Houston Planning Commission Workshop on 2025 MTFP Updates – August 21, 2025
Houston Planning Commission Workshop on 2025 Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan Updates – August 21, 2025
On Thursday, August 21, 2025, the Houston Planning Commission held a workshop meeting at the City Hall Annex to discuss updates to the 2025 Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan (MTFP). The meeting was called to order at 1:15 PM by Chair Lisa Clark, with 15 members present. Staff presented three amendment items and received public comments on a separate thoroughfare deletion. No formal votes were taken; the next recommendation meeting is scheduled for September 21, 2025.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Marlon Musselman – Property owner in Fort Bend County. He addressed the proposed deletion of the East-West unnamed thoroughfare, stating that if fully deleted, his property would lose public access. He requested that a small segment from Rowan Road to Chimney Rock be retained to allow future development. Chair Clark noted that removal of the major thoroughfare designation does not eliminate all roads; local or collector roads may still be built as development occurs.
- Danny Wynne – Property owner in the same area and supporter of Mr. Musselman. He urged the Commission to keep the street, arguing that accessibility is essential for property value, development, job creation, and tax revenue. He also noted that the street would help alleviate congestion on Highway 6 and FM 521.
Discussion Items
- Item C – Cypress North Houston Road (west of FM 1960) – Staff presented three requests: (1) removal of a segment between Perry Road and FM 1960 for a detention project (staff recommends approval as submitted); (2) reclassification of Ceylon Road as a major collector (staff recommends deletion because the corridor should be either local or major thoroughfare); (3) related discussion of Mills Road connectivity, where existing right-of-way is sufficient for future widening. TxDOT supports the request.
- Item F – Chimney Rock Road (between San Felipe and Westheimer) – The applicant requested traffic calming measures such as speed cushions. Staff expressed non-support due to high traffic volume (16,000 vehicles per day) and are working with Councilmember Huffman’s office and Houston Public Works on alternative safety improvements (e.g., radar speed signs, painted crosswalks, enforcement). Commissioner Rosenberg questioned the prioritization of vehicles over pedestrians; Chair Clark clarified that speed bumps would be inappropriate for such a heavily traveled road. Staff emphasized that the Commission's role is limited to MTFP classification, not traffic control measures.
- Item G – East Tidwell Road (in ETJ east of Beltway 8) – The original application sought a 100-foot major thoroughfare alignment; staff now recommends a 80-foot major collector to better fit the site’s geometry and allow more developable space. The road would terminate at Pinelander Road due to Sheldon Reservoir. Staff is seeking input from Harris County Parks (which leases land from the city). Commissioner asked about involving the county infrastructure department.
Key Outcomes
- No votes or formal decisions were made; the meeting was a workshop to review and discuss pending MTFP amendments.
- The next Planning Commission meeting for MTFP recommendations is scheduled for September 21, 2025.
- Public comments on the East-West unnamed thoroughfare deletion (Fort Bend County) were heard; staff will consider them during further review.
Meeting Transcript
From City Hall Annex, it's the Planning Commission meeting right here on HDB. Okay, you ready, Wilson? Okay. Um, good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for your patience. I'm gonna turn the mic over to Miss Mickelson so she can update you on our technical difficulties. Who knew this was a legal issue? Um yeah, we we are or may continue to experience technical difficulties. It has been confirmed by HTV that members of the public who are tuning in can see um the room and the documents that we'll be able to put up, we hope on the document camera. Though we don't have hard copies, I think we're gonna use one of the tablets. So I think we can proceed. This may persist, though, into the 230 meeting, just an alert, and everyone in HTV and HIS knows this is happening, so they're trying to fix it. So I think we can proceed legally since everyone in the room can see and hear us, and the people on the um you know who are who are tuning in via HTV can apparently do the same. Very good. Okay. So it is 115 p.m. on Thursday, August 21st. I'll call this meeting to order. My name is Lisa Clark. I'm the chair of the Houston Planning Commission. And we are holding our meeting today at the City Hall Annex at 900 Bagby. Uh speakers, if you wish to address the commission on an item, please fill out the speaker's form before the item is called and turn it into staff near the front door. Consent and repeat speakers are allowed one minute. New speakers are timed for two. To establish a quorum of 11. I'll call the roll. Chair Clark is here. Vice Chair Garza. Present. Vice Chair, excuse me, Commissioner Baldwin is absent. Commissioner Colvard. Present. Commissioner Heis is absent. Commissioner Heinz. Present. Commissioner Jones. Jones present. Commissioner Khalig. Colleague present. Commissioner Madez. Commissioner Porce Pertle. Poris Purple present. Commissioner Commissioner Rosenberg. Present. Commissioner Siegler. Sigler present. Commissioner Tahir. Commissioner Victor. Victor President. Commissioner Viera Bland.
openpublica.com