PUBLIC SAFETY Pearland achieved a 31% reduction in the rate of violent crimes from 1.54 incidents per 1,000 residents in 2000 to 1.07 in 2021. These positive trends during a very rapid growth period are attractive to current and future residents. This is reassuring given resident perception (expressed during small-group discussion sessions) that increasing crime can be a by-product of a growing city.
TEXAS AND HOUSTON AREA GROWTH At the time this update was being prepared, the State of Texas was approaching the 29 million population mark. By 2022, Texas surpassed the 28 million mark, making it the second highest- populated US state after California at 39 million. As Pearland embarked on this current plan update in 2022, both Texas and the Houston area were widely and regularly recognized in the national media and elsewhere as remarkable engines of economic growth, leading to a renewed population surge between 2010-2020, adding almost 4 million residents to the state within the decade. As the entire state grew by more than 35% from 2002 to 2022, from 21.7 million to 29.7 million people, the Greater Houston area grew by nearly 88%, adding more than 2.5 million new residents (from 4.7 million in Census 2000 to roughly 7.2 million as of the last US Census Bureau estimate in 2021). Taking advantage of its location within the fifth-largest metropolitan area in the nation, Pearland grew markedly faster, increasing its population by 235% between 2000 and 2022, from 37,640 to an estimated 126,000 residents. Referring to the 2030 Comprehensive Plan update (adopted in 2013), Pearland’s population has already exceeded the projected growth in 2022. SOUTH HOUSTON AND BRAZORIA GROWTH Brazoria County had approximately 243,000 residents as of Census 2000. In the years since the County has added roughly 126,000 persons, growing by about one-third to nearly 369,000 residents according to a US Census Bureau estimate in 2021. Pearland has accounted for a good share of this Brazoria County growth as the most populated community in the County, and with most of its incorporated territory within the northernmost area of the County. It is important to mention that even during uncertain times of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pearland’s Economic Development Corporation (PEDC) worked proactively to attract businesses in 2020-2021. Examining business trends, it is worthwhile to mention that 92 new commercial building permits were issued between 2019–October 2021 1 . Additionally, there has been a recent surge in industrial buildings near Beltway 8. More generally, the entire south side of Houston has seen an uptick in growth in recent years. This is partly due to market dynamics and the availability of land as other suburban areas especially to the north and west have been developed more—to the point of buildout in some directions. Growth drivers for Pearland highlighted later in this section also apply here, including Texas Medical Center (TMC) expansion and development induced by the Sam Houston Tollway. This development includes recent multifamily and retail activity along the north side of the Tollway corridor and near major intersections such as Cullen and Monroe (north connection to Pearland Parkway) and near the Tollway- SH 288 interchange. In 2019, the PEDC worked alongside local stakeholders to develop the later adopted Pearland 20/20 Prosperity Strategic Plan. The two community goals from this plan included Pearland’s economic growth and diversification and to be a community of choice in the Greater Houston region 2 .
FIGURE 2.11: UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS
VIOLENT CRIMES PER 1,000
TOTAL CRIMES PER 1,000
25
20
15
10
5
0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Regional Context A city is not an island—it is impacted by the cities, counties, and regional sites surrounding it. Situated in the northernmost portion of Brazoria County and within easy access to Houston, Pearland’s growth is impacted by and impacts these neighbors.
1 https://communityimpact.com/houston/pearland-friendswood/development/2021/11/05/choosing-pearland-businesses-drawn-to-citys-location-population/ 2 https://www.pearlandedc.com/about-us/strategic-plan/
FIGURE 2.12 SHOWS PEARLAND’S PROXIMITY TO NEARBY MAJOR LANDMARKS
PEARLAND COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 2040
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