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Council approves Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone 2 plan; next steps include negotiation with HOA
Summary
Council voted to approve the project plan and financing plan for TIRZ (Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone) No. 2 covering Omega Bay; the zone aims to use tax increments to repair private roads, subject to negotiations with the homeowners association about access or easements.
La Marque city council on Aug. 11 approved an ordinance creating and approving the project plan and reinvestment financing plan for Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) No. 2, a plan aimed at using tax-increment revenues to fund reconstruction of streets in the Omega Bay subdivision.
Why it matters: TIRZ financing captures the increase in property-tax revenue from development inside a defined zone and directs those increments toward public improvements inside that zone. Council members, TIRZ board representatives and residents discussed how the program can be used to repair or reconstruct private roads in Omega Bay, and what legal arrangements would be necessary to allow public expenditure on that infrastructure.
Board and staff presentations: Doug, representing the tourism/visitor board in the meeting, and TIRZ board members described the area’s infrastructure needs; an attendee noted the plan’s roadway-reconstruction portion is priced in the plan at roughly $6.5 million. City staff and TIRZ representatives said the zone would not automatically transfer ownership of privately held roads to the city; instead, the plan authorizes negotiations for a right-of-way agreement or perpetual easement with whoever currently owns the roads (the HOA was identified as the likely owner). Asked whether the TIRZ is asking the HOA for title, staff replied the approved plan envisions negotiating right-of-way or easement agreements rather than immediate gift of fee title.
TIRZ board support: A TIRZ board member told the council the board voted unanimously to support the plan.
Council action: A motion to approve Ordinance O-2025-0014 (approving project plan and reinvestment zone financing plan for TIRZ No. 2) was made and seconded; the council voted to approve the ordinance on a voice vote. Council and staff emphasized that approval of the plan launches a multi-step process: once the plan is approved, TIRZ representatives will negotiate with the current owners (likely the HOA) on right-of-way or easement terms, then return to the city with agreements and project phasing for implementation. A TIRZ board member summarized: "This thing today is just a plan. Yes. It's not an action. It's not we are given the roads over. It's just this is the design that has been developed for us to move forward and try and to utilize TIRS money to rebuild our roads." (transcript language as spoken.)
Next steps: Staff said the TIRZ has a 30-year term in which to capture increment revenues; the project will proceed as funds become available and following negotiations on access/easement with the HOA. Council requested further detail on timing, engineering designs and staged expenditures before construction begins.
Votes and motions: Motion to approve Ordinance O-2025-0014 (project plan and reinvestment zone financing plan for TIRZ No. 2) — mover/second not specified on the record — outcome: approved (voice vote).
