PRESENTER: Presenter
Jordan Matney, Deputy City Manager
Garry Ford, Transportation and Construction Services Director
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SUBJECT: Title
Discuss and consider a resolution to approve the City of New Braunfels 2025 Thoroughfare Plan Update.
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation and Construction Services, Neighborhood and Community Planning
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: All
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City of New Braunfels Thoroughfare Plan is a long-range transportation plan that identifies the locations and types of roadway facilities needed to meet projected long-term growth within the area. The Thoroughfare Plan is not a list of construction projects but rather a tool that enables the city to preserve future corridors for transportation system development.
Under the provisions of Article XI, Section 5 of the Texas Constitution and Title 7, Chapter 212 of the Texas Local Government Code, the City of New Braunfels can require that development plans and subdivision plats conform to “… the general plan of the municipality and its current and future streets …” and ”… the general plan for extension of the municipality and its roads, streets, and public highways within the municipality and its extra-territorial jurisdiction.”
Requirements for right-of-way dedication and construction of street improvements apply to all subdivisions of land within the City’s incorporated area and its extra-territorial jurisdiction. The Thoroughfare Plan depicts proposed general right-of-way and alignments for new parkway, arterial, and collector roadways, as well as the widening and extensions of existing roadways. The actual alignments of these roadways may vary from this plan and will be determined through the subdivision development process and the engineering phase of design and studies.
The current Thoroughfare Plan was adopted on March 12, 2012. The purpose of this update is to:
• Amend thoroughfares that have been developed and established by the City Council;
• Remove collector thoroughfares that exist and do not serve long-range growth;
• Adjust thoroughfares to reflect existing and future development;
• Establish thoroughfare right-of-way in established and context-sensitive areas; and
• Update existing typical street cross sections.
The city’s Thoroughfare Plan Update has been developed through a comprehensive and highly transparent effort. K Friese + Associates was contracted to assist city staff with the update, including coordinating with agency partners, preparing update recommendations, and administering, reviewing, and summarizing public input. The city’s update was also coordinated with the City of Seguin and Guadalupe County's thoroughfare plan updates to maintain consistency in the region's transportation network.
Public input was an essential part of the process. Property owner and public workshops were hosted on May 22, 2025. The property owner workshop was provided for property owners directly impacted by proposed changes, including thoroughfare realignments, additions, or right-of-way increases. Mail notifications were sent to affected property owners based on the county appraisal district contact records. The public workshop was provided for the community, and the workshop notification was sent through the city’s website, flyers to elected and public officials, social media posts, Herald-Zeitung, and a media advisory. Workshop materials, draft plans, presentations, and an online community survey were posted on the webpage throughout the process. Additionally, staff were available to meet with property owners and stakeholders to discuss the update throughout the update process. The public input process was open throughout the update process through October 15, 2025.
City staff presented the Thoroughfare Plan Update to the Planning Commission for “presentation only” on July 1, 2025. The presentation included an overview of regional transportation planning, recommendations for plan updates, a summary of public outreach, and next steps. The meeting provided an opportunity for public feedback. City staff presented the update to the Planning Commission for “recommendation to the City Council” on August 5, 2025, which included public comment requests and staff recommendations, along with rationale for decision-making and development requirements to address specific concerns. The meeting provided an opportunity for public feedback. Based on the presentation and public feedback, the Planning Commission unanimously recommended to the City Council that it approve the Thoroughfare Plan Update, excluding Seminole Drive, Old Mission Lane, Countryside Drive, and Pleasant Lane. The Planning Commission did not offer any recommendations or discussion on transportation planning or the long-term impacts on safety, connectivity, and the inadequate emergency access for flooding and as required by previous development approvals.
City staff reviewed the Planning Commission’s recommendation, reviewed and summarized additional public input and requests through October 15, 2025, and coordinated with agency partners. City staff developed additional recommendations to address public concerns for specific requests while balancing the need for public safety and connectivity.
City staff presented the Throughfare Plan Update to the City Council for “presentation only” on November 4, 2025. The presentation included information presented to the Planning Commission, alignment of city transportation planning goals and strategies, public safety impacts, updated public comment information, additional requests and recommendations, and the additional recommendation of thoroughfare design and area transportation plans for Minor Collectors. The meeting provided an opportunity for public feedback, including feedback on opposition and support for the plan update.
City staff reviewed the City Council discussion and public feedback and coordinated with agency partners. City staff will provide more details on the thoroughfare plan and area transportation plans to address public concerns about specific requests and ensure fairness to other Minor Collector thoroughfares citywide.
City staff have worked diligently.to ensure transparency throughout the Thoroughfare Plan Update process. The update recommendation is based on transportation and thoroughfare planning practice and experience, and the fact that the throughfare plan is the primary tool for the city to manage growth and new development. The thoroughfare is used during the subdivision development process and provides property owners and developers with a predictable plan, now and in the future, for the transportation network. The throughfare plan is not a list of construction projects, nor does it encourage development growth.
Removing specific thoroughfares may appear to reduce immediate concerns for property owners. Still, it carries long-term trade-offs, including public safety, emergency response, traffic issues and congestion, a burden on existing taxpayers, and reduced state and federal funding.
The Throughfare Plan will be updated, filed with the City Secretary and City Engineer, and posted as a map on the City of New Braunfels website. The revised plan will be effective on January 1, 2026.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
☒Economic Mobility ☒Enhanced Connectivity ☒Community Identity
☐Organizational Excellence ☒Community Well-Being ☐N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
Removing thoroughfares shifts the burden of new development and required transportation improvements from developers to existing taxpayers.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Planning Commission unanimously recommended to the City Council that it approve the 2025 Thoroughfare Plan Update, excluding Seminole Drive, Old Mission Lane, Countryside Drive, and Pleasant Lane.
Staff recommends approval of the 2025 Thoroughfare Plan Update as presented.