Civic association to address concerns of Rayford Road corridor residents

With more than 40,0000 residents residing within the unincorporated Rayford Road corridor, a number that is growing, the area is home to the largest group of residents within Montgomery County with no central governing body. The Rayford Road Civic Association recently formed to help address the area's residential concerns and improve communication between residents, property owners associations and the boards of various taxing entities.

Paul Cote, a member of the Municipal Utility District No. 89, said the RRCA formed from the need of local MUDs—including MUD 89, South Montgomery County MUD, Spring Creek Utility District and Rayford MUD—to unite for the betterment of the area. Cote said the 40,000 residents within the 77386 area code have no single governing body to represent them, yet they occupy 40 square miles of Montgomery County compared the 42 square miles of The Woodlands.

"There's an entire block of people over here who have no representation," Cote said.

The group hopes to bridge the communication gap between taxing entities, such as utility districts, Conroe ISD and Montgomery County, Cote said, as well as address concerns regarding transportation, drinking water, public parks, recreational spaces, economic development and the accessibility of public services. He said he hopes the association can attract a YMCA to the area and address the possible traffic impact from Grand Parkway.

"We have to try as residents of this area to get ahead of this stuff," Cote said.

In early 2014, the RRCA plans to present the Community Vision Project detailing and prioritizing the area's most significant issues while incorporating a plan to address those concerns, according to a press release. Cote said an election for a governing board will take place in February 2014, and the temporary board of directors will govern the monthly meetings in the meantime.

Membership to the RRCA costs $100, Cote said. While the organization is a non-profit, he said, the association needs funding for the creation of a website and other expenses.

The civic association will hold a membership information meeting at 6:30 p.m. May 8 at the Imperial Oaks Clubhouse at 1910 Havenhouse Drive in Spring. All future meetings will be held at the same time and location on the second Wednesday of the month. Cote said the meetings will have an agenda and discussion items.