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Council holds first reading of TIRZ #2 amendment to fund parks, trails and road work
Summary
Council held the required public hearing and passed the first reading of an ordinance to enact Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 2 amendment #6, which would fund land acquisition, park/trail improvements and street/bridge upgrades with an estimated $20M for land/park work and $14.06M for lane/bridge projects.
Pearland City Council opened a public hearing Nov. 10 on proposed amendment number 6 to Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) No. 2 — Shadow Creek Ranch — and approved the ordinance’s first reading by a 7–0 roll call.
Staff explained the zone (created in December 1998) covers about 4,000 acres and has generated roughly $284 million in increment tax value through 2024. The proposed amendment would allow the city to program funds toward land acquisition (including a parcel reportedly owned by the UT Board of Regents, approximately 50 acres), park and trail improvements at Shadow Creek Sportsplex, and street/bridge work, including a bridge replacement at Kingsley Drive at Clear Creek and a lane-expansion project on Almeda School Road/Broadway to Beltway 8. Joel Hardy reviewed an estimated $20 million for land acquisition/park elements and about $14,060,000 for the street improvements.
Staff said the amendment would also support recreational trail improvements (3,100 linear feet) and parking associated with a proposed trailhead that could serve both the trail and Pearland West Library. Staff indicated the amendment timeline calls for land acquisition in 2026, parks design and improvements through 2028, and anticipated bridge and Broadway improvements between Jan. 2026 and Sept. 2028.
Council asked for clarifications about earlier allocations (one member asked whether previously approved turf-field funding was included in the sports complex line item; staff confirmed it was included) and whether costs above projections would require another amendment. Staff explained that the financing agreement would account for construction cost inflation (CPI) and interest; if scope or budgets materially change, the city could return with an additional amendment.
Council approved the first reading of the implementing ordinance (referred to in the meeting as ordinance number 1654) and staff said the second reading and final adoption would be scheduled at a future meeting following statutorily required procedures and any further hearings.
If adopted, the amendment would enable the city to use TIRZ funds for acquisitions and improvements outlined in the staff presentation; actual property purchases and construction would follow separate procurement and approval steps.
