Other Recent Community Development Projects, Plans, & Documents

In addition to the major Comprehensive Planning process, several other opportunities have been used to engage the public in the planning process to help improve quality of life in Smithville and its surrounding rural community.

In 2024, the City of Smithville asked the Smithville community to take the "Solid Waste" Survey to request input on a number of issues related to garbage pickup service, the Recycling Center, and other solid waste services. The Solid Waste Survey Results show that over 51% of respondents preferred twice/week trash pickup, and that the Leaf and Limb service is very popular, with about 91% of in-town respondents using it at least a few times each year. Other results related to Recycling materials, the use of the Center before and after the annual fee was assessed, and the use of other trash services (such as the Brush Dump, the Warehouse Dump, and Bulky Trash Pickup).

In 2020, the Texas Department of Agriculture awarded a $30,000 "Economic Development Plan" grant to the City of Smithville in partnership with the Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce. This Planning grant provided funds to develop the Smithville Economic Development Community Resiliency Strategic Plan (PDF). The Plan was developed with input from the community and the consultant provided recommendations based on her experience and expertise. The Smithville City Council adopted the Plan at the September 14, 2020 meeting. Smithville was one of only two communities that was awarded a grant through this pilot project, and is grateful to Pam Mundo of Mundo and Associates for her work with community members, business owners, and leaders in creating this Plan. A Plan Update (PDF) was adopted in 2022 to include Workforce Development as one of the main issues that the City would tackle in conjunction with strong partnerships in the Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Smithville Workforce Training Center.

In 2019, the Smithville City Council began to examine Tiny Homes. The results of the Tiny Home Survey (PDF) show that about 60% of local residents believe that Tiny Homes (homes 400 square feet or less) Should be allowed in Smithville, and 63% are in favor of smaller homes (homes between 401 and 700 square feet). About one third of the community said that Tiny Homes should be allowed anywhere, and about one third said that they should be in a separate zoned district. Opinions were split with over 40% on each side saying that they WOULD object to one located next door and over 40% saying they Would Not object to one next door.

On October 28, 2019, City Council held a Tiny Home Forum: Panelists provided information (the Tiny Home Presentation (PDF) is available for the public to review) to the community, community members were encouraged to speak about the project, and City Council held a Special Called Meeting to deliberate next steps. The Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce filmed it on FaceBook Live.

The three FB Live links are:

The Historic Preservation and Design Standards Advisory Committee (HPDS). The HPDS was created during the 2011-2012 Smithville Comprehensive Plan process. This Advisory Committee was established because many of the individuals who attended those Comprehensive Plan meetings supported the concept of "smart for us" growth and development, that still recognizes, celebrates, and preserves Smithville's history. As Smithville becomes more successful in attracting new residents and businesses, it is important to our community that Smithville maintains its historic small-town look, feel, charm, and character.

2013 Cultural District Application (PDF). Smithville applied to become a Cultural District through the Texas Commission on the Arts in 2013, and became the 25th community to achieve that standing. This designation illustrates Smithville's welcoming attitude towards art and culture, and opens the door to many funding opportunities. In Fall of 2015, the Smithville City Council, Lost Pines Artisans' Association, and Cultural District Steering Committee adopted the Cultural District Business Plan (PDF) to set goals, highlight partnerships, and provide a framework for additional action items.

In 2013, and Economic Development Committee began meeting to discuss Smithville's needs for economic development. The following reports have been created to bolster economic development activities here.


In 2009, parents, Smithville Independent School District administrators, faculty, staff and students, Smithville Police Department, Smithville Public Library, elected officials, and a variety of other community members served on a Task Force to identify needs and potential programming and infrastructure that would fill those needs. The Smithville Safe Routes to School Plan is the result of that effort. This Plan was submitted as part of a grant application to the Texas Department of Transportation (TX-DOT) for the national Safe Routes to School Partnership, which was able to fund over $320,000 in infrastructure and programs for the Smithville community. Sidewalk infrastructure along Loop 230, South 4th Street and Washington Street was constructed in 2013-2014 with these funds. Several programs, including Walk to School Wednesdays, Feet First, Reading to Ride, Bike Rodeos, and Bicycle Repair and Maintenance Workshops, have been sustained since 2010. Since then, the City has been awarded many more sidewalk grants, and has held public workshops about every other year to ensure that the current priorities are captured before requesting any grant funds. A map of the existing, awarded, and planned sidewalk network is avaiable on the City of Smithville Sidewalk Network Google Map.

2010 Recycling in the Schools Case Study (PDF). In 2010, Smithville received a grant through the Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG)'s Solid Waste Program for a collaborative Recycling in the Schools program in the amount of about $65,000. The CAPCOG funding comes directly from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). This program helped to sustain and enhance recycling efforts in Smithville Schools and in several Cedar Creek schools, and continues to inspire and teach students to recycle.