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Katy council debates special‑use permit for church at 5038 E. 5th St.; no final vote
Summary
Council heard testimony from a church representative and engaged in extended debate about unpermitted work, certificate‑of‑occupancy requirements and public‑safety concerns for a proposed Apostolic Church at 5038 E. 5th St. The item was not finally approved; council asked for more information and left the matter pending.
The Katy City Council on Aug. 25 considered a request to amend Zoning Ordinance No. 621 to grant a special‑use permit allowing a religious institution at 5038 East 5th Street for the Apostolic Church. The applicant and church representative, Dapo Balogun, told the council the small congregation conducts worship and youth programming and said prior special‑use approvals had been granted.
Planning staff told the council that an earlier approval required the church to obtain a certificate of occupancy within 90 days; plan‑review revisions and permit documents were returned to the applicant but no revisions were resubmitted within the required 90‑day window, which nullified the prior permit. Staff and the city’s planning/zoning (CPZ) body recommended denial, citing multiple unpermitted site and interior improvements over multiple years, including a parking‑lot change and unpermitted interior work.
Council members pressed staff for specifics and for an inspector’s report. One council member said, “This is a very important vote because we'd be voting to turn out the place of worship,” and urged caution about forcing the congregation from the site without knowing whether outstanding items were life‑safety issues. Other members expressed concern about setting a precedent if the city granted another exception without documentation of corrected deficiencies.
Staff advised that even if the council approves the land‑use allowance, the property cannot be occupied until the owner obtains a certificate of occupancy; the certificate determines whether the structure can be safely occupied. Council discussed options to table or tag the item pending a written inspection/plan‑review history. The transcript records substantive discussion but no final council vote on the ordinance; the council moved on to the next agenda item without taking final action on the SUP.
Next step: staff was asked to provide inspector/plan‑review records and a clearer list of outstanding permit revisions so council can decide whether to approve, conditionally approve, or deny the SUP at a later meeting.
