Permit denied to build McDonald's on Dixie Farm Road in Pearland

Those in favor

The Planning and Zoning Committee voted 5-1 to recommend approval at its Nov. 3 meeting, and city staff recommended approval with conditions, including hedge screening and a traffic impact analysis.

Those opposed

The city received over 50 resident signatures opposing the development, along with several residents voicing concerns at the meeting, including increased traffic through residential neighborhoods and the smell of fast food.

Pearland Resident Chris Fuente, who lives nearby the subject property, said he was extremely concerned that adding a McDonald’s to the neighborhood would exacerbate traffic in the neighborhoods bordering the “congested” Dixie Farm Road and FM 518 corridor.

“It seems when you use a neighborhood you don't live in as a thoroughfare ... speed limits, stop signs ... become optional,” Fuente said at the meeting. “I worry about the 10-year-old over there on his bike in the street. If we're going to add ... another reason for people to cut through ... I have to be against that.”

Also of note

Several residents pointed out that in 2016 the applicant requested to rezone the land from residential to commercial with the intent of building a senior living community. City Council denied the request and zoned the land for neighborhood services instead.

Pearland resident Pat Lopez said if the city granted the conditional use permit, it would function as “spot zoning” and overrule the city’s intent in zoning the land for neighborhood services.

Council member Rushi Patel echoed the residents' concerns about following the original intent for zoning designations.

The applicant could not be reached for comment by press time.