Harlingen — The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended and the City Commission approved on first reading a package of planning documents — a comprehensive plan, a downtown plan and a parks, recreation, open spaces and trails (PROS) plan — during a special joint meeting on Nov. 13, 2025. The consultant team told commissioners the plan development was supported by extensive community engagement and was 100% grant funded through the Texas General Land Office resilient-communities program.

Fries & Nichols, the lead consultant for the project, told the joint body the effort began in October 2024 and produced roughly 400 pages of draft materials after three steering-committee meetings, multiple stakeholder interviews and three public open houses. "This is a 100% grant funded, no match," the consultant said, noting the GLO grant requires resilience elements, particularly for flooding.

The comprehensive plan lays out a community vision and a set of goals that feed topic chapters on land use, housing, infrastructure, transportation and economic development. The downtown plan frames three character areas — a transition district, a commercial/retail core and an arts/cultural district — and identifies catalyst sites, mixed-use corridor concepts and short-term pilot actions such as alley activations and expanded event programming. The parks plan, described as a 10-year guide, inventories existing facilities and sets priorities for trails, shade, restrooms and maintenance.

Key findings from the consultant presentation included an inventory of roughly 1,176 acres of parkland, three public swimming pools, two splash pads, 21 playgrounds and 48 sports fields. The consultant estimated a quantitative parkland deficit of about 71 acres in 2025 and projected that deficit could grow to about 190 acres by 2035 if no additional parkland is added.

Commissioners pressed the consultant on implementation and financing. One commissioner asked for Texas-specific case studies showing the return on municipal investment when cities pay to upgrade second-story housing or retrofit older buildings; the consultant offered to provide examples and contacts and noted options such as targeted tax tools and partnerships to spur private reinvestment.

The Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to recommend adoption after a public hearing. On the city side, the City Commission considered an ordinance on first reading adopting the plans pursuant to chapter 2.13 of the Texas Local Government Code. The motion on the city floor was made by Commissioner Kinsley and seconded by Commissioner Lopez; presiding officials recorded the motion as carried.

Officials said the package is a guide rather than a regulatory code, and the consultant noted some future ordinance updates will be necessary to meet GLO hazard-mitigation requirements related to flooding. The consultant and staff said those ordinance updates will be returned to the commission for separate consideration at a later meeting.

The commission approved the plan package on first reading and directed staff to follow up on the scheduled ordinance updates and to circulate any supporting case studies and implementation data the consultants offered.

The joint meeting adjourned following several other routine agenda items.