Greenlighting growth: The Green at Katy Park to bring businesses and green space

Following Katy officials approving a rezoning request for a mixed-use district near the northwest corner of Morton and Katy Hockley Cut Off roads, developer Read King is taking steps to address an array of resident concerns.

The rezoning request, approved at the Oct. 28, 2024 Katy City Council meeting in a 3-2 vote, changed the 46.27-acre residentially zoned area to a planned development district for the construction of The Green at Katy Park. Council members Chris Harris and Rory Robertson cast the dissenting votes.

The move initially divided local Katy residents, with concerns of flooding, traffic congestion and construction being the main factors. However, Read King officials said they have taken steps to address residents’ concerns in the project’s future planning.

“We spent a ton of time, money and effort to ensure that all this infrastructure would not have any negative impacts on the surrounding areas,” project developer Guillo Machado said.

What's happening?

The development aims to bring green space, retail and restaurants north of I-10 and will be completed in two phases, officials with Read King said. Phase 1 will feature retail and restaurants, while Phase 2 is still undetermined.

Retail shops will be a major attraction of The Green, with hopes that the project will become a new “third space” for the Katy community to congregate and socialize, project developer Jessica Dennis said.

“A third space is a place for people to come and feel comfortable. ... Let the kids run around, enjoy a nice meal and a nice conversation with their family, take care of their grocery shopping, do whatever they need to do, and do it conveniently,” she said.

Katy City Council Ward B representative Gina Hicks said she supports the project because she believes it can boost the local economy and create a safe community space.

“I spent a lot of time at that intersection with the sports fields and one thing we never had was a place to go grab lunch or dinner or do team events,” she said.

Additionally, the project is expected to bring $4.07 million in roadway and drainage improvements for the development courtesy of funds from the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County.

The improvements, approved by Katy City Council on Aug. 11, include a $1.91 million contract for signal modification, turn lanes and drainage on Morton Road, plus a $2.16 million contract for the construction of drainage and paving facilities.

Read King will also have a built-in path that extends to another subdivision under development, Katy Court, which would give locals access to 3.21 miles of walkable trails.

Also of note

At its initial rezoning request, residents voiced concern about traffic and flooding in the area, following the Tax Day floods and Hurricane Harvey. However, Dennis and Machado said the park project will address many of the flooding issues the area faces with the help of infrastructure planned to assist in protecting the area.

“The developer had to install a very large detention pond and route his flows away from Morton Road and into a new drainage system,” City Engineer David Kasper said.

Michael Meihls, the homeowners association president for Heritage Park West near the project, said the neighborhood and Read King have had discussions on the project’s impact, but some complaints such as foundation concerns still linger.

What they're saying

• “Trying to live with the noise, it’s constant and our house vibrates when they’re doing stuff. I’ve had foundation problems as a result of that," resident Carolyn Easley said.
• “Not only does it boost the economy for the city and the neighborhoods around it, but it allows something north of I-10 that is really lacking in Ward B," said Gina Hicks, Katy City Council Ward B representative.

Read King Marketing Director Taylor Wagner said the early work of the project itself is well underway. As it currently stands, Read King officials are working on placing infrastructure among the 13 pad sites, which are expected to be completed by May.

A groundbreaking ceremony is anticipated for sometime in May ahead of officially beginning major construction, officials said. All site work on the development is projected to be completed by late spring 2027, with tenants and businesses projected to move in and open soon after.