The plan update, which kicked off last June following rezoning concerns from City Council members and residents, aims to provide guidance on undeveloped land and redevelopment areas in 10 focus areas.
The details
The June 4 presentation provided recommendations for the future land use map and zoning ordinances of 10 focus areas, Director of Development Services Jennifer Thomas Gomez said. The recommendations also provide potential development uses.
Gomez said staff recommends development in the following corridors:
- Fondren Road: Addition of a full-service grocery store, sit-down restaurants and aesthetic improvements
- South Gessner Road: Mixed-use redevelopment including a potential food hall, market-style destination
- Texas Parkway: Entertainment, civic zone or mixed-use space with new street and pedestrian connections
- Fifth Street and Independence Boulevard: Mixed-use development with alternative housing options
- FM 1092: Repurpose old CVS store into resident-friendly development and mid-density housing
- Cartwright Road: Alternative housing or mixed-use for small commercial and residential
- Fort Bend Parkway: Higher-intensity businesses such as outdoor dining and entertainment venues; preserving Watts Cemetery
- Trammel Fresno Road: Mixed-use anchored by major grocery retailer
- Highway 6: Scaled neighborhood retail centers or professional offices
- Knights, Watts Plantation and McKeever roads: Encourage low-impact development for flood plain areas through incentives
The update also proposed comprehensive plan goals including a more cohesive city, varied developments, focus on neighborhood integrity and commercial redevelopment, and quality design, Gomez said.
What they’re saying
With several residents expressing concerns including impacts on neighborhoods, wildlife, traffic and infrastructure, District A council member Monica Riley said she feels it's important to consider resident input and incorporate what they want to see in Missouri City instead of letting developers decide.
“If we don’t have the right zoning and we don’t put landscaping ordinances in place and we don’t put certain aesthetics requirements in place, we’ll get the same thing and 20 years from now ... someone will be sitting up here having the same discussion all over again,” she said. “We’ve got to be unique. We’ve got to think outside the box and talk to our residents.”
Additionally, District B council member Jeffrey Boney also said he wanted to ensure the process is done right and not rushed to completion.
“I really would just say that this should not be rushed,” he said. “We really need to get right. ... We really need to make sure that when we decide what we want to do, we actually do this right and take our time.”
Meanwhile, City Manager Angel Jones said the city is reviewing the plan updates from a large-scale planning perspective to ensure the city stays a desirable place to live.
“We’re looking at it from a citywide perspective, and I get it, we want to keep neighborhoods protected—that’s one of the goals,” she said. “But at the same time, we’re trying to balance the burden on residents in terms of cost. We’re balancing a lot of priorities and trying to take it all in.”
Looking ahead
A joint session between City Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission is scheduled for late June, followed by a public open house anticipated in July, Gomez said.
The final plan is tentatively scheduled for approval and implementation in July or August, although several City Council members said it would likely take more time.
