FAQ's

1. What is the construction on FM 1464 and Old Richmond Road?
The construction on FM 1464 and Old Richmond Road is a beautification project designed with input from local citizen volunteers, representing each subdivision within Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District No. 25 (the “District”), that will unify, beautify, upgrade and connect the aesthetics and landscaping along the FM 1464 corridor from Austin High School to Chelsea Harbour and Old Richmond Road from FM 1464 to Voss Road (“Phase I”).

2. Who is behind this project?
The project is a great case study showing what individual residents can do for their community in partnership with local government. In 2011, in response to calls and requests from local residents, a comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan for the District (the “Master Park Plan”) was created by a resident-driven committee of volunteers. The plan, created with input from the volunteer committee members, was designed to be a guide for the implementation of park and landscaping projects for the community.

3. I heard of this group called the QLIP Committee. What is it?
The Quality of Life Improvement Planning (QLIP) Committee was established in May 2013 to develop short-and long-term plans to create a visually pleasant and pedestrian friendly community. The members of the Committee are volunteers from the community who were willing to invest their time and effort into making the District a more beautiful area.

4. What is the QLIP Committee trying to do?
The goal of the QLIP Committee is to promote and maintain a healthy and attractive community with focus on a high quality of life for the residents of the District. A high quality of life also is good business for the community because it sustains and improves residential and commercial property values.

5. Was there input from the Community? The QLIP Committee knew that the only way to be successful was to get ideas and opinions from our diverse community and solicit input and involvement from residents from each subdivision that would derive benefits from the Master Park Plan improvements. The Master Park Plan could not have been completed without community input, which the QLIP Committee obtained in many ways, and used to prioritize feedback based on resident desires as well as to delineate short and long-term goals.

6. What was the result of the QLIP Committee’s work?
The Master Plan was created, presented to the District’s Board of Directors for approval and submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for final approval.

7. Who are the members of the Committee?
The Committee is comprised of District residents, representing each subdivision in MUD25

8. How much is Phase I of the Master Park Plan going to cost?
Phase I of the project will be completed for under $2,600,000.00. 9. Where is the money coming from?

10. How will the Parks and Recreation bond money be spent?
The Parks and Recreation bond money will be spent in increments over a 10-year period. Based on community input, each proposed project under the Master Park Plan benefits the entire District based on resident feedback, through Committee representatives, from surveys and community comments.

11. How does the process work?
Project plans are submitted to the TCEQ for review, comments and approval. Once approval is obtained, the bond money is released for the specific project submitted.

12. How much will my taxes be raised to pay for this?
The Board of Directors of the District is hoping that there will not be a tax increase to pay for this parks initiative that will benefit the community and its residents; however, the value of the real property in the District will be a main factor in determining if the District’s tax rate is increased.
13. When will the Phase I of the Master Park Plan be completed?
Estimated completion of Phase I (FM 1464 corridor and Old Richmond Road) is the end of September 2015.

14. How will the construction of Phase I affect school traffic?
The contractor for Phase I, Bio Landscape, is working with TxDOT regarding issues of traffic control. The major construction components, boring of the irrigation infrastructure, placement of water meters and paver installation, are projected to be completed by the start of school, which is August 24th. Landscaping will take place after Labor Day.

15. How much will it cost per year to maintain the new landscaping?
Only native plants requiring minimal watering will be used in an effort to control maintenance costs. Additionally, pavers will be used at the points of the medians, which will require no maintenance. Currently, Tx DOT mows and maintains the medians three times a year.

16. Why are you tearing up my land on Old Richmond Road?
The landscape engineer worked with Fort Bend County to establish the boundaries of the County’s right-of-way. Landscaping and irrigation will only occur in designated right-of-way and easement areas. There will be short-term inconveniences and issues, which is normal and expected with all construction and beautification projects. However, any construction issues that occur will be fixed. No private property is in the right-of-way. If, however, private property is affected by the construction, that property will be restored to its previous condition.

17. What is the next project in the next phase Master Park Plan?
The projects in the next phase consist of a number of components: developing and upgrading existing hike and bike trails, acquiring additional land to create pocket parks and playgrounds, installing a crosswalk and pedestrian light on Old Richmond Road across from Summerfield and Stratford Park, and improving facilities at Garcia Middle School for resident use after school hours. Of course, the planned projects are based on TCEQ’s approval and the release of the incremental bond money.

18. When are QLIP meetings held and who attends?
QLIP meetings are held periodically as design phases require QLIP feedback. The QLIP committee members attend these meetings, which are also open to district residents who would like to get involved, would like more info, or want to provide feedback.

19. How do I know when a meeting is being held?
Send us an email with a request to be added to the meeting distribution list. We’ll send you an email inviting you to the next QLIP meeting.

20. Which neighborhoods are involved? Why isn’t my neighborhood included?
At this point, Summerfield, Stratford Park, Pheasant Creek and Park Pointe have agreed to work with QLIP in Phase 2 of the Master Park Plan, which includes trail and pocket park development. Orchard Lake and Old Orchard are not eligible to participate, as they are gated communities. One of the rules for the use of the bond money was that it can only be used on amenities that are available to everyone in the district.

21. What if my subdivision didn’t participate in the Parks Master Plan?
Because the Parks Master Plan upgrades are funded by bond funds, all of the QLIP upgrades are available for use by all district residents, regardless of subdivision participation.

22. Why should I care about QLIP? In the same way that a dilapidated run down neighborhood can decrease property values and turn potential buyers away from our neighborhoods, a well maintained, beautiful neighborhood with great outdoor amenities can make our neighborhoods attractive to potential buyers. All of the upgrades are being made with a “united district identity” in mind, in the hopes that we will maintain a beautiful, attractive location.