oaks Examiner, January 6, 2005

Group fights to save old homes, older trees, River Oaks Examiner, December 30, 2004