The Colony · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in The Colony public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Accessory structure rules and lot coverage limits
The city currently bans 'mother-in-law suites' on most single-family lots. Council is exploring allowing them with strict limits — owner-occupied, no rentals, big-lot-only — to help multigenerational families, but parking and wastewater capacity worries remain.
New Recreation Center CMAR and renovation timeline
Thirteen firms competed to be the construction manager at risk for the new rec center; four were interviewed and a winner is being finalized. The pick saves about a month versus the normal approval process, with the full construction contract coming back to the board around July.
Carr Street pavement reconstruction
Carr Street from Chapman to Main Street — the subject of many resident complaints — is getting a full concrete rebuild thanks to a $505,287 contract with the low bidder. Expect construction detours and temporary parking changes from this summer through March 2027.
Palace Parkway, LLC lease and Chapter 380 incentive agreement
The council approved a lease and Chapter 380 economic incentive deal with Palace Parkway, LLC after closed-session deliberation — a business development agreement whose details remain confidential for now.
Blue Sky Sports Center litigation resolution and asset sale
The city consented to the sale of Blue Sky's building and assets, resolving the TOCA Colony v. Blue Sky litigation. Terms were worked out in closed session.
CDC Sales Tax Revenue Bonds Series 2026
The CDC wants to issue roughly $39 million in sales tax revenue bonds over 30 years to fund a prioritized list of park projects — rec center renovation, pickleball expansion, athletic complexes, and aquatic upgrades — instead of funding them piecemeal. Both boards agreed on the 30-year structure with intent to pay off early; final numbers come in June.
FY2027 Property Tax Rate
The council kept the proposed tax rate flat at $0.63 per $100 and set hearings for August 18. Because taxable values fell about 1.1%, the city expects roughly $270,000 less revenue — and homeowners with expiring homestead caps may see bills rise even as values drop.
Sidewalk repair backlog
A resident documented six broken sidewalks reported as far back as 2023 that still haven't been fixed — including one that sent his wife to the ER and another where he fell himself. He called the delays unacceptable for a city with residents who rely on walking.
Turner Road Bridge repair
The bridge over the creek is a problem — and for some residents it's the only way in and out. Council added $43,540 for Olsson's design work, with construction expected around $500,000.
Data Center Regulations (SI26-0003)
The Colony now has rules on the books for data centers before any developer has asked. They're banned in every zoning district except Planned Development, with a 25-acre minimum, strict noise limits, a 1,000-foot buffer from homes, and required water and power studies. A resident warned these facilities can use up to a million gallons of water a day.
2026/2027 CDC operational budget
The board considered the CDC's operational budget for the coming year, covering transfers to the parks fund and capital projects fund, incentive payments, and administrative costs. It determines how the CDC's sales tax dollars are deployed annually.
2026/2027 CIP project list
The CDC board considered its capital project list for the coming fiscal years, funding the new recreation center, athletic field upgrades at BB Owen and Turner parks, playground replacements, and aquatic park renovation phases. These projects shape what parks and facilities residents will have over the next several years.
Regulation of scooters, e-bikes, and pocket bikes
The council adopted new rules after residents complained about kids on motorized bikes speeding past pedestrians on trails and sidewalks. Kids and unlicensed teens are now barred from riding scooters on sidewalks and public property, helmets are required under 18, and pocket bikes are banned from public property entirely. Council members flagged enforcement challenges and plan to revisit the rules with school resource officer input next school year.
November 3, 2026 General Election
Council formally called the November election for council Places 3, 4, 5 and 6. Candidate filing runs through August 17 — residents interested in running need to act fast.
Flock License Plate Reader Cameras
The city signed a two-year, $126,000 contract with Flock Group for automatic license plate readers — a public safety tool that also raises routine questions about data use.
Athletic Club water well repair
The city is spending $266,733 to replace the pump at Well No. 3, which is nearing its ten-year lifespan. Keeping the well running avoids costly outages in the water system.
North Colony Blvd flooding fix
The stretch of North Colony between Squires and Page Road floods badly because four small inlets can't handle runoff draining from Page Road. The project adds three 20-foot inlets and upsizes pipes to 30-inch to store more water underground.
Bill Allen Memorial Park erosion repair
A $178,484 contract amendment with CGC General Contractors finishes the stream bank erosion stabilization project at Bill Allen Memorial Park, split between Parks CDC funds and Engineering CIP funds.
Water system infrastructure upgrades at Office Creek
The city is spending about $1.88 million on three contracts to keep its Office Creek water treatment and pump station reliable: a backup generator for Well #4, a new pump, and a new motor control center. The generator is also required by state law for emergency water service during extended outages.
Film Friendly certification guidelines
The council adopted formal guidelines for film production in the city, a step toward Texas Film Commission 'Film Friendly' certification that could bring media productions — and their spending — to The Colony.
Homestead exemption stays at 5%
Residents flooded council inboxes asking for a bigger homestead exemption, but with sales tax and hotel tax revenue down and mid-year budget cuts already made, no council member would move to raise it. The exemption stays at 5%, and members said they may revisit it next year if revenues recover.
Police Department and Court Facilities Renovation
The police station is overcrowded and past its intended capacity, so the council hired Parkhill for $159,500 to design a renovation that keeps police, dispatch, and court operations running during construction. The old rec center will be converted for Municipal Court and the warrants division.
Colony Commerce Center rezoning (PD-10 to PD-31)
A 72-acre, six-building, million-square-foot warehouse and office campus is proposed on long-vacant land near Grandscape. Supporters tout $175 million in private investment and roughly $800,000 a year in tax revenue with little strain on city services; the Billingsley Company argues warehouses would devalue surrounding land and spoil the gateway to Nebraska Furniture Mart.
Series 2026 Certificates of Obligation
The city is borrowing about $8.78 million to pay for equipment, vehicles, street and drainage work, water/sewer upgrades, and fire and police facilities. The good news: the rate came in at 3.56%, and debt is matched to how long each asset lasts.
The Colony Crossing Parking Reduction and Restaurant Conversion
The commission reviewed a site plan amendment to combine suites at Colony Crossing for a new restaurant, supported by a parking study requesting a parking reduction for the 100-space lot.
Street and alley reconstruction program
The city is spending $3.66 million across two contracts to rebuild over 8,500 linear feet of streets and alleys, continuing a budget-year commitment to road repairs. Recent freezes worsened potholes, making the timing critical.
$9.5 Million Certificates of Obligation
The city took the first step toward borrowing up to $9.5 million for streets, drainage, water and sewer, police and fire facilities, and fleet vehicles. No tax election is required for this debt type; the actual issuance comes back to council April 21.
White Castle at Grandscape
The council approved two more pieces of the Grandscape development — a 277-unit apartment building next to the NFM parking garage and the first White Castle in Texas. Multi-family is allowed by right in the PD, and council discussed traffic circulation and signage so deliveries and rideshares don't clog the NFM pickup lanes.
Sutton Branch streambank erosion
Years of heavy rain have badly eroded Sutton Branch, with erosion creeping close to residential backyards and exposing conduits. A $1.3 million stabilization project starts in March and should finish by October 2026.
Jefferson Grandscape II multifamily development
A five-story, 277-unit apartment building is planned on 3.8 acres of what is now NFM parking lot at Grandscape. Most units are one-bedroom, and parking comes mostly from the existing NFM deck rather than new on-site spaces.
Costco The Colony Addition
The final plat for the roughly 31-acre Costco site at Spring Creek Parkway and Grandscape Boulevard was approved, clearing the way for a roughly 155,000-square-foot warehouse store with fueling.
Weekend severe weather readiness
Bad weather is expected this weekend. The city has extra public safety staff scheduled, public works on call, and plenty of sand and salt ready.
Phase 15 Residential Street Reconstruction
The city is spending $4.66 million to completely rebuild three residential streets — Pemberton, Hawes, and Adams — with new concrete, sidewalks, and utilities. Construction runs February 2026 to March 2027, so residents on those streets should expect construction traffic and temporary disruption.