Waller County commissioners table proposed change to Major Thoroughfare Plan after hours of public comment

WALLER COUNTY, Texas — After more than two hours of public commentary, the Waller County Commissioners Court voted to table a proposed amendment to the county Major Thoroughfare Plan that would have shifted a long‑range alignment through portions of Old Joseph Road and surrounding properties.

Judge Duhan and commissioners moved item 49 up the agenda to hear a packed public-comment list. Commissioner Smith opened discussion by stressing that the change would amend an existing mapped corridor rather than immediately build a road, condemn property or begin acquisition, and that the plan is a long-range planning tool used to preserve future right-of-way as development occurs.

Why it matters: Landowners and neighbors said the red alignment (option C) would cut through century-old family farms and a small church that has served the area since 1888. Speakers described the potential for displaced homes, divided pastures, impacts to cemetery plots and increased flood and drainage risk if a raised roadway were later engineered through the floodplain. Several commenters said they had relied on previous maps (including a 2012 alignment) when making life and property decisions and urged the court to postpone action until further study and local outreach were completed.

At the podium, Carolyn Hosmer Wedekin said her family has held the property for roughly 130 years and described the house and land as irreplaceable family heritage. Pastor Dan Ayala told the court Friendship Church has sheltered neighbors in past disasters and urged commissioners to consider federal protections for places of worship when land-use decisions are made. Multiple residents asked the court to delay a final decision until the precinct’s incoming commissioner can be part of deliberations.

County staff summarized written comments and phone calls received before the meeting, noting concerns about wildlife, hydrology and pipeline crossings on affected parcels. Staff emphasized that the county is not currently at the land-acquisition stage and described the acquisition and appraisal process—including a landowner’s bill of rights—should acquisition ever become necessary.

Court action: Following public comment, Commissioner Beckendorf moved to withdraw or table consideration; another motion to table was made and seconded. The court approved tabling item 49 by voice vote. The court chair said the item will remain tabled until someone brings it back onto a future agenda; no numeric roll-call tally was recorded in the open transcript.

Other business: Before and after Item 49 the court adopted proclamations recognizing Caroline and John Polanski for community cleanup efforts and designating March 2026 as American Red Cross Month; the court also approved a tax-office collection report and a contract to provide indigent criminal defense coverage in County Court at Law No. 2. Grants and procurement items (including a state homeland‑security radio request and an NRA Foundation ammunition award offered to the sheriff) were discussed and advanced.

What the transcript shows (claims and responses): Residents repeatedly alleged the red alignment would lead to eminent-domain takings and severe, near-term disruption; Commissioner Smith and other county officials repeatedly responded that there is no plan for immediate condemnation, that the map change is a planning tool, and that detailed engineering and hydrologic studies (which could alter alignments) would occur well before construction. The transcript records those competing claims but contains no evidence of imminent or scheduled acquisitions.

Next steps: Item 49 is tabled; the court chair stated it will remain off the agenda unless a commissioner or staff member brings it back. The county also indicated it will continue community outreach when future map updates are considered, and staff encouraged residents to monitor the county website and posted agendas for future hearings.

Votes at a glance: The court approved proclamations recognizing Caroline and John Polanski and proclaiming Red Cross Month; it approved the January tax collection report and an indigent-defense contract; it approved several grant and procurement items described in the meeting backup. The transcript records voice approvals but does not provide roll-call tallies in the open session for these routine items.