by Nicole Bradford
Pearland City Council on Monday passed the first of two required ordinance readings for annexation of a municipal utility district that includes several neighborhoods plus the Hickory Slough Sportsplex.
“We’ve been in a strategic partnership agreement with MUD No. 16 since 2003,” City Manager Trent Epperson said. “We’ve done an evaluation of all MUDs in 2024 to determine if any of those should be considered for annexation and MUD 16 was the primary one that met requirements this particular year — there are benefits to both residents and the city.”
The next and final reading will be held at City Hall on Dec. 16. A memorandum of understanding between the city and MUD will be available at that meeting.
This will include plans for approximately $1.5 million remaining in the MUD fund.
“Those dollars would be allocated toward projects that would benefit the residents in the district,” special projects administrator Joel Hardy said. “We are aware of the list of priorities and would honor those.”
MUD No. 16 includes Avalon Terrace 1 and 2 and Lakeside Estates, along with the sportsplex and a proposed commercial development to be known as Asian Town on 12 acres fronting FM 518. That development will include a grocery store followed by two retail phases.
As part of the city, residents will receive city fire and police protection, in-city parks and recreation rates, street and drainage maintenance, in-city water and sewer rates, and waste pickup.
