Spring Valley Village

 

The first formal step in Spring Valley Village becoming a City took place on December 14, 1954, when a petition for incorporation signed by twenty-six residents was presented to Harris County Judge Bob Casey. This requested the incorporation of the Town Spring Valley Village under the provisions of Chapter 11, Title 8, Revised Civil Statuses of Texas, 1925.

An election on April 9, 1955, to decide the incorporation issue passed by a vote of 183 to 165, and Judge Casey declared the Town of Spring Valley Village to be incorporated on April 25, 1955. On June 30, 1955, Judge Casey swore William F.  Cannon into office as the first Mayor of Spring Valley Village, along with Alderman Norman E. Walsh, W. Floyd Clark, and Ray B. Moroney.

The desire for zoning having been the primary reason for incorporation, the council adopted Ordinance 1, Book 1, on July 18, 1955 which regulated the issuance of building permits. This was followed by passing an ordinance governing subdivisions on October 10, 1955. A Zoning Commission was created on January 24, 1956. A Zoning Ordinance was adopted on April 2, 1956. Having no municipal water and sewer systems nor fire department, and the area having many trees, the greatest portion of Spring Valley Village was zoned residential and limited to one-family, one-story dwellings. From time to time, the Zoning Ordinance has been amended and rewritten to strengthen and better serve the majority of the property owners. In 1981, the major change was made when two-story houses were permitted for the first time.

The population of the town grew rapidly after incorporation and exceeded six hundred residents when on April 16, 1957, the Council adopted an ordinance whereby the Town of Spring Valley Village had a Marshall who received only car expenses. The Spring Valley Village Police Department now offers twenty-four hour protection provided by a Chief, Lieutenant, Sergeant, Detective, many officers, and civilian personnel. The department provides protection to Hilshire Village under a contract agreement.