Pearland City Council will hear and consider the second reading of an ordinance to amend the city’s unified development code at its Feb. 9 meeting.

The details: The proposed amendments would change where short-term rentals can operate in the city and how many unrelated people living in a home can be considered a family for code enforcement purposes.

The impact: If the ordinance passes, all short-term rentals would be prohibited in the city’s residentially zoned areas but would be permitted in some areas with commercial zoning. 

What else: For code purposes, the city’s current development code defines a family as any number of persons related by blood or marriage or four unrelated people living in the same household. The proposed amendment would change that definition to allow only three unrelated people living in a household to be considered a family.

Friendswood's ISD board of trustees will consider approval of a plan to reduce the number of uncertified teachers in the district at its Feb. 9 meeting.

The overview: Under House Bill 2, passed during the 2025 legislative session, the district is required to phase out the use of District of Innovation waivers to hire uncertified teachers in core subjects. To comply, the district’s potential plan would require uncertified teachers to be enrolled in an approved educator preparation program, or EPP, and receive district monitoring and coaching, according to district documents.

To help reduce pet overpopulation while supporting responsible pet ownership, Harris County Pets is expanding low-cost spay and neuter services with appointments available every Tuesday and Thursday throughout February.

What you need to know: Starting Feb. 3, Harris County Pets—the open-admission animal shelter for unincorporated Harris County—is offering spay and neuter surgeries for $40 per pet performed by licensed veterinarians, per a Feb. 2 news release. 

In observance of Spay and Neuter Awareness Month and Responsible Pet Owners Month, HCP will serve up to 20 dogs and cats each date.

Quote of note: “At Harris County Pets, prevention is one of the most powerful tools we have to save lives,” said Corey Steele, director of HCP and the Veterinary Public Health Division at Harris County Public Health.

The details: Per the release, demand for these services are high, and appointments are required and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Major lane closures will remain in place on I-10 East near Normandy Road as repairs continue, according to a Feb. 5 news release from the Texas Department of Transportation.

What you need to know: TxDOT said crews have worked overnight after a utility waterline rupture late Feb. 5 triggered a pavement failure near Normandy Road, forcing TxDOT to shut down all eastbound lanes and close the inside lane and shoulder westbound.

Motorists should expect delays and are strongly encouraged to take alternate routes, per the release, including:

• US 90
• US 90A/BU 90 (McCarty Road)
• Hwy. 225

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from last week? Check out five trending stories in the Greater Houston area from Feb. 2-6.

In case you missed it: Main Street Market held its last market in downtown Conroe Feb. 7 after nearly five years. The organizers announced the closure via Facebook on Jan. 29.

"This has always been more than a market," market developer Farralyn Withrow said in the social media post. "It’s been a tight-knit community and the starting place for 100+ new businesses. It’s been a major part of the ecosystem that is downtown Conroe." 

Also of note: Magnolia City Council moved Jan. 28 to terminate City Administrator Chris Whittaker, approving a resolution declaring a “lack of confidence” and removing him from office effective immediately.

The motion to terminate Whittaker's employment passed 4-0, with council member Geoff Beyers absent.

One more thing: Statewide enrollment for a new Katy ISD online program called Legacy Virtual High School opened Feb. 2, according to a Jan. 30 news conference from district officials.