Conroe - Montgomery Edition - June 2022

GOVERNMENT Conroe increases minimum lot size, protects smaller trees

Conroe City Council members changed lot size and vegetation ordinances in May as the city sees more residential development. APPROVED ORDINANCE CHANGES

SOURCE: CITY OF CONROE/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

MINIMUM LOT SIZE

BY ANNA LOTZ

feet in 2018 because of the influx of apartments, and more affordable lots gave residents the opportunity to buy houses instead of apartments. Developers spoke during the public hearing May 26, stating they believe larger lot sizes will decrease the affordability of homes available. “When you start pushing out the common working

The ordinance determines the minimum allowable size of a subdivision lot.

Conroe City Council changed its lot size and vegetation ordinances at its May 26 meeting as city officials reassess development guidelines. Conroe City Council members voted 3-2 to increase the minimum lot size from 40-foot-wide lots to 50-foot-wide lots May 26, a decision

PREVIOUS ORDINANCE

CHANGE APPROVED MAY 26

that came just two weeks after council members voted against increasing the minimum lot

“YOU CAN’T HAVE A COMMUNITY WITHOUT DEVELOPMENT, BUT YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE A COMMUNITY

class—teachers, firefighters, the police, young military folks, they can’t go afford a $400,000 house. They’re stuck in an apartment,” said Bill Ellison, founder of affordable home

40-foot-wide lots required Minimum square feet: 4,400 0 10 ft. 20 ft. 30 ft. 40 ft.

0

10 ft.

20 ft.

30 ft.

40 ft. 50 ft.

50-foot-wide lots required Minimum square feet: 5,000

VEGETATION

size in a 2-3 vote during the May 12 meeting. Council members said they believe the pace of development needs to be slowed while city ordinances are reviewed. “This is temporary. I believe ... that we need to sit back, take a pause and try to develop the best ordinance that protects what we have here and what we’ve had here and also to grow responsibly,” Council Member Howard Wood said May 26, his first meeting in office. Council Members Curt Maddux and Todd Yancey cast the two opposing votes May 26 with Council Members Marsha Porter, Duke Coon and Wood voting for the lot size increase. On May 12, Maddux, Yancey and outgoing Council Member Raymond McDonald opposed the change. Mayor Jody Czajkoski and Coon said at a May 11 workshop that the lot size minimum was lowered to 40

The ordinance sets standards for the preservation of trees during development.

THAT HAS TREES.” DUKE COON, CONROE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER

DEC. 13, 2018, ORDINANCE

CHANGE APPROVED MAY 26 (reverts ordinance to language from before Dec. 13, 2018)

builder ASGi Homes developing Marie Village just outside the city, at the May 26 meeting. “If we don’t keep an affordable market with a smaller lot product, we’re going to push those folks out.” In an effort to preserve more trees as development picks up, City Coun- cil members also voted 3-2 on May 26 to restore its vegetation ordinance to that from before the city updated its ordinance Dec. 13, 2018. Maddux and Yancey voted against reverting the ordinance language. Community Impact Newspaper previously reported the 2018 ordi- nance increased the minimum size from 6 inches to 8 inches or greater in diameter for trees that are protected from being cut down. Therefore, reverting the ordinance to pre-2018

0 1"2"3"4"5"6" A tree measuring at least 6 inches wide is protected from being cut down.

0 1" 2"3"4"5" 6"7"8" A tree measuring at least 8 inches wide is protected from being cut down.

would protect trees at least 6 inches in diameter instead of 8 inches. Council members cautioned the move is temporary while a tree ordinance committee further refines a new ordinance. “I know everybody up here wants to preserve those trees and

understands there’s a balance. You can’t have a community without development, but you’ve got to have a community that has trees and a council that listens to those who elect us,” Coon said May 26. Maegan Kirby contributed to this report.

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CONROE - MONTGOMERY EDITION • JUNE 2022

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