Attendees to Thursday’s third annual Kendall County Economic Summit heard a prevailing message from speaker after speaker: Growth is imminent.
A packed house at The Bevy Hotel listened as Boerne City Manager Ben Thatcher outlined the scope and depth of the administration’s “Rolling Ten Year Plan.” Thatcher emphasized the need for the program as Boerne continues to experience “historic growth,” currently housing more than 24,000 residents.
The city’s 10-year plan currently has 60 ongoing projects, 40 completed projects and 69 projects yet to begin. The goal for the 10-year plan, Thatcher said, is to consolidate all major planning documents for the city.
The plan encompasses recommendations to control development, general budgeting and capital program investments, procedures and policies for the city, additional programs, staffing and operational procedures.
Part of the plan tackles mobility, in an effort to reduce traffic through downtown and encourage alternative routes outside of established neighborhoods. The plan also includes the updated 2006 Boerne Master Plan and the 2018 Master Plan, strategic plans that work on the overall improvement of the city.
One focus for improvement was the continuing update of Boerne’s different parks and recreation areas, including Cibolo Creek Trail, the Old #9 Trail and River Road Park renovations, Veterans Park Plaza, and Kinder Park renovations.
Renovations just started at Northside Community Park will create an all-abilities playscape, additional flexible space, updates to the community room, covering the basketball pavilion and expanding the skate park among other additions.
The plan aims to “foster a thriving and diverse economy through business attraction, retention, expansions, employment diversification and attraction of higher paying jobs,” the city manager said.
With that comes the support of existing business developments and ensuring that the city is well-governed and transparent.
Also touched on was the 100-year flood plan, which came into focus again during the historic July 4 flooding. About 11% of Boerne is in the 100-year floodplain, where there are strict regulations to ensure the safety of its residents.
To keep up with growth, an emphasis is being placed on supporting local businesses and encouraging new businesses to come to Boerne.
“Growth is imminent,” Jonathan Collins, Valcor managing director, said.
“Our best approach is to be proactive with what we desire and need as a community,” Collins said. “We need to identify specific tracts that are best suited for the desire and need and pursue proven developers who can bring it to fruition.”
Included in the 10-year plan are detailed demographics charts of Boerne and a timeline for all past, current and future projects and their status. They are available by logging on at: https://www. ci. boerne. tx. us/ DocumentCenter/ View/17184/ Rolling-10-Year-Plan?bidId= “We’re building a city that future generations will thank us for,” Thatcher said.
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