The much-debated Friendswood Town Center received final approval by Friendswood City Council at its regular meeting July 13. The planned development off FM 528 has been the subject of multiple zoning change applications over the past two years.

Clear Creek Community Church—which has three campuses southeast of Houston—owns the approximately 135 acres of land for the development. Known locally as the Whitcomb Property, the site is at 3801 FM 528 near Brookside Intermediate School. In addition to a new church, CCCC plans to develop a walkable, multiuse center with several commercial and retail components, according to officials.

“We’re excited to continue to work with the city [of Friendswood] on this project and look forward to building our church,” said Chris Alston, pastor of the church’s West Campus, which has been holding services at Friendswood Junior High School while the church looked for a permanent location.

The zone change to allow the Friendswood Town Center drew the attention of many city residents. Nineteen residents spoke during a joint public hearing between City Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission on May 4. Of those that made public comments, 16 residents—many of whom had ties to CCCC—were in favor of approving the zone change and three spoke against the planned development.

Some opposed to the development raised concerns about a multifamily residential component originally included in the land use plan. Mayor Kevin Holland amended the zone change application to prohibit any residential component in the project before the ordinance’s first reading was approved June 1.

Others worried if the proposed multiuse center was the best approach to economic development on the tract of land, which is one of the largest undeveloped properties in Friendswood, according to officials.

“Most cities can annex property and then live on the growth of that new property, but Friendswood is landlocked so we don’t have that option,”  Friendswood resident Jerry Ericsson said during public comment July 13.

The commission gave a negative recommendation to City Council after considering the Friendswood Town Center’s zone change request May 7. However the council moved the project forward with a 6-1 vote at its July meeting. Council Member Carl Gustafson voted against the ordinance.

“My concern is that property is going to sit there until I’m a very old man before any commercial development occurs,” he said. “I hope I’m wrong.”

A timeline for the planned development is not available at this time.