Brenham City Council Approves Chapter 380 Agreement for Brenham Market Square

KWHI
Josh Blaschke 
October 14, 2022

The Brenham City Council issued a unanimous vote today (Thursday) to establish a Chapter 380 economic agreement with the developer of a residential and commercial mixed-use project.

The agreement with Brenham Market Square, a 51-acre development between Market Street and Highway 290, allows the developer to be reimbursed for the cost of building qualified public infrastructure.  The developer will be able to receive reimbursement for half of its property taxes generated, with that amount reducing over the course of the 20-year agreement.

Brenham | Washington County Economic Development Director Susan Cates said a portion of ad valorem taxes generated from the project that would go into the city’s Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) fund will instead be earmarked to go back to the developer. 

The total property value of the fully developed Market Square project is expected to surpass $133.8 million.  The estimated cost of the supporting infrastructure, including water, wastewater, roads and drainage is $7.5 million.  The maximum qualified infrastructure reimbursement for the project is $10 million.

The agreement starts in 2024.  Cates said previously that the development is projected to be fully complete by 2027.

Update @ 9:35 a.m. Friday: Earlier on Thursday, the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) board generally agreed not to expand the boundaries of the TIRZ at this time.  City Manager Carolyn Miller explained at the meeting that there can be negative impacts to the city's general fund, due to the limitations on what half of the property taxes on properties in a TIRZ can be spent on.

In other action today, the council approved a no parking zone on Prairie Lea Street between College Avenue and West Fifth Street.  The request came from Blinn College as it works on adopting a parking plan to better address on-campus parking.  City staff will put in no parking signs and Blinn will paint curbs as needed.

In other action today, the council approved a no parking zone on Prairie Lea Street between College Avenue and West Fifth Street.  The request came from Blinn College as it works on adopting a parking plan to better address on-campus parking.  City staff will put in no parking signs and Blinn will paint curbs as needed.

Also at today's meeting, the council:

• Recognized Brenham Animal Control Officers Meagan McCarrell and Lauren Roese, who were presented Chief's Commendations for rescuing a family’s dog that was stuck in the mud of a dried-up pond on August 17th.
• Appointed Cherry Cash Prewitt as deputy city secretary.
• Approved the purchase of six Chevrolet Tahoes for the Brenham Police Department through The Interlocal Purchasing System (TIPS) from Lake Country Chevrolet in the amount of $237,067. Three of the vehicles are patrol vehicle replacements, while the other three are patrol/administration vehicle replacements.
• Accepted a bid from Larry Young Paving, Inc. for $2,193,505 related to South Chappell Hill Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway street and utility improvements.
• Authorized the submission of a grant application to the Office of the Governor for five bullet-resistant shields through the 2023 Bullet-Resistant Shield Grant Program.  If awarded, the grant will be in the amount of $20,106.
• Accepted a bid from Carlson McClain Construction Company for $163,400 related to the Henderson Park pedestrian bridge rehabilitation project.
• Approved a contract with Strand Associates, Inc. not to exceed $177,000 for engineering services for various water projects funded through the American Rescue Plan Act and administered by the United States Department of the Treasury.
• Approved a contract with Strand Associates, Inc. not to exceed $391,000 for engineering services for various wastewater projects funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and administered by the United States Department of the Treasury.
• Approved a change order to the agreement between the city and Avocette Technologies, Inc. and Carasoft Technology Corporation in the amount of $6,062 for online planning and permitting software.
• Received an update on the city’s tourism and marketing department.
• Met in executive session to discuss the raw water intake structure at Lake Somerville and the Federal Emergency Management Agency; utility competitive matters relating to the city’s gas utility system; and Aviators Plus, LLC v. City of Brenham, Texas; Cause No. 37896; 21^st Judicial District Court, Washington County.  No action was scheduled to be taken.