* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:01] FROM CITY HALL ANNEX, [Planning Commission: Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan Recommendations on September 3, 2026.] IT'S THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING RIGHT HERE ON HTV 5:00 PM ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2026. I'M LISA CLARK, THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSTON PLANNING COMMISSION, AND I'M CALLING THIS MEETING TO ORDER AS AN IN-PERSON MEETING AT CITY HALL ANNEX 900 BAGBY SPEAKERS. IF YOU WISH TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON AN ITEM, PLEASE FILL OUT THE SPEAKER'S FORM BEFORE THE ITEM IS CALLED AND TURN IT INTO STAFF NEAR THE FRONT DOOR. CONSENT AND REPEAT SPEAKERS ARE ALLOWED FOR ONE MINUTE AND NEW SPEAKERS ARE TIMED FOR TWO MINUTES. SPEAKER RULES ARE FOUND ON THE TOP PORTION OF THE SPEAKER SIGN-IN FORM ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA. COUNCIL MEMBERS SPEAKING ON AN ITEM ARE NOT TIMED. MAJOR THOROUGHFARE AND FREEWAY PLAN. APPLICANTS WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR THEIR OPENING STATEMENTS INSTEAD OF THE USUAL FIVE. AND NON APPLICANTS AND GENERAL SPEAKERS ARE ALLOWED FOR TWO MINUTES TIME. THERE IS NOT AN OPTION FOR REBUTTAL. EVEN IF YOU DID NOT USE YOUR FULL TWO MINUTES, YOU'LL NOT BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK AGAIN AND TIME CANNOT BE ALLOTTED TO ANOTHER UH SPEAKER TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM. DO YOU HAVE AN AGENDA WITH THE NAMES ON IT? I DO. HOLD ON. OKAY. TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM OF 11 MEMBERS, I'LL CALL THE ROLE. WAIT A MINUTE, IN JUST A SECOND. , I DON'T HAVE AN AGENDA. JUST GOT IT. YOU GET PRINTED. HOLD ON. I KNOW. DO YOU HAVE YOURS IN FRONT OF YOU? I DO. OH, HERE SHE COMES. OKAY, GOT IT. THANK YOU. I SHOULD HAVE GRABBED THOSE WHILE I WAS OUT THERE. THANK YOU. AND THEN I LOST IT. OKAY. CHAIR CLARK IS PRESENT. VICE CHAIR GARZA PRESENT. COMMISSIONER BALDWIN PRESENT. COMMISSIONER CARROLL PRESENT. COMMISSIONER JONES. PRESENT. COMMISSIONER MAREZ PRESENT. COMMISSIONER FA PRESENT. COMMISSIONER PIERCE. PRESENT. COMMISSIONER POROUS PERLE PRESENT. COMMISSIONER SYKES PRESENT. COMMISSIONER VICTOR PRESENT. COMMISSIONER MANKA PRESENT AND SECRETARY VON TRAN. PRESENT. 13. AND WE HAVE 13 MEMBERS PRESENT, SO WE DO HAVE A QUORUM NOW I'LL CALL FOR THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT. DIRECTOR TRAN. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR CLARK COMMISSION MEMBERS, STAFF, AND THE PUBLIC. I AM VON TRAN, SECRETARY OF THIS COMMISSION AND DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. WELCOME. I DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT, SO IN CLOSING, PLEASE CALL THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AT 8 3 2 3 9 3 6 6 0 0. TO REACH THE PLANNER OF THE DAY, PLEASE CALL 8 3 2 3 9 3 6 6 2 4. YOU MAY VISIT US ONLINE@HOUSTONPLANNING.COM. THIS CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT ITEM IS ROMAN ONE INTRODUCTION AND PLEASE KNOW THAT AFTER WE HEAR FROM STAFF ON EACH OF THE ITEMS, I WILL CALL FOR SPEAKERS. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION. MY NAME IS PETRA SHAW. TODAY'S MEETING REPRESENTS THE CULMINATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S ROLE IN EVALUATING THE 2026 MAJOR THOROUGHFARE AND FREEWAY PLAN AMENDMENTS. THIS MEETING WILL INCLUDE A SUMMARY OF THE REQUEST STAFF FINDINGS AND A STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR EACH REQUEST. THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL THEN ACT ON EACH ITEM AND APPROVED APPLICATIONS WILL BE FORWARDED TO CITY COUNCIL TO BE FORMALLY INCORPORATED IN THE MTFP. DENIED APPLICATIONS MAY BE REVISITED AND CONSIDERED IN FUTURE MTFP AMENDMENT CYCLES. PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS NO OPTION TO DEFER ANY OF THESE REQUESTS THIS YEAR. WE HAVE SEVEN PROPOSED AMENDMENTS OF THESE TWO ARE LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND FIVE ARE WITHIN THE ETJ. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MT FP AMENDMENTS, PLEASE VISIT THE MTFP WEBSITE OR CONTACT STAFF BY EMAIL AT MOBILITY. DO PLANNING@HOUSTONTX.GOV OR BY CALLING 8 3 2 3 9 3 6 6 6 0 IF IT PLEASES THE COMMISSION, STAFF WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. M TP AMENDMENTS PUBLIC SECTOR? YES, PLEASE. THANK YOU. AMENDMENT TWO A IS GULFTON CONNECTOR BUSWAY PROJECT SUBMITTED BY METRO. THE SUBJECT AMENDMENT IS LOCATED IN CITY LIMITS HARRIS COUNTY. WITHIN THE GULFTON COMMUNITY, THE APPLICANT PROPOSES TO RECLASSIFY THREE THOROUGHFARES CHIMNEY ROCK ROAD FROM A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE TO A TRANSIT CORRIDOR STREET FROM WEST PARK DRIVE TO GULFTON STREET. GULFTON STREET FROM A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE TO A TRANSIT CORRIDOR STREET FROM CHIMNEY ROCK ROAD TO HILLCROFT AVENUE AND HILLCROFT AVENUE FROM A PRINCIPAL THOROUGHFARE TO A TRANSIT CORRIDOR STREET FROM GULFTON STREET TO BISSONNET STREET. STAFF IS IN SUPPORT OF THESE REQUESTS. THE GULFTON CONNECTOR BUSWAY PROJECT IS A PROPOSED 4.1 MILE DEDICATED BUSWAY THAT WILL PROVIDE RAPID TRANSIT SERVICE TO THE GULFTON COMMUNITY, FEATURING [00:05:01] SEVEN STATIONS THAT CONNECT RIDERS TO LOCAL BUS ROUTES AND KEY DESTINATIONS. THE PROJECT WOULD LIKE THE WEST PARK GLOW UPTOWN TRANSIT CENTER TO BAYLAND PARK WITH THE MTFP CORRIDOR THAT WOULD ALIGN WITH THE PROPOSED RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM. THE PROPOSED RECLASSIFICATION WILL REORIENT EACH STREET FOR MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION. THE AREA AROUND THE SUBJECT AMENDMENTS CONSISTS OF MOSTLY HIGH DENSITY COMMERCIAL AND MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT. MUCH OF THIS DEVELOPMENT PREDATES THE CITY'S REQUIREMENT TO PLA COMMERCIAL PROPERTY. SO MUCH OF THE AREA IS STILL PART OF THE ORIGINAL WESTMORELAND FARMS PLATS FROM THE 1920S. THERE HAVE BEEN A HANDFUL OF COMMERCIAL PLATS IN SCHOOL. SUBDIVISIONS RECORDED SINCE 2013. STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE EACH SEGMENT TO BE DESIGNATED AS PROPOSED TRANSIT CORRIDORS. THIS DISTINCTION WILL ALLOW FOR THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO CONTINUE COORDINATING WITH METRO UNTIL FULL FUNDING IS SECURED AT THIS POINT. AT THAT POINT, THE DESIGNATION WILL BE CHANGED TO TRANSIT CORRIDOR AND STAFF WILL INITIATE AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY'S TOD PLAN. WE HAVE RECEIVED NO ADVANCED WRITTEN COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM. THIS CONCLUDES STAFF'S PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE ANY SPEAKERS SIGNED TO SPEAK ON ANY OF THE ITEMS UNDER TWO A. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO? OKAY. COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. IF NOT, I NEED A MOTION TO FORWARD TO COUNSEL. MOTION BALDWIN. MOTION BALDWIN. SECOND PIERCE. SECOND PIERCE. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. NEXT WE'RE MOVING ON TO UM, ROMAN NUMERAL THREE, WHICH IS THE MTFP AMENDMENTS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. AMENDMENT THREE B IS BARKER CYPRUS AND PROPOSED NORTH SOUTH MINOR COLLECTOR SUBMITTED BY R-G-E-R-E-G-A ENGINEERING. THE SUBJECT AMENDMENT IS LOCATED IN THE ETJ HARRIS COUNTY. SINCE THE UPDATE MEETING, THE APPLICANT HAS COORDINATED WITH HARRIS COUNTY AND CITY STAFF AND REVISED THEIR INITIAL PROPOSAL. THE APPLICANT NOW PROPOSES TO REALIGN AN UNIMPROVED SEGMENT OF BARKER CYPRESS ROAD, A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE BETWEEN THE GRAND PARKWAY AND GRANT ROAD AND DELETE AN UNIMPROVED SEGMENT OF THE IN UNNAMED NORTH SOUTH MINOR COLLECTOR BETWEEN THE PROPOSED BOUDREAUX ROAD AND KITMAN ROAD. STAFF IS IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUESTS. THE REQUESTED REALIGNMENT OF BARKER CYPRESS ROAD WOULD PRESERVE THE REGIONAL NORTH SOUTH CONNECTION BETWEEN GRANT ROAD AND THE GRAND PARKWAY BY SUPPORTING FUTURE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AND REGIONAL TRAFFIC CIRCULATION AND PROVIDE CONTINUITY WITH THE EXISTING APPROVED ALIGNMENTS TO THE SOUTH. AS THE PROPERTIES IN THE AREA BEGIN TO DEVELOP AND PLAT ALL CURVE REQUIREMENTS FOR A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE ARE REQUIRED TO BE MET, THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THE PROPOSED ALIGNMENT WILL BE FULLY DEDICATED WITHIN THE EASTERN BOUNDARY OF THE CUNNINGHAM TRACKS. IN ADDITION, THE APPROXIMATELY HALF MILE DISTANCE BETWEEN BARKER CYPRESS ROAD, A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE AND BOBCAT TRAIL, A LOCAL STREET DOES NOT WARRANT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ADDITIONAL NORTH SOUTH STREET CONNECTION. HARRIS COUNTY DOES NOT OBJECT TO THE AMENDMENT REQUESTS. STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE REALIGNMENT OF BARKER CY CYPRESS ROAD BETWEEN GRANT ROAD AND THE GRAND PARKWAY, AND ALSO THE DELETION OF A SEGMENT OF AN UNNAMED NORTH SOUTH MINOR COLLECTOR BETWEEN THE PROPOSED BOUDREAUX ROAD AND KIDMAN ROAD. WE HAVE RECEIVED NO ADVANCED COMMENTS FOR THIS ITEM. THIS CONCLUDES STAFF'S PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE ANY SPEAKERS EITHER ON THREE B. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL SEEK A MOTION. MOTION. MOTION POURS PER SECOND. SECOND PSYCHS. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. PLEASE NOTE THAT I WILL BE ABSTAINING FROM C AND D. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MADAM. CHAIR ITEM. OH, SORRY. . NO, GO. GO RIGHT AHEAD. THANK YOU. UM, ITEM AMENDMENT THREE C IS KUMAR ROAD BETWEEN BECCA AND BATH ROAD. UM, IF IT PLEASE THE, THE SUBJECT AMENDMENT IS LOCATED IN THE ETJ HARRIS COUNTY. THE APPLICANT PROPOSES TO DELETE A SEGMENT OF KER MA ROAD, A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE BETWEEN BASE ROAD AND BECCA ROAD. IF IT PLEASES THE COMMISSION, THE APPLICANT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM PRIOR TO STAFF PRESENTATION. GO RIGHT AHEAD. THANK YOU MS. CURTIS. YES. GOOD AFTERNOON PLANNING COMMISSION. MY NAME IS JENNIFER CURTIS WITH META PLANNING AND DESIGN. UH, THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR DILIGENTLY WORKING WITH US OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS ON THIS AMENDMENT. AFTER FURTHER DISCUSSION, WE UM, RESPECTFULLY REQUEST TO WITHDRAW THIS APPLICATION AT THIS TIME. UH, THE DEVELOPER SERVER FARM, UM, WOULD LIKE TO TAKE MORE TIME TO EVALUATE THEIR OPTIONS ON THE SITE. UM, THEY WANT TO BE A GOOD PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND WITH HARRIS COUNTY AND A GOOD NEIGHBOR TO THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE SOME TIME TO EVALUATE OUR OPTIONS FURTHER AND PERHAPS SEE YOU AGAIN AT A LATER DATE. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, MS. CURTIS, A MOMENT. UM, ANYONE HAVE QUESTIONS FOR MS. CURTIS? ALL RIGHT. AND DO WE HAVE A SPEAKER ON THIS ITEM? I, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE ITEM NEEDS TO BE WITHDRAWN, BUT IT HAS NOT IF SOMEONE APPEARED HERE [00:10:01] TO SPEAK TO IT. IS THERE ANYONE HERE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM? NO. ALRIGHT THEN THE ITEM IS WITHDRAWN. THANK YOU MS. CURTIS. GO RIGHT AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO 3D. AMENDMENT 3D IS MASON ROAD BETWEEN FM 5 29 AND WEST LITTLE YORK ROAD SUBMITTED BY META. THE SUBJECT AMENDMENT IS LOCATED IN THE ETJ HARRIS COUNTY. THE APPLICANT PROPOSES TO REALIGN A SEGMENT OF MASON ROAD BETWEEN FM 5 29 AND WEST LITTLE YORK ROAD STAFF IS IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUEST. THE REQUESTED ALIGNMENT OF MASON ROAD IS TO ADDRESS INCONSISTENCIES IN THE CURRENT MAJOR THOROUGHFARE AND FREEWAY PLAN AND TO ESTABLISH A FEASIBLE CONTINUOUS ROADWAY ALIGNMENT DEVELOPMENT NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY HAS RESULTED IN MASON ROAD BEING SHIFTED IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, CREATING A SHARP AND IMPRACTICAL TURN THROUGH THE PINPOINT COMMERCIAL TRACK. THE PROPOSED REALIGNMENT WITH FORMALIZED THE ALIGNMENT PREVIOUSLY APPROVED THROUGH THE PINPOINT COMMERCIAL TRACK'S GENERAL PLAN AND CORRECT AND APPROXIMATELY 460 FOOT JOG IN THE MTFP WITHIN THE GRAND MASON DEVELOPMENT. THE REALIGNMENT ALSO PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THE FEASIBILITY AND FUNCTIONALITY OF THE PLANNED MASON ROAD CROSSING OF BEAR CREEK, AS THE CURRENT MTFB ALIGNMENT WOULD REQUIRE MASON ROAD TO CROSS THE FLOODWAY APPROXIMATELY 2,100 FEET WIDE. HARRIS COUNTY DOES NOT OBJECT TO THE AMENDMENT REQUESTS. STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE REALIGNMENT OF MASON ROAD BETWEEN FM 5 29 AND WEST LITTLE YORK ROAD. WE HAVE RECEIVED NO ADVANCED WRITTEN COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM. THIS CONCLUDES STAFF'S PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MS. SHA. ALRIGHT AGAIN, WE'RE ON 3D. UH, I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED TO SPEAK. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON THIS ITEM? OKAY, HEARING NONE IS THE APPLICANT HERE IN WHICH IS TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION. NO NEED IF YOU DON'T WANT TO, IT'S EASY. NO COMMENT. OKAY. ALRIGHT, WITH THAT, UH, COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NONE. IS THERE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? MOTION. SECOND. MOTION. WHO? I'M SORRY. JONES. JONES AND MAD. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED HEARING NONE. THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM THREE E. ITEM THREE E IS SOUTHRIDGE ROAD BETWEEN KIRKENDAL ROAD AND ELLA BOULEVARD SUBMITTED BY META PLANNING AND DESIGN. THE SUBJECT AMENDMENT IS LOCATED IN THE ETG HARRIS COUNTY, NORTH HOUSTON WEST OF I 45 NORTH. THE APPLICANT PROPOSES TO DELETE SOUTH RIDGE ROAD, A MINOR COLLECTOR BETWEEN ELLA BOULEVARD AND KIRKENDAL ROAD. STAFF IS NOT IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUEST. THE SUBJECT AMENDMENT OF SOUTH RIDGE ROAD HAS BEEN A PART OF THE MTFP SINCE 2018. HARRIS COUNTY ORIGINALLY SUBMITTED THE APPLICATION TO HELP ALLEVIATE SCHOOL RELATED TRAFFIC ON ELLA BOULEVARD. AT THAT TIME THE PROPOSED SEGMENT WAS APPROXIMATELY 4 48 50 FEET LONG. SINCE THEN, APPROXIMATELY 1690 FEET OF THE ROADWAY HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTED TO HELP IMPROVE TRAFFIC CIRCULATION WITH NEARBY SCHOOLS. THE APPLICANT INTENDS TO DEVELOP THEIR 321 ACRE SITE FOR LIGHT INDUSTRIAL USE. THEY ASSERT THEIR PROPERTY IS WELL SUITED FOR LARGE INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL USERS BECAUSE OF ITS STRATEGIC LOCATION ALONG THE MAJOR THOROUGHFARE KIRKENDAL ROAD AND ITS PROXIMITY TO I 45. THE APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT DEDICATING A 60 FOOT WIDE MINOR COLLECTOR WOULD NOT ENHANCE REGIONAL TRAFFIC AND WOULD LIKE TO AVOID MIXING INDUSTRIAL TRAFFIC WITH SCHOOL TRAFFIC AND IS THEREFORE PROPOSING TO PROVIDE INGRESS AND EGRESS EXCLUSIVELY VIA KIRKDALE ROAD. STAFF IN COORDINATION WITH HARRIS COUNTY FINDS THAT THE SEGMENT IS A NECESSARY COMPONENT FOR REGIONAL TRAFFIC CIRCULATION AND HAS PRESENTED ALTERNATIVE ALIGNMENTS TO AVOID THE DELETION OF SOUTHRIDGE ROAD STAFF BELIEFS. AN EAST WEST CONNECTION WOULD ADDRESS EXCESSIVE INTERSECTION SPACING ALONG ELLA BOULEVARD, WHICH IS CURRENTLY 1.38 MILES AND WOULD GREATLY HELP ALLEVIATE INSTITUTIONAL TRAFFIC OFF OF THE EXISTING MAJOR THOROUGHFARE NETWORK. THE APPLICANT IS NOT PURSUING ANY ALTERNATIVE ALIGNMENTS PROPOSED BY STAFF OR HARRIS COUNTY. THEREFORE, STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO DENY THE REQUEST AND TO DELETE SOUTHRIDGE ROAD BETWEEN ELLA BOULEVARD AND AL ROAD. WE HAVE JUST BEEN MADE KNOWN OF AN EMAIL SUPPORT ON THE DELETION OF BY SPRINGING ISD. THIS WAS RECEIVED JUST NOW SO THAT IT IS NOT IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PACKET. ALL. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, UM, SPEAKERS, I HAVE MS. CURTIS, IF YOU'D COME FORWARD PLEASE DOCUMENT CAMERA, DOCUMENT CAMERA. OH, OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS JENNIFER CURTIS WITH META PLANNING AND DESIGN. UM, WANTED TO GO OVER A LITTLE BIT OF THE INFORMATION [00:15:01] WE RECEIVED FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. I MENTIONED BRIEFLY LAST TIME THAT WE HAD BEEN ABLE TO MEET WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, UM, SINCE PART OF THE INITIAL JUSTIFICATION FOR ADDING THIS COLLECTOR STREET WAS TO ALLEVIATE SCHOOL DISTRICT TRAFFIC. WE WANTED TO HEAR FROM THEM. UM, IN DETAIL ON THE IMAGE YOU SEE HERE. THE RED AREAS ARE THREE SCHOOL SITES FROM SPRING ISD ONE MIDDLE SCHOOL, ONE HIGH SCHOOL, AND THEN ONE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT THE TOP. WHAT WE HEARD FROM SPRING ISD WAS THAT THEY DO NOT WANT THROUGH TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD THAT BISECTS THE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE MIDDLE SCHOOL ESPECIALLY NOT TRUCK TRAFFIC FROM THE PROPOSED INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS, WHICH YOU CAN SEE ON THIS SITE PLAN. ADDITIONALLY, ONE OF THE ALTERNATIVES THAT STAFF HAD PROPOSED WAS TO CONNECT THE EXISTING PORTION OF SOUTH RIDGE ROAD TO THE NORTH, WHICH WOULD AFFECT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS ALSO NOT IN FAVOR OF THAT. SO, UH, WE, WE APPRECIATE AND UNDERSTAND STAFF'S CONCERNS ABOUT, ABOUT CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC, BUT SINCE THIS SITE WOULD BE A SOURCE OF SEMI-TRUCK TRAFFIC AND BECAUSE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SPECIFICALLY ALSO DOES NOT WANT THAT TRAFFIC TO GO THROUGH THEIR SITE, WE FEEL LIKE THE REQUEST IS JUSTIFIED. THANK YOU. OKAY. UM, COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS FOR MS. CURTIS, THE APPLICANT. QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? YES, YES, YES. GO AHEAD COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. AND THAT'S FOR STAFF. UH, WERE YOU AWARE BEFORE THIS MEETING TODAY OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S POSITION ON IT AND WAS THERE COMMUNICATION WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ABOUT IT? UM, I TRIED REACHING OUT TO THE SCHOOL, UM, PRIOR, BUT WE DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE FROM THEM. UM, IN THE PREVIOUS MEETING, UH, WE HAD BEEN MADE, MADE KNOWN BY THE A THAT BY THE APPLICANT THAT THEY WERE IN COORDINATION WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT THEY WERE YET TO RECEIVE A FORMAL LETTER OF SUPPORT ON THE APPLICATION. COMMISSIONER VICTOR, GO AHEAD. OH, DID YOU HELP? NO. SO WOULD, GIVEN THAT SPRING, ISD HAS NOW GIVEN A LETTER IN SUPPORT FOR DELETION, WOULD THAT CHANGE YOU CITY'S RECOMMENDATION AND HARRIS COUNTY WOULD HAVE ANY CHANGE CHANGES ON YOUR OPPOSITION? SO WE HAVE NOT, UM, TO CLARIFY, WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN OFFICIAL LETTER OF SUPPORT YET. OH. UM, WE WERE JUST MADE KNOWN OF AN EMAIL THAT, UH, THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED AND COORDINATION WITH SPRING ISD UM, I WOULD'VE TO TALK TO STAFF BEFORE. UM, SO WITH THE SCHOOL AND THE INDUSTRIAL SITE BEING JUST ADJACENT SITES TO THE, THE TO SOUTHRIDGE ROAD, WE FEEL THAT THIS REQUEST IS A LITTLE BIT SITE SPECIFIC AND DOES NOT CATER TO THE LARGER, UM, DOES NOT HELP IMPROVE THE LARGER CIRCULATION OR IMPROVE THE LARGER NETWORK. UM, AND THEREFORE OUR, UM, RECOMMENDATION WOULD STILL BE TO DENY. OKAY. ALRIGHT. ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU. UH, UH, ONE MOMENT I'LL GET RIGHT TO YOU. SO, COMMISSIONER'S QUESTIONS OF STAFF OR THE APPLICANT. OKAY. UM, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON THIS ITEM COME FORWARD? IF YOU WOULD PLEASE, IF YOU WOULD STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. I, MY NAME IS SCOTT BARKER. I'M WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ENGINEER. MR. BARKER, GO RIGHT AHEAD PLEASE. THANK YOU. WE RECEIVED THIS REQUEST WHEN THE AMENDMENT WAS FIRST SUBMITTED AND WE ALSO RECOMMENDED DENIAL OF THE REQUEST. UH, THIS SEGMENT OF SOUTH RIDGE WAS ADDED, LIKE I SAID, IN 2018 AT THE SCHOOL'S REQUEST AND WITH PRECINCT ONE SUPPORT, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING A, UH, UPDATED THROUGH TRANSPORTATION PLAN AND ONE OF OUR PROPOSALS IS TO TAKE SOUTH RIDGE AND CONNECT IT EVEN FARTHER WEST. SO WE SEE IT AS A VITAL CONNECTION EAST WEST BETWEEN 1960 AND, UH, STREETS TO THE SOUTH. SO FOR THAT REASON, WE STILL HAVE THE POSITION OF DENYING THE REQUEST TO MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF THE NETWORK. JUST WANNA SAY OUR, THE COUNTY IS SUPPORTING THE CITY IN THIS POSITION. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU SIR. QUESTIONS FOR OUR SPEAKER, MR. BARKER? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU DIRECTOR TRAN. THANK YOU STAFF. UH, THANK YOU SCOTT FOR COMING TO SPEAK AS WELL. UH, JUST TO ALSO EMPHASIZE THAT TYPICALLY, UH, FOR APPLICATIONS THAT ARE IN HARRIS COUNTY, UH, CITY TYPICALLY WOULD LIKE TO PUT MORE WEIGHT ON THE COUNTY. AND SO BASED ON WHAT SCOTT JUST MENTIONED, UM, WE FELT THAT WE ALSO NEEDED TO FOLLOW THE COUNTY, UM, RECOMMENDATION. SO TO BE WORKING IN TANDEM WITH KENNEDY? YES. [00:20:01] YES. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU DIRECTOR. ALRIGHT, UH, COMMISSIONERS, IS THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? NO. ALRIGHT. ARE THERE QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? STAFF? ALL OUR SPEAKERS? ANYONE? ALRIGHT THEN. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONERS. UM, WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION TO DENY AND IS THERE A MOTION? MA? SECOND. SECOND. VICTOR, MANKA. EXCUSE ME. SO MA MANKA QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED HEARING NONE. THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS THREE. UH, IS THAT FF? THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ITEM THREE F IS VICKSBURG BOULEVARD SUBMITTED BY BGE. THE SUBJECT AMENDMENT IS LOCATED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON LIMITS FORT BEND COUNTY. THE APPLICANT PROPOSES TO DELETE AN UNIMPROVED SEGMENT OF VICKSBURG BOULEVARD OF MAJOR THOROUGHFARE SOUTH OF ARD ROAD AND WEST OF FORT BEND PARKWAY. STAFF IS IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUEST, THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND REGIONAL TRA TRANSPORTATION NEEDS THAT ORIGINALLY SUPPORTED THE DESIGNATION OF VICKSBURG BOULEVARD. A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE HAVE CHANGED. THE SUBJECT SEGMENT OF VICKSBURG BOULEVARD HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, MAJOR THOROUGHFARE AND FREE BAY PLAN SINCE 2016, FOLLOWING AN APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY FORT BEND COUNTY TO IMPROVE REGIONAL MOBILITY BASED ON THE FINDINGS OF A COUNTYWIDE MOBILITY STUDY. SINCE THAT TIME, HOWEVER, SIGNIFICANT SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA HAS ALTERED THE FEASIBILITY OF THE PROPOSED CONNECTION. VICKSBURG BOULEVARD NOW TERMINATES IN A CUL-DE-SAC WITHIN MISERY CITY AND THEIR SUR SURROUNDING RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISIONS EFFECTIVELY PRECLUDE ANY OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND THE ROADWAY AND TO ACHIEVE ORIGINALLY INTENDED REGIONAL CONNECTION. IN ADDITION, FORT BEND COUNTY REMOVED VICKSBURG BOULEVARD FROM ITS MTFP MAP IN APRIL, 2025. HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS IN FORT BEND COUNTY. DO NOT OBJECT TO THE AMENDMENT REQUEST. STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE DELETION OF VICKSBURG BOULEVARD SOUTH OF MCCORD ROAD. WE HAVE RECEIVED NO ADVANCE COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM. THIS CONCLUDES STAFF PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED TO SPEAK ON VICKSBURG BURG. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO COMMISSIONERS? DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT, DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION JONES. MOTION JONES. SECOND VICTOR. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO G COASTAL PRAIRIE CONSERVANCY. ITEM, SORRY. AMENDMENT 3G IS THE COASTAL PRAIRIE CONSERVANCY SUBMITTED BY THE CPC. THE SUBJECT AMENDMENT IS LOCATED IN THE ETJ HARRIS COUNTY AND WALLER COUNTY IN NORTHWEST HOUSTON, SOUTH OF 2 98 AND WEST OF THE GRAND PARKWAY. THE APPLICANT PROPOSES TO RECLASSIFY, REALIGN AND DELETE ALL MAJOR THOROUGHFARES WITHIN THE COASTAL PRAIRIE CONSERVANCIES APPROXIMATELY 20,000 ACRE PROTECTED AREA ALONG THE WALLER HARRIS COUNTY LINE STAFF IS IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUESTS. APPROXIMATELY THREE FOURTHS OF THE TRACT IS WITHIN THE HARRIS COUNTY ETJ AND THE REMAINING PORTION LIES WITHIN THE WALLER COUNTY PORTION OF THE ETJ. THE APPLICANT PROPOSES TO REALIGN AND DELETE ALL PROPOSED ROADS TRAVERSING THEIR CONTROLLED PROPERTY. THE EXISTING PAVED ROADS THROUGH THE SITES ARE PROPOSED TO BE DOWNGRADED FROM MAJOR THOROUGHFARES TO MINOR COLLECTORS TO ALLOW THEM TO REMAIN IN THEIR CURRENT CONFIGURATION. THE INTENT IS TO ALIGN THE CITY'S LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN WITH THE GOALS OF THE COASTAL PRAIRIE CONSERVANCY'S VISION OF PROTECTING A HUNDRED THOUSAND ACRES OF WETLANDS ACROSS THE HOUSTON METROPOLITAN AREA. MAJOR THOROUGHFARES ARE INTENDED TO PROVIDE NECESSARY TRAFFIC, CIRCULATION AND ACCESS WITH NEW DEVELOPMENTS OCCUR. THE APPLICANT IS ASSERTING THAT NONE OF THE PROPOSED MAJOR THOROUGHFARES AFFECTING THE KATY PRAIRIE ARE NECESSARY AS THE CONSERVANCY AIMS TO PRECLUDE ANY DEVELOPMENT AND LEAVE THE LAND IN ITS NATURAL STATE. THE LAND USE OF THE SURROUNDING AREA IS LIMITED TO MOSTLY AGRICULTURE, LARGE LOT SINGLE FAMILY SITES, SMALL COMMERCIAL USES, AND A LARGE SWATH OF UNDEVELOPED LAND ALREADY PROTECTED BY THE COASTAL PRAIRIE CONSERVANCY. WE HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS ADVANCED WRITTEN COMMENTS INDICATING SUPPORT, INCLUDING SUPPORT FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. SALLY ALCORN AND HARRIS AND WALLER COUNTIES HAVE EXPRESSED NO OBJECTION. CITING ONGOING COORDINATION WITH THE CONSERVANCY. STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE REQUEST TO DOWNGRADE, DELETE, AND REALIGN THE MAJOR THOROUGHFARES WITHIN THE COASTAL PRAIRIE CONSERVANCY TRACK. THIS CONCLUDES STAFF'S PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I DO HAVE A FEW SPEAKERS. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS JIM. LOOK. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LETTING US SPEAK. BUT UH, WE OWN A RANCH, UH, 2200 ACRES, UH, BETWEEN MY FAMILY, THE LUKE'S AND THE WALTERS. AND THE WALTERS. BEEN IN THIS CITY FOR FIVE GENERATIONS AND I'VE BEEN A TEXAN [00:25:01] FOR FOURTH GENERATION. AND THIS RANCH IS IN BETWEEN WARREN RANCH, SHARP ROAD AND THE SAND HILL FARMS. THERE'S A SAND HILL FARMS TO THE WEST OF US. WE'VE GOT THE WARREN RANCH TO THE EAST OF US. WE'VE GOT FREE MOUNTS. IT'S IN THIS AREA. THERE'S ABOUT 12,000 ACRES. SO IN THIS AREA IT'S, WE BASICALLY HAVE AN EAGLE NEST JUST JUST WEST OF OUR PROPERTY. WE HAVE DEER, WE HAVE WILDLIFE. OUR FAMILY IS TRYING TO MAKE THIS, IT'S A RANCH, BUT WE ALSO REALLY SPENT A LOT OF MONEY AND TIME MAKING WETLANDS LAKES. WE PLANTED OVER 50,000 OAK TREES IN THE LAST 20 YEARS OUT THERE. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL WILDLIFE OASIS THAT THE KATY CONSERVATORY AND, AND, AND LANDOWNERS LIKE US WANT TO KEEP THE ROAD FROM COMING THROUGH. WE NEED TO HAVE SOME GREEN BELTS IN THIS COUNTY AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE. WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE IT ALL ROADS AND HIGHWAYS AND SHOPPING CENTERS AND, AND HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. THIS AREA OUT THERE, ALL THE LANDOWNERS DO NOT WANT THE ROADS COMING THROUGH. THEY PROPOSED TWO ROADS GOING THROUGH OUR, OUR RANCH, OUR FAMILY RANCH. THAT WOULD DESTROY THE WILDLIFE. YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THE EAGLES THERE. YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE THE SONGBIRDS, YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE THE DEER, YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE HEAR THE WHISTLING OF THE QUAIL. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF AREA OUT THERE AND I HOPE THE CITY WILL NOT LET THE ROADS GO THROUGH THERE. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARYANNE. I'M GONNA MEASURE THAT LAST NAME UP. PS PINI. YOU KNOW, MY HUSBAND'S LAST NAME IS TURNER. YOU KNOW, I COULD MAKE LIFE. LET'S TRY THAT MARIANNE NEXT TIME. LET'S TRY THAT. . YEAH, NO, UM, WHEN HE, WHEN WE GOT MARRIED I SAID UHUH TOO PLAIN . SO ANYWAY, UM, I'M MARIANNE PINI. I AM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE COASTAL PRAIRIE CONSERVANCY. I AM NOT GONNA REPEAT ALL THE ARGUMENTS THAT I'VE MADE FOR THE LAST THREE TIMES. I THINK YOU RECOGNIZE THAT. WE THINK THAT WHAT WE HAVE OUT THERE IS PRETTY PRECIOUS, THAT IT'S A GEM. IT'S FOUR FOUR FIFTHS THE SIZE OF ATTICS AND BARKER RESERVOIR. IT'S 13 TIMES THE SIZE OF MEMORIAL PARK. PARTS OF OUR LAND ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. PARTS OF OUR LAND ARE SENSITIVE HABITAT AND THEY'RE ONLY THERE BY FACILITATED, UM, TOURS. AND WE BELIEVE THAT THE ROADS DON'T NEED TO BE THERE. AND WE WERE VERY DELIBERATE IN WHAT WE PROPOSED ONLY ON LANDS THAT WE'VE PROTECTED PERMANENTLY. HAVE WE ASKED FOR THESE AMENDMENTS? I DO ALSO WANNA TELL YOU THAT WE REALLY APPRECIATE THIS, UM, PROCESS THAT YOU GO THROUGH. I'M AN URBAN PLANNER MYSELF AND SO I REALLY AM PLEASED THAT YOU'VE BEEN SO CAREFUL AND DELIBERATE IN YOUR, IN YOUR, UM, REVIEW OF THIS. PETRA AND JEFF HAVE BEEN TERRIFIC. UM, VAUGHN WAS GREAT IN TELLING US GO TO THE COUNTY, TALK TO THEM AND EVEN THOUGH WE THOUGHT WE WERE KEEPING THEM IN THE LOOP, UM, IT WAS GREAT TO MEET WITH THEM BECAUSE ONCE WE FIGURED OUT WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO TOGETHER AND WORKING TOGETHER, THEY REMOVED THEIR OBJECTIONS. AND WE APPRECIATE THAT AND WE ALSO APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU AND HOPE THAT YOU WILL APPROVE THE AMENDMENTS THAT WE'VE REQUESTED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OUR LAST SPEAKER IS ELIZA DONOVAN. THANK YOU. IT'S A ELISA DONOVAN AND, UM, I, I'M REALLY GOOD AT BUTCHERING NAMES, SO THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. I WILL KEEP IT BRIEF 'CAUSE I'VE ALSO BEEN UP HERE BEFORE, BUT I, UM, APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THE COMMISSION TO RESPECT THE WORK OF THE COALITION OF LANDOWNERS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDERS AND COASTAL PRAIRIE CONSERVANCY STAFF WHO'S BEEN WORKING FOR DECADES TO BUILD THIS COMMUNITY ASSET. OUR AMENDMENT REQUEST IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. NO NEW RAIN LAND, NO NEW ROADS ACROSS PROTECTED LANDS. KEEP THOSE INTERIOR ROADS THAT ALREADY EXIST, KEEP THEM THERE, SLOW, CALM SO THEY CAN BE ENJOYED BY OUR VISITORS PEOPLE AND NOT BE HAZARDOUS TO THE WILDLIFE COMMUNITY. WE DO APPRECIATE HARRIS AND WALLER COUNTY, UH, REMOVING ANY OBJECTIONS TO THESE AMENDMENTS. UM, WHILE THEY DO CONTINUE TO PLAN FOR THE GROWTH IN THE AREA. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU. OKAY, I DON'T HAVE ANYONE ELSE SIGNED TO SPEAK. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE ELSE THAT WISHES TO? ALRIGHT. COMMISSIONERS, IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION FAM SECOND BALDWIN. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO NEXT STEPS, . AFTER TODAY'S MEETING, THE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE FORWARDED TO CITY COUNCIL BY FOR ACTION BY SEPTEMBER 30TH, WHICH WILL THEN CONCLUDE THIS YEAR'S MTFP AMENDMENT PROCESS. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU PETRA, AND THANK YOU TO YOU AND JEFF AND EVERYONE FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU GUYS DID THIS YEAR. I KNOW THIS IS NOT EASY, IT NEVER IS. AND, UM, WE'VE SEEN YOUR GROUP, UH, MARYANNE SEVERAL TIMES THIS YEAR AND WE APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS, UM, WITH THE WORK THAT YOU DO AS WELL [00:30:01] AS THE WORK THAT YOU DID WITH STAFF ON THESE ISSUES. SO THANK YOU EVERYONE. ALL RIGHT. AND DO I HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? HEARING NONE. I'LL ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 1:35 PM THANK YOU EVERYONE. THANK. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.