The latest concepts presented for Colleyville’s future as a destination call for looking at ways to somehow connect the city’s two busiest areas — The Village and Town Center — to create a central feel along Colleyville Boulevard and adding amenities such as fountains or an amphitheater.
HALFF Associates, Inc., contracted by the city to help create a comprehensive plan, showed illustrations of a possible future for Colleyville Boulevard at a public meeting on April 24 at the Colleyville Center.
This week, city staff and the project team have met with the public to begin shaping a plan to guide the city’s future for the next 20 years.
“It’s about the future of the city, and it’s your city,” Jim Carrillo, project lead and HALFF vice president, said to the crowd of about 30 residents at the meeting. “What do you want it to look like?”
Carrillo presented ideas and concept sketches for the area along Colleyville Boulevard and for the city’s northern and southern ends. The idea is to increase the city’s sales tax base and create a distinct character for Colleyville.
He used examples of successful shopping districts such as Southlake Town Square to illustrate possible changes. Ideas included hidden but accessible parking, shopping and dining near intersections and amenities like fountains and amphitheaters.
Carrillo also talked about the importance of connecting Town Center, on the east side of Colleyville Boulevard between Hall-Johnson Road and Church Street, and The Village, on the west side of Colleyville Boulevard off Main Street.
While a physical connection may not be the answer, Carrillo said similar features and architectural motifs could create a central feel.
The project team met with landowners of the areas off Texas 26 and John McCain Road and some near LD Lockett and Precinct Line Road and surrounding neighbors, earlier in the week.
“This is your window, this is your gateway,” Carillo said. “This is where you make a statement about who you are.”
At the possible northern “gateway,” off Texas 26 and John McCain Road, Carrillo’s team presented ideas for shopping and a small corporate campus. The southern end at Precinct Line and LD Lockett Road could include a mix of office, retail and assisted living.
Colleyville resident Craig Walter, who attended the meeting, said he was pleased with the public dialogue. He said he was impressed with the project’s format, which includes seeking feedback from property owners to help create overall guidelines.
Resident Cynthia Bittick said she appreciates being a part of the long-range planning and hopes that the city can improve its commercial base.
“I would love to eat closer to home and see Colleyville become a destination,” she said.
The plan is still at the stage of trying to create a vision. Carrillo told the audience that developers may come with better ideas, but at least Colleyville will know what it wants in years to come once a comprehensive plan is established.
Carrillo and city staff members plan to spend the summer and fall gathering more feedback and developing the plan.
Ron Ruthven, the city’s Community Development Director, said the group plans to continue having focus groups, surveying individuals at city events and meeting with neighborhoods to discuss plans for areas near them.
Comments