Smithville RCP

Before We Finalize: Did We Miss Your Voice?

Over the past two years, residents, business owners, and local partners have shared a tremendous amount of input through workshops, surveys, and public meetings. The 95% comprehensive plan draft reflects collective feedback and represents the final stage before plan adoption.

As we prepare to finalize the plan, we want to be sure we didn’t miss anything—or anyone.
This is your last opportunity to share any final thoughts to help ensure the plan captures what matters most to Smithville.

Smithville Last Change Survey — https://langfordplanning.com/smithville-rcp/smithville-last-chance-input-survey

What We Heard from the Smithville Visioner Exercise

As part of developing the Resilient Communities Comprehensive Plan, Smithville residents shared what they love about their community, what needs attention, and their hopes for the future. The Visioner results revealed a strong sense of pride in Smithville’s small-town character, historic charm, and natural beauty—along with a shared desire to see thoughtful growth, infrastructure improvements, and more opportunities for families and local businesses.

We invite you to review the community comments collected during the Visioner exercise—each colorful post-it represents a resident’s idea, concern, or dream for Smithville’s future. Take a few moments to explore what your neighbors shared and see how their input is helping shape the plan moving forward.

15 August, 2025

Anissa W. says:

3"Market Smithville’s charm with targeted tourism, signature festivals & biz support to boost occupancy rates, visitors, and local revenue."

12 August, 2025

Kristi Farquar says:

Part-time rides for Smithville residents to reach care, food & essentials—removing barriers & empowering wellness through access.

12 August, 2025

Kristi Farquar says:

Bring affordable housing for Seniors to Smithville~

8 August, 2025

Robert P says:

Build a Pedestrian and vehicle railroad overpass at Hill St./Old Lake Rd. See the map marker. Woodress is mislabeled Old Lake Dr...

4 August, 2025

Sara Hickman says:

Please finish updating Main Street and the sidewalk in front of 216 Main. Please reconsider adding arts’ funding back for local artists.

3 August, 2025

Janice Bruno says:

Continue to work with UT on plans for the Buescher State Park/MD Anderson proposed plan, utilizing it for other types of workforce training.

3 August, 2025

Janice Bruno says:

Create a follow-on special movie for 'Hope Floats' to commemorate its anniversary year - this will attract many tourists.

3 August, 2025

Janice Bruno says:

Affordable living studios in a vacant, for-sale Marrs Jones FH, featuring 10-12 units. Discuss with investors and restore historic stables.

3 August, 2025

Janice Bruno says:

Smithville has so much potential both in the downtown district and on the Sunnyside of town - Loved the idea of a library on the Southside!

3 August, 2025

Kristin Barrow says:

Love the historic downtown but concerned by how expensive it is for new businesses to start downtown & the lack of care of those buildings.

2 August, 2025

Jimmy Jenkins says:

Our city has a aging population that would need a area for seniors, to live, play and have activities. We will also need affordable housing

2 August, 2025

CRM says:

I would like Smithville to keep the small town feel. Bastrop has become a congested and over built. It's lost the small feel.

RCP Timeline - In Progress

Timeline item 1 - complete

Contract Execution

GLO contracts with the community for the grant funding and holds an administrative virtual meeting to explain the requirements. (10/23)
Timeline item 2 - complete

RCP Community Kickoff

RCP Kickoff virtual meeting with Langford project team and community leaders/staff. 1st Public Meeting held to announce RCP grant. (03/11/2024)
Timeline item 3 - complete

Data Collection/Draft Base Studies
- Existing Plans Assessment
- Draft of Base Studies, including population, housing, public facilities, infrastructure; wastewater, water, stormwater, electrical, and transportation
- Draft Resiliency Goals and Objectives
Submit RCP Milestone Package #2 to GLO for approval (12/18/2024)
Timeline item 4 - active

Community Engagement

RCP community survey, forums, stakeholder meetings, data gathering, and compiling results. (Ongoing)
Timeline item 5 - complete

Preliminary Plan Development

Develop the preliminary plan draft and include all required segments focused on resiliency. Review and collect input from stakeholders, city council, staff, and planning department. Create a complete draft for review.
(In progress)
Timeline item 6 - complete

Preliminary Plan Review

Introduce segments of the resiliency goals, base studies, and draft of the plan to stakeholders, community leaders, and residents for review of the preliminary drafts.
(In progress - 01/26-5/26)
Timeline item 7 - active

Preliminary Plan Revisions - Final Review

Prepare the final edition of the preliminary draft, including all community input, key stakeholders, city council, and staff recommendations and approved revisions. (05/26)
Timeline item 8 - active

Final Review/Approval/Adoption

Present to the council, stakeholders, and residents at a final Public Meeting #3. (Estimated 05/26)

Development Governance

This memo will focus on reviewing the city’s adopted codes and regulations to determine whether they enhance, undermine, or are silent on resilience to these specific hazards. Additionally, the memo will evaluate current zoning ordinances for the presence or absence of best practices that support hazard resilience, ensuring that local land use policies align with the region’s most significant risks.

Governance Annex 2
Community Input Report

The Smithville public forums, surveys, and stakeholder meetings have successfully gathered diverse and meaningful community input, shaping a comprehensive vision that reflects local priorities and fosters collaborative solutions for the city’s future.

Summary of Engagement
Resiliency Goals & Base Studies

Community resiliency in Smithville refers to the ability of the community to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from significant adverse events, particularly natural hazards.

Review Assessment & Base Studies

1) Population Study; (10-year projections) utilizing current data while addressing potential and projected future issues with an emphasis on resiliency.

2) Housing Study; (20-year projections) refreshing any existing reports, and studies and review the city’s current situation with a future outlook for housing demand.

3) Land Use Study/Plan; analyzing current land use and studying the future projections to ensure the community is well positioned for future needs and prepared, and more resilient to both natural disasters and local hazard risks.

4) Zoning Ordinance; review existing zoning ordinances (where available) and recommend revisions and/or new ordinances to meet identified needs and risks.

5) Infrastructure Study / Capital Improvement Plan; including analyses of all community infrastructure assets and systems (e.g. transportation, drainage, water, sewer, and parks) and recommendations for capital projects to increase community resilience.

The Texas General Land Office created the Resilient Communities Program because they recognized that Texas communities need to prepare not just for today, but for tomorrow's challenges too.

For Smithville, this means planning that considers our unique character while strengthening the ability to bounce back from events like floods, economic shifts, or growth pressures.

Resiliency isn't an add-on to our comprehensive plan—it's woven into every aspect of it.

Your specialized knowledge is invaluable to us. We're counting on your expertise to ensure our plan effectively addresses both today's needs and tomorrow's challenges. We're asking you to review:

Resiliency Goals and Objectives
Hazards and Risks Assessment
Community Profile

As you review each section, please keep these important questions in mind:

Do the objectives address both immediate shocks and long-term stressors?
Have we adequately considered social equity and vulnerable populations?
Are there clear mechanisms for monitoring progress and adapting strategies as conditions change?
Do the objectives promote cross-sector coordination and systems thinking?

Your thoughtful feedback will help shape a plan that preserves what makes your community special while building resilience for generations to come.

FAQ

What is a GLO - Resilient Communities Program comprehensive plan?

Why do we need a new plan?

How long will the planning process take?

City of Smithville RCP

Before We Finalize: Did We Miss Your Voice?

What We Heard from the Smithville Visioner Exercise