Pearland City Council rejected a proposed 296-unit multi-family development along Magnolia Parkway in a 5-2 vote at its Nov. 9 meeting, following public comments both opposing and supporting the project.
Council members Layni Cade and Joseph Koza supported the development, while Clint Byrom, Rick Fernandez, Rushi Patel, Tommy Echols and Mona Chavarria opposed it.
About the project
Rockport Ventures, the developer behind The Delta Pearland, proposed a new 296-unit multifamily development after City Council denied a rezoning request at its Jan. 12 meeting for a similar 315-unit development.
The land, which sits north of Magnolia Parkway and west of Manvel Road, is currently zoned to permit business and professional office development.
What’s new
During the presentation, Rockport Ventures Managing Principal Travis Donnell highlighted the success of the Delta, which was nearly 99% leased within 10 months of completion and primarily serves young professionals, with a median resident age of 29.
Resident exit surveys show that one of the top reasons tenants move out is to purchase a home in Pearland, according to presentation documents.
“This is an asset that's providing a transitional housing option for young professionals,” Donnell said.
Property owner Terry Oppliger, who has owned the land since 2010, supported the proposal, saying the site has limited development options and he has not received commercial offers.
“I truly want something nice developed on this site,” Oppliger said. “Do some people prefer apartments? Can everybody in Pearland afford a new home?”
Also of note
To address feedback on the proposed project, the revised design included:
Elevators
Secured air-conditioned corridors
Dark-sky lighting
An internal bus stop with a roundabout
A Flock camera
A westbound deceleration lane
The project was expected to generate approximately 1,800 vehicle trips per day, adding less than 5% of traffic at each nearby signal or about 2.6 vehicles per minute, presentation documents show.
Patel opposed the project, noting that the traffic study did not account for Broadway Street construction through 2029 and questioning how the work could affect traffic along Magnolia Parkway.
The project was also estimated to generate nearly $819,000 in annual property taxes. For comparison, the Delta generated about $990,000 in total property taxes in 2026, with 52% going to Pearland ISD and 29% to the city, documents show.
The local perspective
Resident Ann Strouhal opposed the proposal, saying that while she thought the development itself was well-designed, she did not believe the site was the right fit.
“Overwhelmingly, the citizens of Pearland do not want this development at this site. I think it’s a great development, but it’s not the right place for this,” Strouhal said.
Resident Marilyn Bullard spoke in support of the apartments, pointing to the city's growth and the quality of the existing Delta apartments.
“I think the location is perfect because there are no apartments around. We have professionals coming in and they’re wanting a place to live,” Bullard said.
Byrom, who opposed the project, acknowledged the developer's efforts but said public feedback remained a deciding factor.
“The developer has done a great job. But it hasn't swayed the public. At the end of the day, residents need to be comfortable with what is going on around them,” Byrom said.
