A parcel of land on Dixie Farm Road near the Walmart Supercenter in Pearland will stay zoned as residential after Pearland officials struck down a request to rezone the land for commercial use.

What happened: Pearland City Council voted unanimously to deny a rezoning request to rezone two lots, totaling 9.2 acres at 3302 and 3306 Dixie Farm Road, from single-family residential to neighborhood services. The measure would have allowed low-intensity commercial uses such as service providers or offices.

Those in favor: The applicant, Julia Nguyen, wrote a letter to the city, noting that the property no longer functions well for residential properties due to its proximity to Walmart and being near a heavily commercial corridor, according to agenda documents.

Founded by Angie Jackson and Dewana Montgomery, Lit Java brings Pearland readers together through book clubs and literary events.

The backstory: When designing the bookstore and coffee shop, Jackson and Montgomery said they always knew they wanted the space to be a community hub. The duo said they feel like they have gotten to know their community, and can now recognize regular customers’ coffee orders and ask about their kids. They said it feels like their extended family.

How it works: Lit Java offers multiple book clubs every week, and hosts 10-12 events per month, such as meet-and-greets and local artist spotlights. The bookstore features silent book clubs where individuals can read uninterrupted for an hour before talking about the book, as well as community book clubs where Lit Java chooses the books, along with more creative gatherings.

• 5018 Broadway St., Pearland

TDECU—Houston’s largest credit union—and Smart Financial Credit Union—one of the city’s oldest—announced plans to merge, according to an Oct. 22 news release, combining their legacies under a shared mission to strengthen communities and expand member opportunities.

Marking a milestone: Pending regulatory approval and a member vote by Smart Financial, the merger is expected to be finalized in early 2026. The combined credit union will hold nearly $6 billion in assets and serve more than 460,000 members across Texas through a network of 48 branches, per the release.

TDECU President and CEO Isaac Johnson will lead the merged organization, while Smart Financial CEO LeAnn Kaczynski will serve as chief integration officer for one year to oversee the transition.

Also of note: TDECU’s ties with the University of Houston, Houston Texans and Buc-ee’s will join Smart Financial’s work with Smart Financial Centre and local charities through the Smart Financial Foundation.

Members of both institutions will see no immediate changes to accounts or services during the transition, according to the release.

Texas is home to about 3.5 million small businesses, according to the National Federation of Independent Businesses. Estimates show that the average Texas small-business owner could save about $2,500 per year if voters approve an expanded business tax exemption on the Nov. 4 ballot.

The details: State Proposition 9 would exempt up to $125,000 of a business’s personal property, such as equipment, furniture and vehicles, from taxation. Texas business owners currently receive a tax exemption on property worth $2,500 or less.

“At $2,500, virtually everyone's paying this tax,” NFIB Texas Director Jeff Burdett said in an Oct. 24 interview. “If you have a desk, a computer and a chair, you're probably over $2,500 [in inventory]. … It makes no difference for almost any business.”

At the polls: Early voting in the Nov. 4 election began Oct. 20 and runs through Oct. 31. For more information about the propositions and candidates on your local ballot, visit www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.