by Nicole Bradford
A group of concerned neighbors and a split vote from Planning and Zoning will accompany a proposed gas station permit soon to be decided by Pearland City Council.
In a 3-3 vote, Pearland Planning and Zoning commissioners on Monday ultimately ended up with a negative recommendation regarding a requested conditional use permit for a gas station at the northwest corner of McHard and Max roads.
Five neighboring residents spoke against the proposal during public comment, concerned about the environmental impacts of a gas station near residential homes.
Longtime resident Sonia Serrano spoke regarding the higher crime that a convenience store and gas station would bring to the area.
“The location of this particular gas station provides ample opportunity to get away via McHard Road, Cullen Boulevard and Highway 288,” she said.
The site is zoned general business but needs a conditional use permit from the city to operate a gas station component of a convenience store that’s planned. Recommending against the permit, city staff pointed out there are 13 gas stations within two miles and 29 within three miles.
A single-family house on the site was torn down sometime between 2020 and 2022, and the lot has been vacant ever since.
“There are certain uses that can be built without any discussion whatsoever,” Commissioner Derrell Isenberg said. “A convenience store could go in there, and as far as statistics with crime, you still have that. You have input with a (conditional use permit) on what can be done to protect y’all. It’s a tough call to make.”
Also, on Monday, Planning and Zoning voted to forward a recommendation for a conditional use permit for an auto repair shop at 1415 Broadway St.
