Katy, TX, October 30, 2024 – On Monday City Council approved a Planned Development District for The Green at Katy Park, located on the Northwest corner of Morton and Katy Hockley Cutoff Rd.
I have seen a lot of discussion on this because it was a re-zone from R1 residential. The vote was 3-2 with myself, Janet Corte, and Gina Hicks FOR; Chris Harris and Rory Robertson AGAINST.
I want to explain why I believe it should have been unanimously approved, and why I was a YES vote.
The entire Katy community spent over a year working to update the City of Katy comprehensive plan – a process that engaged hundreds of residents through multiple town halls and other events. City Council provided feedback into the plan multiple times in public meetings. That plan set this piece of land as mixed use commercial, and this current Council unanimously passed it. That is what set all of this in motion.
Much of our traffic issues are caused by roads that need to be expanded already and projects are in the works. The unincorporated areas outside of Katy are exploding with growth and lack of restaurant and entertainment venues are causing both Katy and non-Katy residents to drive farther to seek out those amenities, making traffic worse.
Katy Hockley Cutoff, Katy Hockley, and Morton Road all have projects approved and funded. Katy Hockley Cutoff will be complete prior to construction starting on this project. In addition to expansion of these roads to accommodate traffic, drainage improvements are a critical component of each one.
Good city planning incorporates residential and commercial to reduce traffic. This is why the comprehensive plan identified this property for this use, and again – this current City Council unanimously passed it after giving and receiving multiple rounds of feedback.
This project significantly improves drainage in the area. Our City Engineer has done amazing work improving drainage all over the city. I have complete confidence based on his track record that this will work as intended and benefit Heritage Park West. This is not blind trust – you can go back to the videos and minutes of City Council meetings and listen to all 5 councilmembers expressing their enthusiasm about the results of ARKK’s drainage projects.
If this location was developed as residential, city code would allow 35′ tall homes to be constructed less than 100′ from the back of every Heritage Park West home on the southern edge of the development. Now – all but 4 of those homes will have more than a football field of space separating them from the nearest building, and the PDD imposes a 32′ limitation on the height of the building that will be behind those other 4 homes. I also personally added in a higher fence for those homes than what was in the PDD based on the public hearing (see the motion made at the meeting).
In 2022 we passed a light pollution ordinance that strictly prohibits commercial properties from impacting neighboring residences with light pollution.
City ordinance protects residential properties that neighbor commercial development with buffer and vegetation requirements that must be followed.
I understand the growing pains and emotion that this causes. In my comments at the meeting I referenced HTeaO as an example. When dirt starts moving it creates a lot of emotion. Then you find out that the developer and business owner wants to create something that adds value to the community because they want to be a part of our community. Now that corner looks better than ever, traffic is no worse, and we have a great business and partner.
At the end of the day I believe this is the best possible use of the land, even more so than staying empty. When all projects are complete (Roads and PDD), we will have improved traffic, improved drainage, improved property values, and improved amenities to enjoy. All of this is on top of the tax revenue that will enable us to invest in public safety, parks and green-spaces, public works, and more.
100% understand that not everyone will agree with me, and I acknowledge that the growing pains are real, but hopefully this helps inform on the decision that was made. I am not perfect, none of us are, but for these reasons I absolutely stand by the decision.
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