The Woodlands Township meets, assumes ownership of The Woodlands Waterway

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- The Woodlands Township Board of Directors held a regular meeting on Thursday, July 20, 2023, to discuss a variety of topics including The Woodlands Waterway Transfer Agreement, the Comprehensive Community Services Agreement, solutions to mitigate traffic noises at Research Forest and Branch Crossing and more.

At the beginning of the meeting, President and CEO Monique Sharp congratulated Township Environmental Education Specialist Teri MacArthur for receiving the WISE Award in the education and public awareness category for the Township’s Watershed Project as recognized by the Houston-Galveston Area Council as a model for improving and protecting water quality.

On the Regular Agenda, the Board approved a Special Warranty Deed, thereby accepting the conveyance from The Woodlands Land Development Company (TWLDC) to The Woodlands Township of “The Woodlands Waterway.”

'This is a very historic item on our agenda and something that we have looked forward to for a long time,” said Township Chairman Dr. Ann K. Snyder.

With the concept having dated to 1972 and opened to the public in 2002, today, The Woodlands Waterway is a historic landmark of the community winding through Town Center connecting its greatest attractions, including fine dining, performing arts, upscale hotels, recreational activities and more.

The Woodlands Waterway was created as a unique private/public partnership involving The Howard Hughes Corporation (formerly The Woodlands Development Company), Houston-Galveston Area Council, Texas Department of Transportation, Brazos Transit District, Federal Transit Administration, The Woodlands Road Utility District, The Woodlands Township (formerly Town Center Improvement District (TCID) and The Community Associations of The Woodlands), Montgomery County and the Town Center Owners Association.

The conveyance of the Waterway to the Township is the culmination of years of planning, going back to the 2008 Waterway Maintenance, Use and Operations Agreement between The Howard Hughes Corporation and the Township, through their predecessor entities.

In preparation for the conveyance of the Waterway, the Township set aside funding in its five-year budget plan starting in 2019. This year, $400,000 was allocated for five months (August through December 2023). To enhance oversight and management of the Waterway, a Waterway Supervisor position was added to staff. View The Woodlands Waterway Transfer - July 2023

In conjunction, the Board approved an Amended and Restated Comprehensive Community Services Agreement between The Woodlands Land Development Company (TWLDC) and The Woodlands Township. This Agreement defines standards of services exchanged between the two entities and allows for the conveyance of certain properties from TWLDC to the Township. Most notably, the amended and restated agreement provides for the granting of a 208-acre tract to the Township to be used for future recreational development, located on Gosling Road, south of the entrance to the Village of Creekside Park.
View the Comprehensive Community Services Agreement

Next on the Agenda, the Board discussed options to mitigate traffic noise at Research Forest and Branch Crossing. In addition, the Board agreed to a Change Order with The Christmas Light Company, LLC which provides for maintenance of lighting for an additional 368 trees around the Waterway, related to the conveyance of the Waterway to the Township.

On the Consent Agenda, which consists of routine housekeeping items that do not require Board discussion, the Board received administrative reports from Community Services and The Woodlands Fire Department, approved Resolution No. 010-23 supporting the submittal of a bid to host the 2025 Texas Recreation and Parks Society Annual Institute and approved the renewal and annual software payment for Microsoft Enterprise Licensing.

Members of the public were able to address the Board at the start of the meeting.???

The Woodlands Township Board Meetings may be attended in person, watched live online, or viewed later via recording at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/meetingvideos. The agenda and attachments may be viewed at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/991/Agendas-Minutes-and-More.