Jersey Village sets joint public hearing on comprehensive plan

A June 25 special session between Jersey Village City Council and the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission concluded with a public hearing set for July 20 on the adoption of a new comprehensive plan.

The comprehensive plan, which is meant to guide the city for the next 20 years, is broken up into nine chapters covering economic development, parks, transportation and implementation strategies, among other topics. The plan also comes with 21 priority recommendations, which include developing a trail system to connect parks and neighborhoods, improving city identity with primary and secondary gateways and upgrading city facilities, including the Jersey Village Civic Center.

Input from Jersey Village citizens was gathered from multiple sources, including two public forums with more than 120 attendees and 247 online survey responses.

“The trails system was well- received, and people were also very [interested in] keeping the [Jersey Village] golf course,” said Shad Comeaux, a planner with consulting firm Freese and Nichols, which helped produce the plan. “The only real controversial aspect was extending Jersey Meadows Drive [to Rio Grande Street].”

Jersey Village Mayor Justin Ray suggested setting a City Council work session to distinguish short-term goals from longer-term goals, and need-to-have objectives from nice-to-have objectives.

City Manager Mike Castro agreed, citing how financial constraints and restrictions as a result of Hwy. 290 construction made certain items more obtainable in the near term than others.

“I think we can come up with three or four projects for the next 12-24 months that are short, sweet and achievable,” Castro said.