Kyle resident Jenny DiLeo uses toy power tools to illustrate the need for the city’s comprehensive plan. (Photo by Sean Kimmons)

by SEAN KIMMONS

Almost a year in the making, the City of Kyle’s Comprehensive Plan passed its first reading last week, one step away from being adopted and implemented into the city’s future plans.

City councilmembers voted 6-0 to approve the 300-page plan to help forecast Kyle’s ongoing growth, which is projected to catapult to more than 90,000 residents by 2040. Councilmember Jaime Sanchez was absent.

“I’m very happy with the plan,” Mayor Lucy Johnson said in last week’s council meeting.

Among the plan’s numerous charts and graphics, one illustration shows traffic congestion handled by a “hub and spoke” tactic, or a double circular loop system around the city to ease traffic along IH-35 and promote commercial development in other parts of the city.

Another graphic reveals the railroad crossing on Center Street in Old Town Kyle transforming into a picturesque rail plaza adorned with a gateway monument. The plaza could be pedestrian accessible with shops and a station along the commuter rail service linking Austin and San Antonio.

“All that space around the railroad tracks should be developed instead of being no-man’s land,” said Robin McCaffey, a consultant for MESA Design Group.

MESA, a planning firm from Dallas, received about $280,000 to develop the extensive plan, a blueprint for Kyle that predicts and designates economic development, land use, conversation and community character.

In 2001, the city had a frugal attempt at a comprehensive plan but the new plan is better managed with more community input, former City Manager Tom Mattis had said.

To ensure that the new plan works, city officials will have to keep the city’s future tax gap in balance.

In 2040, Kyle’s general fund requirement is estimated to be around $54 million. A portion would be raised from city fees, fines and finances while about $21.6 million would come from residential tax revenue.

Another $22 million would be funded by non-residential tax revenue, such as commercial development. An extra 6,000 acres of non-residential land would be needed to cover that amount, according to the plan’s figures.

To do this, the plan suggests that Kyle “break its dependence on the IH-35 and FM 1626 corridors and promote a thoroughfare plan as well as land use plan that provide for greater distribution of non-residential uses.”

Since September 2009, Kyle residents have gathered in three public workshops at Lehman High School to give input to help envision this plan.

Headed by a volunteer facilitator, residents split into nine city districts to discuss community needs and wants during the meetings.

Last week, two of the facilitators urged the council to approve the plan.

Jenny DiLeo, who represented the Regional Center District, used her child’s plastic tools to demonstrate why the city should utilize this plan.

While at the podium, DiLeo pulled out a tape measure to emphasize that the plan measures the effectiveness of public safety and emergency services as the population grows. She then held up another prop, a toy power drill, when she commented that the plan “drills down” the most immediate roads in need of repair.

“Kyle is no average city and our comprehensive plan is no average plan,” she said.

Another facilitator, Dennis Rose, of the Ranch South District, liked the plan but advised that it would be an ongoing process.

“I think it’s an excellent tool as long as we understand it’s a living, breathing and changing document,” he said.