Growth expected to accelerate with Grand Parkway
during a recent address to the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce.
“Tomball growth has just been crazy,” she said. “We know we are going to grow, we see the statistics and we hear it over andover.”
In 2014, the city issued 316 building permits with a total valuation of $40.6 million — up 127 percent from 2010.
Last year, only 163 building permits were issued, but the total valuation of these projects was higher at $53.2 million.
Fagan said that while the building permits were lower, the valuation was higher because the projects themselves were larger in scope than those in 2014.
Despite the fact that Tomball is growing, Fagan said the city is doing its best to ensure “controlled growth” with tighter zoning ordinances, and the imple- mentation of the city’s livable centers plan, completed in 2009; the city’s comprehensive plan, and the FM 2920 Access Management study that was completed in 2008.
“We know where things are going to go now,” Fagan said.
One of the documents most referenced in 2015 by the Tomball City Council was the livable centers plan, which has helped guide city leaders on key projects, such as the planned $30 million in mobility upgrades to FM 2920 between Four Corners and Willow Street, and upgrades to downtown sidewalks, and the addition of public restrooms, parking lots and a splashpad to the Downtown Depot.
While the plans have helped manage growth, they have also fostered the explosion of small businesses like Nonnie’s; Cisco’s Salsa Company; Jane and John Dough; Brautigam’s Bar and Grill, and Tejas Chocolate.
“The city of Tomball is amazing,” said Ryan Aduddell, chairman of the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce. “I couldn’t ask for a better community.”