Missouri City City Council approved Monday the second and final reading of an amended ordinance to proceed with the development of residential subdivision Shipmans Cove on Watts Plantation Drive. The site is situated north of the Newpoint Estates and Creekmont neighborhoods.

The first reading of the ordinance took place March 5, and residents from both neighborhoods spoke about concerns relating to traffic congestion, drainage issues and public safety.

To alleviate these apprehensions, staff worked with developers and nearby residents to amend the ordinance, reducing the number of lots, providing minimum lot dimensions, outlining a 20-foot wide buffer zone along the boundary of the proposed subdivision, and removing street connections into the Creekmont and Newpoint neighborhoods.

Wyatt voted against the amendment because he believes removing these street connections may interfere with firefighters' ability to extinguish flames in case of a fire, he said.

Cindy Forney, representing Newpoint Estates Homeowners Association, appearing at the March 5 public hearing, indicated she understood the risk and said insurance will help mitigate the risk in case of such an emergency.

Having the one entrance, monitored by a security camera, allows the neighborhood to enjoy a nonexistent crime rate, Forney said.

Missouri City Fire Chief Eugene Campbell said firefighters would have to bring water from hydrants on the nearby streets of McKeever Road, Hwy. 6 and Darby Lane.

"That would [extend] the time it would take to extinguish the fire," Campbell said. "In short, having access to the fire hydrant would be better if it was closer, but given what we have in front of us today, that's where I'd have to access the water."

Although Forney did not attend Monday's meeting, Creekmont Homeowners Association President Mary Ross and Houston-based attorney Omar Izfar, representing five Newpoint Estates property owners, both addressed council members in support of the amended ordinance.

City Council approved the amendment with a 6-to-1 vote.