Title
Consider and take action on an ordinance approving a Planned Unit Development (PUD) Amendment, PUD-25-0002 (Duncan PUD Amendment), to amend the Duncan PUD to permit 3-phase overhead power lines along Ervin Street, generally located north of Muldoon Parkway and west of Hobbs Road; subject to certain property owner commitments (Director of Planning)
The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval, 6-0-0, on February 12, 2026.
City Council postponed the item to the March 24, 2026 meeting, 7-1-0, on February 24, 2026.
Background:
Approval of this item will amend the Duncan PUD to allow overhead lines along Ervin Street.
Project Timeline:
January 22, 2019 - City Council adopted the Duncan PUD being 1,747.4 acres in size. The PUD consists of two separate developments, Samara to the north and Pedregal to the south.
November 28, 2023 - City Council adopted the first amended Duncan PUD, allowing specific lots within the Pedregal Development to a minimum lot width of 110 feet.
December 17, 2025 - The applicant held a neighborhood meeting in League City. The sign-in sheet indicates that three members of the public attended the meeting.
December 31, 2025 - The applicant submitted the PUD Amendment request to the Planning Department.
January 26, 2026 - Public hearing notices were mailed to the surrounding property owners and published on the city’s website.
January 28, 2026 - A public hearing sign was posted on the property, and notice was published in the newspaper.
February 12, 2026 - Planning & Zoning Commission held a public hearing recommended approval of the request.
February 24, 2026 - City Council is scheduled to conduct a public hearing and consider the request on first reading.
March 24, 2026 - If approved on first reading, City Council will consider the second reading of the request.
Project Summary:
Under the original Duncan PUD, overhead power lines are limited to the perimeter of the development and the north south arterial, Landing Boulevard. The developer is requesting approval to allow overhead power lines along Ervin Street, an east west arterial roadway that traverses the northern portion of the Duncan PUD, utilizing concrete poles.
The Unified Development Code permits overhead power lines by right along all arterial roadways citywide and along the perimeter of master planned developments. However, the original Duncan PUD imposed more restrictive standards by limiting overhead power to Landing Boulevard and the perimeter of the development. This restriction effectively prohibited overhead power along other arterial roadways within the Duncan PUD, including Ervin Street. The proposed PUD amendment would remove this limitation and bring the Duncan PUD into alignment with the UDC and with other arterial roadways throughout the City. Existing segments of Ervin Street located east of the Duncan PUD are currently served by overhead power on concrete poles. Future portions of Ervin Street to the west are also currently planned to be served by concrete poles.
As a compensating benefit, the developer has agreed to construct the remaining two lanes of Hobbs Road, from Ervin Street to Buckeye Drive, improving the traffic and circulation within the Duncan PUD and the surrounding communities.
On February 12, 2026, the Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing and recommended approval, 6-0-0. No people spoke at the public hearing.
On February 24, 2026, City Council held a public hearing on the item. No members of the public spoke. City Council postponed the item to the March 24, 2026 meeting to allow the applicant time to provide a cost comparison between underground power installation and the proposed compensating benefits.
Following the February 24th meeting, Staff met with the applicant as directed to obtain and provide additional information related to the cost comparison between underground and overhead installation of 3-phast electrical service along Ervin Street. Based on the information provided, underground installation is estimated at approximately $400 per linear foot or approximately $2.4 million, compared to approximately $150 per linear foot, or approximately $900,000, for overhead installation. This represents an estimated cost difference of approximately $1.5 million.
The Applicant was able to better explain real problems as well that were not fully realized at the time of the PUD creation:
• Portions of the development are encumbered by existing pipeline easements. The electrical provider, TNMP, has recently noted that they would not be allowed to bore or trench underground 3-phase electricity across these pipelines due to restrictions held by the pipeline companies. This means either power would need to be overhead in these areas or if the 3-phase is installed completely underground, TNMP will be required to install multiple three-phase loops to provide service redundancy to the planned residential development.
• The timing of the Grand Parkway and TxDOT’s desire for only their contractor to work within this ROW during construction would significantly delay the 3-phase installation shown in the PUD along this corridor even if TNMP could make it work. A delay of this magnitude could result in long term delays in providing power to approximately 865 home sites which, when collectively built out, is expected to generate approximately $1.1 million per year in property tax revenue.
The applicant also provided additional information regarding infrastructure contributions associated with development of the City’s Hobbs Road Extension Project (ST 2101). As part of the Hobbs Road extension project, the developer has agreed to dedicate the right-of-way needed for the roadway extension and land required for a regional detention facility associated with the roadway project. Based on preliminary appraisal estimates prepared for the City, the value of the right-of-way and detention land is estimated to be approximately $1.08 million. The developer has also agreed to dedicate a water line easement along FM 517 to accommodate a future 24-inch water transmission main planned by the City estimated at approximately $47,000. The total estimated worth of the ROW, detention area, and easement being dedicated to the City is approximately $1.13 million.
The length of Hobbs Road between Ervin Road and the Buckeye intersection is approximately 2,150 linear feet. As noted above, the Applicant has agreed to construction the missing 2-lanes of Hobbs Road in this area. The average cost per mile for new 2-lane roadways is approximately $1,910,534. This average cost is based on all new developer funded roadways constructed in League City between January 2025 and February 2026. Using this average cost, the estimate expense for the Applicant to construct this segment of Hobbs Road is $783,319.
Based on this information, in exchange for allowing the Applicant to install overhead power along Ervin Road, the City will obtain:
• Property needed for Hobbs Road Extension and a future Water Main Extension valued at approximately $1.13 million.
• Construction of 2-lanes along Hobbs Road between Ervin Road through the Buckeye intersection (~2,150 linear feet) valued at approximately $783,319.
These equate to approximately $1,913,319 in benefit for the City.
Attachments:
1. Proposed Ordinance
2. Exhibit A - Zoning Map
3. Exhibit B - Overhead Routing Exhibit
4. Exhibit C - PUD Document
5. Maps Showing Pipeline Crossings
CONTRACT ORIGINATION:
Planning
Applicant/Owner: LJA Engineering/Lennar Homes of Texas (dba Friendswood Development)
FUNDING
{X NOT APPLICABLE
STRATEGIC PLANNING
{X} Addresses Strategic Planning Critical Success Factor #8 (Quality-Built Environment)