The details
Architectural and design firm Place Designers Inc. submitted an application to Missouri City in January to rezone about 17 acres to a planned development district, according to March 13 Planning and Zoning Commission agenda documents. Located southwest of the Watts Plantation and Knight roads intersection, the land is zoned as a suburban district and a rural single-family district.
According to agenda documents, the development would feature:
- A 96,000-square-foot, six-story hotel, consisting of approximately 80 rooms
- A 22,750-square-foot event center with breakout space
- Six residential cottage units to be used as an accessory to the event facility
- An outdoor event space
- Parking and landscaping elements
The background
A public hearing was held at a P&Z Commission meeting March 13, where 14 residents said they were concerned about the proposed development’s location near the Estates of Silver Ridge neighborhood, urging the city to deny the rezoning request. Additionally, some residents shared their opposition via notice forms and email, according to agenda documents.
After the hearing, the P&Z Commission voted unanimously to recommend that City Council deny the rezoning.
What they’re saying
Multiple residents spoke during the public comment period at the April 15 City Council meeting, with residents such as Bob David saying the development didn’t align with the city’s 2017 comprehensive plan. Additionally, they said they believed city staff hasn't been transparent on the issue, as an agenda item to discuss the item in executive session was pulled off an April 8 agenda for a joint P&Z Commission and City Council meeting.
“How are we supposed to follow along and voice our petition to let our concerns be known if last minute you guys are pulling items off the agenda. ... Transparency is huge,” David said. “More than anything, we want to be a part of the comprehensive plan; we are absolutely against the hotel [and] event center—it just takes away from what is already there.”
What else?
Missouri City City Council met in an executive session regarding the development April 15, though no action was taken at that time.
Following the executive session, Mayor Robin Elackatt thanked the residents of Estates of Silver Ridge for attending the meeting and staying into the late hours of the evening.
“The fact that you are here says a lot about your commitment to your neighborhood,” Elackatt said. “We hear you, we understand—there has been several emails, several conversations that have been taking place back-and-forth, and I just wanted to let you know, just hang in there.”
Next steps
Missouri City City Council will host a second public hearing and first consideration of an ordinance for rezoning at a May 6 City Council meeting.
