Tomball to move forward with updated comprehensive, major thoroughfare plans

Tomball City Council approved a professional services agreement for updating its comprehensive plan and major thoroughfare plan, and the creation of a unified development code at its May 15 meeting.
(Lizzy Spangler/Community Impact)

Community Impact
By Lizzy Spangler 
10:15 AM May 17, 2023 CDT

Work on updated comprehensive and major thoroughfare plans along with the creation of a unified development code will begin soon after Tomball City Council unanimously approved a professional services agreement with Freese and Nichols Inc. at its May 15 meeting. Council Member Dane Dunagin was absent from the meeting.

In a nutshell: Freese and Nichols Inc. will be paid $450,000 to develop updated comprehensive, future land use and major thoroughfare plans as well as create a unified development code, according to the agenda packet.

Zooming out: A comprehensive plan for Tomball was last adopted in 2019, and touched on topics such as the city’s existing conditions, visions and recommendations for Tomball and plans for implementation.

Sorting out details: Freese and Nichols Inc.’s responsibilities and tasks are laid out in the May 15 agenda packet.

• Two community events to discuss these plans will be held.
• A project website will be developed that will house a community survey, engagement materials and final documents.
• The updates to the comprehensive and major thoroughfare plans will include:
  • A community snapshot
  • A future land use plan
  • Transportation and mobility plans
  • An assessment of downtown Tomball
  • An evaluation of the city’s economic and fiscal resilience
  • Housing and neighborhood information
  • A guide for implementation
• The final documents will include a draft plan, a final report and plan mapping.

Also of note: Freese and Nichols Inc. will also create a unified development code that will include updates or rewrites to these chapters of the city’s code of ordinances:

• Chapter 50 (Zoning)
• Chapter 40 (Subdivision)
• Chapter 38, Article V (Street and drainage facilities)
• Select portions of Chapter 38, Article VI (Right-of-way management)
• Chapter 34 (Signs)
• Chapter 26 (Manufactured homes, mobile dwelling structures and recreational vehicles)
• Chapter 10, Article VIII (Flood damage prevention)

Quote of note: “I know this has been a long time coming,” Community Development Director Nathan Dietrich said. “We just wanted to share our enthusiasm that we’re going to be starting this process off.”

Stay tuned: Freese and Nichols Inc. will begin working within the next week or so and agrees to complete the basic services within 21 months, according to the agenda packet.