City Council and Planning and Zoning Joint Workshop - May 18 2026

The City of Pearland held a joint workshop between the City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission on May 18, 2026, focused primarily on updates to the Unified Development Code (UDC) concerning accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The discussion centered on current regulations requiring conditional use permits (CUPs) for ADUs, size and utility connection restrictions, and the interplay between city ordinances and neighborhood deed restrictions or homeowners association (HOA) rules. Council members and commissioners debated potential amendments to the UDC to clarify ADU size limits, occupancy requirements, and application processes, including adding a requirement for applicants to certify compliance with deed restrictions and HOA approvals. There was consensus on maintaining the CUP process but streamlining it where possible, limiting the number of ADUs per property, and addressing concerns about neighborhood character, parking, and infrastructure impacts. The workshop did not include consultant participation and focused on prioritizing staff resources for code updates. No formal votes were recorded during the meeting, but several action items related to refining ADU regulations and application procedures were discussed.