Development
BY HALEY VELASCO
Pearland residents voice concerns against multifamily development
Going forward
Among the concerns, a state law that preempts local zoning controls once a city reaches a popula- tion of 150,000 prevailed at the workshop. Senate Bill 840 was passed in the 89th Texas Leg- islature, and legally requires cities with a population of at least 150,000 to allow multi-family housing in areas zoned for commercial, retail or office use. Currently, Pearland has a population of about 130,000, data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows. District 29 Representative Jeffrey Barry said Pearland has about four years of protection before the city’s population could grow large enough to 150,000 for the law to take away its zoning control. “I think we have plenty of time to be able to address this bill,” Barry said at the workshop.
multi-family units on about 15 acres of land on the north side of Magnolia Parkway and west of Manvel Road. A vote on this project was not held at this meeting. Donnell originally pitched a similar planned unit development, or PUD, for the site in late 2025, in which City Council eventually denied the project in a 3-4 vote due to resident pushback in January. Donnell has since adjusted his proposal to reduce the project’s height to three stories and said he would fully fund a new school crosswalk and add an internal roundabout for school buses to safely turn around without blocking traffic.
Fears of traffic gridlock, increased crime and property values were among the concerns Pearland residents voiced at a joint workshop with City Council and the city’s planning and zoning commission held May 18. The workshop focused on a potential 296-unit apartment complex along Magnolia Parkway. “This issue is not about opposing growth,” said Ann Struhal, a Pearland resident near the potential development. “We understand our city is growing and we support responsible development. The issue is whether this specific project is appropriate for this specific location.” The project is being proposed by Rockport Ventures Developer Travis Donnell for 296
What’s in the bill?
Potential development Proposed development area
Breaking down Senate Bill 840 Intended to:
3-story residential buildings
Detention pond
589
Increase housing supply without requiring new undeveloped land
Applies to:
Cities with more than 150,000 residents
Counties with more than 300,000 residents
Pearland
Cities can’t:
Require density below 36 units per acre
Cap qualifying projects below 45 feet tall
SOURCE: ROCKPORT VENTURES/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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SOURCE: LEGISCAN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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