AROUND TOWN

Jarrell's New Planning & Zoning Committee

Managing community growth while preserving its small-town character is part of Jarrell’s vision for the future—the city’s new Planning and Zoning Committee aims to help as another civic gatekeeper alongside the City Council. P&Z Chair Cozmo Lewis says, “With the influx of all the new residents moving here, it’s about making sure the businesses and properties coming in are properly placed in the right areas, and helping steer the growth of not only residents and businesses but recreational spaces and schools.”

Without a P&Z committee, Lewis adds, things can go awry. “We wouldn’t want just anyone building anywhere. We wouldn’t want an industrial park in a neighborhood. P&Z is an integral part of keeping the community vision in place.”

Every second Tuesday at 5:30pm at City Hall, four community members review land development applications in the city limits and make recommendations to the City Council based on community needs and Jarrell’s Comprehensive Master Plan. Members of the community are invited to attend and public input is encouraged. “It’s a good way for folks to get a first glance at what’s coming to town and help make recommendations before things get voted on at City Council,” Cozmo says.

With a mix of long-time Jarrell residents, a real estate broker, and a construction project manager, P&Z members bring different perspectives to the table. For Cozmo, that’s knowledge of the inner workings of commercial construction projects as a project manager of an Austin-based engineering construction firm. Working with mostly commercial businesses — everything from restaurants to the Tesla Gigafactory, from a couple thousand dollars to billions — will help him vet incoming businesses, he says.

He may add another civic role to his resume soon; driven by a commitment to city and civil services, transparency, the city’s vision, and the people who live here, Lewis plans to run for Jarrell mayor November 8. It was an idea he started mulling over after being encouraged by several community members to pursue the leadership position. Born in Austin, raised in Georgetown, and now a six-year resident of Jarrell, Cozmo believes his experience both in and beyond Jarrell would be an asset to the city. He hopes to continue serving the community in ways big and small and encouraging additional support for Jarrell as its needs grow with the population. “I feel like with my experience in growth and being in the community for some time now, I can help support the unprecedented arrival of new citizens and businesses while still maintaining the identity of Jarrell.”