Updated 1:33 p.m., Dec. 5: A land use workshop for residents to learn more about the project is scheduled for Dec. 10 at City Hall, 1522 Texas Parkway. Residents can RSVP for the event, get more details or submit questions ahead to [email protected] or 281-403-8541. A conceptual site plan, building elevations and the draft ordinance are available for review at City Hall Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Missouri City City Council voted Dec. 3 to postpone the rezoning of a residential tract of land near Olympia Estates in order for property owners and residents to come to an agreement on land use.

Last night’s meeting was the first of two readings for the 5.19-acre tract of land up for consideration to be rezoned as a PD Planned Development District to allow for the development of a child care facility, educational and professional office, and neighborhood and specialized retail uses.

The site, at the corner of Truesdale Drive and Vicksburg Boulevard, was originally zoned as a single-family residential district. The land-use plan now includes the development of Greenfield Village, which would include three buildings: A cafe and multipurpose room, a tutorial center and a child care facility, according to documents presented to council.

Residents, both in support and protest of the proposed use, presented their cases at the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on Oct. 10, followed by city council meetings on Nov. 17 and Dec. 3. The Planning and Zoning Commission voted on Oct. 10 to move forward the rezoning to city council.

Many expressed concerns with creating a commercial area within a residential neighborhood that was not along a major thoroughfare, saying it would cause additional traffic problems and could become a blight if not maintained. Those in support of the project said having a business like a daycare would be positive for families living nearby, put the land to use other than as a vacant lot and could help future home sales.

This particular property has sat empty for years, according to residents. The land was annexed by the city in 1983 and zoned a single-family residential district in 2001, according to the Planning and Zoning Commission staff report. Josefina Serrano and Ivy Kenneth Joy Miraflor purchased the property in April 2018.

District B Council Member Jeffrey L. Boney, whose district is involved, said during the meeting that three residents on Pritchard Court—which backs up to the vacant lot—initially were against the project, but told him they were now in support after hearing more information.

“This tells me some more dialogue needs to happen,” he said. “We need to be fair to everyone by sitting down and talking about it before the second reading.”

Boney proposed holding a land use workshop for the property owners and residents to come to an agreement about the land use.

Also at the meeting, Mayor Allen Owen asked Public Works Director Shashi Kumar to look into doing a traffic analysis along Vicksburg Boulevard and the possibility of adding stop signs in order to slow traffic down.

The next city council meeting is scheduled for Dec. 17, which is expected to be the second reading for the proposed rezoning.