Iowa Colony plans for ‘tsunami of growth’

Iowa Colony may be a small town, but it’s thinking big. For the first 100 years or so of its existence, the northern Brazoria County city off Texas 288 south of Alvin had a population numbering in the hundreds, rising to 1,170 in the 2010 census. Then, the explosive growth seen in Pearland and Alvin came to Iowa Colony. Sterling Lakes was the first development, and it is still expanding its west side footprint. Meridiana, is doing the same thing on the east side. If both communities get to build out, estimates show Sterling Lakes will total more than 3,000 homes with just under 10,000 residents. Meridiana will have more than 2,700 homes and almost 9,000 residents. The city also contains the Alvin ISD Heritage Complex, which includes the 10,280-seat stadium Freedom Field, and contains the site for the district’s planned fourth high school. Through annexation, Iowa Colony’s population is now about 7,800, but that pales by what the future holds. “We are expecting between 60,000 and 80,000 residents at build-out,” first-term mayor Michael Byrum-Bratsen said. “The city’s dynamics are changing. It’s demographics are changing very fast. “It’s an exciting time for Iowa Colony, and it’s exciting to be a part of that growth, that change.” At the moment, the city is taking precautions to limit spread of the novel coronavirus. In step with action taken by Pearland Mayor Tom Reid, Byrum-Bratsen on June 26 issued an executive order requiring that employees and visitors to a businesses in the city who are over age 9 must wear face coverings when within 6 feet of one another to limit spread of COVID-19. Build-out anticipated by 2060 Byrum-Bratsen said total build out is expected to come by 2060. Iowa Colony hired a consulting firm, Marsh Darcy Partners, to develop a comprehensive plan that would put the city in charge of its future development. That plan addresses virtually every area of concern a city may have both now and in the future, such as: Future land use Adding and expanding thoroughfares Building civic facilities Adding parks and greenspace Creating a drainage plan Developing a water and wastewater system, and Future city needs. “We are trying to plan out before everything grows uncontrollably,” the mayor said. “We have seen (other cities) grow up faster than they can keep up with. We’ve seen where things have gone wrong and we were able to say, ‘This tsunami of growth is heading our way and we’re on the shoreline. We need to have a plan so people can come in and know exactly what to do and we can know what the city is going to look like.’” The plan gives Iowa Colony a suburban feel, but also strives to keep some rural areas intact. It all starts with making Texas 288, which runs through the city, the center for major retail development. “The 288 corridor will be high-density commercial,” Byrum-Bratsen said. “As we move out, we step down in density. We’ll have medium-density (development) — that’s where multifamily (dwellings) can go along with neighborhood commercial — and outside that is the lower-density area, where you have (single-family homes on) bigger plots of land and eventually you get to the one-acre plots.” Major retailers have already expressed interest in building in Iowa Colony, Byrum-Bratsen said. “The biggest constraint on us right now is that we have a lot of areas where there are no utilities,” he said. “So, we’re doing water studies, we’re seeking loans from the (Texas Water Development Board), to start expanding the utilities outside of the (municipal utility districts) so we can get that commercial development in. There has been a lot of interest because we’re a prime location right along 288.” The plan was presented to City Council and residents at a recent meeting and received high marks. Anna Holton, a resdident who is the wife of former mayor Michael “Buck” Holton, has lived in Iowa Colony since 1969 and approves of the overall plan. “The city will never stay the same because development is coming,” she said. “But this plans for it. Progress is good.” Council member Kacy Smajstrla appreciated the parks plan, which points out prospective sites. “I like it because it gives the city an idea where to put the parks as people get here,” she said. Sydney Hargroder has lived in Iowa Colony for two years. She said she was impressed with the scope of the plan. “I see it as a road map to the future,” she said. “It shows how the city should look for this council and future councils.” John DeLapp is a freelance writer. He can be contacted at texdelapp@gmail.com.

Iowa Colony plans for ‘tsunami of growth’

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