Tomball council reviews draft future land use map, directs staff to prepare detailed maps and public hearings

At a Jan. 6, 2025 workshop, Tomball City Council reviewed a staff presentation on a proposed update to the city's future land use map and discussed recommended changes covering 10 specific areas across the city.

The presentation, given by Craig (staff member), described the draft map as a guiding document that "does guide development based on an established vision" and clarified that future land use differs from zoning because it is macro-level guidance rather than site-specific regulation. Craig said the draft expands the plan's categories from 10 to 12, adding separate low-, medium- and high-density residential classifications and a new mixed-use designation.

Council members and residents pressed staff for more detail on several parcels where the proposed designations touch existing homes or parcels that span roads. Concerns centered on area 10 north of Huffsmith/29/20, where staff proposed neighborhood commercial and mixed-use designations near existing residences; council members discussed whether the map should be adjusted so the commercial designation does not directly abut Zion Road. Craig said staff had traced parcel boundaries to avoid splitting lots but that the parcels could be split on the map if directed: "If council directs me to split it, we can split it," he said.

The council also discussed a substantial change to the Old Town boundary (area 8). Craig said the focus group recommended shrinking the Old Town mixed-use area because some nonresidential uses had extended several blocks from the downtown core. Council and residents asked staff to show clearer, zoomed-in maps for public review so people can see how the changes would affect individual parcels and neighborhoods.

On technical definitions, Craig described medium-density residential as typically 5— dwelling units per acre and listed compatible zoning districts presented in the packet (examples given in discussion included single-family 20, single-family 9, single-family 7.5, duplex and multifamily). He also summarized the draft's land-area percentages in city limits under the proposed map (approximate figures from the packet): high-density residential about 1.5% of city land area, medium density about 12%, low density just over 20%, and rural residential about 9%.

Council members asked about the interface between business park/industrial designations and neighborhood commercial or residential uses near AG Road and South Persimmon; Craig said the map is guidance and that staff would generally recommend denial for rezones inconsistent with the adopted future land use, but the council can later amend the map if market changes make that appropriate.

The meeting produced no formal votes. Council directed staff to prepare enlarged, quadrant or 24-by-37-inch printed maps for the next workshop and to advertise the public hearings for the draft map so residents can review detailed, zoomed-in views.

The council closed the discussion by scheduling a follow-up workshop with larger maps and said the revised map and supporting materials will be included in the public hearings packet.