During its Dec. 19 meeting, the Tomball City Council unanimously denied a rezoning request that would have changed the zoning of 22.84 acres on Zion Road to accommodate a 99-home planned development. Council Member Derek Townsend was absent from the meeting.

The zoning request sought to change the zoning classification from agricultural to a planned development district, according to the agenda packet. Blue Kite Building Group submitted the request.

The planned development proposed 50-foot-wide lots with a minimum of 5,250 square feet, according to the agenda packet. The lot width and depth would have been 50 feet and 105 feet, respectively.

“We’re talking about a 50-foot width on this lot, ... which is 15 feet wider than [the council chambers] for the entire width of the lot,” Council Member John Ford said. “I’m very concerned about that. I’m concerned about the traffic. ... But I’m also concerned about the city infrastructure, because we’ve got a lot on our plate with what we’ve already taken on in terms of development. And we need to keep doing that right.”

Blue Kite Building Group also proposed a 1-acre park and recreational reserve within the development that could include a clubhouse, a pool, a playground and picnic facilities, according to the agenda packet.

Several community members who live on or around Zion Road came to the meeting to speak in opposition of the rezoning request, citing concerns about traffic congestion, lot sizes and drainage along Zion Road.

“Traffic—that’s an immediate problem,” said Danny Hudson, who lives on Zion Road. “It’s horrendous already. Everybody says the solution [is to] widen Zion Road. That’s pretty much been tabled by the county. ... [This development] needs to go somewhere else.”

Patricia Daily, who lives on Spring Lake Boulevard, spoke out against the density of the planned development.

“We believe squeezing 99 two- and three-story homesites within this narrow 22-acre parcel off an already heavily traveled Zion Road goes against the city of Tomball’s desire to prevent overcrowding and preserve green space,” Daily said. “The city of Tomball does not need to develop every piece of land in this area.”

City staff recommended approval of the rezoning request while the planning and zoning commission recommended denial in a 2-2 vote, according to the agenda packet.

“I’m just concerned that we have two subdivisions that have very large lots on either side of this proposed subdivision, and it’s just, even then, I just don’t think that the 99 lots on 22 acres is something that we’re really looking for,” Council Member Randy Parr said.

In April, the City Council denied a rezoning request for a 200-home planned development, also citing lot size and traffic impact.