By: Tom Behrens:
The City of Katy Planning and Zoning Commission met June 14 to address the subject of changing the zoning classification of land the city to meet growing needs.
Kendig Keast Collaborative found that Katy’s population increased by 55% between 2010-20, from 14,102 to 21,894. Including the Greater Katy area in that number would bring the total population to 375,000, which would make Katy the eighth of Texas’ 10 largest cities in 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Texas Demographic Center and the Katy Area Economic Development Council.
The Planning and Zoning Commission is recommending amending the zone classification from “R-1”, single family residential district to “C-1” commercial district for 5.5452 acres in the James Conner Survey, abstract No. 157, and approximately 14.5737 in abstract in the James Conner survey, abstract No. 157, Fort Bend County.
The City of Houston is releasing territory consisting of an approximately 5.3771-acre tract and approximately 1.0718-acre tract located in and around Katy Flewellen Road and Spring Green Boulevard from the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City of Houston.
The Houston Planning and Development Department received a petition from the property owner, Davoody M&J, LLC, to release approximately 6.4489 acres from extra-territorial jurisdiction of Houston.
The Mayor of the City of Katy provided the Houston Planning and Development Department with a letter expressing their intent to annex the tracts if Houston releases them from the ETJ. Houston Public Works has examined the area proposed for ETJ release and determined that the city is unable to cost-effectively provide water and wastewater to the area.
It is unlikely the City of Houston would be able to annex this property in the foreseeable future. Such a release will not impair the City’s ability to annex any other territory in the vicinity. This release will also not impair mobility in the City of Houston or in the ETJ. The proposed ETJ tract is outside the flood plain zone.
The purpose of this petition is to construct and connect utility lines from the City of Katy facilities in order to prepare this tract for development. The owner, Davoody M & J, is expecting to develop a business park in the tract to possibly include medical office space and related functions.
Kendig Keast Collaborative Plan projects a 4.5 percent per year. By 2040 Katy, Kendig projcted the Katy population to be 52,733; a low projection is 31,000. Kendig projects Katy proper to have 9,004 more residents requiring 2,904 more dwelling units (homes). The question, is there enough residential land available to accommodate this growth?
Amending the zoning map for the City of Katy will be one of the main items discussed at the City Council meeting this Monday, June 27, 6:30 p.m., in the Katy City Hall.