FOR FORT BEND COUNTY IN THE KATY AREA Top Mobility Priorities s Cane e Isl sla and Park kway - New road Spring Green Boulevard - Extension G G G G Gast ston on R R Roa oad d d - E Ex Ext te tens nsi io ion n Ka Ka Ka Katy ty ty ty F F F Fle le le lewe we we well ll ll llen en en en R R Roa oa oad d d - - - Ex Ex Expa pa pans ns ns n io io ion n n Spring Green Boulevard - Extension Gaston Road - Extension Katy Flewellen Road - Expansion Top Mobility Priorities Cane Island Parkway - New road KATY EDITION Volume 1, Issue 11 | July 25–Aug. 21, 2013 Online exclusive news www.impactnews.com Regularly updated coupons impactdeals.com Find us on Facebook at impactnews.com/kty-facebook Follow us on Twitter @impactnews_kty INSIDE THIS ISSUE NEWS 4 IMPACTS 6 AT THE CAPITOL Session roundup 8 GUIDE FEATURES 13 CALENDAR 15 BUSINESS Sweet Things Ice Cream Shoppe 16 DINING All Stars Family Grill 23 REAL ESTATE Cinco Ranch West COUPONS 24 IMPACT DEALS Costco Wholesale targets Katy for potential new location ONLINE IMPACTNEWS.COM Collegiate partnership creates more programs, pathways Academic opportunities expand in Katy Commissioners prioritize road projects Fort Bend County considers mobility bond By Carrie Taylor Fort Bend County commis- sioners are discussing call- ing another bond election in November as money from the 2007 mobility bond is nearly depleted. e minimum bond amount would be $150 million— the same as the 2007 bond—and would pay for new roads as well as expansions and extensions of existing thoroughfares. County Judge Robert Hebert said he plans for the court to make a decision by the end of July and will call for an elec- tion in August. He wants to give ample time for commissioners to educate their constituents on what the bond would pay for and whether it would affect property taxes. “We are about to sell our last $35 million from the 2007 bond, and we have to have money to plan for the roads that we need,” Hebert said. If voters approve the bond, construction on the decided projects could begin in late 2014– early 2015, he said. e goal is to keep the bond at $150 mil- lion, but with funds from county assistance districts—entities that collect sales tax revenue— the number could be raised to a little more than $200 million with no impact on taxpayers, he said. However, the exact type of bond and what implications it may have on tax rates will not be determined until August. County commissioners spent much of July narrowing down their wish list of road projects to reach the $150-million mark. Considering the four precincts combined could present projects totaling more than $900 million, eliminating items is a challenge, Hebert said. He has mandated for a final list to be determined by the beginning of August. “[Projects are] picked based on traffic counts, state of sur- rounding roads [and] the need to make a connection between major points in a community. It is a pretty complicated process,” Hebert said. “But there is no effort to balance between each precinct.” By Carrie Taylor Two players in the Houston area higher- education scene are joining forces to bring more opportunities to the Katy area. Long- time allies University of Houston System and Houston Community College-Northwest signed an official memorandum announcing their partnership in the spring to collaborate for the greater good of academics and create new programs for students. “In today’s world of limited resources, it just makes sense for us to work together,” HCC- Northwest President Zach Hodges said. e schools’ previous, unofficial partnership involved both entities borrowing space from each other when convenient, Hodges said. Now, students will have the ability to begin an academic career at HCC and then make a smooth transition into a four-year degree with UH-Main and UH-Victoria. Other UH- System campuses may offer classes in Katy in the future. “It is a good deal for citizens and helps with efficiency—students do not have to waste their time taking courses they don’t need,” Hodges said. Best of both worlds Dick Phillips, associate vice chancellor e county is not obligated to award an equal amount of bond funds to each precinct, he said. Rather it organizes a master list of county-wide projects by necessity. Precinct 3 needs Fort Bend County Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Mey- ers said the fast-paced develop- ment of residential and com- mercial projects in his area have placed a heavy demand for not just improved roads, but more options for drivers. He has iden- tified 32 projects, but he also See Mobility | 17 See Education | 18 Houston Community College-Northwest, off Foxlake Drive near Fry Road and I-10, sits on a 30-acre property with vacant space that officials are considering using for construction of a new building for the University of Houston to move into. It would branch from the intersection at FM 1463 and Willowbend to I-10 where the city of Katy and Texas Department of Transportation would build the overpass. A four-lane connection from FM 1463 to FM 1093. The county is building 900 feet near Cinco Trace and Katy Flewellen; private developers are building the rest. The road would act as an extension of South Firethorne Road to Katy Flewellen. It would be a four-lane boulevard. The county would expand the road into a four-lane boulevard from Gaston Road to the point where Spring Green Boulevard would intersect once constructed. FM 1463 FM 1463 FM 1463 Katy Katy Flewellen Rd. Flewellen Rd. Crossover Rd. Crossover Rd. FM 1463 FM 1463 G a ston Rd. G a ston Rd. Katy Flewellen Katy Flewellen S. Firethorne Rd. Katy Flewellen Katy Flewellen Gaston Rd. Gaston Rd. Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers’ top four projects are in the Katy area. He hopes all four will receive funding from the potential bond referendum. 10 Cane Island Pkwy. Maps not to scale Proposed road project Future road path Source: Fort Bend County Foxlake Dr. Park Row Ricefield Dr. Current campus & parking Available land Map not to scale 10 Room to grow $ 8 million $ 8 million $ 8 million $ 2 million $ 2.5 million $ 5 million $ 2 million $ 2.5 million $ 5 million Source: Houston Community College
Transcript
FOR FORT BEND COUNTY IN THE KATY AREATop Mobility Priorities s
Costco Wholesale targets Katy for potential new location
ONLINE IMPACTNEWS.COM
Collegiate partnership creates more programs, pathways
Academic opportunities expand in Katy
Commissioners prioritize road projects
Fort Bend County considers mobility bond
By Carrie Taylor
Fort Bend County commis-sioners are discussing call-ing another bond election in November as money from the 2007 mobility bond is nearly depleted. Th e minimum bond amount would be $150 million—the same as the 2007 bond—and would pay for new roads as well as expansions and extensions of existing thoroughfares.
County Judge Robert Hebert said he plans for the court to make a decision by the end of July and will call for an elec-tion in August. He wants to give ample time for commissioners to educate their constituents on what the bond would pay for and whether it would aff ect property taxes.
“We are about to sell our last $35 million from the 2007 bond, and we have to have money to plan for the roads that we need,” Hebert said.
If voters approve the bond, construction on the decided projects could begin in late 2014–early 2015, he said. Th e goal is
to keep the bond at $150 mil-lion, but with funds from county assistance districts—entities that collect sales tax revenue—the number could be raised to a little more than $200 million with no impact on taxpayers, he said. However, the exact type of bond and what implications it may have on tax rates will not be determined until August.
County commissioners spent much of July narrowing down their wish list of road projects to reach the $150-million mark. Considering the four precincts combined could present projects totaling more than $900 million, eliminating items is a challenge, Hebert said. He has mandated for a fi nal list to be determined by the beginning of August.
“[Projects are] picked based on traffi c counts, state of sur-rounding roads [and] the need to make a connection between major points in a community. It is a pretty complicated process,” Hebert said. “But there is no eff ort to balance between each precinct.”
By Carrie Taylor
Two players in the Houston area higher-education scene are joining forces to bring more opportunities to the Katy area. Long-time allies University of Houston System and Houston Community College-Northwest signed an offi cial memorandum announcing their partnership in the spring to collaborate for the greater good of academics and create new programs for students.
“In today’s world of limited resources, it just makes sense for us to work together,” HCC-Northwest President Zach Hodges said.
Th e schools’ previous, unoffi cial partnership involved both entities borrowing space from each other when convenient, Hodges said. Now, students will have the ability to begin an academic career at HCC and then make a smooth transition into a four-year degree with UH-Main and UH-Victoria. Other UH-System campuses may off er classes in Katy in the future.
“It is a good deal for citizens and helps with effi ciency—students do not have to waste their time taking courses they don’t need,” Hodges said.
Best of both worldsDick Phillips, associate vice chancellor
Th e county is not obligated to award an equal amount of bond funds to each precinct, he said. Rather it organizes a master list of county-wide projects by necessity.
Precinct 3 needsFort Bend County Precinct
3 Commissioner Andy Mey-ers said the fast-paced develop-ment of residential and com-mercial projects in his area have placed a heavy demand for not just improved roads, but more options for drivers. He has iden-tifi ed 32 projects, but he also
See Mobility | 17
See Education | 18
Houston Community College-Northwest, off Foxlake Drive near Fry Road and I-10, sits on a 30-acre property with vacant space that offi cials are considering using for construction of a new building for the University of Houston to move into.
It would branch from the intersection at
FM 1463 and Willowbend to I-10 where
the city of Katy and Texas Department of
Transportation would build the overpass.
A four-lane connection from FM 1463 to
FM 1093. The county is building 900 feet
near Cinco Trace and Katy Flewellen;
private developers are building the rest.
The road would act as an extension of
South Firethorne Road to Katy
Flewellen. It would be a four-lane
boulevard.
The county would expand the road into a
four-lane boulevard from Gaston Road to
the point where Spring Green Boulevard
would intersect once constructed.
FM 1463
FM 1
463
FM 1
463
Katy
Katy
Flewelle
n Rd.
Flewelle
n Rd.
Crossover Rd.Crossover Rd.
FM 1
463
FM 1
463
Gaston Rd.
Gaston Rd.
Katy
Flewell
en
Katy
Flewell
en
S. Firethorne Rd.
Katy
Flewellen
Katy
Flewellen
Gaston Rd.
Gaston Rd.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers’ top four projects are in the Katy area. He hopes all
four will receive funding from the potential bond referendum.
10
Cane
Is
land
Pkw
y.
Maps not to scaleProposed road projectFuture road path Source: Fort Bend County
Foxlake Dr.
Park Row
Ricefi eld Dr.
Current campus & parking
Available land
Map not to scale10
Room to grow
$8million$8
million$8
million
$2million
$2.5million
$5million
$2million
$2.5million
$5million
Source: Houston Community College
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com2 NEWS
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Katy Edition • July 2013 NEWS 3
There are several retail developments in the works for Katy. What type of new establishments are you most interested in seeing?
59.21% Restaurants
39% Sporting goods
17% Other
15.79% Upscale fashion
5.26% Small boutiques
1.32% Jewelry
Results from an unscientifi c Web survey, collected
June 14–July 15, 2013
As a community journalist my job entails the obvious—knowing the community. You can usually fi nd me in my blue Ford Escape perus-ing the oft en crowded streets of Katy, and if you look close enough you can see my face pucker in anger from road rage. Let’s be hon-est; we all suff er from occasional bouts of road
rage. Th ese spells are particularly hard to avoid when driving on roads where the community has outgrown them, and it is no small secret that in Katy certain roads can cause congestion-induced headaches. In Fort Bend County, which covers most of the Katy area south of I-10, Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers has put in a substantial amount of work and funds into improving
his roads and building new ones for his constituents.Meyers’ work is evident in recent projects such as
the extension of Falcon Landing Boulevard and an upgrade to Gaston Road. Th ese projects were funded by the county’s 2007 mobility bond, and now its funds have almost run dry. As of press time, commissioners are discussing and considering calling for a bond elec-tion in November. Our cover story includes informa-tion on what that process looks like as well as insight on an innovative road a coalition of landowners are looking to build.
If the county decides to call for a bond election, we will be following the story to help explain how bonds work, why they are needed and what eff ect they have on you—the taxpayer.
Evenings and weekends available by appointment.Evenings and weekkkkends available by appointment
CONVENIENT Mammograms Right in Your Neighborhood!
COMMUNITY FEEDBACKTAKE THE POLL LAST MONTH’S POLL RESULTS
As a Fort Bend County resident, would you vote to approve another $150 million mobility bond for the construction of new roads and improvements on existing roads?
Yes, the county needs more roads.
Yes, the county needs to improve its existing roads.
No, the county has suffi cient roads.
No, the county should not take on more debt.
I would like to learn more about the bond before making
a decision.
Take the poll online at impactnews.com/katy-poll
Look for the results right here in next month’s print edition of
Community Impact Newspaper.
This month one of our cover stories explores the possibility
of a mobility bond in Fort Bend County. Voters last approved
a $150 million bond in 2007, and almost all of its funds have
OF THIS ISSUE IS ALLOWED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE PUBLISHER.
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com4 NEWS
S. S. Fry Rd.Fry Rd.
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4 World of Beer, a tavern with an extensive collection of beers from around the globe, expanded with a new location at 2643 Commercial Center Blvd., Ste. B390 July 1. Th is is World of Beer’s 44th location and its fourth location in Texas. World of Beer Katy off ers more than 500 diff erent bottles of beer and 50 rotating labels on tap. www.wobusa.com
5 StorIt! @ Woodcreek opened in May at 1429 FM 1463. Th e business off ers a variety of self-storage units, including non-climate- and climate-controlled areas in sizes ranging from 5 feet by 5 feet to 10 feet by 30 feet. 281-574-7272.www.woodcreekselfstorage.com
6 Owner Sammy Vela is expected to open Sammy’s Mexican Cuisine July 27 at Villagio Town Center Building A at the northeast corner section of Westheimer Parkway and South Peek Road. Th e restaurant serves traditional Mexican dishes. 832-437-6322
7 Sonic is scheduled to open in late July or early August at 25022 FM 1093. Th e fast-food establishment off ers a variety of menu items, such as breakfast burritos, burgers, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, shakes and ice cream. www.sonicdrivein.com
8 LongHorn Steakhouse opened July 22 at 9401 I-10, Ste. A, near Westgreen Boulevard. Th e restaurant specializes in steaks, including sirloin, T-bone and ribeye, and also features seafood, chicken, ribs and pork chops. Location manager Jeremy Shearin has 30 years of industry experience and 10 with LongHorn. 713-463-3734. www.longhornsteakhouse.com
9 A new Verizon Wireless store opened July 12 at 6645 S. Fry Road, Ste. 500. Th e company off ers a variety of phones, devices, cellular plans and accessories. Verizon has a program called HopeLine dedicated to collecting and recycling old cell phones and donating the proceeds to advocacy groups for survivors of domestic
Now Open
1 Cinco Ranch Aquariums opened in mid-July at 1315 S. Grand Parkway, Ste. 113. Owned by Hector Elizalde, the store off ers fresh and saltwater fi sh; delivery, installation and maintenance of aquariums; coral and plant life, and aquarium supplies. 713-518-6758. www.cincoranchaquariums.com
2 Macaroni House opened in May at 6501 S. Fry Road, Ste. 300. Th e restaurant specializes in gourmet American cuisine items, including various gourmet macaroni dishes, such as the classic mac, duck mac, cheeseburger mac and margarita mac. Th e menu also features salads and multiple dessert choices. 832-437-7991. www.macaronihouse.com
3 Youth Fitness & Sports Performance—YES! Fitness—opened its fi rst Texas location in April at 26440 FM 1093, Richmond. It off ers classes with movement skills and conditioning for children ages 5–10 and classes with athletic-based training for ages 9–14. High-intensity sports training classes are available for those ages 12 and up. 281-205-8166. www.yeskatytx.com
IMPACTS
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TOLL1093
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Map not to scale
Commercial Commercial
Center Blvd.Center Blvd.
CincoCincoTerrace Dr.Terrace Dr.
S. Firethorne Rd.S. Firethorne Rd.
11th St.11th St.
Park Grove Ln.Park Grove Ln.
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Katy Edition • July 2013 NEWS 5
violence. 281-712-4380. www.verizonwireless.com
10 Physicians Weight Loss Centers opened its fi rst Katy location July 9 at 5550 S. Peek Road. Th e business off ers personal counselors, a body composition analysis, behavior guidance classes, medical consultations and a walking program, as well as weight maintenance and fl exible meal plans. 281-769-9204. www.pwlc.com
Coming Soon
11 Children’s Learning Adventure is slated to open this fall at 24224 Cinco Terrace Drive. Th e company off ers child care programs with educational interaction and entertainment in areas such as computer labs, libraries, indoor gyms and an outdoor playground. 888-556-8435. www.childrenslearningadventure.com
12 Burger King is under construction and expected to open before the end of September at 24914 FM 1093, Richmond. Th e fast-food chain off ers a breakfast, lunch and dinner menu with items like burgers, sandwiches, fi sh, chicken, salads, wraps and desserts. www.bk.com
13 Owners Cheryl and Richard Sage are expected to open a new location of British Private Prep School at 28031 S. Firethorne Drive by January 2014. Th e school off ers curriculum and extracurricular activities for children ranging from infants to fi ve years old. 281-394-7737. www.bpps.gs
14 Specializing in blowouts, updos and other forms of hair styling, Wen Chic Image Bar will open in early August next to Whole Foods Market at 6645 S. Fry Road, Ste. 400. Th e business is a satellite location of Wen Chic Salon and Spa at 6920 S. Fry Road. www.facebook.com/pages/wen-chic-image-bar
15 Spec’s Wine, Spirits and Finer Foods is expected to open in early September at 24940 FM 1093 in the Kroger shopping center. Th e business off ers an array of
spirits, wines, beer, cigars, lunch foods and barware. www.specsonline.com
16 Driver’s Auto Repair will open a new location in late August or early September at 5959 FM 1463. Customer benefi ts include 24-hour on-call towing, free fl at repair and same day service on most cars. 281-651-7316. www.driversautorepair.com
17 Several stores are slated to open soon in Katy Mills Mall, 5000 Katy Mills Circle at I-10 and Pin Oak Road.A Jumpstreet will open its fi rst Houston
area location this fall in the mall next to the AMC 20 Th eatres. Th e business is a 30,000-square-foot indoor park with wall-to-wall trampolines for corporate, family and children events. www.gotjump.comB A Segway rental center is also scheduled to open this fall in a neighboring space near Jumpstreet. Th e company allows shoppers to rent two-wheeled Segways to use in the mall. www.segway.comC Which Way Pizza is scheduled to open its second location in Texas in the mall by fall. Th e restaurant off ers 18 fresh pizza ingredients and six sauces for customers to choose from. www.whichwaypizza.com D Ross Dress for Less is expected to open in early 2014. Th e store sells home decor as well as clothing, shoes and accessories for men, women and children. www.rossstores.com
18 Autumn Leaves of Cinco Ranch will open its ninth Houston-area property in early 2014 at 24024 Westheimer Parkway. Th e memory care community off ers seven days a week nursing care, a life engagement program with activities throughout the day, a full culinary experience and staff specially trained to work with memory needs of residents. 888-662-8886. www.cincoranch.autumnleaves.com
19 Costco Wholesale will open at the southwest corner of I-10 and Grand Parkway. An offi cial opening date was not released by press time. www.costco.com
20 Enchantment Kids is slated to open in January in the Cardiff Commons, 4031 FM 1463. Th e business provides care for children ages 3 months to 12 years. Daily class curriculum includes skills such as reasoning, exploration, adapting and learning with topics like theatre, music, creative arts, arithmetic and science. 832-304-1354. www.enchantmentkids.com
21 Tad’s of Katy is expected to open in early 2014 at FM 1463 near WoodCreek Reserve. Th e restaurant off ers lunch and dinner options with an American cuisine, including steak and seafood. 713-817-5553. www.facebook.com/tadsofk aty
Relocations
22 Aberdare Business Solutions relocated to 468 Park Grove in late June from 20501 I-10, Ste. 117. Th e business off ers a wide-range of services, including monthly bookkeeping, fi nancial statement generation, payroll, consulting for small to mid-size professional businesses and bank reconciliation. 281-816-6426.www.aberdare.us.com
Expansions
23 Aristoi Classical Academy, at 5618 11th St., will expand its enrollment capacity for the 2013–14 school year from 325 to 440. Th e public charter school off ers kindergarten through eighth-grade instruction. 281-391-500. www.aristoiclassical.org
Anniversary
24 Owner Sam Schultze celebrates 25 years of business at Country Park Portraits in July at 555 Park Grove Lane. Th e studio off ers a variety of portrait shoots for occasions like weddings and diff erent family age groups ranging from newborns to high school seniors. 281-398-8707. www.countryparkportraits.com
Lone Star College System makes its Katy debut with its newest satellite center to open in the fall. A second branch of LSC-CyFair, the center will open Aug. 26 at the intersection of Fry and Clay roads.
College administrators fi rst determined the need for a second satellite center about fi ve years ago when the second LSCS bond passed in 2008.
“It was in response to student growth,” LSC–CyFair president Audre Levy said. “As we’ve done with other areas, we looked at where the student population is and where there is a need for the community.”
Th e new Cypress Center will accommodate about 3,200 students, similar to the number at the existing satellite—the
Fairbanks Center—near Hwy. 290 and Beltway 8.
About 15,000 square feet of the Cypress Center’s 85,000 square feet will be dedicated to workforce programs, such as welding, machining, geographic informational systems, draft ing and engineering technology. In many cases, the demand has exceeded the space those classes were allocated on the main campus, Levy said.
“When the campus was designed, we were looking at a population of 9,000, and we’ve doubled that,” she said. “We’re trying to be responsive to the community and provide workforce training, and those programs require larger labs.”
Th e emphasis on space for workforce programs played a part in deciding where to locate
the satellite center, said Deana Sheppard, LSC–CyFair associ-ate vice president for college centers.
“We thought, if we’re going to expand those programs, where should we [locate] this center? So where we bought property seemed like a natural place since it’s so close to the Energy Corridor,” she said.
Th e Cypress Center is a full-service campus, meaning students can take academic classes aside from the workforce classes.
It includes a 13,500 square-foot workforce lab area, 14 classrooms, eight computer labs, two training rooms, one biology lab, one craft lab and a student services area to accommodate for tutoring, testing, registra-tion and a bookstore. It also
houses administrative, staff and faculty offi ces.
“It’s a center that anyone can take a couple classes at if they’re
transferring to a four-year uni-versity or a place where someone can pick up some skills for their job,” Sheppard said.
Lone Star College-Cypress Center will open in the fall off Clay Road near Fry Road. It is a satellite campus of LSC-Cy-Fair.
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Lone Star College to serve growing population in north Katy with new Cypress Center
FOCUSHigher EducationEducation sponsors
HCC and UT Tyler to Produce Engineers in West Houston
The University of Texas at Tyler will open the Houston Engineering Center in partnership with
Houston Community College. Starting fall 2013, the center will be located at HCC’s Alief
Campus, 2811 Hayes Road. UT Tyler will begin offering Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
Bachelor Degrees and plans to develop a Civil Engineering program in the future.
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Katy Edition • July 2013 FEATURES 13
281-517-8710
09 Katy Prairie Conservatory Wild West TourBird expert Glenn Olsen leads guests on a twilight
tour of the Katy Prairie Conservatory in search of breeding
birds as part of the Wild West Tour. Participants walk through
wetlands, woods, and wild grasslands and discuss bird life.
Light dinner included. 6–9 p.m. $50 per person. 31950 Hebert
Road at Penick Road. 713-523-6135.
www.katyprairie.org
09 through 10“King Artie and The Knights of the
Rad Table”The Katy Visual and Performing Arts Center presents its
production of “King Artie and The Knights of the Rad Table.”
Gwen & Artie are chosen by Merlin to go back to the days
of Camelot where they meet the “Knights of the Rectangular
Table.” When Artie is kidnapped by the evil Morganna LaFey,
the knights set out to rescue him. 6 p.m. (lobby opens), 6:30
(seating begins). $6. 2501 S. Mason Road, Ste. 290.
281-829-2787.
09 “Godspell Jr.”Spotlight Acting Academy presents its musical
production of “Godspell Jr.” Based on the Gospel
According to St. Matthew, the characters bring the
parables of Jesus Christ to life through music and by
using a variety of theatrical methods, such as clowning,
pantomime, charades, acrobatics and vaudeville. 7 p.m.
Free (ages 4 and under), $5 (ages 5 and up). CrossPoint
Community Church, 700 S. Westgreen Blvd.
832-217-9864. www.spotlightacademy.com
09 and 26Texas One Volleyball Parents’ Night Out
Texas One Volleyball presents fun events for children to allow
parents a free night out on the town. Activities include video
games, batting cages, basketball, volleyball, tae kwon do, a
moon walk and dodge ball. Refreshments, including pizza,
drinks and chips, are provided. 6–10:30 p.m. $20. 6400
FM 723, Richmond. 832-606-1399. www.texasonevolleyball.org
16 Athletic CelebrationThe Katy Athletic Booster Club sponsors “A Night
of Champions” to kick-off the 2013 football season. The
event features a prime-rib buffet-style dinner and auction
for fundraising with time to refl ect on Katy High School’s
past seven state titles and make plans for the future. Special
guests include current and former coaches and players and
Jorge Diaz, a former Tiger athlete who played for the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers. 6:30–9 p.m. $25 per person (general), $250
per table (reserved). Merrell Center, 6301 S. Stadium Lane.
www.katyabc.org/night-of-champions.php
16 Back to School Pool PartyThe Katy YMCA hosts a family fun night for mom
and dad and children of all ages with a dive-in movie in the
pool, games, snacks and other activities. Families must pre-
register at the welcome center. 7–9:30 p.m. Free. Katy YMCA
Outdoor Family Fun Pool, 22807 Westheimer Parkway.
281-392-5055. www.ymcahouston.org/katy
through 04Bridgeland TriathlonCelebrating its fi ve-year anniversary,
Bridgeland hosts the south midwest region’s largest
stand-alone triathlon. With fast, fl at courses, athletes are
able to push their physical limits with ice baths available
at the fi nish line. 6:40 a.m. $120 (individuals), $180
(group). 16919 N. Bridgeland Lake Parkway, Cypress.
866-232-0270. www.onurmark.net
Find more or submit Katy events at
www.impactnews.com/kty-calendar.
To have Katy events considered for the print edition,
they must be submitted online by the fi rst Friday of
the month.
July
28 through Aug. 1 Fellowship of Cinco Ranch FunFest
The Fellowship of Cinco Ranch hosts its annual event for
children from kindergarten to fi fth grade with games, service
projects, guest speakers, music and nightly skits. The event
ends Aug. 1 with family night with food and a fi eld of bounce
30 Chick-fi l-A Katy Mills Family Fun NightChildren and families can come listen to silly
songs and fun stories with a visit from a mad scientist as
Chick-fi l-A in Katy Mills hosts Family Fun Night. Guests
can also participate in science activities and experiments.
5:30–7:30 p.m. Free. 25601 Nelson Way. 281-391-5544.
August
08 Carrie’s Heart Yucatan FiestaNonprofi t organization Carrie’s Heart—which aims
to improve the quality of life of disabled children—hosts its
annual fundraiser to benefi t children with special needs and
its two medical facilities in Mexico. Guests can enjoy live
music, food from local restaurants and cash bar. They can
also win prizes in a raffl e and silent auction while children
can participate in art activities. 6–9 p.m. $10 (adult), $5
(students), $25 (family). Agave Real, 1250 FM 1463.
281-856-6251. www.carriesheart.org
CALENDAR
Online Calendar
Worth the TRIP
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Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com14 FEATURES
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Katy Edition • July 2013 FEATURES 15
Sweet Things Ice Cream Shoppe
10
Kingsland Blvd.
Pin
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Suzanne Lankford, right, and her daughter Jennifer Rico manage the store together.
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Sweet Things Ice Cream ShoppeBusiness off ers fresh, homemade ice cream
C innamon toast, kettle corn, Mexican hot chocolate, bacon chipotle—these are just a few of
the distinctive fl avors of homemade ice cream off ered at Sweet Th ings Ice Cream Shoppe in Katy.
All ice cream at Sweet Th ings is made in the store, with fresh ingredients and natural fl avors, said owner Suzanne Lankford.
To make peach pie ice cream, for example, Lankford said she fi rst bakes a peach pie and then pours the entire pie into the ice cream. For birthday cake ice cream she makes a sheet cake, frosts it and decorates it with sprinkles and then cuts it into pieces before putting it into the ice cream. Strawberry ice cream is made with six pounds of fresh strawber-ries for a two-and-a-half-gallon batch.
“We try to stay away from [artifi cial] fl avorings,” Lankford said. “We try to do as much as we can ourselves. It’s a way to be creative every day.”
Sweet Th ings rotates most of its ice cream fl avors each week for variety and to keep up with seasonal favor-ites. However, the shop always has fi ve fl avors—sweet cream, chocolate, straw-berry, vanilla and its most popular fl avor, cinnamon toast.
Sweet Th ings also occasionally off ers beer-fl avored ice cream using local brews, and their coff ee ice cream is a customer favorite, made with fresh coff ee. Sweet Th ings off ers at least one sorbet, sherbet and yogurt daily and one no-sugar added ice cream choice as well. Most of their ice cream is gluten-free.
Lankford encourages customer sugges-tions on fl avors. One customer recom-mended avocado ice cream, which they made, and another suggested black walnut.
“Our ice cream is completely diff erent than store bought or chain brands—it’s homemade,” said Jennifer Rico, Sweet Th ings manager and Lankford’s daugh-ter. “We’re off ering something you can’t get anywhere else.”
Ice cream at the store is sold by the ounce (56 cents an ounce) and customers are welcome to buy as little or as much as they want, combining as many fl avors as they wish.
Sweet Th ings also off ers smoothies made with fruit as well as iced coff ee drinks. Th ey also sell birthday cakes and pies. Last Th anksgiving, they sold 80 pies.
In addition, the shop makes its own hot-fudge sauce and chocolate syrup and makes and sells its own vanilla extract.
A Katy resident for the past two decades, Lankford started the shop four years ago.
Lankford said she enjoys being a part of the community, and she has many regular customers she has gotten to know through her business. A local couple, who had their fi rst date at her store, was engaged there as well.
Lankford also gives back to the com-munity when she can, she said. As a stay-at-home mom when her children were young, she was involved in Katy ISD. She has continued her dedication to the schools by donating thousands of free cone coupons to students each year, serving ice cream at various school events and hosting spirit nights for schools.
“It’s a fun business,” Lankford said. “Ice cream elicits a happy emotion. It’s a very unique business, where everyone who comes in is happy. Th ey’re getting a reward.”
BUSINESS
1251 Pin Oak Road, Ste. 125
Katy • 281-391-5423
www.sweetthingsnkt.com
Hours: Sun.–Thurs. noon–9 p.m.,
Fri.–Sat. noon–10 p.m.
Weekly specialsMonday and rainy days—free sprinkles
Tuesday—two small sundaes for $5
Wednesday—50 cents off waffl es cones
Thursday—drink special
Friday—free stamp on a frequent customer
card with a $5 purchase
Rotating fl avors• Coffee
• Banana
• Wedding cake
• Mexican hot chocolate
• Bacon chipotle
• Cherry
• Mint chip
• Oreo
• Cookie monster
• Peach pie
• Kettle corn
• Beer
• Cheesecake
• Black walnut
• Blueberry yogurt
• Sorbet
• Sherbert
• Thin mint
Sweet Things offers homemade ice cream, smoothies, coffee drinks, cookies and cakes.
Cinnamon toast and mint chip ice cream are customer favorites.
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Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com16 FEATURES
All Stars Family Grill
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The Don’t Mess with Texas burger ($9.99) is topped with bacon, a fried egg and onion rings.
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All Stars Family GrillOwner off ers ‘something for everyone’
A ft er operating a sports bar for three years, Tony Orlando became a father—and another
business plan was born. Th e long hours at Stars Sports Bar and Grill were not con-ducive to his new lifestyle, he said, and he decided to tailor his next venture for every member of the family.
“Th ere are a lot of families in the area, so I knew Katy needed a restaurant built for kids and families,” Orlando said. “I wanted to have something for everyone.”
All Stars Family Grill opened June 1, 2011 in the south portion of the Katy area near FM 1093.
Its expansive patios and play areas, party and arcade rooms off er plenty for children of all ages, and the multiple TV screens placed around the restaurant’s interior provide entertainment for adults.
Orlando started in the hospitality busi-nesses at age 21, and he has not looked back since. All Stars said he has seen a steady stream of businesses since open-ing and Orlando is planning for a second location sometime soon, he said.
Th e restaurant’s menu is similar to Chili’s with a variety of options and cuisines, Orlando said. Highlights include generous portions of southern fried
pickles to start ($6.49) and the chicken fried steak ($11.79).
Executive chef Cody Hix said he is given creative freedom to make any kind of daily special he desires. Some days the restaurant will feature an Italian-inspired dish or a dish with Asian fl avors. Th e ordering style is casual where customers order at a cash register before fi nding their seat, and they can enjoy complimentary soft serve.
“Th e kids love it,” Orlando said. “We work really hard to make sure our food is top notch. We try to home-make every-thing as much as possible.”
Hix, who said he was born and raised in the restaurant business and is slated to star in the Food Network’s “Chopped” sometime in the fall, orchestrates much of what is on the menu and enjoys working for a family centered restaurant.
“I used to run the busiest Cici’s in Aus-tin, and aft er I did that I have been hooked on places that cater to kids,” he said.
As nearby neighborhoods continue to fi ll, Orlando said he is ready for the crowd and is looking forward to expanding All Stars in the future.
“We want to be a place where families can just come and relax,” he said.
DINING
26440 FM 1093, Ste. 400
Katy • 281-394-2100
www.allstarsfamilygrill.com
Hours: Mon.–Thurs. 11 a.m.–9 p.m.,
Fri. 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m.–10 p.m.,
Sun. 8 a.m.–9 p.m.
Breakfast buff etFrom 8 a.m.–12 p.m. every Saturday and
Sunday, the restaurant features a breakfast
buffet with a variety of options. Prices are
$10.99 (adults) and $5.99 (children ages 12
and under). The menu includes traditional
breakfast favorites, such as:
• Orange juice
• Coffee
• Soda
• Eggs
• Bacon
• Sausage
• Made-to-order omelets
• Pancakes
• French toast
• Biscuits
Chef’s recommendations• El loco bueno burger—Topped with
pepper jack, avocado and jalapeños ($9.79)
• All Stars chicken club—Grilled chicken
with bacon, Swiss cheese, red onion,
avocado and cilantro ranch ($8.99)
• Southwest chicken salad—Chicken, pico
de gallo, Monterey Jack cheese, avocado,
roasted corn salsa and tortilla strips ($8.99)
• Brownie a la mode—A homemade
brownie topped with vanilla ice cream and
chocolate sauce ($4.49)
Playing aroundAt All Stars Family Grill, owner Tony Orlando
wanted to have play areas for children of
all ages. His two patios feature a toddler
playground, a fenced-in, covered patio with 10
ceiling fans and is built specifi cally for children
ages 2-5. The Dippty-Do-Dah is another
fenced-in playground for children ages 5-12.
The seating area of the playground is also
covered and has ceiling fans.
Party spaceGreat for teen parties, sports leagues and
groups, All Stars Family Grill has space
available for rent on its outside patios as well
as three rooms inside, Orlando said. Exterior
patios are equipped with 10 ceiling fans and
features multiple TV screens. The interior
rooms can be joined together with movable
walls, and each features TV screens for slide
shows and presentations.
By Carrie Taylor
• Cereal
• Grits
• Hash browns
• Fresh fruit
• Pastries
www.McMartinProperties.comJamie@McMartinProperties.com281.961.51613333 S Mason Rd., Katy, TX 77450
Texas Monthly Magazine 5 Star Realtor
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One on One relationships; No being passed around a “team”
Buy & Sell Programs along with Client Referral Incentives
Jamie McMartin,Jamie McMartin, CNASCNAS
Katy Edition • July 2013 17
said realistically only 12 may receive the requested funding.
“I am trying to demonstrate [to the court] that Precinct 3—the portion [north of] FM 1093—is in a state of rapid develop-ment, and that the need is greater and there is a growth component incomparable to the rest of the county,” he said.
Meyers said one major need in the precinct is creating connectors to major thoroughfares, which would include mak-ing improvements to FM 1463. It would involve a partnership with the city of Katy, but Meyers said adding frontage roads and another connector to I-10 just west of FM 1463 would improve mobility.
“Fort Bend County has no connectors to I-10,” Meyers said. “We also need more roads to extend to FM 1463.”
While discussions on the pending bond election continue, Meyers said in the mean-time he is making small adjustments to help traffi c. For example, he is in the process of eliminating right-turn lanes from specifi c intersections such as Cinco Ranch Boule-vard and Westheimer Parkway and looking at changing signals to include a blinking yellow arrow for left turns, a recent traf-fi c installment several counties in the area already have in place.
Four out of Meyers’ top fi ve projects on his wish list are in the Katy area, specifi cally near Fulshear and Cinco Ranch Northwest.
Fulshear ParkwayA group of landowners and developers
are making its case to the county for Fuls-hear Parkway to be included in the bond package. Th e project would include con-structing a six-mile boulevard through cur-rently undeveloped land with features such as roundabouts, extensive landscaping and parallel walking trails. Kerry Gilbert, owner of land-planning fi rm Gilbert and Associ-ates, has been developing the project since 2008. Th e road would run north to south, connecting FM 1093 and I-10, in a projected pathway that is surrounded by undeveloped land. Much of the land, however, is slated to accommodate for more housing projects, including west Cross Creek Ranch.
“Th e tracts of land don’t have good access, or most have no access, to roads except small easements because it was all ranch or farm-land before purchased,” Gilbert said. “We could plan a roadway that would benefi t all landowners and get them together. We could propose a thoroughfare.”
Landowners have pledged to contribute $21 million for studies, design and a portion of construction, Gilbert said, in hopes that Fort Bend County can foot another $21 mil-lion to pay for the $42-million bill.
A preliminary, proposed layout of the road distinguishes it from most roads in the Houston area, Gilbert said, notably because
of its use of roundabouts that aim to reduce accidents and maintain a steady traffi c fl ow. Th e absence of traffi c lights also helps reduce pollution produced by idle vehicles, he said.
For now, the coalition of landowners are working on a feasibility study. Th e group also secured the creation of a road utility district. Texas House Rep. John Zerwas, R–Katy, sponsored the bill in the legislative ses-sion to create the RUD, and he said it func-tions similar to a municipal utility district as a governmental body and collects taxes to repay the landowners for their initial invest-ment.
“We do this all the time for diff erent
[projects], and this is perhaps more interest-ing than most because it connects Westpark Tollway to I-10, and that’s a very important thoroughfare as we continue to see develop-ment in the area,” Zerwas said.
Gilbert said the road will play a key role in west Katy’s mobility and hopes for the feasi-bility study to be complete by spring 2014.
“It will be a really amazing road, because there really is not a road in Houston or Texas like this,” he said.
MobilityContinued from | 1
Willow CreekFarms
Jordan Tract
Jordan Tract
D.R. Horton
Henriksen
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Firethorne
CincoRanch
NW
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WCross Creek Ranch
Harrison Interests Ltd.
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.
Harrison Interests Ltd.
Harrison Interests Ltd.
Fulshear ParkwayFulshear Parkway
Roundabouts
STRAIGHHT LEFT
Neighborhood
Future development
Proposed roundabout
FM 1
463
FM 1
463
FM 1093
FM 1093
Proposed Fulshear Pkwy.
Fulshear Parkway
Roundabouts
Traffic maneuvers at roundaboutsTraffic maneuvers at roundaboutsSTRAIGHT LEFT RIGHTRIGHT
A coalition of landowners are advocating for a roadway in west Katy
to receive funding from the potential bond election. The route is placed
where a proposed freeway was to land, which offi cials conceptualized
to be a thoroughfare for large trucks. Because of projected residential
development in that area, landowners believe a regular thoroughfare
will be more appropriate.
Instead of traffi c signals, the proposed design includes
roundabouts. The roundabouts are considered greener than
traffi c lights because cars are not stopped for extended
periods of time polluting the air. They are credited for
keeping traffi c fl owing, but could become a hinderance if
traffi c counts increase beyond the roundabout’s capacity.
10
The proposed project will include:• Boulevard style roadway
• Landscaping
• Walking trails
• Roundabouts
COCOSTST
millionn
LENGTH
miles
STATUS
Landowners are waiting gfor the feasibility study
to be completed in
spring 2014
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COST
$41million
LENGTH
6miles
STATUS
Landowners are waiting for the feasibility study
to be completed in
spring 2014
Source: Kerry Gilbert and Associates
Would you approve another $150 million mobility bond?
Take the poll online at impactnews.com/kty-poll
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com18
for system initiatives at UH, said the partnership is an ideal col-laboration because most of HCC’s courses are off ered during the day, and UH courses are off ered dur-ing the evening.
UH’s Katy facility is in Cinco Ranch and is land-locked. Phillips said it is no longer in the epicenter of population growth, he said. Th e center is a teaching facility where students can take upperclassmen courses from one of the UH-System schools—Victoria, Clear Lake, Downtown, Main.
“Th e UH-System has no fresh-man and sophomore classes [in Katy],” Phillips said. “For stu-dents, it’s a good deal because you already have that system in place with HCC, and so those credits will transfer.”
Other programsTh e memorandum of under-
standing will bring an increase in programs off ered by both enti-ties, including workforce-specifi c pathways for students and pro-grams with classes at both cam-puses.
To train and prepare students for the workforce, HCC and UH
plan to work with local employ-ers, especially in the health care industry, Hodges said. He said the schools are looking for feedback from the community to help determine other target industries.
Looking forwardTh ere are multiple projects in
the works for the UH and HCC partnership. Hodges said HCC is focusing on craft ing a business plan to evaluate the feasibility of another facility at the HCC-Northwest campus, which has about 30 acres at 1550 Foxlake Drive near I-10 and Park Row. HCC would build it and lease it to UH to house staff and faculty use as well as classroom space.
“We have to see if it will be cost eff ective,” Hodges said.
Because HCC does not receive property tax like Lone Star Col-lege, its revenue comes from stu-dent tuition with other revenue coming from the book store and small businesses on campus.
Taxing districts for colleges are mandated by the state, and local school districts can choose to participate via an election. Th e study is evaluating whether demand for a new building is high enough to attract the
necessary enrollment numbers.“We think we are the best kept
secret over here, and we think by sharing a location together and marketing together we can let the community know what options are out here,” Phillips said.
However, HCC currently has about 5,000 square feet of available space in its current facility UH may
use in the meantime. UH-Victoria would be the fi rst UH campus to bring entire programs to the area complete with academic advisers and faculty, Phillips said. Students would be able to start as college freshmen taking HCC courses and meet with advisers from UH-Victoria to learn how to complete a four-year degree.
“Whatever we do, it has to be self-funded,” he said. “But I am confi dent if we had the space, the partnership would grow and it could be a good steward of many. We are working toward that.”
EducationContinued from | 1
Mas
on R
d.
Students can receive a degree from the University of Houston-Victoria at the Cinco Ranch
facility. Degree programs are offered by the Victoria campus, so the student will officially be
enrolled at UH-V. Freshman and sophomore classes are offered at Houston Community
College-Northwest.
• Applied Arts and Sciences, B.A. and B.S.• Biology, B.S.• Biology with Secondary Teacher Certification in Science, B.S.• Business, B.B.A• Computer Science, B.S.• Computer Science with Secondary Teacher Certification, B.S.• Computer Science Information Systems, B.S.• Criminal Justice, B.S.• Education: Elementary, B.S.I.S.• Education: Middle School, B.S.I.S.• Nursing, RN-BSN, B.S.• Nursing, Second-Degree Nursing, B.S.• Psychology, B.S.
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN
Joint Undergraduate Programs Available
The University of Houston &Houston Community College
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Source: University of Houston
Tell us what you think.
Comment at impactnews.com
Katy Edition • July 2013 19
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Featured NeighborhoodCinco Ranch West, 77494
Build-out year: 2007
Number of homes: 3,600
Square footage: 1,561–6,258
Home values: $151,500–1,237,500
HOA dues (estimated): $940/yr.
Amenities: Jogging trails, tennis courts, pocket parks, bayou nature trails, beach club, golf course, water parks
Nearby attractions: LaCenterra, Katy Mills Mall, fi tness center, YMCA
Property taxes:Cinco MUD 10 0.59000Fort Bend County Drainage 0.19000Fort Bend County General Fund 0.48076Fort Bend County ESD #2 0.09800Katy ISD 1.52660Willow Fork Drainage 0.19000
Total (per $100 value) 2.86936
Data provided by Coldwell Banker United
281-579-2300www.cbunited.com
REAL ESTATE
Featured homesOverview
3 Bedroom / 2 Full, 1 Half Bath 2,663 sq. ft. $335,000Broker: Better Homes & Gardens 281-646-1136
3202 Laureumont Ln
5 Bedroom / 3 Full, 1 Half Bath 3,766 sq. ft. $475,000Broker: Keller Williams Premier Realty 281-220-2100
Besides the typical First Time Homebuyers, the Move-up Buyers and the Downsizers, in a market like Katy, our growing job market is bringing Buyers from around the country and around the world.
Relocation does play a big role because we have buyers waiting on homes to come available. The Katy area is a prime relocation market where clients aren’t
afraid to take risks if they are transferred in a few years.
As the Principal Broker in Katy for the CARTUS Broker network, Coldwell Banker United, REALTORS agents are relocation trained, work with many relocation clients and are supported by an award-winning relocation dapartment.
