Residents warn city that Chick-fil-A would turn Friendswood into east Pearland



SLIDESHOW: Chick-fil-A things you probably didn't know less Chick-fil-A has expressed interest in a Friendwood property along FM 518, according to developers requesting a zoning change from office park to commercial at the location.

SLIDESHOW: Chick-fil-A things you ... more Chick-fil-A has expressed interest in a Friendwood property along FM 518, according to developers requesting a zoning change from office park to commercial at the location. Photo: John Davenport/Â San Antonio Ex, STAFF Photo: John Davenport/Â San Antonio Ex, STAFF Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Residents warn city that Chick-fil-A would turn Friendswood into east Pearland 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A group of Friendswood residents have asked the city not to approve a rezoning request that would allow a possible Chick-fil-A restaurant to be built near their homes.

Chick-fil-A has not yet made any announcements regarding a Friendswood location, but developers for the land at the intersection of FM 518 and Leisure Lane said during a Tuesday night public hearing that the corporation is "very interested" in moving to the corner near H-E-B.

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Residents of the Eagles Cove subdivision said changing the property from an office park space to a community shopping center would have a negative impact on the neighborhood due to traffic cutting through.

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"If I were running for city council, and I'm starting to see signs out there now, my slogan would be 'I will fight to keep Friendswood Friendswood'" said Eddie Carpenter, who lives on Leisure Lane.

"I don't think Friendswood needs to become east Pearland."

Another resident, Miriam Sam, said a new fast food restaurant would not be a good fit for an "affluent and educated community."

"Our residents are not going to work at Chick-fil-A," Sam said. "So I think that keeping it an office space, the way it's currently zoned, is more conducive to welcoming real business and real opportunities."

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"It took everything we had to move to Friendswood because Friendswood was more expensive to live in," said Kim Dawson, who said she moved to the neighborhood from Pearland 25 years ago.

"Our definition of quality is to have a safe neighborhood in a small town. If we wanted to live in a big town, we would."

Developers said the Leisure Lane location is a hot property that needs to be used to attract major businesses to Friendswood. They said Panera Bread has also expressed interest in the location.

Friendswood developer Jim Peterson said H-E-B's proximity to the property offers a daily draw of customer traffic that will help attract retailers like Chick-fil-A.

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He added that such restaurants will generate sales tax revenue while giving Friendswood residents more options within the city limits.

"It's really the only Friendswood site that's going to attract this class of retailer to our community," Peterson said.

Resident Skip Evans said the development will help Friendswood improve its image in the general business community. "Friendswood has gotten a reputation in the past of not being a very business-friendly city."

Evans added that "we cannot continue to ignore commercial opportunities."

The city council has not yet had the opportunity to vote on the rezoning request.

You can view the entire meeting on the City of Friendswood website.