Photo by Shawn Arrajj
As officials in Jersey Village continue to work on updating the city's comprehensive plan, a planning committee composed of 12 appointed individuals has been discussing big issues facing the city, as well as goals to address them. October and November meetings have focused specifically on transportation, economic development and future land use.
Jersey Village City Council voted to hire Texas-based consulting firm Freese and Nichols to help guide and draft a new plan. Council appointed members to the Comprehensive Planning Advisory Committee in April, and residents were invited to City Hall for a public planning meeting in July. Since then, the CPAC has been meeting to discuss how the plan should be designed to shape the city's future.
"Jersey Village is going to go through redevelopment, and there are going to be some changes with the expansion of the highway," said Dan Sefko, planning director with Freese and Nichols. "The plan gives leaders the guidance to make decisions about where the future of the community needs to go."
Early transportation talks have focused on making the city more pedestrian-oriented with more walkable communities and higher-density, mixed use developments. Comments submitted by residents online have focused on beautification and developing parks and trail systems, but residents have also expressed interest in creating more walkable, mixed-use amenities with shopping, dining and business.
