Let’s start now on East End flats

When city officials in Galveston announced plans to try to acquire the East End flats by 2046, some people were underwhelmed. The problem was the date — 36 years seems like a long time to wait.

But real action on transferring the property, which belongs to the federal government, is likely to occur around 2020. By that date, the city should have a master plan in hand that reflects consensus about what the property should be used for.

Consensus is a difficult thing to achieve in Galveston. Ten years is not a long time. We support the city’s efforts to get started now.

A Little History

The flats are dumping grounds for dredge spoils. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is using the site as crews deepen the Galveston Ship Channel from 40 to 45 feet.

But the 605-acre tract on the island’s far East End is prime real estate. It’s behind the seawall. The land is protected by levees. The flats were not flooded by Hurricane Ike.

What kind of development could Galveston attract on almost a square mile behind the seawall?

That question has haunted city leaders for decades.

Through the years, the city has made deals with developers who proposed using their connections to get the land released by the federal government. These efforts went nowhere. We can learn a couple of things from those failures.

First, any plan that interferes with major infrastructure projects — such as dredging ship channels — doesn’t go far in Washington.

Second, the city’s leaders have assumed whatever can be done in Washington can be done quickly. That’s not true.

People in Washington can make things happen — when constituents are virtually unanimous in asking them to do something. When half the calls urge one course and half urge against it, however, not much happens in Congress.

It is possible that the flats could be released far before 2046. But if that’s going to happen, Galveston will have to have a plan in hand — not just a vague concept. And that plan will have to have overwhelming public support.

Think Timing

Past efforts have failed for a variety of reasons, including a lack of broad support.

Another reason was a failure to understand timing. The Corps of Engineers operates on 50-year management plans. It starts on a new plan 20 years before the estimated capacity of the spoils area is exhausted. Today, the estimate on that trigger date is 2021.

At that time, the corps will look for new options. It would be a good time for the city to argue the dredge spoils should go somewhere other than the East End flats. The city could make that case if it had a master plan showing better uses for the land.

The Next Steps

So what do we do?

First, urge your representatives on council to take a deep breath and accept that this is a marathon, rather than a sprint. Urge them to plan for the long haul and forget about the lobbyists who’ll have the flats released by Christmas. Let’s have the foresight to start on a project that will make life a little better for our children or grandchildren, if not for ourselves.

Second, support legislation to get the flats released no later than 2046. That’s something that can be done now. Doing that sets an end date. It’s possible the flats will be released much sooner.

Third, push for a master plan. It’s not too early to get this started. If you’re reading this page, you know how hard it is to find consensus, balancing the interests of the ports of Galveston and Houston, environmentalists and the business community.

If we start today, do you think we can get there in 10 years?