What happened
On May 14, League City City Council voted 7-1 to remove Jacqueline Irwin from her position on the planning and zoning, or P&Z, board after a public hearing, citing her unwillingness to vote in alignment with City Council’s priorities.
During the public hearing before the vote, Irwin said the city didn’t notify her personally of the hearing.
What they’re saying
Council member Chad Tressler said he made the motion to call for Irwin’s removal because of her track record of voting against commercial developments, which he feels obstruct the city’s approved plans to develop its unused land.
“She does not vote in accordance with what this council has clearly stated are our priorities,” Tressler said. “Specifically, she has opposed on numerous occasions things that prioritize property rights and are intended to attract commercial growth in this city.”
Irwin said she felt council members wanted to remove P&Z members who were not “aligned with their agenda.”
“This commission exists to provide independent oversight on council decisions, so what Mr. Tressler is then saying is that I should be voting as the council wants me to vote,” Irwin said. “[Then] why [does the] commission exist?”
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Those opposed
Council member Tom Crews was the only council member to vote against Irwin’s removal and said he didn’t support the move because he felt it set a precedent for undermining the board’s independent review.
Crews said he reached out to P&Z board members to ask what they thought of Irwin’s tenure.
“She’s very opinionated, very long-winded, ... but the members thought she was a good fit,” Crews said. “I do not understand why we’re doing this.”
What’s next?
Following Irwin’s removal, City Council unanimously voted to appoint Nathan Jung to replace her on the P&Z board for an unexpired term that will end Dec. 31.
