Community Impact reports a new law putting a cap on the number of units allowed per acre for certain higher-density housing types, such as duplexes and townhouses was approved the Conroe City Council at their October 22nd meeting. They also looked at a water issue.
Unit developments are effected by the ordinance, which city code normally stipulates to be housing forms seen as town homes, patio homes and duplexes.
Per acre of land for unit developments, the city will now allow a maximum of six dwelling units. The point of instituting the cap, according to Mayor Pro Tem John Sellars, was to keep developers from using it as a loophole to build multifamily units and increase the number of rentals in the city.
Sellars feels the number of rental properties is to high in consideration of the number of owner-occupied homes. He thinks the number of owner-occupied homes needs to increase. He believes that an abundance of rentals would result in Conroe being a “commuter community.”
Regarding water issues, action was deferred by the council on paying $2.6 million to the San Jacinto River Authority for the failure of Conroe to pump four billion gallons of groundwater in its last fiscal year.
This all originates with a settlement between Conroe and the SJRA in 2025. Regarding four billion gallons of water each fiscal year for water pumped from the city’s wells or imported, their agreement stipulates Conroe pay the SJRA pumpage fees.
Last year, according to an SJRA invoice, Conroe pumped 2.9 billion gallons of groundwater. SJRA set the date of November 18th for Conroe to pay the rest of the required pumpage fees.
The city pumped less groundwater than it expected this past year due to six wells being inoperable, according to Conroe’s public works director Jason Miller.
Regarding the issue, Sellars hopes SJRA works with the city.
