DICKINSON PROJECTS ATTRACT MORE MAJOR DEVELOPERS GROWING PAINS LEAGUE CITY LIBRARY WORKS TO REMAIN A COMMUNITY CENTERPIECE CAPITALIZING ON GAINS BOND-FUNDED PROJECTS MEAN BIG CHANGES FOR GALVESTON ISD RAISING THE GRADE ‘ROCKING AND ROLLING’ TEXAS CITY ISD NEARS COMPLETION OF $32M SCHOOL2 | The Daily News | Progress | 2024 La Marque has proudly been recognized as an All-America City by the National Civic League in Denver, highlighting the city’s remarkable efforts in community collaboration and problem-solving. La Marque continues to flourish and evolve as a vibrant community, with new neighborhoods and schools, a revitalizing Renaissance District downtown, and a variety of family-friendly festivals. Its strategic location in Galveston County offers seamless access to the region's attractions, supported by dedicated city leadership and actively engaged citizens. Visit LMEDC.com or call 409-938-9258 for a tour! Discover the Possibilities CUSTOM CONSTRUCTION & TOTAL REMODELING Kitchens, Bathrooms, Central Air/Heat, Demolition, Flooring, Countertops, Concrete, Roofing & Much More WE SPECIALIZE IN CUSTOM CONTAINERS NEW BUILD FROM THE GROUND UP 2024 | Progress | The Daily News | 3 4 Traffic a major concern in League City’s westward expansion 6 Dickinson projects attract more major developers 7 Santa Fe prepares for population explosion 8 La Marque prepares for continued growth along I-45 12 Texas City nears completion of $32 million school 13 Bond-funded projects mean big changes for Galveston ISD 14 League City library works to remain a community centerpiece amid population growth 16 League City officials want business growth to match population growth 18 UTMB doctors, researchers made major strides in 2024 13 7144 | The Daily News | Progress | 2024 Traffic a major concern in League City’s westward expansion By LAUREN FRICK The Daily News T he city will need a meticulous plan to ensure a smooth transition as it develops about 4,000 acres on its west side, city officials say. The 4,000 acres represent about 40 percent of the city’s total landmass, nearly all of it being on the southwest side of the city, City Manager John Baumgartner said. Over the next 30 years, as west-side development nears completion, the city’s population is projected to approach or exceed 200,000, Baumgartner said. “To prepare for this inev- itable population growth, we must have a sustainable roadmap for future develop- ment that ensures infrastruc- ture, services and amenities are thoughtfully integrated and that there is a balance between commercial and residential development,” Baumgartner said. The city already has taken steps toward preparing for the future development and the inevitable population growth, Baumgartner said. “Plans to expand our wa- ter and wastewater systems are already underway, sup- ported by some of the high- est development impact fees in the state,” Baumgartner said. “Our drainage stan- dards have been updated to align with the latest Atlas 14 rainfall intensity data and our detention requirements have been enhanced to improve stormwater man- agement.” The city also is working to stay ahead of traffic in ways such as collaborating with the Texas Department of Transportation to expand FM 517 and FM 646. Meanwhile, the Grand Parkway project is sched- uled to begin in 2027, with completion expected by 2031, Baumgartner said. The parkway, also called state Highway 99, is a loop about 180 miles long around greater Houston that was conceived in the 1960s and has been under construction since 1994. Segment B of the project calls for a highway stretching from Interstate 45 at state Highway 646 to state High- way 288 in Brazoria County, Texas Department of Trans- portation officials have said. Segment C of the project will run from there to join the rest of the loop south- west of Sugar Land. Photos by JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News ABOVE: Street signs are up in one of the new developments along Muldoon Parkway on the west side of League City. City officials are planning for future development in the area. OPPOSITE, FROM TOP: Work is underway Dec. 3 to extend Muldoon Parkway where the foundations for new homes are under construction; crews install a new section of sidewalk along Muldoon Parkway. 2024 | Progress | The Daily News | 5 Despite major develop- ment accruing in the coming decades, Councilman Tom Crews believes the time to act is now. “With the upcoming de- velopment on the horizon, we are faced with the need to make critical decisions soon,” Crews said. “The impact of this growth on our already strained traffic infra- structure must be addressed, especially given the lengthy timelines required to expand or build new roads.” One decision the city will need to make is whether or not to rezone the undevel- oped land on the west side. The current zoning district for all undeveloped land on the west side is residential single family. Baumgartner, Crews and Councilman Justin Hicks all agree the future of League City’s west side needs to include commercial devel- opment. “Ideally, we want there to be a balanced land-use ratio between residential and com- mercial development, which would diversify the city’s tax base, thus providing less of a tax burden on our residents,” Baumgartner said. Hicks would like to see a variety of commercial de- velopment on the west side, such as high-end shopping, office spaces, hotels and amenities, he said. While Crews agrees in- creased commercial develop- ment will benefit the city, it also will come with its own set of challenges. “Increased traffic is a major concern, and many residents are apprehensive about busi- nesses being established near their neighborhoods,” Crews said. “Striking the right bal- ance is crucial. “Overly strict regulations could discourage significant commercial investments and the jobs they provide, while overly lenient policies could lead to problematic out- comes for the community.” The city also will need to strike the right balance between progress and tra- dition to maintain the city’s cherished small-town charm, Crews said. “I am truly excited about the city’s potential and the bright future it holds. At the same time, I am committed to preserving the unique charm and character that have made League City a beloved home for so many families,” Crews said. Lauren Frick: 409-683-5230; lauren. frick@galvnews.com LEAGUE CITY LISTENS/Courtesy Boundaries map for about 4,000 acres of undeveloped, privately owned land in League City, mostly west of Hobbs Road and north of FM 517. “I am truly excited about the city’s potential and the bright future it holds. At the same time, I am committed to preserving the unique charm and character that have made League City a beloved home for so many families.” LEAGUE CITY COUNCILMAN TOM CREWS6 | The Daily News | Progress | 2024 Dickinson projects attract more major developers By B. SCOTT McLENDON The Daily News D ickinson city officials spent 2024 working with major devel- opers on projects such as the $87 million Water Street development, $2.2 million downtown public event space and others to be announced next year, City Manager Theo Melancon said. Dickinson is a small city in the heart of Galveston Coun- ty that straddles Interstate 45 and the Dickinson Bayou, two assets city officials and developers plan to capitalize on as the Houston metrop- lex sprawls south. With all the multimil- lion-dollar developments either in the works or in ne- gotiations, leaders and devel- opers are positioning the city to become Galveston County’s commercial hub, officials said. The city has been over- looked in the past by devel- opers, but the $122 million widening of Interstate 45 to eight lanes in Dickinson, the four-star Water Street resort area and a $2 million public park are drastically changing developers’ opinions, Melan- con said. “We are working with our development partners,” Melancon said. “We’re trying to work on major projects to bring forward to the council.” Dickinson officials are hop- ing those projects can capital- ize on the Dickinson Bayou and the rest of the city’s nat- ural landscape to create more green spaces, he said. City administrators Sept. 9 revealed plans for one of those amenities in the form of a 3-acre downtown public park and events center on state Highway 3 across the street from Dickinson City Hall, 4403 state Highway 3. The project is in the design and development stage, Mel- ancon said. The Water Street project, on the long-empty site of former Sussan Fine Furni- ture, 3820 Gulf Freeway S., will feature single-family homes, about 30,000 square feet of office space, an event center, upscale restaurants, retail and the boutique ho- tel, according to developer REME William Cole. “One of the big things about their site plan that we like is that they’re creating a public setting with access to the bayou,” Melancon said. “We’ve gone through site planning and gone through site estimates for a parking garage.” City officials expect to go out for bid next year on the $4.5 million, 220-vehicle park- ing garage, Melancon said. About $3 million of the project will come from an Economic Development Corp. grant, and the other $1.5 million will come from the developer, Melancon said. The project is part of ef- forts to revitalize downtown to attract residents, visitors and small businesses. The design will allow the space to serve as an incubator for future opportunities like a food truck row and market strip, which will host vendors during events and festivals. The events center is ex- pected to generate about $1.4 million in revenue across 10 years, according to the city. Officials hope to break ground on the project by October, with completion and public access anticipat- ed by summer 2025. While city officials expect the park to generate inter- est from businesses, they’re touting ELS Construction’s move from Houston to Dick- inson’s downtown as the cornerstone of revitalization efforts, Melancon said. ELS Construction, a commercial general con- tractor, earlier this year said it planned to move to the former site of First Baptist Church of Dickinson, 2504 44th St., which was dam- aged in 2017 during Hurri- cane Harvey. The city and its Economic Development Corp. in May agreed to loan ELS $750,000 to buy 2.76 acres of land and four buildings owned by the church. The loan is forgivable in increments as the company completes the project and meets construc- tion milestones. The company expects to hire 20 full-time staff, going to about 32 after several years, with average salaries of $65,000. B. Scott McLendon: 409-683-5241; scott.mclendon@galvnews.com The current iteration of the Water Street development in Dickinson. CITY OF DICKINSON/Courtesy2024 | Progress | The Daily News | 7 Santa Fe prepares for population explosion By B. SCOTT McLENDON The Daily News S anta Fe is only a few meetings and months away from the launch of a $450 million mixed-use development that could help the population explode over the next decade, City Manag- er Alun Thomas said. The Saint Barts Municipal Utility District No. 1 is one of two Santa Fe officials and developers have planned for a project that spans about 1,000 acres south of FM 517, north of Cowan Road, east of Rymal Road and west of Country Meadow Lane, according to the city. Although the city council in November approved cre- ation of a municipal utility district, there still are a few more bureaucratic steps in the procedure before de- velopers can break ground, Thomas said. But the start of construction could be soon. “It’s a very long process,” Thomas said, adding that work might begin in March. Developer Tres Rios Lagu- na Azure wants two special tax zones and approval to issue no more than $450 million in public bonds to develop a multi-use project, according to the city. The development, which is expected to expand Santa Fe’s population and city limits, is envisioned as 2,800 single-family home lots and 1,200 multifamily units, along with commercial buildings for hospitality, entertainment and recreation businesses anchored by a 2-acre man- made lake, according to the development agreement. The city had to create a municipal utility district to provide necessary services to the development. A munici- pal utility district is a special government entity created to provide services like water, sewer and drainage to rural or undeveloped areas. The services are funded by fees on landowners in the district. That’s also how the $450 million bond will be paid, Thomas said. “There won’t be any tax increase on existing resi- dents,” he said. Santa Fe’s population is about 12,980, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. City officials and developers think that number will double once construction is completed. But not everyone in town is ready for it to grow. While no one showed up to oppose the development at November meetings, residents have complained about the growth at previ- ous meetings about it. The city is set to have another meeting on the matter in January, Thomas said. Residents have said they like Santa Fe’s small-town appeal and don’t want it to be swallowed up into subur- ban obscurity by the sprawl- ing Houston metroplex. Developers at Tres Rios La- guna Azure haven’t respond- ed to calls for comment. Santa Fe Independent School District officials, meanwhile, have been pur- suing school bonds knowing that growth is coming. Voters in November 2023, however, rejected a proposi- tion authorizing $93 million in school-building bonds. It was the third time in as many years that voters reject- ed a bond that would afford new school construction. City officials are confident, however, in getting the pub- lic bond approved because it doesn’t require a vote or taxes from the residents, Thomas said. B. Scott McLendon: 409-683-5241; scott.mclendon@galvnews.com JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News Construction crews work on one of several new homes in the new Centennial Oaks development in Santa Fe on Dec. 5. Santa Fe’s population is about 12,980, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. City officials and developers think that number will double once construction is completed.8 | The Daily News | Progress | 2024 La Marque prepares for continued growth along I-45 By B. SCOTT McLENDON The Daily News C ity officials next year are expecting to get more concrete plans about an $80 million devel- opment on state Highway 146 that they approved in March, Mayor Keith Bell said. The project, called La Marque Crossroads, is planned for land near Inter- state 45 and state Highway 146. The plans include an RV resort, a hotel and a 4-acre lake with a board- walk, along with restaurants and bars, and will pump about $40 million in revenue into the city over 10 years, officials said. Community RV Resorts, developer and operator of RV resorts along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf coasts, will lead the 62-acre project and cover the construction and development costs with no incentives from the city, according to the company. The city council approved an agreement March 25 for the company to construct a water supply facility and water and sewer systems needed to service the proj- ect. Those eventually would become city property, offi- cials said. Some city leaders de- scribed the project as a step toward the mainland city becoming a destination. The company chose La Marque for its newest proj- ect because it lies between two heavily traveled roads, according to the company. About 30 acres of the proj- ect is along I-45 and another 30 is along state Highway 146. Five acres of the devel- opment will include a retail center, 25 acres will include an RV resort, lake, mil- lion-dollar clubhouse and pools, 30 acres will include tourist attractions and the re- maining land will consist of parking areas, officials said. The lake, along with tourist attractions, will include eight to 10 open- air multi-level restaurants, a hotel and a convention center. The lake surrounded by a boardwalk will include a bird sanctuary. When completed, the project will yield an estimat- ed 592 jobs and $51 million in sales, according to the company. The project also will yield revenue to the city estimat- ed at more than $39 mil- lion over 10 years, which includes about $19 million in sales tax revenue, about $16 million in property and utility fee revenue and about $4 million in Hotel Occu- pancy Tax revenue, making this a mutually beneficial development, according to the company. Plans will become more concrete next year once the company submits formal plans to the planning and zoning commission for fur- ther approval, Bell said. B. Scott McLendon: 409-683-5241; scott.mclendon@galvnews.com CITY OF LA MARQUE/Courtesy A project called La Marque Crossroads would include a retail center, an RV resort, a lake, million-dollar clubhouse and pools, tourist attractions, as many 10 open-air multi-level restaurants, a hotel and a convention center, developers said.2024 | Progress | The Daily News | 9 GALVESTON COUNTY HEALTH DISTRICT Animal Resource Center Emergency Medical Ambulance Services Women Infants and Children (WIC) Services Tuberculosis Screening and Treatment Public Health Emergency Preparedness STD/HIV Screening Healthy Concepts Clinic Disease Surveillance Air and Water Pollution Services Community Outreach Immunizations Consumer Health Services Birth and Death Records Dedicated to protecting and promoting the One Health of Galveston County. GCHD.ORG409.938.7221 Brent Patterson DDS Texas A&M - B.S. UTHSC at SA - DDS $ 65 $ 85 Mark Martinsen DDS Texas A&M - B.S. • Texas A&M Baylor College of Dentistry - DDSNext >