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Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 46 • No. 23
Residents uneasy about planned local gas station By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
A growing number of Missouri City residents have voiced opposition to a planned gas station near the Hunters Glen subdivision, arguing it would cause environmental problems and decrease
home values, but city officials say there’s little they can do to stop the project from moving ahead. Missouri City held a community meeting late Tuesday in response to more than 66 residents who had signed a petition opposing the gas station, according to Stacie Walker, spokesperson for the
city. But the project meets all of the city’s regulations, she said. “The planned project is in accordance with the site’s retail zoning designation,” she said. Calls and texts to num-
SEE GAS STATION PAGE 7
Work on a planned gas station bumps up against homes in a Missouri City neighborhood. (Contributed photo)
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Massive development slated for Fort Bend County By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Work will begin soon on the largest master planned community in Fort Bend County in more than 20 years – a massive, 4,700-acre development called Austin Point that, when complete, will bring 14,000 homes and even more business space to the region. Austin Point will sit on 4,700 acres near the future intersection of the Grand Parkway and Fort Bend Parkway, according to Signorelli Company, The Woodlands-based real estate development company behind the project. The community’s main entrance will be off FM 762, near the George Ranch Historical Park. “We are excited to bring new development to the area and help satisfy strong demand for quality places to live, work and play,” said Danny Signorelli, company founder and CEO. “Fort Bend County is one of the fastest-growing counties in America and we look forward to be a part of this growth.” Construction crews are tentatively set to break ground on the development sometime in the second quarter of this year, according to a news release. The announcement of the master planned community is the latest evidence that the county’s population boom isn’t ending anytime soon. According to one analysis by HireAHelper, Fort Bend County is the second fastest-growing county in the United States. Between 2015 and 2020, the county’s population increased from about 715,260 to 839,706 residents, according to the report. Developers across the county have spent recent months ramping up construction on new homes in Fort Bend, in part to address what some have said is a countywide housing shortage. At buildout, Austin Point will add more than 14,000 singlefamily homes and an additional 15 million square feet for multifamily, office, medical, retail
SEE DEVELOPMENT PAGE 7
Young fan Owen Barnhill takes in a Sugar Land Skeeters game at Constellation Field. The Houston Astros, who own the Skeeters, are rebranding the minor league franchise that has called Sugar Land home for a decade, bringing the end of an era for local fans of the team. (Contributed photo)
Local fans react to Skeeters rebranding By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
When Amy Barnhill and her family were house hunting in Sugar Land in 2018, she saw a woman in a Sugar Land Skeeters shirt, and was immediately hooked. They wound up buying a house just minutes from Constellation Field, she said, and the Skeeters have been a part of their lives ever since. "I immediately looked it up because I thought it was the
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See related column on .................. PAGE 3 best mascot and team name for a southern team," she said. "I couldn’t wait to attend our first game...The past two years (my kids have) really gotten into the games, and the cutest thing ever is hearing your kids cheering and chanting 'Let's go Skeeters!'"
The era of the Sugar Land Skeeters – which first began via a community-wide effort to name a minor league baseball team – is soon coming to an end. The Houston Astros are set to change the Triple-A franchise’s name from Skeeters to the Space Cowboys, according to reports from Fox 26 and KPRC. The news comes about a year after the Astros first bought the Skeeters, who were part of the independent Atlantic League from 2012 to 2019. The team plans to
host Fort Bend County residents and Skeeters fans later this month when it officially rebrands – an event that will include a mascot introduction, logos and uniforms, according to a news release from the Skeeters organization. “We’re excited to announce the new identity for the Sugar Land franchise that will last generations,” Skeeters spokesperson Ryan Posner said in a texted statement Friday afternoon. “We’re encouraging fans to come to Constellation Field Jan. 29 to
see the new brand firsthand and have the first chance to get the new merchandise.” Posner declined to answer follow-up questions seeking more specifics about the change. An Astros spokesperson declined to confirm the Space Cowboys name or answer any questions related to the rebranding process prior to the launch event on Saturday. While franchise social me-
SEE SKEETERS PAGE 7
County rejecting half of mail-in ballot applications By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
The March primaries are right around the corner in Texas, and in Fort Bend County, election officials are rejecting an unprecedented number of mail-in ballot applications because of new state laws surrounding voting. John Oldham, elections administrator for
Elections Administrator John Oldham, right, speaks during an Oct. 23, 2020 news conference at the Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)
Fort Bend County, said last week that his staff is having to reject about 50 percent of all applications, when they typically rejected less than 5 percent in previous years. Oldham declined to give specific numbers on how many ballots they’ve rejected. “It is so important that everyone get a chance to exercise their constitutional right to vote,”
County Judge KP George said at a hastily-assembled news conference last week featuring elected officials and election officials to discuss challenges brought on by new state laws. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 1 into law in September- a voting bill that includes many new provisions for
SEE BALLOTS PAGE 7
JERRY FLOWERS
Real Estate Agent, MBA, CNE, ABE Army Veteran (RET) • 832-702-5241 Jerry@dreamhomesbyjerry.com
4500 Highway 6, Sugar Land, TX 77478