Council hears request to rezone 7.573 acres at Main and Bailey from industrial to general commercial

City planning staff presented a request by Will Benson on behalf of JM Projects LLC to rezone 7.573 acres at the northwest corner of Main Street and Bailey Road from heavy industrial (M2) to general commercial (G.C.). The application was filed to facilitate development of retail, restaurant and other commercial uses consistent with the city's future land-use map.

Staff reported no public comments were received before the Planning & Zoning Commission hearing or prior to the council public hearing. Staff said the property lies adjacent to undeveloped M2 land to the north and west, general commercial to the south and Pearland High School across Main Street to the east. Staff concluded the requested zoning is consistent with the commercial center place type on the future land-use map and recommended approval.

Will Benson, the applicant, said prospective users include retail and restaurant tenants, and that at least one multi-unit restaurant operator with an existing local presence is considering the site. Benson told council the proximity to the high school is attractive to potential tenants.

Council requested that the applicant provide a site layout before the second reading; Benson agreed to forward a draft site plan to staff for distribution to council ahead of the next hearing. No members of the public spoke for or against the request during the hearing. Planning & Zoning had voted 7-0 to recommend approval.

Because this was a public-hearing presentation and first reading, council took no final zoning vote at the meeting; staff and the applicant will return with a second-reading ordinance and any required site materials.