Baytown City Council Briefs: ExxonMobil Blue Hydrogen Agreement Approved

Baytown City Council unanimously approved an agreement Thursday night allowing ExxonMobil to acquire the city’s interest in more than 23 acres of street rights-of-way near Bayway Drive for its Blue Hydrogen Project.

The council approved the agreement as part of its consent agenda without discussion.

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Under the agreement, ExxonMobil will pay the city $3.3 million, the appraised value of the land and improvements. The company will also cover separate costs for utility relocation, fire protection, and emergency access.

The affected rights-of-way include Abbott, Allen, Arbor, Ashby, Barnes, Church, Coburn, Douglas, Fortner, John-A, North, Scarlett, Shreck and Wooster streets.

The project is planned to produce low-carbon hydrogen from natural gas while capturing and storing associated carbon dioxide emissions. The street rights-of-way agreement supports potential future operational needs as ExxonMobil continues acquiring property for the project, a process that began in 2023.

“This right-of-way approval is part of property acquired beginning in 2023, and this hearing is a step toward finalizing that process,” Kelly V. Davila, ExxonMobil public and government affairs adviser, said. “This property acquisition allows us to plan for potential future operation needs.”

The city will execute a quitclaim deed transferring its interest in the rights-of-way after CenterPoint Energy provides final clearance and ExxonMobil pays the appraised amount.

Council Approves Commercial Rezoning Along SH 146

Baytown City Council approved rezoning nearly one acre at 8220 N. State Highway 146 from Open Space/Recreation to General Commercial for commercial use.

The 0.998-acre property is just south of Old Needlepoint Road on the east side of the highway. No one spoke during the public hearing, and both the Planning and Zoning Commission and city staff recommended approval.

The applicant submitted a site plan for an express oil change facility, although the city cannot restrict development to that specific project. The property currently contains a small building, and surrounding properties are already zoned for general commercial use.

The rezoning aligns with the city’s future land use map, which designates the area for neighborhood-scale commercial development.

Council Gives Final Approval To Annexation Of Nearly 79 Acres

Baytown City Council unanimously approved the limited-purpose annexation of nearly 79 acres on second and final reading.

The 78.952-acre tract is generally east of North Main Street, west of Hadden Road and north of East Wallisville Road. It includes Tracts 9-11 in the George Ellis Survey.

The annexation is part of a development agreement with Friendswood Development Company for the Baytown Crossings extension. The agreement, originally approved in 2018 and amended in 2022, covers about 357 acres and allows for 1,175 additional single-family lots beyond the 2,002 already approved.

The City completed a strategic partnership agreement with Municipal Utility District 213-A in 2019 and amended it in July 2026. The annexation fulfills a requirement under those agreements.

After approving the annexation, council approved assigning the newly annexed land to City Council District 4.

City staff recommended the assignment because nearby properties east of North Main Street are already part of the district.

Registered voters who reside in the area will be eligible to vote in the November election, according to the information provided to council.

Powell Gives Final District 5 Update

In his last update before leaving office—he has said he is not seeking re-election—Councilman Jacob Powell reported on projects in District 5. The Houston Methodist Baytown Emergency Care Center along Interstate 10, part of Chambers Commons, is more than halfway complete, Powell said.

The councilman added that Jindal Pipe has two active permits for new commercial buildings. Tia Juanita’s Seafood Camp Restaurant, also in Chambers Commons on Highway 146, is under inspection in the early stages of construction. The Swift Sjolander Gas Station and Car Wash at I-10 and Sjolander is near completion. The city’s Emergency Operations Center has a permit for repairs, renovations and demolition ahead of a proposed addition. The city issued a shell-only permit for three retail buildings that Powell referred to as Plaza Shops at Baytown on North Main.

On utilities, work continues at the Northeast District Wastewater Treatment Plant as the city evaluates aging pumps and filtration equipment for repair or replacement to maintain reliable service. Planning is underway for a new pump station and storage tank to meet future needs. Street work includes curb and sidewalk repairs are scheduled for Canterbury Drive and Queenswood Street in the Kings Bend subdivision.