March 11, 2003

League City City Council
by Tom Foster

League City City Council voted 5-2, with Keith Dill and Mike Hembree opposed, to approve the first reading of an ordinance to rezone 143 acres along Hobbs Road, near the Brittany Bay subdivision, to allow for the construction of more than 480 single-family homes.

Although the rezoning has the support of a majority of the city council, Darlene Anene, Hamid Kantara, and Thomas Cones voiced their concern about an awkward intersection that has six stop signs for four streets near an elementary school and where a fire station is planned.

David Winter, representing the subdivision developer, said the developer is willing to pay up to 33 percent of the cost of a traffic signal at the intersection. 

City Manager Chuck Harrington said another developer may pick up another one-third of the cost.

Winter said work on Section I of the project could begin within the next four to six weeks. 

The city council approved the first reading of an ordinance to annex a 61.53-acre tract of land along Bay Area Boulevard.

The city council voted 6-1, with Dill opposed, to approve the final reading of an ordinance to rezone three blocks of the Dickinson Townsite Subdivision from Public Facilities and Institutions to Single-Family Residential.

The city council voted to rezone 9.8 acres between Farm-to-Market Road 528 and West NASA Road 1 from Suburban Development Residential and Public Facilities to General Commercial.

Janice Owens, representing the owner of the property, said the land is located between two churches, which limits the kinds of businesses that can be located near the worship centers.  Owens said she has received inquiries for service and retail establishments to purchase portions of the land.

Harrington said according to state law, warehouses and storage facilities would not be allowed on the site.

The city council approved a variance to permit a new sign for Sudie’s Restaurant at 352 North Gulf Freeway.

The city council approved an agreement with Paymentech to allow the city to accept Mastercard and Visa credit cards and bankcards for residential billing purposes.

The city council voted to defer action on a proposal to waive fees for the Stars Soccer Club at the League City Sportsplex until the next meeting.

The city council voted to broadcast city council meetings and other local activities via Time-Warner Cable within League City, beginning May 13.

The city council voted to accept a vision statement developed by the city’s Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee.

The city council voted to defer action on disposal of surplus property to the Galveston County Precinct 5 Constable's office, at the request of Dill.

All other agenda items were approved.