Katy council debates special-use permit for church at 5038 East Fifth Street; no vote recorded
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Summary
Council debated a special-use permit Aug. 25 to allow an Apostolic church at 5038 East Fifth Street after planning staff and CPZ cited unpermitted improvements and missing plan-review revisions.
The Katy City Council opened a public hearing Aug. 25 on a request to amend zoning ordinance No. 621 to allow an Apostolic church at 5038 East Fifth Street. Pastor Dapo Overloco, who identified himself as representing the congregation, said the group is a small church of about five families and described prior approvals and efforts to obtain a certificate of occupancy.
"We a small group of church of about 5 families...we come together to worship and teach children and the youth," Dapo Overloco said in his remarks, noting prior special-use approvals and that architects and engineers had struggled to complete required work.
Planning staff told the council the church submitted a certificate-of-occupancy application and permit documents, but city permit reviewers issued plan-review revisions and received no revisions back within the 90-day window required after a previous SUP. "They did submit a certificate of occupancy application... there were revisions requested... they never received revisions at any point within that 90 day period," the planning staff said.
City Planning and Zoning Commission (CPZ) had recommended denial on July 8, 2025, primarily because of multiple, unpermitted improvements to the site and an apparent lack of effort to become fully compliant. Planning staff reiterated that CPZ felt nothing had substantially changed since the last request.
Councilmembers asked whether outstanding items created life-safety concerns and pressed staff for inspection reports and detail on required revisions. Planning staff emphasized that land-use approval would only allow the use at the location; a certificate of occupancy and completed permits are required before the church could legally occupy the building.
A motion to adopt the ordinance to grant the SUP was made (motion by Councilmember Dan Dan Smith; second by Councilmember Janet Court), but the transcript records extended discussion about tabling or tagging the item and does not show a final vote on the SUP. Councilmembers requested staff provide inspection and plan-review details for the record before further action.
Next steps: Planning and permits staff were asked to supply inspection and plan-review findings to the council so members can decide whether to approve, deny, or table the request at a subsequent meeting.
