Pearland council approves conditional use permit for specialty grocery at Yost and Broadway

Pearland City Council on Nov. 10 approved a conditional use permit to allow a 5,400-square-foot specialty grocery at the northwest corner of Yost Boulevard and Broadway. The resolution (R2025-CU2025-0432) passed unanimously, 7–0, after council added staff-recommended conditions on exterior lighting and plan conformity.

Staff told the council the request, filed by Hamad El Sadie on behalf of 2011 Property Inc., is for a grocery use in the neighborhood service zoning district on roughly 0.8199 acres. Planner Martin said the project met the Unified Development Code’s minimum requirements for parking, screening and landscaping and that the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval 5–0. Staff noted 19 written comments and one phone call in support and two written oppositions were received in advance.

John Linton, the project architect with Alter Group, presented the concept for the Olive Tree Mediterranean Market, describing a single-story building with 36% of the site in landscaped area and 27 parking spaces. He said the design focuses on Mediterranean specialty offerings rather than a standard grocery format. The council and staff discussed site constraints including utility easements and previously approved variances by the zoning board of adjustments to reduce required corridor landscaping to allow cross access.

Council questions centered on parking sufficiency, driveway placement and TxDOT review of access from State Highway 35, cross-access easement timelines with the neighboring property, and the dumpster location relative to adjacent residences. Staff and the applicant said the site plan meets minimum code parking requirements, that TxDOT has given preliminary approval of the proposed driveway location but final permit and any required city engineer variance remain pending, and that cross-access easements will be established through later platting and access agreements.

Before the vote, council clarified that the plans must be in substantial conformity with the renderings shown at the meeting and that the structure be single-story; counsel noted a prominent entrance feature in some renderings should not be read as a second story. With those conditions in the motion, the council approved the CUP.

The permit allows the developer to proceed with land-planning steps required for construction; final permits and any third-party approvals (TxDOT driveway permit, cross-access agreements) must be completed before site work begins.