VOTE411 Voter Guide

I’d make the development process more predictable and efficient. One specific change would be requiring more departments to review plans concurrently instead of a project sitting on one desk before moving to the next. That doesn’t mean lowering our standards. It means getting to yes or no faster. Time costs money, and unnecessary delays eventually get passed on to the people who live and do business here.

The city can’t control the housing market, but we can control how difficult and expensive we make it to build. I’d look for ways to reduce unnecessary permitting delays and fees, especially for starter homes, while protecting existing neighborhoods. One specific thing I’d like to explore is using Chapter 380 agreements to reduce certain city development costs for homes built below a set price point. We’re not going to regulate our way into affordability. We need to make it easier to add housing people can actually afford.

My top two issues are managing growth and fiscal responsibility. On growth, I want a real long-term infrastructure plan that gets roads, drainage and utilities ahead of development instead of constantly playing catch-up. Growth is coming whether we plan for it or not, so we need to be ready for it. On fiscal responsibility, I opposed the recent tax rate increase. The better way to grow tax revenue is by growing our tax base, not continually raising the tax rate. That means encouraging responsible development, setting priorities and planning further ahead. College Station can continue providing great services without treating taxpayers as the first place to look every time the budget gets tight.

I would make the development process simpler, faster, and more predictable. Cut unnecessary red tape, duplicative requirements, and delays while maintaining standards for safety, infrastructure, and neighborhood integrity. We should make it easier to build homes and grow businesses without sacrificing the character of the communities already here.

Affordable housing starts with lowering the cost of building and owning a home. I would work to keep property taxes and city fees under control, cut unnecessary red tape, and support more housing options where they make sense. We should work with builders and neighborhoods together to create attainable housing while protecting neighborhood character and quality of life.

My top two priorities are lowering the cost of living and managing growth responsibly. That means reining in city spending, keeping taxes and fees in check, and cutting unnecessary costs. It also means investing in roads, infrastructure, police, and fire protection so growth does not come at the expense of safety or neighborhood quality of life.

A big concern is in re-development that increases density where the existing infrastructure is not equipped to handle the impact of that density. Stormwater runoff is a particular problem. I do not have a lot of confidence in the small detention solutions that current policies encourage. I would like to look at locating a regional detention facility that could effectively mitigate denser re-development upstream and protect the existing downstream neighborhoods.

The City can incentivize affordable housing construction by waiving impact fees, effectively boosting available inventory. This strategy complements College Station's existing down payment assistance program for first-time homebuyers and its active partnerships with non-profits targeting low-income and elderly citizens.

Traffic congestion is the top challenge facing College Station according to the latest citizen survey. Expanding and improving Brazos Transit District service offers a direct solution to reduce gridlock. By increasing bus frequency and optimizing routes, the City can transition drivers to transit and build a sustainable, multi-modal mobility network. Housing availability is the second high priority and I have shared my thoughts on the previous question.