After lenders Good Bull Capital and Jet Lending foreclosed on assets previously held by Friendswood-based developer JMK5 Holdings, they took over the stalled 148-acre property and are now proposing to build a new subdivision, Falling Leaf Ranch, in Friendswood.

Luke Cheatham, founder, CEO and president of Good Bull Capital, presented a proposal for the subdivision to Friendswood City Council at its Oct. 5 meeting.

The details: The new plan proposed developing 148 acres along Wilderness Trail into 135 single-family luxury lots, a higher-density proposal than JMK5 Holdings’ earlier 44-lot layout.

Next steps: Once development agreements are in place, the project is expected to follow a 22-month timeline to the first lot closings, according to city documents.

One more thing: City Council appointed council members Randy Hale and Michel Ross to a subcommittee to lead upcoming negotiations on the development and PID terms.

A feasibility study for the 160-acre Manvel City Center project presented to City Council on Oct. 5 highlighted rapid population growth and gaps in local services.

Diving in deeper: The study showed Manvel's population doubled from nearly 10,000 in 2020 to 20,700 in 2025, with a projection of 42,000 by 2035. The city loses an estimated $250 million annually in consumer spending to neighboring communities. Findings identified growing demand for several services:

• Healthcare and senior services

• Child care services

• Hospitality and entertainment options

• City-owned library

• Dining options

Also of note: A survey revealed residents want to balance development with preserving Manvel's character. Their priorities include adding gathering spaces, establishing a recognizable downtown and avoiding a "concrete jungle" and uncontrolled population

The Peach Cobbler Factory is now serving the Webster area.

What’s on the menu: The Peach Cobbler Factory serves a variety of desserts including cobblers, banana puddings, cinnamon rolls, shakes and cookies, according to its website. 

Cobbler flavors include:

• Apple walnut raisin 

• Blackberry 

• Cinnamon praline peach

• Honey apple

• Peach 

• Sweet potato pecan

📍20911 Gulf Freeway, Ste. B, Webster

Thirty-two Houston-area restaurants have been named to the 2026 Michelin Guide, according to an Oct. 8 press release.

The history: The guide, which originated in 1889, uses anonymous inspectors to evaluate dining establishments based on food quality, consistency, flavor harmony, technical mastery and the chef's personality.

Latest update: Six Houston-area restaurants retained their one-star ratings for 2026:

• BCN Taste & Tradition

• CorkScrew BBQ

• Le Jardinier Houston

• March

• Musaafer

• Tatemó

Additionally, 26 area restaurants earned the Bib Gourmand recognition for good quality and value. This includes five new locations: Bar Buena, Khói Barbecue, Kitchen Rumors, Murray's Pizza & Wine and Xolo. Xolo owner Angel Bautista also received the Michelin Exceptional Cocktails Award.

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from this week? Check out these trending stories across the southern portion of the Greater Houston area from Oct. 5-9.

• Fort Bend ISD approves secondary boundary changes

• 5 Houston hotels earn coveted 2026 Michelin Key

• Target holds ribbon-cutting ceremony for new Texas Heritage Marketplace store

• Clear Creek ISD superintendent announces April retirement

• Manvel rejects 760-acre mixed-use development

• 32 Houston-area restaurants make 2026 Michelin Guide

In 2015, the Texas Legislature passed a law changing the amount of time students are required to spend in public schools from 180 days to 75,600 minutes per school year.

More than a decade later, some state senators are considering again mandating the number of days schools are open, citing concerns about student performance in districts that use condensed weekly schedules.

The details: At least 181 districts and 572 campuses used four-day school weeks in the 2024-25 school year, per Texas Education Agency data.

A TEA study found that during the 2022-23 school year, students attending school four days per week had lower performance in certain subjects on the annual State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness than students at five-day schools.

"There is not a benefit that I see for a four-day school week for the child," Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, said. "We know there's learning loss. What is the advantage of a four-day [week]? Because I see none except to please somebody who wants to be off more days."