Cane Island Description

Size: 820 acres is the total acreage in the project.
Of that:

It is bordered on the South by Highway 90 and the Union Pacific railroad, on the North by Morton Road and on the East by the Cane Island Creek. Undeveloped land borders the West.

Several maps are available on this web site showing the location of Katy and the Cane Island project. Brochures, web sites and an assortment of demographic information are available from the City of Katy, Katy ISD and the Katy Area Economic Development Council.

Company / Development Logistics / Engineering Details

The various properties owned by individuals and family entities were transferred into one business organization, West Cane Island L.P. The general partner of this limited partnership is DWM Management Corporation. David Minze is the President.

Land Planning  - Click for Map
A well-recognized land planner, designed an initial concept plan. The plan has been revised and updated a few times as changes or new ideas have occurred. The current version shows the drill sites and access routes. Lot yields on the preliminary land plan have been estimated.  Depending on desired lot size mix and the percentage of each, total lots should approximate 1600 to 2050. This would utilize 580 acres of the property for net single-family residential including neighborhood streets.  An elementary school site, commercial retail, recreational reserves, lakes and detention, parks and entrance, easements and drill sites, green space and road right of way would comprise the remainder of the acreage.

Proposed Cane Island Parkway Access from Interstate 10
As the Cane Island plan was developing, it was learned that the Texas Department of Transportation future plans proposed another overpass for I-10 on the west side of Katy.  Routes to the north of Katy are limited and the City needs a north-south thoroughfare connecting to I-10. The City acquired the route to build a road from I-10 to Highway 90. Cane Island was able to align that route with a planned route north through Cane Island. The City road from I-10 to Highway 90 will be called Cane Island Parkway. Signage on the Interstate should direct traffic to the Cane Island Parkway, which will lead directly into to the Cane Island development.

TxDOT has an on/off ramp for the Cane Island Parkway in its near term plans. An overpass at the intersection is planned in the longer term improvements on I-10. It will be built as demand and funds become available. Planned commercial development near Cane Island Parkway is driving the need for the on/off ramp construction and the first segment of the road. The City has committed to build the road between I-10 and Highway 90. A definite timetable for the Cane Island development would accelerate the need for the road to cross Highway 90 and the Union Pacific railroad. Developer, City and County participation in a transportation agreement may open funding mechanisms for reimbursement of initial construction costs of Cane Island Parkway on the project site.  Connections to existing east-west streets within Katy are shown in the concept plan. The city and county streets include 10th Street / Bartlett Road, Franz Road and Morton Road.

Survey and Title Report
A survey was completed in April 2006. It is divided into seven contiguous tracts. The surveys are available on request in electronic files for use in land planning. The latest title report was completed in September 2006.

Surface Use Agreement for Mineral Development
Cane Island is in the Katy Gas Field, which has been operated by Exxon Mobil Corporation and its predecessors since 1939. A Surface Use Agreement was negotiated with Exxon Mobil on the property in 2000 and 2003. A total of 5 sites are reserved for future drilling. In addition, field pipeline easements connect the sites to the processing or marketing stations. These are shown on the concept plan. The sites and pipeline easements can be used as green space or recreational areas with modest landscaping. Should existing access routes need to be changed, provision for acceptable access to the sites must be provided. Exxon Mobil transferred operation of the field to Forest Oil Company in August 2006.

City of Katy ETJ 
The City of Katy is very receptive to a well-planned upscale community that would cover a large part of the available Katy ETJ.  Many in Katy would like to see controlled growth, which a master planned community will provide. Over half of the Cane Island project is within the City of Katy Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ).

Katy has a zoning ordinance which regulates development projects in its ETJ.  Minimum lot sizes within the City currently are restricted to no less than 8,625 square feet.  Several successful developments in the City are using even larger lots with brisk sales. The City has indicated an in-city MUD would be the preferred way to approach utility infrastructure.  Katy city ordinances are available for viewing on the city web site.

Houston ETJ
The City of Houston regulations for lot sizes in its ETJ are more lenient than Katy’s.  With nearly half of the project in the Houston ETJ, this portion can be developed more densely.  This will provide a variety of lot sizes and home pricing needed to obtain the desired velocity in sales. A separate MUD probably would be needed for this area.

Water
The City of Katy has adequate water plants to service the City portion of the project, with a 12" water line going south and two 8" water lines going east from a water plant near the center of the project. Katy water has excellent taste and quality. The City water system has been rated a Superior Water District by TCEQ for the past 20 years. Water service is available only if the property is in the City Limits. The Houston ETJ MUD may be required to drill its own well to service its district.

Sewer
The current City of Katy sewer capacity at the Sewage Treatment Plant south of I-10 is 3.4 million gallons per day, sufficient to handle development within the current ETJ.   

Drainage
The City regulates drainage design within the city and ETJ. Brookshire Katy Drainage District regulates the channel of the creek and drainage in the remaining Houston ETJ. Cane Island Creek is the major drainage channel serving the western part of Katy. Nearly all of the Cane Island land drains east and south toward the channel.  A small portion flows into the Snake Creek channel on the southwest.

Detention ponds will be required for the property, as they are in most of Harris and Fort Bend Counties. Topography is generally flat to slightly sloping. Heavy, intense rainfall will cause water to pond until it can flow to the channel. Drainage facilities will need to be engineered to hold most of the heavy rainfall. As peak flows in the channel subside, the stored water is released into the channel.

Detention is the preferred method of insuring the heavy rainfall events does not create flooding problems locally or downstream. The City has constructed a 40-acre detention pond north of the project to help regulate peak flow on Cane Island Creek.

Other Public Services
Fire and EMS service are provided by the City of Katy. Katy also has an excellent police force for the City. The Waller County Sheriff’s Department will serve the area outside of Katy. The City has numerous other amenities including parks, walking trails, a new library and a historical museum focusing on the Katy area. Center Point Energy provides electricity and natural gas to the area. Consolidated Communications is the major telephone service provider in the area. (http://ci.katy.tx.us)

Engineering
Several drainage and utility concept plans have been done on the project. The engineering firm of CLR, Inc. has conducted most of the studies. Updated plans and projected costs can be obtained from CLR. The plans would need to be modified to reflect a preferred land plan.