A North Austin neighborhood is unhappy with plans to build a community health center in their community. The 50,000 square foot, $18 million project is something they don't feel will best serve Austin at the proposed Braker Lane and Parkfield location.

Walt Esquivel lives just behind what would be the new North Central Austin Community Health Center.

"We do support the construction and operation of the community health clinics, however, we don't feel we are a part of that process in terms of where that clinic goes," said Esquivel.

North Park residents say they heard nothing of project until after Travis County commissioners approved the land sale on June 10.

"The health care district essentially made a unilateral decision to place the clinic in North Austin without any community input what-so-ever," said Esquivel.

Esquivel also feels clinic clients -- many of whom are lower income and without health insurance -- don't live in this part of town and would have to travel several miles to get the clinic. Increased traffic is another worry.

About half of the land is marked for the project has been cleared, the other half is covered with trees. The Travis County Health District says at least half of these trees will stay and act as a buffer between the clinic and nearby homes.

The district says it has worked with North Park residents to accommodate community needs.

"We do know that the neighborhood has expressed concerns about there not being exits and entrances into the neighborhood side streets -- here and here -- so we're very happy to put the entrances on Braker Lane," said Patricia Young Brown, president and CEO of the health district.

Brown says the community health clinic in Pflugerville is a good example of what the health district plans to build in North Austin.

The facility offers a range of primary care, much like what would be at the Braker location.

"The people that we see are the people we see at the grocery store, we go to church with, they have a medical need and we're here to take care of that and I think the people in the Braker area will see that," said Mary Ann Silva-Ward, administrative officer of the Pflugerville clinic.

If everything moves forward as planned, the clinic will open in early 2010.

The health district must first have the land re-zoned for medical use for that to happen.

Esquivel says he has at least 500 signatures against the rezoning.

He plans to present that petition to city council in early September.