Boerne subcommittee eyes obelisks, wayfinding and roundabout features for gateway improvements

Nick Montagna presented the Gateway Urban Design subcommittee’s initial thinking, focusing on monument signage at major entries (Business 87/I‑10 and SH‑46/I‑10), wayfinding, and possible long‑term features like roundabouts and sculptural elements. The subcommittee relied on the city’s urban design manual and identified funding set aside for short‑term projects.

"When we're talking about this, really, we're centering on these 2 tenants on the strategy map, particularly when we're talking about investing in high quality infrastructure potentially," Montagna said, summarizing the committee's objectives. Councilmembers discussed balancing cosmetic improvements with road‑engineering constraints, maintenance costs, and opportunities to use low‑maintenance materials and local artisans.

The subcommittee proposed pursuing a small number of high‑impact projects now (signage and wayfinding) while keeping longer projects like roundabouts tied to road projects and grant opportunities such as Safe Streets. Councilmembers emphasized coordination with TxDOT for improvements on state roads.