Happy New Year 2009

It looks like this is going to be another banner year - 2009! Such wonderful things have happened in 2008 that it will be hard for 2009 to keep up. Let's have a look at some of the things that have happened:

• City park plans were finalized and we got bids. 2009 will have to see the final tweaking of those plans and beginning of construction (no, nothings EVER as easy as you might think...)
• Hurricane Ike tested our City on every level. Some people were devastated while others were spared the worst effects of the storm. We learned a lot from Ike and move forward with plans to improve our systems and community in an effort to respond better in the future.
• We passed a new over-arching zoning ordinance. This feels like a personal victory for me, but it was completed as an effort that reflects the work and contributions of the entire City staff and officials.
• We built 70 new buildings in the City. Most of these were homes in new subdivisions. This represents an increase of about 75% over 2007. The economic slow down has certainly affected us, but not as much as in other, even nearby, communities.
• Two new Planning and Zoning members were added to our team - Mr. Mark Ables and Mr. Roger King. These welcome additions to the Commission will help us reviewing and approving plans. It will be great to be able to tap into their expertise and enthusiasm.
• Snow! It snowed here in southeast Texas for the first time in several years. While this has little to do with community planning, it was certainly remarkable and fun!

So looking forward to 2009, there are a number of things that are outstanding that need to be addressed. These include revisions to the subdivision ordinance, access management ordinances, Eagle Drive improvements, sewer, water, and other infrastructure improvements, and many other activities and goals that are in the works. It's an exciting time to be here in Mont Belvieu, and I am grateful and humbled to be a part of it.