Friendswood commission approves Castle Biosciences site plan pending access and sidewalk clarifications

The City of Friendswood Planning and Zoning Commission on Oct. 24 approved the site plan for Castle Biosciences’ planned four‑story, 86,151‑square‑foot research building at 1500 West Parkwood Avenue, subject to staff clarifying the building’s accessible route and sidewalk access and confirming the extent of required roadway work under the site’s TIRS number 2 obligations.

Staff presentation: Oliver, a city staff member, told commissioners Castle Biosciences is an existing Friendswood business that currently occupies two floors at 505 South Friendswood Drive and wishes to develop a campus on Reserve B of a recently platted 25‑acre commercial tract. Oliver said the company redesigned the building to meet the city’s maximum height requirements and that the building footprint is 86,151 square feet.

Parking and landscaping: Staff said the project used the city’s 5% parking deviation to reduce the required 302 spaces to a required 287 and is providing 291 spaces. On tree mitigation, staff said the requirement was 4,795 inches and the developer is planting 4,886 inches — “they are about 90 inches over on tree mitigation,” Oliver said on the record.

Access and circulation issues raised: Commissioners pressed staff on vehicular access and morning commute congestion. One commissioner asked whether the primary entrance from FM 528 would cause backups during peak arrival times; staff said the developer most likely submitted both driveway locations to TxDOT and that one driveway is an existing asphalt access while another is a proposed 35‑foot TxDOT driveway. Commissioners noted the site will be required to provide two points of access for fire response.

Roadway improvements required: Oliver said, as part of TIRS number 2 obligations, the developer will be responsible for constructing two lanes of Friendswood Parkway from FM 528 to the rear of the property, and that the project will include a signalized intersection and a sidewalk along that side of the parkway.

Outstanding clarifications and motion: Staff flagged an inconsistency between the site plan and the landscape plan about the location of the accessible route between the building and the public walk; the commission directed staff to obtain clarification and correct whichever page is in error. After discussion on access, traffic and landscaping, commissioners moved and seconded to approve the site plan with staff obtaining those clarifications. Commissioner Anderson seconded the motion; the commission voted in favor and the motion passed.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda (minutes of Oct. 10, 2024; replat of Lot 12, Block 2, Montebello at 316 Los Frailes Drive): approved on a single motion; mover and seconder not specified in the record; outcome: approved. - Site plan for Castle Biosciences, 1500 West Parkwood Ave.: motion to approve with staff obtaining clarifications on accessible route and sidewalk access and confirmation of Friendswood Parkway improvements; seconded by Commissioner Anderson; outcome: approved.

Context and next steps: Staff said the pond for regional detention has been approved by the drainage district and the city and will be a public detention pond that future parcels may drain into when developed. The commission also received routine communications: Council Member Metranga reported the City Council reviewed options for an expanded library and a new community center and approved a preliminary services and assessment plan for the Friendswood City Center.

The commission scheduled its next regular meeting for Nov. 14, 2024.