Houston citation mix-up raises questions about who maintains bayou land

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Placed on a small wedge of overgrown land on North Braeswood Boulevard, a City of Houston Public Works code violation citation sits on property belonging to the city's southwest water treatment facility.

The address on the yellow sign, 4503 Beechnut Street, even leads you to the treatment facility. The citation said the property needs to cut its grass and pick up trash.

Eyewitness News reached out to the city to ask how they could cite themselves for breaking their own rules, but Public Works provided a picture showing the same exact citation sign was initially placed on Oct. 1 across the street at the top of Braes Bayou's bank.

Records from the Harris County Appraisal District show that land is owned by the Harris County Flood Control District.

Public works claims someone must have moved the citation from the top of the bayou to across the road and onto the city property. A screenshot from the code enforcement officer's notes even said the sign was being placed on county property, and the flood control district would be notified.

According to the flood control's vegetation management plan, they generally mow around bayou channels three times a year between April and November.

ABC13 asked the city if it is allowed to cite county property, but has not heard back. Eyewitness News also asked the flood control district, which stated that it is looking into it.

According to the city, code enforcement is meant to keep neighborhoods safe, clean, and attractive by using building codes and addressing nuisances. This includes targeting overgrown lots, trash, and other materials in public view.

For good measure, ABC13 reached out to the Houston Parks and Recreation Department and Houston Parks Board, after all, the notice was originally placed right next to the Braes Bayou bike trail, and maybe they share responsibility to keep the bayou banks tidy.

The Parks Department said that because of the bike trail, it may fall under the Park Board's umbrella. The Board said they need some time to wade through the same questions we have before they have a clear answer.

For now, both the banks of the bayou where the citation was originally placed, and the city land where it is now, could both see improvement with a visit from a lawnmower.

For more news updates, follow Lileana Pearson on Facebook, X and Instagram.