Local · Trusted · Free
The Morning Impact — your neighborhood's most important stories, delivered every morning.
Manvel City Council approved its final comprehensive plan, which includes the major thoroughfare plan, at its May 4 meeting.
The plan is intended to guide how the city develops infrastructure, community character and manages land use as growth continues, according to city documents.
“This is the culmination of two years of work,” Mayor Dan Davis said during the meeting. “All that hard work from everyone involved doesn’t go unnoticed.”
What residents need to know
The comprehensive plan is organized around six areas that shape future policy and development decisions, according to city documents.
The transportation section includes the city’s major thoroughfare plan, which focuses on improving access across Manvel by expanding and connecting roadways, sidewalks and trails, while coordinating roadway upgrades with private development and public projects.
The environment section focuses on preserving natural and rural areas while protecting water and air quality, and advancing sustainability and climate resilience. The city plans to map sensitive habitats and promote low-impact development such as rain gardens, permeable pavement and native landscaping.
The growth capacity goals focus on expanding water, wastewater and storm drainage systems to support development while reducing flood risk by upgrading drainage infrastructure and expanding regional detention areas like Akery Lake.
Also of note
The land use and community character goals aim to preserve open space, maintain a semi-rural feel and prevent congestion and overdevelopment while supporting local businesses over commercial sprawl.
The economic development goals focus on diversifying the city’s tax base, expanding job opportunities, supporting local entrepreneurship, and strengthening Manvel’s “town and country” identity.
The recreation and amenities goals focus on building a network of paths and trails, establishing a parks and recreation department, and developing a 160-acre city center as a community hub.
Additional amenities under consideration include basketball and pickleball courts, a skate park, public restrooms, shaded spaces and a possible expansion or relocation of the Manvel Library, depending on funding opportunities.
The background
The comprehensive plan updates the city’s 2015 plan and incorporates revisions to the major thoroughfare plan, last adopted in 2021. Both documents are part of the broader Manvel 2045 vision, adopted in February 2025, according to city documents.
City officials first introduced drafts during an Oct. 6 meeting. The planning process was led in partnership with Houston-based firm Kendig Keast Collaborative, according to city documents.
The process included three phases:
What’s next
The city will begin updating the zoning ordinance to align with the comprehensive and major thoroughfare plans and will develop a phased approach to implement the plan’s recommendations over time, Manvel’s Development Services Director Jose Abraham said at the meeting.
