Sugar Land gives first consideration to annexing 45.11 acres for regional water and wastewater plants

The Sugar Land City Council opened a public hearing and on first consideration approved Ordinance No. 2363 to annex about 45.11 acres of city-owned land in the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction for development of a new regional water treatment plant and a regional wastewater treatment plant.

Jessica Echols, interim senior planner, told the council the parcel was purchased by the city in December 2023 and is located south of Rabs Bayou, east of the Greatwood Lake subdivision and north of FM 2759. Staff recommended temporary R-1I interim single-family residential zoning for the annexed land and said the property would be placed in Council District 4 if annexed. “This item is the public hearing and first consideration on annexation of city owned property that's approximately 45 acres in the city's ETJ,” Echols said. Staff also said a public notice was published in the Fort Bend Independent and on the city's website and that staff had not received inquiries or known opposition at the time of the hearing.

During public comment and council questions, a resident asked whether the school district would be notified before construction begins; the comment specifically asked about Velasquez Elementary. Staff replied design is active and that the city will coordinate notifications. Katie Clayton (staff) described the planned facilities and long-term intent: “Ultimately, we will be constructing a regional wastewater plant on this site, on the north side of the site, the larger chunk, and then a regional water plant on the south side,” she said, and added the wastewater facility is intended to allow the city to take the existing Greatwood wastewater plant offline and redirect flows to the new regional facility. Clayton said odor control and equipment siting are being considered in design to minimize impacts to nearby homes.

Councilmember McCutcheon moved approval on first consideration; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Carmela and passed 7-0. The action at this meeting was first consideration following a public hearing; further steps remain to finalize annexation and zoning. Staff noted that state statute requires a public hearing notice be published between 10 and 20 days before the hearing and that the city published the notice in the Fort Bend Independent and on the city website.

The annexation ordinance as presented includes a temporary zoning classification (R-1I) and placement into Council District 4. Staff said the site will be accessed from FM 2759 and that the water plant will connect to the Greatwood water system and serve the Rye Hill development. No construction schedule or final construction funding was presented at first consideration; design work is ongoing. The record shows no formal opposition presented at the hearing.