More questions, this time about Clear Lake (Houston, West: houses, neighborhood)

[Topaz]

We looked into Clear Lake and I didn't like the distance from a Whole Foods Market, the lack of zoning, and the higher risk of hurricane evacuation/flooding.

But Brook Forest is lovely, as is Pine Brook.

[vegankris]

Can someone please explain what the term "no zoning" means? I have seen that term a lot about Houston here on CD. Also, can someone please give me a ballpark figure on what insurance rates are in Clear Lake? Just as a point of reference, I pay around $800/year for insurance for our home here.

Thanks in advance!

Take care,
Kris

[Topaz]

Originally Posted by vegankris

Can someone please explain what the term "no zoning" means?

It means you can have a daycare next to a tattoo parlor.

Some suburbs (like Sugar Land) have strict zoning laws but Houston itself does not.

[texas7]

Both are commercial businesses so don't see the problem in those two examples -- as long as the sexually oriented businesses and liquor stores are kept a way from schools and daycares, its okay. But even if I think hard about it - I can't think of one daycare center and tattoo parlor that are next door to one another in Clear Lake. For the most part, the area does a good job at keeping things nice w/o zoning. However, Brookwood is in a flood plain if you look at the flood maps. Don't know that they've ever flooded though - much of Houston is in a flood plain and some areas that are not in the flood plain have taken on water during storms.

[Topaz]

Originally Posted by texas7

Both are commercial businesses so don't see the problem in those two examples -- as long as the sexually oriented businesses and liquor stores are kept a way from schools and daycares, its okay. But even if I think hard about it - I can't think of one daycare center and tattoo parlor that are next door to one another in Clear Lake.

On W. Bay Area Blvd. I can't remember the name of the tattoo parlor but the day care is a KinderCare Learning Center. The actual address is in Friendswood, not Clear Lake, but it is on the border between the two.

[SouthernBoy205]

Is Clear Lake even a city?

[texas7]

That sounds like Webster and not actually Clear Lake. Webster - I could see that happening.

[texas7]

Originally Posted by SouthernBoy205

Is Clear Lake even a city?

It used to be Clear Lake City and the name has remained but Houston controversially annexed it many years ago - the same as they did with Kingwood and both areas retain their names.

[SouthernBoy205]

It sounds like it's a nice area. To bad, it's not its own city anymore.

[tstone]

Originally Posted by MNCold

I have heard these terms a few times but I don't know what area would be constitute to east.vs.north, etc....

I've just heard it kinda informally thrown out there by some, describing "Clear Lake City".

Northern- Clear Lake City Blvd, Pineloch.
Central- around the courthouse and library, townhomes & Old Oakbrook, where you can almost visualize where a downtown could've feasbily gone.
Eastern, Middlebrook Dr and into Pasadena where an odd deer runs around people's front yards.

Like I said I've heard it said informally. But we get 20-page mailers every month with articles, ads, crime reports, etc and different ones go to each "section" which is written across the title bar. Perhaps that has something to do with it.

Vegankris don't be surprised if your current insurance rate triples or even quadruples in a neighborhood like Brook Forest.