So, the answer to the question, “Why Hudson
Oaks?” may best be answered with another
question: “Why not Hudson Oaks?” Over the past
40 years, we have charted our own course guided
by the principles upon which we were founded: no
property tax, no subsidies, and no egos.
Though constraining, these principles allow our
community to innovate; though challenging, they
demand that our community lives within its means;
and though lofty, they set a high expectation on
how we do business. These principles are what have
allowed a town of 2,200 in a growing rural county
to experience a renaissance of urbanized, sustainable
development while saving our residents thousands
of dollars each year on their property tax bill.
Now, in 2020, the City of Hudson Oaks is
proud to report the grand opening of HEB in May
2019 along with the construction of a high-end,
multi-use development called Creekside at Hudson
Oaks. Creekside will be the first of its kind in Parker
County, and will feature 40,000 square feet of
retail space and 338 high-end housing units. These
additions, of HEB and Creekside, represent the
creative and innovative ways the City of Hudson
Oaks continues to “Branch Out.” n
space we have for development; and they limit the
impact to our city’s operations.
These two principles - no property tax and no
subsidies - are only possible because we have built
up, from our roots in 1978, a culture that values
good ideas more than who gets the credit for them.
Everyone, from the mayor to the council to our staff
to our residents, has an opportunity to have their
voice heard. We have open and honest debates, and
the best idea wins regardless of whose idea it is.
In 2004, this resulted in a very significant
change to our city. We transitioned from a strong
mayor form of government to a council-manager
form of government. As our county began to
grow, City Council knew that it would be vital
to professionalize our city staff. That to tackle the
challenges we would face in the coming years, we
would need professional feedback on how to move
forward.
We hired our first city manager in 2004 and
began the process of professionalizing our staff.
Today, they are one of our most valuable assets. And
because of this willingness to set our egos aside, we
have been able to grow in a smarter, more effective
way than we could have imagined.
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