1. The City Council did not pass the motion to change the zoning of a 1.98 acre lot on Rice Road

Amanda Bennet, a Pearland resident and small business owner, requested that the acreage be changed from a residential zone to a commercial one so that she could install a driveway for her catering company. The proposed zoning change brought several public commenters both for and against the change. The motion did not pass, with the council’s final vote of 4-3.

2. The council approved an amendment to the Savannah Development LTD., development agreement

One of the results of the amendment is the addition of 31.42 acres to the land. This additional land will result in less single-family homes, with an increase in parks and open space. The council approved the choice 6-1, with Council Member Derrick Reed voting against the amendment. Reed said his concern regarded the lack of staff in the Lakes of Savannah Fire Station, and asked if there was any reassurance to those families. Council Member Trent Perez countered saying, “These are two separate issues.”

3. Residents of Lakes of Savannah turn out to petition the lack of staffing in their fire station

Several residents of Lakes of Savannah, located in Rosharon, appeared at the meeting to petition the lack of staff at their local fire station.

“The city of Pearland is asking the residents of Lakes of Savannah to pay a lot more money, but is not willing to give anything up. That’s a problem,” said FJ Jones, president of the Lakes of Savannah HOA.

The petitioners speak on the heels of the council raising the tax rate by four-tenths of a cent. However, Lakes of Savannah does not pay city taxes, as the neighborhood is unincorporated territory.

*Editor's note: The story has been updated to reflect Lakes of Savannah is an ETJ of Pearland and does not pay city taxes.