City of Sugar Land


Imperial Sugar Property
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  • Imperial Sugar

Overview

City Manager Allen Bogard"The City recognizes Imperial Sugar’s rich history as well as the impact of the redevelopment to adjacent development and to the City as a whole.

It is our goal to guide the redevelopment of the Imperial Sugar refinery site to accomplish historic preservation, continued aesthetic and architectural quality and community and economic development objectives to create a successful and vibrant project for the community," states City Manager Allen Bogard.
(source: Sugar Land Today – Aug./Sept. 2005 Issue)

Overview:

Imperial Sugar Company announced in February 2005 that it had reached an agreement with Cherokee Investments and W. C. Perry Land Development for the sale of its property. Since then, City officials have been working diligently to prepare for a successful redevelopment process.

The City of Sugar Land has informed the developer that community input is essential for the success of the project.

Related Information

Listed here are the City Council meetings where significant updates and workshops on the development were presented.

City Council Actions


  • Resolution No. 05-16
    City Council approved a resolution (Resolution No. 05-16) to outline the City's expectations for the redevelopment of the 160- acre Imperial Sugar property and the development of the adjacent 500 acres currently owned by the Permanent School Fund known as Tract 3. (Tract 3 is bounded to the west by State Highway 6, to the north by Voss Road, to the east by Burney Road, to the southeast by Oyster Creek and to the south by U.S. 90A.)
  • Resolution No. 05-15
    City Council approved a resolution (Resolution No. 05-15) establishing a City Council task force to assist the City Manager in the redevelopment process for the property and/or the development of Tract 3. Council task force members are Dennis Parmer, Michael Schiff and Russell Jones.
  • Resolution No. 05-19
    City Council approved a resolution (Resolution No. 05-19) agreeing not to oppose legislation filed with the 79th Texas Legislature to create a special management district as proposed by the prospective developers of the Imperial Sugar property as long as the legislation filed was in full compliance with a letter agreement outlining certain development issues. Although the legislation creating the special management district was approved (HB 3554), the City must also consent to its creation before the district can be established.
  • Cherokee Agreement on June 21, 2005
    City Council approved an agreement (Agreement - June 21, 2005) with Cherokee for the potential acquisition of Tract 3. The City received legal counsel that the acquisition is possible, with the City serving as the means for this to occur. It has also been determined that the acquisition by the City can occur with no cost or risk to the City. All funding would be provided by Cherokee, and a due diligence period would be established to allow for the approval of a General Land Plan, Development Agreement, Utility Agreement and Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone by the City prior to closing on the property.

Imperial Redevelopment Progress 2007

Imperial Sugar Redevelopment Progress
Posted June 8, 2007

The City has been moving forward with the developer’s submitted General Plan for the past several months.  Recent meetings included the following:

January 9, 2007 - Planning and Zoning Commission workshop - received background information

April 10, 2007 11 - Planning and Zoning Commission workshop - received developer's presentation

April 26, 2007 - Planning and Zoning Commission public hearing - received preliminary staff recommendation and held hearing

May 8, 2007 - Planning and Zoning Commission workshop - held Commission discussion

May 24, 2007 - Planning and Zoning Commission consideration and action - recommended approval with conditions

June 5, 2007 - City Council workshop - received status update and developer's presentation

Pending meetings are as follows:

June 19, 2007 - City Council public hearing held on the General Plan

June 26, 2007 - City Council alternative action date for the General Plan; also possible action on a development agreement

Staff reports for the June 19 and June 26 meetings will be available on the City's web site under the meeting information.

Status Reports

Here are two presentations and status updates that provide a historical perspective of the Imperial/Tract 3 development from inception in 2004 up to 2008.

Archived Status Reports


Post Date
01-28-2008 January 2008
06-06-2006 Initial Conceptual Plans for Imperial Sugar Redevelopment
05-25-2005 PDF  |  Presentation Slides  |  Video

Archived Press Releases

Recent News Release

Project  Underway to Retrieve Historical Artifacts at Imperial
Posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Sugar Land, Texas—The first steps in a community effort to preserve the historic artifacts at the Imperial Sugar Company and forming a community heritage program are underway.  The City contracted for services with the Fort Bend County Museum Association to retrieve and store artifacts, photographs and documents from the Imperial Sugar Company property. Cherokee Investments, who acquired the Imperial property in July, provided a 60-day period for the project to take place.

The City initiated this project in collaboration with Cherokee Investments to temporarily secure the historic artifacts prior to site remediation activities by Cherokee Investments.

Large amounts of archival documents and photographs are located throughout the property’s offices and outbuildings. Artifacts range in size from large pieces of machinery to small office and personal items. The museum will conduct a thorough video documentation of the property before work commences. There will be a complete electronic record of all artifacts and documents as well as digital photos of each item.

The Imperial property defines the history of our city,” says City Manager Allen Bogard. “It is essential that we preserve as much of our past as we can. Cherokee is giving us time to do a thorough job, and the Fort Bend County Museum Association personnel are the best people to do that.”

Sugar Land is paying the museum $40,000 for the project. The first and most labor intensive phase of the project is expected to take 60 days; this will include identification of artifacts, documentation and inventory, sorting into categories and packing and transfer to a storage facility. The second phase of the project will involve the proper conservation and accession of the artifacts and readying them for future exhibit.

The City’s role in this project is to serve as temporary custodian of the Imperial artifacts until the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation (SLHF) can be formed and operational.  The artifacts will then be gifted to the SLHF for use in a future Sugar Land Museum on the Imperial site which will be created and managed by the community heritage foundation.  The City is providing the seed funding to act as a catalyst in the formation of a heritage effort for Sugar Land which will include participation from Cherokee Investments, Imperial Sugar, Fort Bend Museum Association and community representatives.

“It is an exciting undertaking, preserving the past,” says Bogard. “We must always have our sights fixed firmly on the future, with an appropriate recognition of our past.”

At the August 21st Sugar Land City Council meeting, an update on the Heritage Preservation Project was provided by staff.  City Council provided direction on moving forward with the formation and incorporation of the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation.  A community information meeting will be held in the fall of 2007 to provide an overview of the Imperial project, formation of the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation and volunteer opportunities for interested parties.

Archived News Releases

 


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