City approves Katy Court expansion

By George Slaughter, News Editor
Posted 12/15/22

The Katy City Council Monday approved plans for a Phase 2 development of Katy Court, a planned development district near the southwest corner of Clay Road and Katy Hockley Cutoff Road.

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City approves Katy Court expansion

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The Katy City Council Monday approved plans for a Phase 2 development of Katy Court, a planned development district near the southwest corner of Clay Road and Katy Hockley Cutoff Road.

Phase 2 calls for developing, just to the west of the existing Phase 1 development, 412 lots for houses and a 55-acre detention pond to the south.

City planner Rachel Lazo said the Phase 1 development, approved in 2021 by the council, has 194 housing lots in development and also has some commercial development for the Clay Road-Katy Hockley Cutoff Road intersection.

Lazo said the Phase 2 development has no commercial development plans. She said access to the Phase 2 development will come through a street now being developed that will run south from Clay Road, as well a street being built from the Phase 1 development.

While the city’s planning and zoning commission approved the plans in September, the public hearing before the council on the proposal was continually extended to address traffic and potential flooding concerns.

The Clay Road-Katy Hockley Cutoff Road intersection, which presently has stop signs, remains a problematic intersection in an area undergoing rapid residential and commercial development. Brett Walker, president of the real estate firm Parkside Capital, said his firm is working with Harris County leaders to upgrade the intersection.

Only one citizen, Jeanette Simicek, spoke during the hearing to express concerns about potential flooding issues that the development could possibly exacerbate. She said all the drainage would go down Heritage Drive, which is part of the Heritage Park neighborhood where she lives. Heritage Park sits south of the Phase 1 portion of Katy Court, along the west side of Katy Hockley Cutoff Road.

“Who will maintain all of Katy Court 1 and 2 ponds?” Simicek asked. “Will the City of Katy oversee this project, so if there is a heavy rain or storm, will drainage be able to keep up with water in water?”

Lazo said ARKK Engineers, which has worked with the city on previous drainage projects, reviewed and approved the Katy Court drainage plan.

Both Council Member-at-Large Chris Harris and Ward A Council Member Janet Corte said they were aware of the flooding concerns. Harris said he felt the development would be a positive because the plans are more stringent than minimal requirements.

“I just want to re-empathize the requirements that we are requiring for this PDD are different from what we have had in the past,” Harris said. “I know it’s tough, but we’re doing what we can to improve drainage.”

Corte said she and Harris have both been on the council for almost five years and flooding concerns in the Heritage Park West neighborhood have always been of “utmost consideration” to them. She said they have attended several meetings on drainage issues and understand how they affect the residents in that neighborhood.

“Basically, what we’re trying to say is, we’ve got your back,” Corte said.

Katy City Council, Katy Court