City of College Station Blog

By Colin Killian, Public Communications Director

Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council meeting on Thursday, Nov. 24. It’s not the official minutes.

The meeting starts after 6 p.m. and is streamed live on Optimum Channel 19 and cstx.gov/cstv19. You can participate online through Microsoft Teams by entering Meeting ID 287 987 474 175 and Passcode gZw5cS. You can also call 469-480-7460 and enter Conference Number 168 564 318#. 

6:01 p.m.

The meeting has started. The Council took no action after its executive session.

6:11 p.m.

Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Mayor John Nichols joined Bryan Mayor Bobby Gutierrez and Brazos County Judge Kyle Kacal in proclaiming November as Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Joining Nichols for the presentation was Anish Senthil of the American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative.

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality. The five-year survival rate for localized lung cancer is about 60%, but only about 24% of lung cancers are diagnosed at the early stage.

6:21 p.m.

Hear Visitors

Three people spoke during Hear Visitors, when citizens may address the Council on any item not on the posted agenda.

• Ellen Fuller thanked the Parks Department for maintaining our local cemeteries.
• Neo Jang thanked the City for improving its active transportation system and safer youth mobility.
• Cy Williams spoke about the recent on-street parking changes in his neighborhood.

6:39 p.m.

Consent Agenda

The Council unanimously approved the entire consent agenda:

• A $499,803 contract with Utility Restoration Services for annual padmount equipment repair and restoration.
• The first reading of a franchise agreement with Brazos Valley Trash Valet & Recycling for collecting recyclables from commercial businesses and multi-family locations.
• Established temporary speed limits on State Highway 6 and its frontage roads during the TxDOX widening project. The speed limit for the main lanes of SH 6 will be 60 mph, while the limits for the frontage roads will be 40-45 mph.
• A $546,592 contract with The Playwell Group and PlayWorks for the demo and installation of playgrounds at Castlegate Park, Merry Oaks Park, and Southern Oaks Park. The City’s contingency of $54,659 brings the total appropriation to $601,251. The three playgrounds were identified for replacement and improvement based on their age and condition.
• An interlocal agreement with the Texas A&M University System, the City of Bryan, and the Brazos Valley Groundwater Conservation District to jointly fund a socioeconomic study assessing the impacts of Desired Future Condition scenarios on the communities and economies of Brazos and Robertson counties. College Station’s share of the cost will be $46,300.
• A $130,000 contract with Zone Industries for repairing a failed final clarifier at the Carters Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. The City’s contingency of $13,000 brings the total appropriation to $143,000.
• The purchase of a $335,138 Andros Spartan Bomb Robot from Peraton Remotec for the College Station Police Department’s Bomb Squad. The existing robot is at the end of its life, has lost some of its capabilities, and is no longer being serviced by the company.

6:43 p.m.

Incentive Compliance Report

The Council discussed the 2024 Incentive Compliance Report, prepared by Greater Brazos Partnership staff, along with representatives of Ryan, LLC, a Texas-based tax services and consulting firm.

The terms of the original agreement with Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies were amended to reflect an additional $30 million increase in spending by Dec. 31, 2028, plus 150 new jobs paying $80,000 by the end of the third year following construction completion (i.e. $330 million).

The goal of the amended agreement is to preserve the business’s and the community’s ability to reengage the opportunity and bring about a mutually beneficial partnership. Since they amended the agreement and agreed to new terms, the business will report performance metrics as part of the required compliance starting in 2029.

FUJIFILM endeavors to expand its presence and construct an additional on-site facility consisting of:

• A 138,000-square-foot expansion of the existing 3939 Biomedical Way commercial manufacturing facility, with projected construction occupancy and completion by the end of 2028.
• An increase of about 150 full-time employees, ideally creating 150 new jobs by the end of 2028 and maintaining 150 until 2034.
• An investment of about $330 million by Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, which is an increase of $30 million from the original agreement.

The projections are based on FDBT’s current knowledge and are subject to change in response to market conditions, economic factors, and approval from internal stakeholders. FUJIFILM Biotechnologies College Station employs 778 full-time employees, already more than the 600-job baseline under the 2022 agreement.

7:41 p.m.

Family Definition and Shared Housing

The Council discussed changes to the definitions of family and shared housing in the Unified Development Ordinance to enable enforcement. The changes are in response to a new state law (SB 1567) that restricts the mention of familial status.

The Council voted 5-2 to direct staff to bring back an ordinance to redefine it as “A family is any number of persons occupying a single dwelling unit, including but not limited to those related by blood, marriage, adoption, guardianship or dependency.” 

8:46 p.m.

Drainage Update

The Council heard an update about drainage issues, including Bee Creek and Emerald Forest. The FY 26 budget includes $1.98 million for drainage improvements, including $740,000 for Bee Creek.

9:22 p.m.

Housing Action Plan Recommendations

The Council reviewed the Housing Plan Advisory Committee’s recommendation to implement the Housing Action Plan to encourage a wider range of housing types to meet demand and produce affordable housing.

The Council adopted the Housing Action Plan as an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan in September 2024. The plan’s overarching goals are to incentivize the production of more housing units of various types to meet growing demand and to produce and preserve affordable housing for residents.

The Housing Plan Advisory Committee was created to provide guidance, support, advice, and recommendations in the execution of the Housing Action Plan. The Committee is composed of seven Council–appointed citizens and has met regularly since April to review existing conditions, prioritize action items, and develop recommendations for implementing top-ranked strategies.

The committee’s initial recommendations:

Recommendation 1:

Proactively rezone priority areas for townhome and middle housing options specifically to encourage homeownership.

• Set limits that enable growth toward target development goals.
• Prioritize rezonings near key activity centers and corridors.
• Direct growth where infrastructure can adequately serve it.

Recommendation 2:

Reduce or waive fees based on how much of the development is dedicated to affordable housing.

• Define affordable housing as units rented or sold at below-market rates and restricted to low-and moderate-income households.

Recommendation 3:

Investigate a tiered fee system that reduces or waives fees for smaller square footage to incentivize new/future development.

• Investigate the budget impact from reduced or waived fees:
  • What would the offset from new development be?
  • How much new development would offset having no impact fees?

9:22 p.m.

The council is taking a short break.

9:29 p.m.

The meeting has resumed.

9:30 p.m.

Barracks West Rezoning

After a public hearing, the Council unanimously approved a request to rezone about 0.0175 unplatted acres east of Holleman Drive South and Cain Road from General Commercial to Townhouse. The requested change corrects and extends the townhouse zoning by about 7 feet to allow for consistent standards for a proposed townhouse development.

The rezoning is an effort to provide additional housing and residential density to the area by allowing a townhome development that is not allowed under General Commercial zoning. The tract is part of a common area that was platted in October 2024 as part of Barracks West Phase 1 subdivision. The property was rezoned to General Commercial earlier this year.

10:01 p.m.

UDO Amendment-PDDs

After a public hearing, the Council directed staff to engage stakeholders and the Planning and Zoning Commission regarding requirements, concept plans, and community benefits for new Planned Development Districts. Staff will then bring recommendations for amending the City’s Unified Development Ordinance back to the Council for consideration.

10:56 p.m.

On-Street Parking Policy

The Council unanimously approved an amendment to the on-street parking removal policy, along with guidelines to establish minimum street pavement widths for on-street parking.

Staff recommended guidelines for the removal of parking in existing residential areas as concerns arise. The standards mirror the street and parking standards for newly platted and developed single-family neighborhoods and support the efficiency and effectiveness of public services while considering the current street widths and public needs.

In October, the Council directed staff to evaluate minimum design standards to aid in neighborhood parking problems and maintain the certainty of access for emergency and public service vehicles on streets in the Southside area.

11:03 p.m.

Mayor Nichols adjourned the meeting after the Council discussed its calendar, items of community interest, committee and board reports, and future agenda items. The Council’s next meeting is Dec. 11.

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