Township approves construction access extension, SH 242 landscape designs and Waterway bridge lights; past‑chair policy fails
January 16, 2025 | The Woodlands, Montgomery County, Texas
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The Woodlands Township Board of Directors on Jan. 16 approved several infrastructure and design items and rejected a proposed change to board policy.
The board authorized the president and chief executive officer to execute a first amendment to an existing construction access agreement for a covered walkway along The Woodlands Waterway to protect pedestrians during nearby construction. The board also approved Task Order 18B with Hathaway Associates Inc. to prepare construction drawings for enhanced landscaping on State Highway 242, and approved a contract with Piper Houston Electric L.P. to replace the lighting system on the Waterway Square pedestrian bridge.
Why it matters: The votes advance work that affects public safety, streetscape appearance and the township’s role as a coordinator with state agencies. The SH 242 design effort is intended to make the highway approaches into The Woodlands look more like its existing entry corridors, while the Waterway lighting project updates an aging, obsolete system used for events and evening activity in Town Center.
Details of the actions
- Construction-access agreement amendment (Waterway): The board approved an extension to the construction access agreement that keeps a covered walkway in place along a section of River Row adjacent to the waterway for additional months to protect pedestrians from construction-related hazards. The item was introduced by staff and approved by motion; the contract authorization was granted to allow the township president/CEO to execute the amendment.
- Task Order 18B (State Highway 242 landscaping): The board approved Task Order 18B with Hathaway Associates Inc. for preparation of construction drawings for enhanced median and entry landscaping along the township border on SH 242. TxDOT will procure and oversee the construction once drawings are provided; the township budgeted design funds in its 2025 operating budget.
- Waterway Square pedestrian-bridge lighting replacement: The township approved a contract to replace the 21‑year-old bridge lighting with a programmable system similar to other Waterway and Town Center lighting. The project budget for capital projects for the year is $225,000; the proposed contract amount for the replacement was $131,157, with remaining funds to address paint/cleaning and under-bridge lighting.
- Board operations policy amendment (immediate past chair): Directors considered a proposal to amend the board operations policy to add “immediate past chair” as a recognized board title. After debate about whether the change was necessary and concerns that listing past chairs as an officer position might cause confusion, the motion failed on a split vote. The board recorded a 3–3 split with one abstention, and the motion did not pass.
Meeting procedure and other housekeeping votes: The board adopted the meeting agenda and approved the consent agenda (with two items pulled for discussion). The board accepted several staff reports, including the Village President’s Council update. Where votes were taken by voice and not recorded on the roll, the minutes record that motions carried by voice vote.
Votes at a glance
- First Amendment to Construction Access Agreement (Waterway): Motion to authorize president/CEO to execute amendment — Passed (motion carried; mover and seconder recorded in minutes).
- Task Order 18B (Hathaway Associates, SH 242 construction drawings): Motion to authorize president/CEO to execute agreements as needed — Passed (motion carried; mover and seconder recorded in minutes).
- Waterway Square pedestrian-bridge lighting replacement (Piper Houston Electric L.P.): Motion to accept proposal and authorize president/CEO to execute agreements — Passed (motion carried by voice vote).
- Amendment to Board Operations Policy to add “Immediate Past Chair” as a recognized board title: Motion to amend policy (no additional duties) — Failed (tie vote; recorded as 3 in favor, 3 opposed, 1 abstention; motion did not pass).
What the board did not decide: No substantive land‑use or budget adoption items requiring second‑readings were presented. Several items were referred for future agenda consideration, including requests to invite county officials to discuss Kirkendall Road improvements and to provide more public information about utility/telecom installations in neighborhoods.
Sources: meeting presentation and staff briefings; roll‑call and voice votes recorded in the public meeting transcript.
The board authorized the president and chief executive officer to execute a first amendment to an existing construction access agreement for a covered walkway along The Woodlands Waterway to protect pedestrians during nearby construction. The board also approved Task Order 18B with Hathaway Associates Inc. to prepare construction drawings for enhanced landscaping on State Highway 242, and approved a contract with Piper Houston Electric L.P. to replace the lighting system on the Waterway Square pedestrian bridge.
Why it matters: The votes advance work that affects public safety, streetscape appearance and the township’s role as a coordinator with state agencies. The SH 242 design effort is intended to make the highway approaches into The Woodlands look more like its existing entry corridors, while the Waterway lighting project updates an aging, obsolete system used for events and evening activity in Town Center.
Details of the actions
- Construction-access agreement amendment (Waterway): The board approved an extension to the construction access agreement that keeps a covered walkway in place along a section of River Row adjacent to the waterway for additional months to protect pedestrians from construction-related hazards. The item was introduced by staff and approved by motion; the contract authorization was granted to allow the township president/CEO to execute the amendment.
- Task Order 18B (State Highway 242 landscaping): The board approved Task Order 18B with Hathaway Associates Inc. for preparation of construction drawings for enhanced median and entry landscaping along the township border on SH 242. TxDOT will procure and oversee the construction once drawings are provided; the township budgeted design funds in its 2025 operating budget.
- Waterway Square pedestrian-bridge lighting replacement: The township approved a contract to replace the 21‑year-old bridge lighting with a programmable system similar to other Waterway and Town Center lighting. The project budget for capital projects for the year is $225,000; the proposed contract amount for the replacement was $131,157, with remaining funds to address paint/cleaning and under-bridge lighting.
- Board operations policy amendment (immediate past chair): Directors considered a proposal to amend the board operations policy to add “immediate past chair” as a recognized board title. After debate about whether the change was necessary and concerns that listing past chairs as an officer position might cause confusion, the motion failed on a split vote. The board recorded a 3–3 split with one abstention, and the motion did not pass.
Meeting procedure and other housekeeping votes: The board adopted the meeting agenda and approved the consent agenda (with two items pulled for discussion). The board accepted several staff reports, including the Village President’s Council update. Where votes were taken by voice and not recorded on the roll, the minutes record that motions carried by voice vote.
Votes at a glance
- First Amendment to Construction Access Agreement (Waterway): Motion to authorize president/CEO to execute amendment — Passed (motion carried; mover and seconder recorded in minutes).
- Task Order 18B (Hathaway Associates, SH 242 construction drawings): Motion to authorize president/CEO to execute agreements as needed — Passed (motion carried; mover and seconder recorded in minutes).
- Waterway Square pedestrian-bridge lighting replacement (Piper Houston Electric L.P.): Motion to accept proposal and authorize president/CEO to execute agreements — Passed (motion carried by voice vote).
- Amendment to Board Operations Policy to add “Immediate Past Chair” as a recognized board title: Motion to amend policy (no additional duties) — Failed (tie vote; recorded as 3 in favor, 3 opposed, 1 abstention; motion did not pass).
What the board did not decide: No substantive land‑use or budget adoption items requiring second‑readings were presented. Several items were referred for future agenda consideration, including requests to invite county officials to discuss Kirkendall Road improvements and to provide more public information about utility/telecom installations in neighborhoods.
Sources: meeting presentation and staff briefings; roll‑call and voice votes recorded in the public meeting transcript.
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