Present and former members of the College Station City Council and the Mayor are no longer named in a lawsuit filed by a Houston realtor.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday the elected officials had legislative immunity when zoning votes went against Weingarten Realty Investors.
This involved land southeast of the intersection of Rock Prairie Road and Earl Rudder Freeway.
Weingarten’s Director of Investor Relations, Kristin Gandy, says the opinion “affects only a few of the claims against the individual defendants but otherwise has no effect on Weingarten’s lawsuit.”
City Manager Glenn Brown referred to the appeal court recognizing the council should not have to fear a lawsuit if it votes against an applicant’s proposal.
As for the future of the Weingarten property, City Attorney Harvey Cargill said the city is hopeful the land will be developed in a manner the whole community can support.
Brown said this is the most expensive lawsuit in city history. The tab so far is $1.4 million dollars and another $250,000 of expenses are pending.
Click HERE to read the rulling of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, courtesy of the City of College Station. (PDF)
Click below to hear comments from College Station City Manager Glenn Brown, visiting with WTAW’s Bill Oliver about the ruling.