Manvel’s new comprehensive planning drafts were presented to City Council at its Jan. 5 meeting and are intended to guide the city’s growth and community character.

The plans are not development approvals but tools meant to align community priorities with future decision-making, city officials said.

The details

Houston-based planning firm Kendig Keast Collaborative, which has been working with the city on both its thoroughfare and future land use plans, presented the drafts organized around four target areas.

Environment goals:

• Preserve natural landscapes, open space and remaining rural areas
• Protect water quality and promote conservation of the city’s water supply
• Improve air quality and support sustainability and climate resilience

The city plans to emphasize habitat protection through conservation planning, greenways and trails, along with tree canopy preservation. It also promotes sustainable development practices intended to reduce environmental impacts as growth continues.

Growth capacity goals:

• Expand water, wastewater and storm drainage systems to keep pace with growth
• Reduce flood risk and improve community resilience
• Maintain reliable public safety services and infrastructure

The draft outlines phased investment in water and wastewater infrastructure, flood mitigation and storm drainage improvements, and long-term maintenance planning.

Economic development goals:

• Diversify the city’s tax base and expand employment opportunities
• Support local businesses and entrepreneurship
• Promote a clear “town and county” identity for Manvel

The draft focuses on attracting higher-quality commercial and mixed-use development, strengthening economic development partnerships and encouraging selective growth intended to avoid overdevelopment.

Recreation and amenities goals:

• Expand parks and recreation programs and facilities
• Improve neighborhood connectivity through trails and shared-use paths
• Develop community-focused public spaces and amenities

The plan includes establishing a parks and recreation department and advancing development of a city center to serve as a central community destination.

Why now?

Manvel has seen a significant population growth over the past decade, due in part to its proximity to the Houston metro area, according to city documents.

Manvel’s population increased by nearly 41% from around 9,000 residents to nearly 13,000 total residents between 2018-23, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, which provides five-year population estimates based on surveys of households across the country.The background

The comprehensive plan drafts are part of a broader planning effort known as Manvel 2045, which was adopted by the city in February and includes the thoroughfare plan.

The initiative is intended to guide infrastructure investment and land use decisions as the city continues to experience population growth, according to city documents.

The planning process is being carried out in multiple phases. Phase 1 focused on community engagement and information gathering, including a citywide survey to identify residents’ priorities and concerns.

The results of the survey showed that the top community priorities were:

• Stormwater management
• Public safety
• Infrastructure
• Parks and recreation
• Appealing development

Phase 2, which is currently underway, focuses on developing goals, policies and draft plans across key areas based in part on community feedback.

Initial comprehensive and thoroughfare plans were first presented to City Council at its Oct. 8 meeting.

What's next

The city is entering the final phase of the process, which includes gathering public feedback on the draft plans, holding public hearings and final approval by City Council.