Friendswood to work on rezoning process

Friendswood plans to establish a clear process for the potential rezoning of homes in large-lot subdivisions.
Last Thursday, City Council hosted a town hall meeting to discuss the issue. It would change the zoning of homes in large-lot subdivisions from single family to single-family estate. That would mean that such properties could not be divided into less than two-acre tracts of land to build new homes.
The city's large-lot subdivisions include Windsong, El Dorado, Central Park and Mustang Meadows. They also include deed-restricted subdivisions like Polly Ranch.
Less than 30 people attended last Thursday's meeting, Mayor David Smith said.
It did what I needed it to do which was to provide me a lot more information about where people were," Smith said. At the end of the day, there were some misunderstandings. People needed some clarity on what we were talking about and what our intent was."
Based on the meeting, Smith said City Council, the city's planning and Zoning Commission, and city staff will work to establish criteria for the proposed rezoning. Once that is accomplished, another town hall meeting will be held, he said.
We need to come up with the language that says that if X number of percentage of folks in your area or subdivision petition us, then we'll take the issue up," Smith said.
Of those who attended the meeting, Smith said he believed that a narrow margin of them support the rezoning proposal.
But there was almost as many folks that were basically saying don't tread on me, don't jack with my stuff, I don't want any changes made to my property," he said.
Prior to the meeting, the city mailed approximately 1,300 notices about it to those who could be impacted, Smith said. He doesn't believe that the small turnout was indicative of residents not caring about the possible change.
I have a feeling that they just didn't get enough information," Smith said.
Still, Smith said he remains in support of the potential rezoning.
I think it's the right thing to do for the long term," he said. We need to address the issue regardless. I am concerned for those areas that are kind of left on their own and that are aging where their deed restrictions that they have or enforcement mechanisms are weak. They will be at risk for this type of encroachment development."