Pastor tells Katy council planning staff 'lied' and says he will withdraw petitions

Pastor Hernan Castano told the Katy City Council during public comment that his congregation has been treated unfairly by the city planning department and that staff had failed to deliver promised documents. He said he brought documentation, including emails, that showed planning staff had promised to provide a list of churches that completed a permitting process; when he came to the office the list was not produced and, he said, staff lied about it.

"Planning Department lied to me on an email, I got the emails here," Castano said, describing the morning meeting with planning staff. He said the department gave his minority church a long list of requirements it could not afford for ordinary activities and that building‑code and zoning requirements were being applied inconsistently. Castano said a city inspector had insulted him and another pastor when they first purchased their building, and that although he had written letters he had not received answers in the past.

Castano said he received an apology from "Mr. Croze," thanked Council Member Dan Smith for listening, and said he was withdrawing petitions he had submitted to the planning department because he believed the department was not open to resolution. He warned he would make the situation public during the upcoming election period.

The mayor and city attorney told the commenter that items not on the agenda could not be debated during public comment and suggested submitting additional materials to the mayor's office. The transcript records no staff remedy or immediate investigation during the meeting.