\t\t\t\t\t\t\tManvel\u2019s new comprehensive planning drafts were presented to City Council at its Jan. 5 meeting and are intended to guide the city\u2019s growth and community character.<\/p>\n
The plans are not development approvals but tools meant to align community priorities with future decision-making, city officials said.<\/p>\n
The details <\/strong><\/p>\n Houston-based planning firm Kendig Keast Collaborative, which has been working with the city on both its thoroughfare and future land use plans, presented the drafts organized around four target areas.<\/p>\n Environment<\/strong><\/a> goals:<\/p>\n The city plans to emphasize habitat protection through conservation planning, greenways and trails, along with tree canopy preservation. It also promotes sustainable development practices intended to reduce environmental impacts as growth continues.<\/p>\n Growth capacity<\/strong><\/a> goals:<\/p>\n The draft outlines phased investment in water and wastewater infrastructure, flood mitigation and storm drainage improvements, and long-term maintenance planning.<\/p>\n Economic development <\/strong><\/a>goals:<\/p>\n The draft focuses on attracting higher-quality commercial and mixed-use development, strengthening economic development partnerships and encouraging selective growth intended to avoid overdevelopment.<\/p>\n Recreation and amenities<\/strong><\/a> goals:<\/p>\n The plan includes establishing a parks and recreation department and advancing development of a city center to serve as a central community destination.<\/p>\n Why now?<\/strong><\/p>\n Manvel has seen a significant population growth over the past decade, due in part to its proximity to the Houston metro area, according to city documents.<\/p>\n Manvel\u2019s population increased by nearly 41% from around 9,000 residents to nearly 13,000 total residents between 2018-23, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau\u2019s American Community Survey, which provides five-year population estimates based on surveys of households across the country.<\/p>\n The background <\/strong><\/p>\n The comprehensive plan drafts are part of a broader planning effort known as Manvel 2045<\/a>, which was adopted by the city in February<\/a> and includes the thoroughfare plan.<\/a><\/p>\n The initiative is intended to guide infrastructure investment and land use decisions as the city continues to experience population growth, according to city documents.<\/p>\n The planning process is being carried out in multiple phases. Phase 1 focused on community engagement and information gathering, including a citywide survey to identify residents\u2019 priorities and concerns.<\/p>\n The results of the survey showed that the top community priorities were:<\/p>\n Phase 2, which is currently underway, focuses on developing goals, policies and draft plans across key areas based in part on community feedback.<\/p>\n\n
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