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Commission recommends downtown streetscape master plan to council
Summary
After a detailed presentation, the commission voted to recommend the downtown streetscape master plan to city council; the plan proposes corridor-specific cross-sections, shared-use paths, landscape buffers, pedestrian beacons, and potential utility undergrounding, with phased implementation and further right-of-way work noted.
The Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend the downtown streetscape master plan to city council following a detailed presentation by Aaron Cooper of HAF Associates.
Cooper (speaker 5) said the plan covers Pecan Street, Main Street and Railroad Avenue corridors and smaller local streets, and is grounded in community engagement (more than 300 interactions and 180 written comments). He described preferred cross-sections that include 11-foot vehicle lanes, 10-foot shared-use paths for pedestrians and cyclists separated by landscape buffers, medians on wider segments, and pedestrian-high beacons at key crossings. Cooper highlighted TxDOT right-of-way and design constraints on Pecan Street (TxDOT ownership and criteria) and said sections of Pecan will need constrained alternatives where 80-foot right-of-way is unavailable.
Commissioners praised the plan's clarity and pedestrian emphasis, asked whether right-of-way acquisition would require building purchases or relocation and whether any historically protected properties would be affected, and discussed undergrounding utilities and potential parking effects. Staff confirmed the plan aligns with transportation master-plan recommendations and that funding strategies and right-of-way acquisition would be addressed in future phases. Several commissioners suggested including a clear one-page summary at the front of the plan to set expectations about purpose, benefits and what the plan does not do.
Commissioner (speaker 3) moved to recommend the plan to council; the motion passed by voice vote. Staff said the commission's recommendation will be forwarded to city council for further action and implementation planning.
