The Manvel City Council postponed the second reading of a zoning change for the Presidio development at its Oct. 5 meeting due to concerns over traffic, water capacity, buffer yards and compliance with previous agreements.

Mayor Dan Davis said, “If not, this is dead in the water and the hope is that in the next meeting those are addressed.”

About the project: Located east of Hwy. 288 along Hwy. 6, the development plans include retail, medical and commercial uses, alongside roadways connecting Hwy. 6 to the Hwy. 288 frontage road. The plans feature:

• 148 acres for commercial use

• 50 acres for medical use

• 5 acres for a Manvel civic site

• Nearly 144 acres for drainage and detention

Dairy Queen opened a new location in Webster at the end of September, staff said.

The details: Dairy Queen is known for its Blizzards, or firm ice cream served with a variety of inclusions, as well as burgers and cakes, according to the website.

What readers should know: The Webster location is currently hiring for a grill cook, staff said.

📍16190 Galveston Road, Webster

Several fall festival events are scheduled this month, though events are subject to change. The upcoming activities include:

• St. Angela Merici Fall Festival on Oct. 3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Missouri City
• Montgomery Fall Festival on Oct. 3 from 12:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Montgomery
• Pumpkin House & Pumpkin Palooza on Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Richmond
• Katy Rice Harvest Festival on Oct. 10 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Oct. 11 from noon to 6 p.m. in Katy
• Pumpkin Float on Oct. 10 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in The Woodlands
• Halloween Bash on Oct. 16 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in The Woodlands
• Tricks & Treats on Oct. 17 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Missouri City
• ArBOOretum on Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Houston

Harris County leaders broke ground Sept. 30 on the first of seven community solar program sites at the Reliant Center. The initiative, called the Affordable Community Energy Program (ACE), is the region's first county-led community solar program. It is designed to expand clean energy access and affordability for low-income residents while enhancing grid resilience during extreme weather and power outages.

The program details include:

• An $88.3 million investment the Harris County Commissioners Court approved in March

• Generation of up to 45 megawatts of solar energy and 20 megawatt-hours of battery storage on publicly-owned land

• Expected energy bill cuts of about 20% for 9,500 to 10,000 income-qualifying households at or below 80% of the area median income

• Expected completion of the Reliant Center site in 2027, with the remaining six sites continuing construction through 2029

• Resident enrollment starting in 2027 for both renters and homeowners