CITY SNAPSHOT
T I M E L I N E CITY PLANNING
enjoyed working in Oak Ridge North since opening there in . Despite the di culties that road construction could bring, he said he looks forward to occu- pying the space on Robinson and the future bene ts of an improved roadway. “If you look at the two ends, the rail- road tracks and [I-], improving that is going to be fantastic for tra c ow,” Strickland said. “Anything that helps that helps bring retail in.” Creating an Oak Ridge North down- town is also a civic plan tied to Robin- son. The Plaza District, which includes the north and south sides of Robinson from east of Maplewood Drive to Hanna Road, was designated as the potential site for a future civic center aer the dis- trict’s establishment in . “The thought was to have a location that provided easy access, walkability for residents, and draws residents from outside the community. A location to shop, eat and provide economic ben- e ts with a ‘hometown’ atmosphere,” Bond said. “Improvements to Robinson Road directly tie into the city’s long-term vision of developing the Plaza District.” Relocating City Hall to the north side of Robinson and adding new retailers in the district are possible targets in creat- ing the downtown area. However, Nee- ley said the district is not likely to see signi cant redevelopment until aer Robinson Road’s redesign is complete. “IMPROVEMENTS TO ROBINSON ROAD DIRECTLY TIE INTO THE CITY’S LONG-TERMVISION OF DEVELOPING THE PLAZA DISTRICT.” “We just kind of have this cyclical pat- tern with, ‘When the road comes, the developers will come, and we can’t get the developers until the road, but we can’t aord the road because we need the sales tax,’” Neeley said. “We tend to think that a developer will likely rather have the road nished.” —PAUL BOND, OAK RIDGE NORTHMAYOR
Oak Ridge North, primarily a residential community, has seen its population grow in the past 10 years. The city’s long-term plans take additional growth into consideration.
Ages (as of 2017):
Population :
3,161
2013
18.6%22.7% 31.7% 26.9% 0-19 65-85+ 20-44 45-64
3,144
City Comprehensive Plan completed
3,126 3,118 3,120
3,115
3,106
3,087
2015
3,062
Average household income (2017): $123,830
Public Space Master Plan completed
2018
SOURCE:U.S.CENSUSBUREAU/COMMUNITY IMPACTNEWSPAPER
Jen King, who owns the Space Cadets Collection Collection comics and collect- ibles shop at the Robinson Road Center, said she appreciates the city’s desire to expand its pro le and looks forward to a solution to congestion on Robinson. “There will be more tra c—but not in a bad way—coming by the businesses here. Exposure to more eyeballs, which never hurts,” King said. “Even when they start doing the construction on Robinson, I know it’s just something to be endured for a season but it’ll pay o.” CITY ECONOMY, GROWTH While the city’s downtown area is a longer-term goal tied to Robinson con- struction, short-term improvements on the city’s west side near I- and the commercial developments to the east will also play into the city’s eco- nomic progress. Along I-, the city has seen some turnover and new arrivals in at its larger shopping centers such as the Wood Ridge Plaza and Shoppes at Oak Ridge North. Following a request from management of the Shoppes at Oak Ridge North earlier this year, city o - cials are also considering adjustments to the city’s B- business district restric- tions that could bring a wider variety of businesses to that retail center. Along Robinson’s east side near the Hanna intersection, theOakRidgeNorth Commerce Park and Hanna Business
Park have also expanded over the past decade and still contain some remain- ing vacancies for new business. Outside its existing business areas, OakRidgeNortho cials are also consid- ering growth within the city’s extrater- ritorial jurisdiction—contiguous, unin- corporated space that can be annexed by Oak Ridge North. While there are no established civic plans for that area, which includes around mile of Robin- son Road, it could become a larger piece of the city’s long-term expansion if more properties there request annexation in the future, Neeley said. Several land annexation requests were approved by the city in , and two larger Robinson additions—an expansion of the business park at Robinson Road and the construction of a new business park on Robinson across from Darby Loop—are signs of upcom- ing development on Robinson in the ETJ. Neeley also said the city may begin laying out a preliminary zoning plan for the ETJ’s future as interest in develop- ment there continues. “I’m excited about the development within the city and the city’s ETJ for the future,” Bond said. “Looking ahead at the completion of Robinson Road, it allows new opportunities for the city, and I think new business on both the east and west side of the city once completed.” Oak Ridge North does not have the
Master Thoroughfare Plan completed
2019
Newmayor, interim city manager, council member and Economic Development Corp. director appointed
2020
City officials could review and update long-term plans
SOURCE:OAKRIDGENORTH/ COMMUNITY IMPACTNEWSPAPER
ability to annex land itself, as prop- erty owners must go through a petition process to join the city due to a new state law passed in . Still, Neeley said anticipating future growth could lead to a more organized expansion in one of the city’s remaining open areas while upholding the community’s hometown values. “I think we have a lot of opportuni- ties,” Neeley said. “We’re a small city, but I think there’s a lot going on, I think there’s a lot going on in the future, and we have a great council that wants it to grow but also wants it to maintain its natural state.”
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The Woodlands edition • November 2019
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