A proposed 105-home development slated for the city of Magnolia's extraterritorial jurisdiction brought concerns from Magnolia residents in attendance at a Feb. 20 Magnolia Planning and Zoning Commission meeting about whether local roads could handle an increased number of vehicles.
Rooted Development’s plan to build homes in a 69.5-acre plot of land just north of Kelly Road has been slightly altered, changing the entrance from Kelly Road to Stubby Lane, according to an updated design presented by the developers Feb. 20.
Magnolia residents living in the area voiced their concerns to the developer and commission about current roads not being suitable to handle new traffic brought in from the development.
Connie Stegem, a resident of Deer Crossing, said she believes the current roads would not be suitable for traffic or larger construction vehicles.
“The current access point would clog,” she said. “They are not even commercial roads; they don’t even have [lines].”
LJA Engineering conducted a traffic study of the area to estimate what traffic would look like with the new development in place. The engineering firm estimates 1,078 cars will drive the area each day, with 59 cars driving it per hour.
James Yowell, who lives near the proposed development, said he believes the roads are barely in a condition to handle the small amount of traffic it sees now.
“Fifty-nine cars don’t go down the road each day,” Yowell said. “A lot of work needs to be done if you are adding cars.”
Commission members had no comments on whether the city would provide funds to improve the roads in the area around the proposed development.
Magnolia City Council Member Daniel Miller expressed his opinions as a member of the public at the meeting. He said he believes the project is a good idea, but it needs better access to ease traffic. He said creating a road to the north of the property could avoid congestion on the smaller roads.
Rooted Development CEO Peter Houghton said he understood the concerns brought up by residents but believes a new development would benefit Magnolia in the long run. Magnolia City Council approved a petition Jan. 14 to have the property be annexed into Montgomery County Municipal Utility District No. 108, Community Impact Newspaper previously reported, which was the first step for the developer to start the process of requesting annexation into the city limits.
“We think we have a plan that will reduce the impact to residents,” he said. “With [105] homes we estimate the city could [collect] tax[es of] $290,000 from the area, which could help with the infrastructure.”
