Government
BY RACHEL LELAND & CATHERINE WHITE
Pearland denies permit for accessory dwelling unit Pearland City Council denied a conditional use permit request to build an accessory dwelling unit, or ADU, on a home in a 3-4 vote at its Feb. 23 meeting, citing concerns that the space could be used in the future to rent to non-family members and/or that the space could be used as a short- term rental decades from now if the property were sold. In February, the city banned short-term rentals in areas zoned for residential use. The details Pearland resident David Deriso requested to build a 665-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom addition to his home’s garage for his mother. “At the end of the day, we’ve got a homeowner who wants to build a 600-square- foot [ADU] for his mom to live out her nal days.” TONY CARBONE, PEARLAND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER
Manvel cuts alarm, pet registration fees Manvel will no longer collect registration fees for alarm systems and animals following City Council’s approval to remove the fees at its Feb. 2 meeting. What you need to know Under the current ordinance, alarm permits cost $50 for homes and $100 for businesses, while animal registration fees range from $5 to $10 based on spay or neuter status. Under the newly approved revision: • Alarm registration fees are eliminated • Pet registration fees are eliminated, but enforcement fees such as animal impound charges remain Since many residents have already paid registration fees for 2026, the city plans to fully implement the process starting in 2027.
For
“There is no mechanism in place to monitor the change of ownership. If he changes ownership at some point it could become a rental property.” MONA CHAVARRIA, PEARLAND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER
Against
The total proposed accessory structure was 1,212 square feet and was fully compliant with the city’s requirement that an ADU must be less than 50% of a primary dwelling’s size, according to city documents.
Friendswood reopens council chambers Friendswood hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the reopening of the council chamber at Friend- swood City Hall on Feb. 2, following renovations and updates to the room’s audio-visual capabilities. The backstory The chambers underwent renovations
throughout 2025, forcing City Council to meet at alternative locations such as the Friendswood ISD Administration Annex building. The $370,000 renovations primarily focused on updating the room’s audiovisual technology, as the existing system was outdated and nearing the end of its life, according to city documents. Failure of the room’s audiovisual technology would eliminate the city’s ability to record and livestream the city’s public meetings, preventing government transparency, according to city documents.
Friendswood City Council held the rst meeting in its newly renovated chambers Feb. 2.
RACHEL LELAND COMMUNITY IMPACT
SAT. APRIL 25 10 A.M. TO 5 P.M.
Follow the tracks to Grand Boulevard for a spring celebration of the Old Townsite district.
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1/30/26 3:49 PM COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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