The big picture
The plan, last adopted in 2019, will act as a policy framework for future development decisions, capital improvement planning and zoning updates, according to the agenda. The plan acts as the city’s guiding document for the next five to ten years.
Consulting firm Freese and Nichols, Inc. drafted the plan with guidance from city staff, city council members, community members and focus groups, as previously reported.
How we got here
In late 2023, the city began working with Freese and Nichols to develop an updated plan, citing the need for a modernized approach as Tomball’s population and development patterns have changed. According to the plan, Tomball has experienced a 16% increase in population between 2019 and 2022.
Tomball officials held an open house last January to hear concerns and thoughts from residents, then took the information and applied it into a draft before coming to residents again in February.
After the last open house, the planning and zoning commission approved the draft before it came to council for public hearings and final approval.
Diving in deeper
The comprehensive plan includes several key focus areas, each supported by specific goals and implementation strategies, according to the document. Among the major components are:
- Future land use map: Provides a guide for how land in Tomball should be developed or preserved. It includes a mix of residential, commercial, mixed-use, industrial and has added a new zoning classification for duplex housing.
- Mobility: Recommends improving local street connectivity, promoting walkability and coordinating with regional transportation plans.
- Housing and neighborhoods: Encourages a range of housing options to meet community needs while maintaining neighborhood character.
- Economic development: Identifies priority areas like the Medical District, the South Persimmon area and the Hwy. 249 corridor to support job creation and commercial investment.
- Downtown Tomball: Reinforces downtown’s role as the city’s cultural and economic core, and suggests steps to improve pedestrian access, parking and redevelopment.
- Infrastructure: Addresses stormwater, water supply and green infrastructure. The plan supports connecting parks and drainage features where applicable.
The plan also addresses the city’s upcoming strategic plan, which mentions the potential for adding trails along drainage ways with trailhead parking areas, continuing the sidewalk program to connect neighborhoods to schools and parks, and adding a convention center and trolley transportation services.
What’s next
City staff will begin using the plan to inform zoning decisions, development review and updates to the city’s Unified Development Code, according to the agenda. The plan will be reviewed annually to track progress and ensure alignment with the city’s goals.
To view the comprehensive plan, visit the city’s website.
