Bay Area Edition | May 2026

Government

BY RACHEL LELAND

Proposed Kemah Hwy. 146 development draws mixed reactions Kemah City Council discussed a proposed 90,000-to-120,000-square-foot mixed-use development along Hwy. 146 at its April 8 meeting, which sparked a debate among council members and the community about Kemah’s identity as a tourist destination or “bedroom community.” What happened During a special meeting held April 8, City Council heard a presentation from Houston-based Collabo- rate Architects, seeking to build the development, to be anchored by a sports and event center. Supporters said they hoped it would make Kemah more attractive to tourists while oering a social gathering place for locals. Council member Doug Meisinger said he strongly opposed the project and felt if the

League City supports tax reform council League City City Council voted unani- mously at its April 14 meeting to participate in the Lone Star Property Tax Reform Council, a coalition of local governments to advocate for “meaningful and lasting” property tax relief. The details Libertarian lobbying group Americans for Prosperity launched the council in March, a news release from the organization notes. “Last session, we delivered historic prop- erty tax relief to hardworking families and businesses across the state, but out-of-control local spending has eroded billions of dollars in that relief and driven property taxes higher,” Gov. Greg Abbott said in the news release. The city has reduced the property tax rate required for debt payments by 34% over the previous six years.

Proposed development

Retail

Dining Parking Future roads

146

Hotel

EVERGREEN MEMORIAL PKWY.

Convention center

Sports event center

Project area

SOURCE: COLLABORATE ARCHITECTSCOMMUNITY IMPACT

development were put on the ballot, voters would not support it. “Every city has a personality, [it] sort of has an identity,” Meisinger said at the meeting. “I don’t think this blends with our identity whatsoever. ... Kemah is teetering on the verge of ‘it’s a nice place to visit, but you wouldn’t want to live there.’”

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