The City of Friendswood Planning & Zoning Commission on Dec. 11 recommended that city council approve amendments to the Friendswood City Center Planned Unit Development, PUD 2023‑28, that would update building heights, density and graphic exhibits to match the project as constructed and planned.

Staff planner Aubrey summarized the request, saying the amendment adds clarifying exhibits for signage and landscaping and adjusts dimensional standards in targeted lots. "We're increasing the maximum building height from 70 feet to 90 feet on Lot 6 through 12," Aubrey said during the presentation, and the amendment would increase permitted story count from four to six on parts of the site while imposing a four‑story cap on one multifamily lot.

Architect Blair Korndoff, representing the applicant, told the commission the package is mostly cleanup to reflect how the development has evolved. "When we first did the development ... we put setbacks and things that make it where they can't intrude upon each other," Korndoff said. He said owners later embraced a more walkable, mixed‑use layout and some parties want the option to build taller even if they do not immediately use all floors for residences.

Staff noted technical additions the commission sought before forwarding a recommendation to council, including: adding a units‑per‑acre entry for Lot 8, specifying that 50% of parking‑lot islands contain one tree, required screening shrubs along FM 528, and a phase line showing construction of a trail after completion of a WIC comparison project. The fire marshal also flagged that higher building heights will require fire‑flow testing and that any deficiency would need remediation.

No members of the public spoke in favor or opposition during the hearing. Commissioners expressed minor concerns about the 90‑foot allowance and the gas‑station canopy exception but characterized the package as clarifying rather than substantive policy change. The commission voted to recommend approval to city council with staff conditions and suggested changes to be captured in the recommendation memo.

The city council will consider the commission’s recommendation in a future meeting; staff said corrections can be made to the packet before it goes to council.