Name: Oppose Discovery Sands Development @ City Council Meeting- May 28, 5 PM
Start: 2026-05-28T17:00:00-05:00
Location: Galveston City Hall

Oppose Discovery Sands Development @ City Council Meeting- May 28, 5 PM

❗❗THE PUD PROPOSAL HAS BEEN DEFERRED UNTIL THE MAY 28TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING ❗❗ We now have more time to rally opposition to this proposed West End Tourist Attraction!! Let's keep up the momentum!
🚨 GALVESTON RESIDENTS — SHOW UP MAY 28 @ 5 PM 🚨
Share with your neighbors & friends!!
The proposed Discovery Sands development on the West End is a 351-acre, high-density mixed-use project that would include homes, condos, commercial spaces, and amenities under a Planned Unit Development (PUD).
To make this possible, the developer is asking the City to:
🔺️Remove or reduce lot sizes, setbacks, and parking requirements
🔺️Allow 77 different land uses, many not permitted
🔺️Exceed height limits through exemptions
🔺️Replace existing rules with a flexible, manufactured “European village-style” plan
👉 In short: this project depends on rewriting the city’s development rules, puts the island at a higher flood risk, takes away the natural habitat of the Galveston ghost wolves, and the endangered Eastern Rail Bird, will cause MASSIVE traffic impacts to the west end & more.
⚠️ THE PROBLEM: KEY DECISIONS ARE BEING ASKED WITHOUT KEY DATA
This is not about opposing development.
This is about approving a massive project based on promises instead of facts.
❗ No stamped wetlands delineation — just a promise to identify wetlands later, even though areas are already labeled “UW” (underwater)
❗ No drainage plan for a 351-acre site — only a statement that it will “comply”
❗ No Traffic Impact Analysis — just an engagement letter, despite relying on FM 3005, our only evacuation route
❗ Nearly 14 acres of excavation planned on a barrier island for entry ponds & a lagoon
⚠️ If approved as-is, this sets a precedent for future developments to bypass the rules.
For the safety and future of Galveston—show up, get informed, and make your voice heard.

📍 City Council Meeting
🗓️ MAY 28
🕔 5:00 PM
⚠️ Arrive early if you want to sign up to speak

📣 CAN’T ATTEND? TAKE ACTION HERE:
📝 Submit a public comment:
https://forms.galvestontx.gov/Forms/PublicComment
📧 Email City Council: (These will change before the May 28th meeting - I will update with new council emails after the election on May 2)
Craig Brown (Mayor): [email protected]
Sharon B. Lewis (District 1): [email protected]
David Finklea (District 2): [email protected]
Bob Brown (District 3): [email protected]
Alex Porretto (District 4): [email protected]
Beau Rawlins (District 5): [email protected]
Marie Robb (District 6): [email protected]

A few articles to get informed:
• Galveston Daily News – Discovery Sands developers should respect Galveston’s rules, ecology
https://www.galvnews.com/opinion/guest_columns/discovery-sands-developers-should-respect-galvestons-rules-ecology/article_66e66a29-ef23-5483-a9b0-98a08c8c7a9d.html
• Galveston Daily News – Stewardship claims don’t match West End reality
https://www.galvnews.com/opinion/guest_columns/guest-commentary-stewardship-claims-don-t-match-west-end-reality/article_281800b1-3aa1-596c-bbe9-764a3970b602.html
• Galveston Daily News – Discovery Sands a bad fit for Galveston’s West End
https://www.galvnews.com/opinion/guest_columns/guest-commentary-discovery-sands-a-bad-fit-for-galvestons-west-end/article_8a21727c-9ba3-45cf-a400-0e6e480aeaee.html
• Galveston Daily News – Planning commission recommends 170-acre development with caveats
https://www.galvnews.com/news/galveston-planning-commission-recommends-170-acre-west-end-development-with-caveats/article_dfd48565-55b9-4f8c-a354-40e186faba2f.html