Government
BY NICHAELA SHAHEEN, JESSICA SHORTEN & LIZZY SPANGLER
Montgomery approves development variances During its May 27 meeting, Montgomery City Council voted 4-1 to approve variance requests for the lot sizes, lot width, front yard setbacks and side yard setbacks for the Villages at Montgomery, a residential and commercial development set to be located in downtown. Council member Tom Czulewicz voted against, citing concerns with traffic and housing density. In a nutshell Parkside Capital is developing the project, which will include 7.3 acres of commercial development and 42.7 acres of single-family residential devel- opment, according to the agenda packet. The development will include: • Residential homes with enhanced streetscapes with landscaping, trees and other elements • A boulevard road with landscaped medians, which will prevent on-street parking for alley- loaded homes The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission also recommended approval of the variance requests, with the condition that parking is not permitted in the proposed alleys.
Conroe to relocate utilities for $5.7M On May 22, Conroe City Council approved an advanced funding agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation to relo- cate water and sewer utilities along Hwy. 75. What you need to know Per the agreement, Conroe will be respon- sible for utility relocation costs totaling $5.7 million—$424,135 for design and $5.3 million for construction. The relocation is needed due to a road widening project so that the utilities are out of the right of way, according to the agenda. Public Works Director Norman McGuire said TxDOT will design and construct it. The funding will come from capital expenditures.
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Villages of Montgomery’s approved variances
10-foot front yard setbacks from the typical 25-foot setbacks 5-foot side yard setbacks from the typical 10-foot setbacks 4,950-square-foot minimum lot sizes from the typical 9,000-square-foot lot sizes 45-foot lot widths and 110-foot lot depths from 75-foot widths and 120-foot lot depths
SOURCE: CITY OF MONTGOMERY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Also of note City Engineer Chris Roznovsky said approval of the variance requests does not mean the approval of the development’s plans or of a development agreement.
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SJRA discusses $5.8M in projects for Lake Conroe San Jacinto River Authority officials outlined the updated 10-year project plans across the water- shed during a May 22 meeting. The overview The SJRA board of directors received updates from the Lake Conroe and Bear Branch divisions regarding the prioritized projects for fiscal year 2025. In total, the two divisions presented $5.8 million in projects for 2025:
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Restrooms coming to Founders Plaza During its May 22 meeting, Conroe City Council approved a bid for public restrooms in Founders Plaza with a completion goal of before Christmas, Deputy City Administrator Nancy Mikeska said. The detail The cost for the restrooms is slated for $156,406; however, it was budgeted to be $300,000—saving the city half of the funds allotted for the project, Mikeska said.
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said. “We’ve had times ... where we back traffic up on Dam Site Road.” Raley also told board members the larger proj- ects involving reconstruction and maintenance of spillways along the Lake Conroe Dam will be prioritized starting in 2029. Funding for the 10-year project plans will come mainly from the SJRA’s repair and replacement fund with a number of grant funds and local matches from municipal utility districts, according to various SJRA officials.
• Lake Conroe Division: $5,499,047 • Bear Branch Division: $350,000
Lake Conroe Division Manager Bret Raley said this year’s focus would be on resurfacing and wid- ening the main entry point to the SJRA facilities on Lake Conroe, as well as installing backup genera- tors at the facility. “It’ll give us greater security and safety,” Raley
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CONROE - MONTGOMERY EDITION
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