By George Slaughter
The area impacted by the forthcoming Village of Katy development (City of Katy)
The Katy City Council Monday night passed ordinances to create a commercial development district that will be called the Village at Katy. It comprises approximately 84 acres, with land in both Harris and Fort Bend counties.
The district will be at the northeast corner of I-10 and Pin Oak Road, bounded by I-10 to the south, Pin Oak Road on the west, and U.S. Highway 90 to the north. It will have two retention ponds, one of which will be 4.7 acres, the other will be 8.4 acres.
Ward A Council Member J. Gary Jones said that Costello, the engineering firm that has been working with the city on flood prevention projects, reviewed and approved the plan.
Infrastructure development will begin within the next two years.
According to documentation presented to the city council describing the project, it’s not possible to predict when the buildings, or what, will be built within the property.
However, a 32-item list says what cannot be built within the property. Among the items forbidden for the district are automobile or trailer sales, rooms or yards; churches and schools; communication towers, and machine shops and sheet metal shops.
Single- or multiple-family houses, or senior living centers, also cannot be built within the district. However, one house must be built, as required by law, for setting an election to establish a municipal utility district. City Attorney Art Pertile said the house, which must meet Housing and Urban Development department guidelines, would be temporary and be removed upon establishment of the district.
To establish the district, the council passed several ordinances. One authorized a utilities function and services agreement that enables the location of the HUD-code manufactured home. Other ordinances involved abandoning a portion of Roberts Road and a portion of a utility easement near Roberts Road.
The council approved a final plat for the district.
Finally, it adopted a resolution that appointed four directors to the district. Mayor Chuck Brawner said the law called for five directors, but he was advised that it could operate with four. Bill Abbott, a civil engineer, and Dusty Thiele, an insurance executive, were appointed to serve until their terms end in 2020. Michael Harrington, an investment banker, and Darren Konesheck, a doctor, were appointed to serve until their terms end in 2022. A fifth director is expected to be appointed soon.
The city’s planning and zoning commission approved the request to establish the district at its March 13 meeting.
“It’s a beautiful piece of land that will represent the City of Katy well,” Brawner said, adding that it would take several years to develop.
In other action Monday, the council:
- Issued a proclamation for “April Pool’s Day” on April 7 from the Katy Memorial Hermann Hospital and Katy Aquatics.
- Heard a presentation about recent accomplishments of Keep Katy Beautiful, which included being named as one of 10 winners of the 2018 Governor’s Community Achievement Award for outstanding community improvement. As a result of the award, the city will receive $180,000 from the Texas Department of Transportation for a landscaping project. Following the presentation, Mayor Chuck Brawner read a city proclamation honoring Keep Katy Beautiful for its continuing service efforts in the community.
- Accepted a $5,000 donation from the Rotary Club of Katy to Keep Katy Beautiful.
- Accepted donations totaling $150 from Doyle and Kay Callender, J. Bruce and Theresa Scates, and Patricia A. Williamson of Katy to Keep Katy Beautiful for a memorial bench in honor of Dixie McDonald.
- Approved a 20.12-acre final plat for Hoffman Commercial Park and Waller County.
- Adopted a resolution authorizing the mayor to accept an encroachment agreement for 1419 Avenue D from Katy Dental & Medical Associates LLC in Harris County.