[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6091360,"mediaKeyId","2863168-17fef05dcbcd3c09875f3716c741dacb","parentId",2863168,"title","Council approves zoning and final development plan for Lexington Commons, an 8‑acre medical‑office and retail campus","audioSeconds",2107,"startMs",2120000,"endMs",4227000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2863168-17fef05dcbcd3c09875f3716c741dacb&start=2120&end=4227","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2863168-17fef05dcbcd3c09875f3716c741dacb/thumbnail_2120000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6091360/Sugar-Land/Fort-Bend-County/Texas/Council-approves-zoning-and-final-development-plan-for-Lexington-Commons-an-8acre-medicaloffice-and-retail-campus","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6091360-9a3ff15398c8a39ff47f682c312255d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770922825&Signature=UZy6D5tH6AsqmOFo1RUnZkDEmEe7PZW7kAYeNMMshgDDYGx8qWKCbIVWdNnYhu3TH5IC5zn~UvzxPyFe17x-AVzkwDsWlVD39VugxYg1c3QOQ6Ul1FDlZUxRWfGyWquk9DPrPB7Fy7HSYXM6KHwqXOMAd3YR6Hpq~nPESQfU1Xj6g4w7GwtppKAP8y76X4Kbb7uqX7P1pPNOLW~JygyDuZcavdVUkLMchSIib~2hI3Tz~~d1o-NTmt39C5gEO~1zO9SNWur7Bc0F8baCohPzPdbVqfMf4empeGTlKsaPlnvLpISn5NwDXj2QUOt0pQcFoZwZybr4P9RtOuTaIWGm1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Sugar Land TX","date","2025-04-03T16:17:24.37Z","article","The Sugar Land City Council voted 6–0 to approve a rezoning to a Planned Development and the Final Development Plan for Lexington Commons, an 8.041‑acre project south of US Highway 59 and north of Lexington Boulevard that proposes three office buildings, two parking garages and limited ground‑floor retail intended primarily for professional and medical offices.

Jessica Echols, the city's senior planner, described the proposal as an FDP (final development plan) that combines GDP and FDP steps and said the plan calls for a two‑phase buildout: \"Phase 1 includes 2 office buildings and 1 parking garage adjacent to Ditch H, as well as the surface parking adjacent to US 59,\" Echols said. She described two alternative site layouts — one with two Lexington Boulevard connections and a second version adding a curb cut to the US‑59 eastbound frontage road (TxDOT has since approved that curb cut).

Developer Don Janssen of PCD said his firm has built numerous local projects over 43 years and described Lexington Commons as a walkable Class A medical campus supported by structured parking and a mixed‑use retail and restaurant component. \"There's definitely a shortage [of Class A medical space], and our strategy is to build a walkable class a medical campus supported by structured parking and then add a mixed use retail and restaurant component,\" Janssen said.

The final development plan includes pedestrian connections to the existing 8‑foot sidewalk on Lexington Boulevard and to a future trail along Ditch H, a landscape plan with shade trees to screen parking garages, and conceptual elevations that use brick on the facades facing residential areas to lessen visual impact. Echols said the plan aligns with the Telfair General Land Plan and the University Boulevard Regional Activity Center character, which envisions office‑ and entertainment‑centered, walkable development.

A series of public commenters spoke in support at the hearing, citing improved local amenities, walkable restaurant options and compatibility with the adjacent MD Anderson campus. Local business owner Josh Norris said he was \"really, excited to kinda see a new development nearby\" with green space for his daughter. Colby Curtis, a commercial real estate broker, said medical office buildings typically produce longer leases and lower turnover and that the project would complement MD Anderson's nearby campus. Dulles High School student Caleb Kirkpatrick said the development would add greenery and restaurants to an otherwise empty area near Smart Financial Center.

Planning and Zoning unanimously recommended approval after a March public hearing in which commissioners raised questions about building visibility from neighboring homes, ground‑floor retail locations and the role of the RAC; staff said the applicant hosted a community meeting on Feb. 17 and the city met public notification requirements. Engineering staff cleared traffic impact analysis comments and TxDOT approved the curb cut to the frontage road after the application was filed.

Councilmember William McCutcheon (first name recorded in meeting remarks) thanked the applicant for community engagement and for siting lower, low‑rise buildings adjacent to single‑family homes; he moved to approve, and Councilmember Jacobson seconded. The council vote was 6–0.

Next steps: staff anticipates a second reading of the ordinance (rezoning) at the city's April 15 meeting; the developer will proceed with design and permitting steps consistent with the approved FDP.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Sugar Land: City Council Meeting - April 1st, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","By a 6–0 vote, the Sugar Land City Council approved a Planned Development final development plan to rezone about 8.04 acres for Lexington Commons, a two‑phase project proposing three office buildings, two parking garages and limited ground‑floor retail aimed at medical office use adjacent to the MD Anderson campus.","taxTitle","Sugar Land, Fort Bend County, Texas","taxId",2793,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6091365,"Sugar Land Council authorizes development corporation agreements to fund Imperial Historic District acquisition and restoration",466,1639000,2105000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2863168-17fef05dcbcd3c09875f3716c741dacb&start=1639&end=2105","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2863168-17fef05dcbcd3c09875f3716c741dacb/thumbnail_1639000.jpg","/articles/6091365/Sugar-Land/Fort-Bend-County/Texas/Sugar-Land-Council-authorizes-development-corporation-agreements-to-fund-Imperial-Historic-District-acquisition-and-restoration","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6091365-af5bcaa3eb26dfdf7935f7c4dfd7e1bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770922825&Signature=jP6cfUBqLAMNzKUdWAByqYYqBRuBME95WSjw8RwrHKWo6nvb~~PNcbJHI-ISkAVPkuILP-Tc1Vl~VS9x1mwf54fDiovbyS7lwPUhqphjoyqdf~vEc4dYMOYvjG-SNYEnq5~knjc6oAfN74uwBBWZIZxalH4XaA4Zq-QrDzZjByOX5z8PmvuHFd1EFoRCLW6R4Bpjo4Kra-LqQ9lsD5MtCKFSK3OpeKc0IXhOugDTVVteqav58qzXesiKGuulabOl5P1QwBFkbJ8gCNxkCqMQS3xbeFvcAHli05ve9MqBJB8pFm7KcmtmzMAXs5jBCWKoxprQqsmb9FZNEr2DJu1lkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sugar Land City Council voted unanimously to authorize two agreements that commit local development corporations to share in debt service for a proposed $50 million certificate of obligation to acquire and rehabilitate the Imperial Historic District.

Devin Rodriguez, the city's Director of Redevelopment, told the council the city announced plans in February to pursue acquisition of the Imperial Historic District and surrounding parcels and that staff has since refined budgets and preservation priorities. \"Some of the preservation priorities as we've dug back into those studies ... are the roof, all of the windows ... the stabilization of the liquor gallery ... brick restoration ... and then mechanical, electrical improvements,\" Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said the proposed certificate of obligation budget includes contingency and that the Sugar Land Development Corporation (4A) and Sugar Land 4B Corporation would each commit to pay an amount not to exceed 50% of the debt service under separate agreements. Rodriguez also displayed capacity charts showing that sales and use tax receipts feed the 4A and 4B fund balances and that annual receipts are about $7–8 million in each account.

Councilmembers moved and seconded resolutions that authorize (1) an agreement with the Sugar Land Development Corporation regarding site improvements in the Imperial Historic District and (2) a related agreement with the Sugar Land 4B Corporation for restoration and improvements of historic structures. Both motions passed 6–0 by hand vote.

City staff said both corporation agreements require the city to provide the corporations a principal and interest payment schedule within 15 days of selling the certificate and that the agreements commit the corporations to up to half the debt service. Rodriguez also noted hotel occupancy tax could be considered as an additional capacity source in future analyses but is not part of the agreements before council tonight.

The council's action follows matching public actions earlier that day by the Sugar Land Development Corporation and the Sugar Land 4B board, including required public notices and hearings under 4B statute. Staff said contingencies were included in project line items and that preservation of the historic Char House is a major priority for the project moving forward.

Next steps: staff indicated the finalized CO schedule and related agreements will be processed and the project will proceed through the city's financing steps; council did not adopt a construction contract or detailed restoration scope at this meeting.","The council approved resolutions authorizing agreements with the Sugar Land Development Corporation and the Sugar Land 4B Corporation to commit up to 50% of debt service toward a $50 million certificate of obligation for acquisition and site improvements in the Imperial Historic District; both votes were unanimous, 6–0.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6091370,"Sugar Land council approves first reading of revised ethics code, including anti‑retaliation and campaign rules",225,1412000,1637000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2863168-17fef05dcbcd3c09875f3716c741dacb&start=1412&end=1637","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2863168-17fef05dcbcd3c09875f3716c741dacb/thumbnail_1412000.jpg","/articles/6091370/Sugar-Land/Fort-Bend-County/Texas/Sugar-Land-council-approves-first-reading-of-revised-ethics-code-including-antiretaliation-and-campaign-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6091370-a0d1592c0f8b80d01c101f7f35107a5c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770922825&Signature=m2UYQm6ENL~pNT3HRsell4ttMAGZ2nv9-ixiG30WBGgOfL6bDTH-AoMlcK0TD0QMf30dA0anvuoaxn7Gtzr30lkiZdfJeQ2T882a-RtTvMLNQvV4xAbGDm8i~dPJz-KEpI7BsNYLLc3Y2x2uU2DR57XYT9D9lUSSgIM4grBuagfb1YYF-x-xIctZyESC9NFqW1NBumk38C2CUseiSoOJ7cg1vucIVt4zvM4hSWo7qPPog3fGyuQsiLTHaApl-xD6p9vsMGNTCNBTN2-zYe-H3FNAAidxsNZoxeypOju3v7r9~rnATSjG8x7g5QmN061-tJN6vRsSVyDVYN8cInbu6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sugar Land City Council voted 6–0 on first reading to adopt a revised City Code of Ethical Conduct that adds an anti‑retaliation provision, tightens campaign and gift rules and extends the post‑employment contract prohibition for former officials.

City Attorney Meredith Reedy told the council the revisions arose from a multi‑month review by the Independent Ethics Review Board and staff. \"The board conducted 11 meetings open to the public and made their recommendations to you,\" Reedy said, and summarized four substantial revisions and several minor changes to existing sections.

The changes Reedy described include new restrictions on ex parte communications, an explicit prohibition on retaliation, a revised process for reconsideration and clearing proceedings, and changes to gift and conflict rules. Reedy said the draft adds a definition of \"de minimis\" to clarify gift acceptance and disclosure, raises the time limit that prohibits former officials from entering significant city contracts from 13 months to 24 months, and removes the previous 10% ownership threshold that had exempted certain campaign contributions from contributors who had sued the city.

During public comment, resident Caleb Kirkpatrick said he was \"in full support of this ordinance,\" telling the council the anti‑retaliation provision was the most important change for protecting workers who raise concerns.

Councilmembers moved and seconded the ordinance for first reading; the hand vote passed 6–0 with one member absent. Reedy reminded the public that several provisions (including the conflicts threshold) do not take effect until the ordinance's second reading.

The ordinance was introduced as ordinance 23‑72 and will return to council for a second reading and final action at a later meeting. Staff attached a redline version of the draft to the March agenda packet and said the Independent Ethics Review Board recommended procedural changes that would allow the board to dismiss frivolous or uncooperative complaints and to decline repetitive complaints based on substantially the same evidence.

Councilmembers and staff said they expect additional public input during the period before second reading; Reedy noted that some changes (such as the campaign contribution rule) were timed to become effective only after the second reading. No formal amendments were adopted at first reading.

What happens next: the council scheduled second reading at a future meeting; the ordinance will not go into effect until final adoption per city rules.","The Sugar Land City Council voted 6–0 on first reading to adopt a revised code of ethical conduct that includes new anti‑retaliation language, changes to gift and campaign rules, and extended post‑employment contracting restrictions; the ordinance will return for second reading.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves zoning and final development plan for Lexington Commons, an 8‑acre medical‑office and retail campus

Sugar Land Council authorizes development corporation agreements to fund Imperial Historic District acquisition and restoration

Sugar Land council approves first reading of revised ethics code, including anti‑retaliation and campaign rules