[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,75,87,98],{"_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",6199467,"mediaKeyId","3832733-1027451a34d7786b71a5cfa8fff202cb","parentId",3832733,"title","Commission approves preliminary plat for Falling Leaf Ranch with environmental and infrastructure conditions","audioSeconds",515,"startMs",1306000,"endMs",1821000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3832733-1027451a34d7786b71a5cfa8fff202cb&start=1306&end=1821","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3832733-1027451a34d7786b71a5cfa8fff202cb/thumbnail_1306000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6199467/Friendswood-City/Galveston-County/Texas/Commission-approves-preliminary-plat-for-Falling-Leaf-Ranch-with-environmental-and-infrastructure-conditions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6199467-590d8a52cc5ff3ecae72af1ca39be5d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187854&Signature=Be084iSWhtI6FC1Ip0Wx3zlWAI-W4mOCDYazZnR~HrJrMFYfKv2MJPthUmpsmBzpF0C97ZBgnHeaVl2Xr~Gng2oKiVuW7EJ~3LUQM3Xn9dhNT4dCcg7GdeIU7bj0xrHEnzpA1ufc5MCUs5UmOgw-YugLUnZRwZAJcMs4CG99jASWxTnKts0RCNRkToB9JzetiOgmJf1pzezOvFoiOztrz4QpUZf~un4JfbbtR-KHz0bjD7Ri0YVth0CFkep2qzZaMOiwcinY0zVD~AMH6kj5~8cm5ypTfLVIn~GxoNo2o~NIffShSwPQrRPZEgIT69pGI-Gw-HZamwJ6~Q-4Rim4Xg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Friendswood TX","date","2025-06-13T19:10:32Z","article","The Planning and Zoning Commission approved the preliminary plat for Falling Leaf Ranch, a proposed subdivision of approximately 122.007 acres southeast of Stonewall Pass Lane, subject to an extensive set of conditions addressing environmental remediation, abandoned pipelines and wells, drainage, and infrastructure coordination.

Aubrey, city planning staff, described the project as a partial redesign of Mustang Meadows that would create large residential lots and extend Friendswood Parkway. Staff recommended approval with conditions, noting the property was formerly Exxon’s Hastings field and contains abandoned pipelines, dry wells and recorded deed restrictions that limit subsurface use and require certain construction methods such as slab-on-grade foundations.

Staff’s recommended conditions include addressing comments in the corrections report, submittal and approval of a drainage-impact analysis (which could require plan changes if underground detention is infeasible), approval and execution of an environmental remediation plan, written approval from Exxon for infrastructure installation where required by deed restrictions, a chemical analysis of soil and groundwater consistent with the International Plumbing Code (2017), and documentation or removal of identified pipelines or dedication of easements where pipelines remain.

Christian Offimer, representing the developer, and Asel Flint, the engineer of record, explained the developer’s need for conditional approval to secure lender commitments while environmental and utility issues are resolved. Flint said the site contains 22 dry wells, chloride contamination associated with historical oil-exploration activities, and several abandoned crude-conveyance pipelines; the developer’s environmental consultant Laughlin Environmental is engaged in mitigation planning.

Commissioners voiced concerns about the number of unresolved technical issues but agreed that an approval with conditions will allow the developer to continue coordination with staff and state or private pipeline owners. The approval requires the developer to return the plat for resubmittal once the stipulated conditions are met; staff noted there is no deadline to resubmit but that any resubmittal must be placed on an agenda within 15 days of receipt.

The commission’s conditional approval advances the subdivision through the preliminary-plat phase but leaves detailed technical and remediation work to the developer and reviewing agencies before final plat and building permits are allowed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Friendswood Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting - June 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Planning and Zoning Commission approved the preliminary plat for Falling Leaf Ranch, a proposed subdivision of about 122 acres, subject to conditions addressing environmental remediation, abandoned pipelines and drainage.","taxTitle","Friendswood City, Galveston County, Texas","taxId",55593,"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},6199472,"Commission approves Sterling Falls event venue; waives sidewalk requirement along drainage ditch",472,849000,1321000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3832733-1027451a34d7786b71a5cfa8fff202cb&start=849&end=1321","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3832733-1027451a34d7786b71a5cfa8fff202cb/thumbnail_849000.jpg","/articles/6199472/Friendswood-City/Galveston-County/Texas/Commission-approves-Sterling-Falls-event-venue-waives-sidewalk-requirement-along-drainage-ditch","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6199472-e3e89f9a297a5c6206610ad00b8a0bab/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187854&Signature=QLVkSN7M1xn6MU2ITp0-HzMSdKGim6q~RRR1Hw~6utSC6i8SOYos6fFXWRv5NjlxGdObbeZ0a2STAgycywKFjtqicOppcmKxUZKpBm6LezG6qZ9CMMOeEaOpYxMv9QE~tLpptPX10v41JxmwYxmiG03D0qWytyAuoSAUJlcx0qU49oHIpRFtEIcrdRzUHOfa8gyMlo~Oha9BLpjr-dejtvd4FFhjvhptdHizis3notpzPDUTt-5bVz3i30WYABEWFXJSdAEzLzzLfFk2lBefr0IjGmoDaZTeg5e2gdYwTITCyTmeyytWkJD~AcQWQUOahDttLBYP3dDsqebwaOcxXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Planning and Zoning Commission approved the site plan for Sterling Falls, a new event venue at 2600 South Friendswood Drive, and granted the applicant’s request to waive the sidewalk requirement along the property’s frontage adjacent to an open drainage ditch.

Aubrey, planning staff, described the project as an event venue that will include an indoor banquet hall and chapel, an outdoor chapel, and landscaped walled courtyards. Staff said the zoning ordinance allows the commission to waive sidewalk installation where unsafe conditions exist; staff described an 80-foot-wide drainage ditch owned by a drainage district and no sidewalk across a nearby bridge as reasons a sidewalk would be unsafe and lead “to nowhere.”

Commissioners raised standard concerns about drainage and buffering between the commercial parking area and adjacent residential lots. The submitted site plan notes a 50-foot drainage easement on one side and 30-foot drainage easements backing the residential properties; staff said the zoning ordinance’s screening requirement can be waived where a drainage canal separates commercial and residential uses.

Several commissioners recommended the applicant consider installing a fence along the south property line adjacent to residences to provide security and neighborly screening; staff said the facility will include a wall around the building court and that the parking area will not require the full 15-foot buffer in the location where the drainage ditch separates parcels.

A motion to approve the site plan including the waiver for no sidewalk along the ditch carried by voice vote. Staff notified neighbors and the applicant had exchanged contact information to address security and fencing concerns outside the formal review process.

The approval is for the site plan; construction permits and final inspections are required before occupancy.","The commission approved the Sterling Falls venue site plan at 2600 S. Friendswood Drive and granted a waiver of the sidewalk requirement where an 80-foot drainage ditch and bridge make a sidewalk unsafe and effectively lead to nowhere.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":79,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6199477,"Planning commission approves Dance Expressions office addition at West Heritage Drive",184,665000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3832733-1027451a34d7786b71a5cfa8fff202cb&start=665&end=849","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3832733-1027451a34d7786b71a5cfa8fff202cb/thumbnail_665000.jpg","/articles/6199477/Friendswood-City/Galveston-County/Texas/Planning-commission-approves-Dance-Expressions-office-addition-at-West-Heritage-Drive","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6199477-b0989e95a5a9c7eb055f0a22f1d149ad/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187854&Signature=CO08sP8~5KDtnXxx2~Qus2WTQXiUGNnx6teapx-Zzc8MH~9sL5ZUzOPnGZ3c3xi4OyPw9nc-eCtMNg4u3lGjKHmXFYswSUFwL6e0zwf1PGUGhYNm4hL2IU7Xa3CSPfk-jk~R3b5XZ0Ze2GSorHLRLGicx7imLbdH1ZwjAUFUk3fr71iqax5UJ2KiOFD5uoBOgCWNXOFQLzl-GWQ35m8nWlnBox-hYbw4J08nqO90w1pmpjDlNr9~ToUNnP6x4DIOaE39dv46HjMbtw9PnxdyKyfWDFn-oWjckIUVv7EwV8qj5td076~gkFa~m2P~Yg0VfMdEdueuROinQtg68Jea2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Friendswood Planning and Zoning Commission on Thursday approved a site-plan amendment allowing Dance Expressions to add 2,780 square feet of office space and 11 parking spaces at 204 West Heritage Drive.

Aubrey, a city planning staff member, said the property is zoned Community Shopping Center and described the addition as office space that will include a conference room, break room and storage area. Staff noted the project adds on-site detention and changes how stormwater previously drained into an adjacent city pond.

Commissioners reviewed parking and landscaping. The addition increases parking on site; commissioners noted the site plan shows a total of 37 parking spaces. Aubrey and staff also said landscaping that had been required in the original site approval had been removed and must be reinstalled; the commission will enforce those landscaping obligations at final inspection.

Commissioner Bounds moved to approve the site-plan amendment; the motion carried by voice vote. No public speakers were recorded at the meeting on this item.

Staff will verify required landscaping is restored during final inspection as part of the site-plan approval.","The commission approved a 2,780-square-foot office addition and 11 new parking spaces for Dance Expressions at 204 W. Heritage Drive and required reinstallation of previously approved landscaping.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6199481,"Friendswood commission delays decision on Industry Park Phase 2 tree plan",541,102000,643000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3832733-1027451a34d7786b71a5cfa8fff202cb&start=102&end=643","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3832733-1027451a34d7786b71a5cfa8fff202cb/thumbnail_102000.jpg","/articles/6199481/Friendswood-City/Galveston-County/Texas/Friendswood-commission-delays-decision-on-Industry-Park-Phase-2-tree-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6199481-23706b33d99a0f3ae770957dfff680d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187854&Signature=NFJGpHVVy4rOwN6wOTT-GTxjULrVw-ESgOZuRbQV0cu1sghRQdzvVU27wenF6jBonCwsoypg5OWokhVLnp0Gv7JfIUV1T-qeUOYfQgiiu4cDLpW9ewYF4shad6xtYK2KVAzqsL6dNWgo4vrz~mly~cNueS2zJPXjq8surNh26kc8mTLYiw2-mv1GzXARTPwq7LMG7dqFyeQrPgV5Uksv4PYZ1gJ0D6mx1lIq9EE76-Jxhf3QyNhN~2vUsHM-qcnjC2CLPNBAFMJwcdgSRhm9uI6aTGee2FbBlHUZgbmJZumBLNOYLcfgaEr2hUlOg9vnHICgEYrNYyyshWWQXb3m1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Friendswood Planning and Zoning Commission on Thursday postponed consideration of a site-plan amendment for Industry Park, Friendswood Phase 2, after commissioners expressed concern about making the landscaping decision without the full commission present.

The item would have replaced an original landscaping requirement of 34 trees with nine mitigation trees proposed by the property owner. City staff said adjacent commercial property owners provided letters saying they did not want additional trees in the buffer, and that a detention swell in the buffer could be affected if larger trees mature and intrude on drainage.

Aubrey, a city planning staff member, told the commission the original landscaping plan included 17 buffer trees between the industrial development and fronting commercial properties on Farm-to-Market 2351 and an additional 17 perimeter trees across the site. The owner has proposed installing nine mitigation trees “in lieu of the 34 that was originally required,” Aubrey said.

Stephanie Kennedy, an engineer with Coastal Bend Engineering and the applicant’s representative, confirmed the proposed mitigation trees are magnolias and said nine of the trees were mitigation for trees that had been previously removed. “They’re magnolias,” Kennedy said when asked about species.

Commissioners discussed concerns including long-term durability of off-site trees that cannot be counted toward the buffer if they remain on adjacent property, whether future property owners might remove existing trees, and drainage impacts. Commissioner Marsha said the commission had been given greater latitude in recent ordinance changes but asked to hear why the plan had shifted from 34 to nine trees; Aubrey explained the change was driven by adjacent owners’ letters, security-camera sightlines, and the applicant’s preference to place mitigation trees in a different area.

Commissioner Anderson moved to postpone the item to the next regular meeting so the full commission could be present. The motion carried; the transcript records the vote as “All but 1,” but the meeting record did not include a complete roll-call tally in the audio excerpt.

Because this was a postponement, no substantive change to the site plan was adopted. Commissioners invited written comments from neighbors and the applicant prior to the next hearing.

The commission will revisit the Industry Park site-plan amendment at its next regular meeting; staff invited anyone with input to submit comments for inclusion in the packet.","The Planning and Zoning Commission postponed consideration of a site-plan amendment that would reduce required trees from 34 to 9 at Industry Park, Friendswood Phase 2, after commissioners said they preferred a full commission present for the decision.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission approves preliminary plat for Falling Leaf Ranch with environmental and infrastructure conditions

Commission approves Sterling Falls event venue; waives sidewalk requirement along drainage ditch

Planning commission approves Dance Expressions office addition at West Heritage Drive

Friendswood commission delays decision on Industry Park Phase 2 tree plan