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Pearland planning panel backs Antioch Houston Church CUP after neighbor noise concerns
Summary
The Pearland Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval, 4–0, of a conditional use permit for Antioch Houston Church at 3801 Liberty Drive after the applicant pledged extensive interior renovations and acoustical mitigation to address nearby residents’ noise complaints.
The Pearland Planning & Zoning Commission voted 4–0 to recommend approval of a conditional use permit for Antioch Houston Church to occupy a roughly 30,000-square-foot building at 3801 Liberty Drive.
Staff told commissioners the site, about 4.19 acres, is zoned Office Professional and is adjacent to single-family neighborhoods, a daycare and Mary’s Creek; staff said the request meets criteria in the comprehensive plan and the Unified Development Code. "Staff finds that it meets the established criteria," said the planner (staff).
A nearby homeowner, Nick Verlinden, who said he lives at 2432 Parkview directly behind the building, opposed the CUP at the public hearing. "It's loud," Verlinden said, describing past services at the facility that he said rattled window screens and woke residents early on Sunday mornings. He also said children from the site had come into his yard and antagonized his dogs.
Billy See, representing Antioch Houston Church, acknowledged prior problems at the property and told the commission the congregation does not intend to use Sunday services at the site until a planned remodel is complete. See said the church has a $2,000,000 remodel planned that would add partition walls, carpet and acoustic panels and modern sound-system engineering. "We genuinely want to be good neighbors," See said, and added the church would coordinate with the city and neighbors during the process.
Commissioners asked whether noise could be enforced through existing city noise ordinances and whether a CUP condition should be added requiring that amplified sound not be audible beyond the property line. Staff confirmed Pearland has noise ordinances enforceable by police, and noted that adding a CUP condition could provide an additional enforcement mechanism if problems recur.
After discussion and some back-and-forth about wording, commissioners elected to proceed without a separate added condition beyond staff's enforcement options and the ability to impose CUP conditions in the future. The commission then approved the CUP recommendation by a 4–0 vote. The item will be considered by City Council on Jan. 26, 2026.
Next steps: Council consideration is scheduled and staff said required site improvements, including parking and detention, will be addressed at the time the property is plotted for development.
