Home Care In Fulshear, TX

After a rough summer of drought last year, Fulshear officials are planning ahead to beat the summer heat by looking at drought restrictions.

In a nutshell

Freese and Nichols, an infrastructure consulting and engineering firm, presented proposed drought contingency plan updates at an April 16 City Council meeting. The plan is now under review by council, which will provide further recommendations to the plan before it’s adopted in late May.

The background

Seeing little rain and high temperatures, the summer drought impacted the Fulshear area from May to September. This highlighted the need for water conservation, as many residents didn’t heed to the city’s water restrictions, Public Works Project Manager Morgan Early said in an email.

“Most of the community continued to irrigate to try to save landscaping and vegetation, compounding the demand on the city's water system,” Early said. “We had many residents and [homeowner associations] that used very high amounts of water during this time and were hesitant to conserve.”

Zooming in

The proposed plan brings changes to the different stages of drought declarations, including:

A Flourish table

To terminate a drought stage, conditions must cease to exist for seven consecutive days, according to the proposed plan.

What’s different?

Freese and Nichols representative Adam Conner said important updates to the plan include:

The last drought plan was adopted in August 2019, Early said.

Why it matters

The drought plan will help the city establish standards ensuring that the community will adhere to water conservation, Early said.

“Addressing drought concerns with effective plans that are enforceable and stringent enough to help water users understand the need to conserve water are key,” Early said. “Ultimately, water conservation is the key to ensuring successful water management.”

If water shortages threaten the public health, safety or welfare, the city manager can limit the allotment of water per single-family home to 8,000 gallons per month with a $1 charge for each additional 1,000 gallons used, according to the proposed plan.

Violators of defined drought restrictions can also be fined per violation, including:

Stay tuned

The proposed plan will be discussed at a City Council special meeting May 14, where council can provide final recommendations for staff. The plan will then be on the May 21 council meeting agenda for adoption where, if approved, it will become effective on the first day of ordinance publication, Early said.

Government Reporter

Aubrey joined Community Impact as a reporter in February 2024, where she covers government in the Katy, Fulshear, Missouri City and Sugar Land areas. Before coming to CI, she served as Editor-in-Chief at Insite Brazos Valley Magazine in Bryan. She also served as the news editor at The Battalion, Texas A&M University’s student newspaper, before graduating with a major in journalism and minors in business and sports management in 2022. When she’s not writing, Aubrey enjoys spending time with her friends, family and her cat, Ferguson.

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“I never thought I’d see one this large, especially in Texas.”

FULSHEAR, Texas – A massive alligator was spotted hanging out in a Fulshear community over the weekend.

The gator, which now has the nickname Shelia, was seen basking in the evening sun in the Cross Creek Ranch neighborhood on Sunday evening.

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Neighbors and people passing by stopped to snap pictures and marvel at the giant prehistoric predator that decided to take a rest just off of a sidewalk.

“I have never seen one that large,” Jacoby Davis told KPRC 2. “This was a true gift from nature to me. I never thought I’d see one this large, especially in Texas.”

Alligators are part of the Southeast Texas ecosystem.

According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, alligators are commonly spotted in “swamps, rivers, bayous, and marshes of the southern U.S., including the eastern third of Texas.” Alligators are commonly found in or near freshwater. However, gators can also tolerate brackish, or a mixture of salt and fresh water.

While they’re not rare, seeing a big gator up close and personal like Davis did on Sunday is an opportunity he couldn’t pass up for a photo.

“Steve Irwin was my childhood hero, so I had to fight the urge to pet the beautiful Sheila,” Davis said. “On a serious note, the safety of the beautiful creature and the community came into my mind. I just hope it’s handled safely for all parties involved. As we encroach upon Texas wildlife’s natural habitat we have to be responsible for how we deal with them when we cross their paths in their home. I just hope he’s safe, and our daily lives can carry on safely.”

Alligators mating season in Texas runs from March 1 through May 30. During this time, alligators can be overly aggressive towards other gators, pets and even people.

The best way to observe an alligator is from a safe distance.

Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.

HOUSTON, March 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Venterra Realty broke ground on a new multifamily community, Camber Ridge at Cross Creek Ranch, in Fulshear, TX.

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When fully built out, the property will contain a 312-unit Class A apartment community that is part of Johnson Development Corp's Cross Creek Ranch, a highly successful master-planned community. Camber Ridge will provide residents with market-leading amenities including a community clubroom, resort-style pool, outdoor lounge, fitness center, package lockers, coworking spaces, Sanctuary buildings focused on providing like-minded residents with a peaceful living experience, and more. The first units are expected to be delivered beginning of Q2 2025.

Approximately 30 miles west of downtown Houston, Fulshear is in Fort Bend County and is known as a beautiful and relaxed neighborhood along the banks of the Brazos River. Fulshear is served by highly rated schools in the Katy Independent School District and the Lamar Consolidated School District and offers access to nearby dining, shopping, and entertainment.

The site is conveniently located on Texas Heritage Parkway connected to FM 1093 near SH 99/Grand Parkway, providing quick and easy access to the Katy, Sugar Land, and Richmond/Rosenberg areas. In addition, Houston's major employment centers, including Westchase/Beltway 8, Uptown/Galleria, and Downtown Houston, are all within a 45-minute drive.

"Fulshear is an exceptional investment opportunity due to its strategic location, flourishing economy, and strong prospective renter base", stated John Foresi, CEO of Venterra Realty. "As a Houston-based company, we are thrilled to expand our footprint into the rapidly growing area of Fulshear and develop an exceptional community that caters to the needs and desires of residents. With its easy access to major transportation hubs, thriving economy, and attractive living environment, Fulshear is the perfect market for Venterra Realty to present a community that offers an abundance of attractive amenities and innovative technologies."

"Our newest development will welcome residents to a community that is well-appointed, convenient to nearby attractions and to major employment corridors in Katy and west Houston," added Venterra Chairman Andrew Stewart. "This development is an exceptional addition to our portfolio, as we bring our innovation and high quality of construction to the Cross Creek Ranch community. We are confident this new development will create an unsurpassed living experience for our residents."

From site selection to completion, Venterra has enlisted industry-leading partners to ensure a first-class level of execution. Finalizing the site acquisition, Venterra worked with Marc Kasner from Wilson Cribbs + Goren, who represented Venterra on the transaction and Greg Pettigrew from Fifth Third Bank for construction financing. The architect for the development is Steinberg Dickey Collaborative. In addition, Domain Builders was chosen as the general contractor.

Venterra Realty completed another development, Highpark Apartments in November 2022 in Cypress, TX. The 336-unit community features an upscale living experience with convenient access to SH 99/Grand Parkway. Highpark offers a resort-style pool and outdoor lounge, two dog parks, a fitness center, covered parking spaces, and an 8,600-square-foot clubhouse with workspaces and conference rooms.

Venterra Realty currently owns and operates over twenty communities in the Greater Houston area.

About Venterra:

Founded in 2001, Venterra Realty owns and manages approximately 85+ communities and more than 25,000 apartment units across 19 major US cities that provide housing to over 45,000 people and 15,000 pets. The organization has completed approximately $9.0 billion in real estate transactions and currently manages a portfolio of multi-family real estate assets valued at over $5.0 billion. Venterra is committed to improving the lives of its residents by delivering industry-leading customer experience. Find out more about Venterra Realty and its award-winning company culture at Venterra.com.

Contact: Allie Lewnes, Communications Manager & Brand Specialist; [email protected]

SOURCE Venterra Realty

Located west of Houston, the once small town of Fulshear has transformed into a bustling community, emerging as one of the fastest-growing cities in the state.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's population skyrocketed from 1,134 in 2010 to 16,856 in 2020, and as of July 2022, it surpassed 34,000 residents.

To accommodate growth, the city council is working to redraw the boundaries of its five districts. According to the Houston Chronicle, District 1, which contains most of the city’s current and future development, is on track to be significantly more populated than the other districts. In turn, the council hopes to begin the process to better align with the 2030 U.S. Census Bureau Report.

Meanwhile, the city has also undertaken initiatives to improve its infrastructure, supporting projects such as the expansion of FM 1093, which will later connect residents to the energy corridor, the Texas Medical Center and other areas of Houston, according to Fulshear Assistant City Manager Zach Goodlander. Additionally, work is underway to enhance walkability in Fulshear’s downtown district, including the addition of pedestrian sidewalks and the reconstruction of its main streets to alleviate traffic.

Fulshear’s rapid population growth has also sparked a surge in residential development, making it one of the most highly sought-after communities in the region. According to the Houston Association of Realtors’ Hottest Communities in the Houston Area report, the Fulshear area had the greatest percentage increase of home purchases in the fourth quarter of 2023, with transactions jumping 103.6 percent year-over-year.

The city currently boasts a vast portfolio of master-planned communities and will soon add another one to its list with Cross Creek West. When complete, the 1,258-acre community will accommodate more than 3,000 homes. While home sales have already begun, the community’s upscale recreation complex and pool are expected to open this year.

“Fulshear is a popular and growing area that has excellent schools, abundant shopping and great access, thanks to the Westpark Tollway and Texas Heritage Parkway that opened,” said Rob Bamford, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Cross Creek West, in a statement.

As new developments breathe life into Fulshear, the city is concurrently working to enrich the quality of life of its residents. Last year, the city opened the Fulshear Branch Library, a $13.4 million upgrade offering a larger space compared to its predecessor, along with added amenities such as an outdoor patio, study rooms and a state-of-the-art computer lab.

Additionally, construction is expected to commence this summer on Eagle Landing Park, Fulshear’s newest green space which will feature soccer fields, a playground and a walking trail and Fulshear Central, a 125,000-square-foot mixed-use center that will feature a 100-room hotel, office condos, retail, walking trails and green space for community events and gatherings.

"[In Fulshear], you have the best of both worlds," said Don McCoy, President of the Fulshear-Katy Area Chamber of Commerce in a statement. "We have an old downtown district, but we also have a commercial district. There's something for everyone."

Discover more about the ongoing growth in Fort Bend County.

Fulshear City Council discussed during a Feb. 20 meeting how to move forward with the booming growth the city has had in recent years.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Fulshear had an estimated 34,264 residents in July 2022. In April 2010, census data shows the city had 1,134 residents and 16,856 residents in 2020.

District 1 is now on pace to be significantly more populated than the other four districts as well as being the largest geographically.

“Based on the growth in the last 18 months there, District 1 is now, by population, the largest district and therefore may not have the representation that any of us desire as far as the split for our districts,” Mayor Aaron Goff said during the meeting. “The problem with the districting, the reality is … we're not allowed to project what that growth is. We can only report what the growth is and not what the growth will be, but what it is."

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District 1 contains most current and future commercial, semi-urban and suburban developments within Fulshear’s city limits such as Main Street, Fulshear Creek Crossing and Fulbrook on Fulshear Creek. The districts were last updated in 2022 to balance the population between districts.

Goff said the redistricting process would need to be started soon to time it with the city 2030 U.S. Census Bureau report being released in 2031.

“In theory, we should be ready for the (2025) election,” Goff said. “The truth is, the 2030 census numbers won’t become available until spring (of 2031). Everybody is waiting for those numbers to fall and it starts with the federal level, then the state level, then we finally get our information.”

Sarah Johnson, council member for District 1, said the city was at 16,000 residents in 2020, which was the reason for the 2021 redistricting that increased the physical sizes of districts 1 and 4 to match the population numbers of other districts at 3,256 residents per district.

“Yet we’ve had the Census Bureau, as of last year, say we’re almost (at) 34,000 (residents) with most of the growth coming from Polo Ranch, Fulshear Creek, Del Webb and additional apartment plots. However … everybody on this table except myself lives in Cross Creek Ranch. All of the other developments are coming west, and they're coming hard and fast as we know.”

The council voted to contact a consultant for a new version of the district maps to be drawn and ready for the 2025 election. For more information visit the city's website.

Feb 29, 2024

Reporter

Chevall Pryce is a reporter for the northwest editions of the Houston Chronicle’s community newspapers. Pryce covers regional news including education, business, local government, transportation and nonprofit organizations. He was previously a reporter for Community Impact Newspaper and graduated from Texas A&M University in 2017 with a degree in Journalism. He has been with the Houston Chronicle since September 2018 and is originally from Dallas, Texas.