Katy Edition | January 2022

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goal will be met through encouraging development of “opportunity areas,” or areas that oer high commercial or catalytic potential; as well as identi- fying and prioritizing infrastructure projects; securing strategic land; and supporting projects that promote the city’s economic development vision, the documents said. Lastly, the documents said the city’s goal of promoting transformative proj- ects will be reached through preserv- ing and enhancing Fulshear’s character and quality through catalytic projects, such as a downtown and a lifestyle cen- ter, as well as creating a structure for nding and prioritizing future projects. Gro also said the city is working with developers to manage growth while respecting residents, including by minimizing the density of new con- struction and emphasizing larger lots. “I would say to anybody [who does not want the growth]: Look, we under- stand you want to maintain that small- town charmandwho Fulshear is, sowe are working really hard to make sure that we have that and we can manage that growth in a way that satises long- term residents,” he said.

While Fulshear’s future is still largely unknown, developers and city ocials agree: The growth is not stop- ping. Eventually, the city could annex Jordan Ranch and other communities into city limits, Gro said. “Most of that ETJ mass will be brought into the city,” Gro said. “We are cognizant of that when we work with the developers and come to an agreement as to what annexation will look like. ... We start that conversation fromDay One.” As for annexation, it will not be hap- pening any time soon. “Truth be told, those are 25-30 years down the road,” Gro said. As Fulshear eyes its upcoming 200th birthday, Rodriguez said a city’s future is just as important as its past. “Fulshear has been around for gen- erations,” he said. “It is all about know- ing its history and honoring it, but we also know that Fulshear has a bright future, and we need to leave a legacy for the generations to come.”

At the end of the 19th century, Fulshear had about 250 residents, 11 stores, three saloons, a school and a hotel, according to the city. PRESERVING HISTORY

all the tools. Now, it is implementing those tools.” Part of that visionwill bemaintained through the economic development strategy, which was developed in 2019. The document said the city was at “a critical point in its growth trajec- tory where [undeveloped land] oers opportunities to inuence its path for- ward in the face of strongmarket forces that are heavily weighted toward resi- dential development.” To ensure that trajectory aligns with the city’s needs, the document outlines three guiding principles around its eco- nomic development: excellent quality

of place, scal sustainability and a bal- anced tax base. With these guidelines in mind, the city will move toward its goals of encouraging business devel- opment, making strategic investments and working on transformative proj- ects, as well as promoting alignment within those goals. According to the city, Fulshear will encourage business development by supporting tax base diversication, developing economic tools, managing projects, recruiting businesses, creat- ing a business support network and following local business’ progress. The city’s strategic investment

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KATY EDITION • JANUARY 2022