Not your father's Mont Belvieu

The Mayor is fond of saying, "This is not the Mont Belvieu of ten years ago. Things are different now."

He generally says this in reference to when something tries to come across our desks here at City Hall that maybe would have been winked at before but are now prohibited or strictly regulated. Metal buildings along Eagle Drive, for example. We have new standards in place that strictly regulate the architecture and uses of buildings on Eagle Drive. If you are unfamiliar with the changes I invite you to email me for a copy of the new zoning ordinance or come by and we can talk about it. Most of you are not as interested in the actual ordinance itself (that's more for developers) but all of us have a stake in the result.

I am not ignorant of the great things Mont Belvieu has been able to accomplish - everything from great education systems to the development of the industrial complex on the Hill. But with growth comes pressure to develop in ways that are both difficult and unforeseen. Careful planning and regulation can help aleviate some of the pressure and channel it into appropriate avenues.

In my line of work, there is much of a partnership that develops between land developers, real estate folks, and the City that is requisite to the smooth operation of the City's functions. As these relationships are developed, trust is formed and ideas are formulated. I am able to inform the developers about what is required by the City and developers work within established guidelines to ensure that the City's needs and goals are being met. It's a careful dance, one in which attention must be paid to the details of what is going on in order to ensure compliance and not stifle creativity.

Perhaps the reason more of you don't come to City Council meetings is that you trust us all so much that you are willing to allow us to handle it. If things were going poorly, I am sure we'd hear from you all. On the other hand, Even if things are going well, we need to hear from you occasionally so we know how to improve. It is foolish to assume that we have all the answers, in spite of our education, training, and professional experience. No one of us is as smart as all of us.

Another reason is that perhaps you all think this stuff is boring. I can understand that. If it were not so, there would be no need for me to get paid to be here and handle all of this stuff. Personally, I don't think it's boring - but then, I have always been a little bit boring myself... :-)

I would love to hear from you all. Keep the comments/interest coming! It's what gets me out of bed in the morning and motivates me to keep writing here.