Future Buffer Wall Project for the Woodlands

From the City of Tamarac. Proposed wall concept for Tamarac Lakes North and South

By: Sharon Aron Baron

After the 2011 survey, residents placed a high priority on the overall appearance of the city. The city continued to invest in initiatives that enhanced their appearance and one of them was an aesthetics study which included improving gateway architectural features, like streetscape treatments, lighting, landscape, signage and buffer walls.

The city approved moving forward with the buffer walls which are now planned for various parts of the city including Tamarac Lakes North and South and the Woodlands Country Club.

According to the Maxine Calloway, the new Director of Community Development, the city will first determine first if there is an interest for a wall with the communities of Tamarac Lakes. If so, they will propose the construction and maintenance option to them. The total cost for the buffer walls will be $1.4 million dollars which will be paid for by the city. The community will only be responsible for maintaining the wall.

In the Woodlands, the city is proposing that the buffer wall stretch from NW 64th avenue and replace the current wall, and continue to the end of the homes along Commercial Boulevard. Then fencing would be installed across the grassy area towards the main entrance.

Joel Davidson, who is on the Board of the Directors of the Woodlands Neighborhood Improvement District (WNID) said he is concerned about the aesthetics of the buffer wall. He wants to make sure that in the future, if the WNID wants to totally wall in the community, that all of it will have a cohesive look.

Davidson also wants to make sure that the Woodlands is involved in the process to choose the design of the buffer wall as well.

The projected cost for the wall in the Woodlands is $785,000. So far there is no date set for construction.