Sugar Land petitioners near win on development code

The Sugar Land residents who fought a recent update to the city’s development code appear to be nearing a victory.

The City Council passed a resolution this week directing zoning officials to consider eliminating recent updates to the city’s development code, which was altered this summer to include, in part, distinct rules for “urban” and “suburban” projects under consideration.

The council also asked the Planning and Zoning Commission to add a provision to limit the number of multifamily units in “planned development districts” to 200 units.

The city received a petition with more than 1,400 signatures from residents who were concerned about apartments and represented seven neighborhoods near the location of a planned development by Newland Communities.

The developer had recently applied to the zoning commission to build a development that included 900 apartments.

“We listened to the community, and we heard their concerns,” Mayor James Thompson said in a statement. “Public input has been important to us, and has helped guide our past and current decisions. Balancing the interests of citizens to expand tourism initiatives, attract new businesses, maintain our very low tax rate and protect our neighborhoods will continue to be our focus.”

A second group of petitioners told the city they will submit a petition to repeal Sugar Land’s entire development code.

In a statement, the city said this petition would leave Sugar Land without any zoning regulations.