If the developers of Grand Texas, a 56,000-square foot theme park planned for Tomball, expect to make their self-imposed spring 2010 opening, they are going to need to clear some very tall hurdles.

Dozens of Tomball area residents crammed into City Hall during a July 20 city council meeting to voice their displeasure over the possibility that a theme park may be opening in their neighborhood.

The Grand Texas project, which is planned to be built at the corner of Hufsmith-Kohrville and Holderrieth, was one of the items up for discussion by the city council at the meeting.

At left, an artist’s rendering of a portion of the proposed Grand Texas theme park.

Neal Herman of Tomball spoke to the council at the meeting and said he was concerned the project would draw an “undesirable element” to his nearby neighborhood and asked council members to “protect our property.”

Dylan Blake of nearby Albury Trails subdivision said Grand Texas would draw an “almost certain crime increase.” He also claimed the project would decrease property values, increase noise pollution and that their lifestyle would be “put in jeopardy because of the theme park.”

“What do these people know that Astroworld and Six Flags don’t know,” Homer Ford asked.

Most of those in attendance chose not to address the council, instead turning in forms stating their opposition to the plan. Of those who turned in such forms, 24 stated they were against the plan, four in favor of it.

Those who did speak cited the concerns Tomball property owners have brought to council for years when they have protested a building plan: increased crime, increased traffic, a decrease in property value and flooding.

“The crime is what scares me the most,” Kelly Brooks of Albury Manor said. “They (the kids who visit Grand Texas) are going to get bored with what they do out there and come terrorize our neighborhoods.”

Monty Galland, pre-development manager for Grand Texas, also addressed the council and provided a slide show presentation addressing the concerns of protesters.

Galland explained that Grand Texas would not attract “thrill seekers,” and the park would not feature roller coasters and such.

“We want to make sure we don’t have the wrong crowd,” he said. “It’s not an amusement park.”

Plans for Grand Texas include a western-themed Main Street that would feature daily mock shootouts, an indoor activity area, a mock ranch, shopping, a live music pavilion and banquet center.

“We wanted to find things that were wholesome and fun and that were safe,” Galland said.

Galland said the peak attendance times are expected to be weekends and holidays, and that traffic would be “contraflow by nature,” typically on days when local traffic is the lightest.

He also estimated that after the initial facilities are completed, attendance at the park would reach a peak of about 1,200, “or about 375 cars per day.”

By 2013 when developers expect the park to be fully operational, they expect crowds to top 2,400 “paid participants,” or 1,000 cars per day.

Not only will Grand Texas have to overcome what is shaping up to be strong opposition from nearby residents, but a strict zoning ordinance and tough development laws in the city.

The land proposed for Grand Texas is currently zoned Single Family-20 in Tomball’s Zoning Ordinance. In addition, the sale of the property is not yet complete. Galland said they are “in negotiations with the seller.”

According to City Manager Jan Belcher, no permits have been requested by Grand Texas developers and no application is on file with the city.

The project appears to be in its infancy, but Galland admits that he “had no idea of the consequences” of going public with the plans so soon. Approximately three weeks ago, developers issued a press release to the media and created a website, www.grandtx.com, announcing the project.

Public reaction was swift and mostly negative from nearby residents. An online guestbook, however, cites dozens of supporters.

“I issued a press release not fully understanding the power of the press,” Galland said.

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