The open house provided an opportunity for the community to give feedback before the plan moves toward final adoption.
"We want to make sure every resident has a chance to voice their thoughts before any final decisions are made," said Alexis Garcia, project manager from Freese & Nichols, during the meeting. "This plan isn’t just about policies and zoning, it’s about shaping Tomball’s future in a way that reflects the needs and values of the community."
What you need to know
City officials emphasized the importance of public participation, saying that many residents had already contributed through focus groups, surveys and stakeholder meetings.
“This is a community-driven plan,” Garcia said. “We’ve spent over a year gathering input, analyzing data and refining recommendations to reflect what residents want for Tomball’s future.”
The open house allowed attendees to review maps, ask questions and leave written comments. One major concern raised was the impact of commercial development on residential areas.
“Some people didn’t realize that land near their homes was zoned for commercial use until they saw the updated maps,” Mayor Lori Klein Quinn said. “This is the time to see those changes and ask questions or leave comments.”
Other concerns included more green spaces, sidewalks in the downtown area and ditches overflowing in certain areas of the city.
“I see a lot of the green space disappearing, and that concerns me,” resident Tesa Harding said. “In the hospital district, there was a lot of green space, and there were deer and there was wildlife, and it's just slowly being whittled away ... and I would like to see more sidewalks. I mean, the downtown, like Main Street, is definitely walkable, but anything past that is not so I'd like to see more walkable streets.”
The specifics
Throughout the planning process, several priorities were shared from community feedback including preserving small-town charm, walkability and green spaces, and balanced development.
Many residents emphasized the importance of maintaining the historic charm of Old Town Tomball while allowing for strategic growth and the plan aims to guide future land use by balancing residential, commercial and industrial growth in a way that protects property values and quality of life, Garcia said.
How we got here
Tomball officials held an open house last January to hear concerns and thoughts from residents. The city's last comprehensive plan was adopted in 2019.
What's next
The draft comprehensive plan is available for public review online, and residents can submit comments through March 4. Afterward, city staff will refine the plan before presenting it to the Planning & Zoning Commission and City Council to begin the approval process. During future meetings, residents will be able to comment during public hearings.
For more information, visit the city's website.
