Multifamily development comes into focus as Conroe tries to fix its water issues

Conroe is considering a fee schedule for multifamily development to help offset the growing burden on the city’s water infrastructure.

Councilwoman Marsha Porter proposed the plan that could include a fee per unit and fees for swimming pools.

“We don’t want to stop development but we want responsible development,” Porter said. 

The plan comes as the council approved lowering the number of units per acre from 12 to 6. Councilman Howard Wood was the lone nay vote and said he wanted to include a temporary timeline on the lowering of the number of units.

In April, the council learned its aging infrastructure was no longer keeping up with multifamily development, creating critical water issues for the city. Last month the council unanimously agreed to amend its irrigation ordinance to limit the days residents can water their lawns.

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New Conroe Mayor Duke Coon proposed the council amend its ordinance for the number of units per acre from 12 to 6. He said since the council reduced the number of units from 20 to 12 in March 2023 another 203 units have been approved.

“Due to our water situation, I wanted to bring this forward quickly,” Coon said. “We have some challenges and we understand the impact 200 more units could have on our community.”

Porter said since lowering the number of units per acre in March last year, only two developments have fallen under those new guidelines.

“The problem that I see is that we had eight apartment complexes that were grandfathered in when we did not have a majority vote,” Porter said. “These complexes will certainly place future burdens on our water, our sewer and our traffic.”

Porter said the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, which has changed its requirements from one connection per complex to one water connection per unit, is adding to the issue.

Porter said other municipalities, including Bryan and College Station, are now charging apartment complexes an extra monthly fee to help offset the burden on the water supply.

Conroe has more than 18,000 apartment units, which make up 37% of the city’s water customers. Porter said if the city imposed a fee of just $10 on each unit, it would generate about $2.1 million each year in water revenue.

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“I believe we can better serve the city of Conroe with a comprehensive plan rather than rushing to pass an ordinance that would only address one aspect of the problem,” Porter said. 

Councilman Howard Wood said the city needed to look at all development including hospitals, assisted living and hotels.

“I just want to make sure we get this right,” Wood said.

Councilman Harry Hardman said the city has been “woefully inadequate” in its handling of multifamily development and water supply.

“It’s created a huge burden for the city,” Hardman said. “We have to be very thoughtful, we have to be very effective about how we do regulate these things.”

Norm McGuire, assistant city administrator and director of public works, said multifamily development can build twice the number of units per acre compared to single-family homes.

“The impact is twice, they are paying twice, they are paying once,” McGuire said. “I don’t think that is fair to the other ratepayers in the city because I feel they are subsidizing some of that development. If I am paying a water rate, I want to pay mine, I don’t want to pay somebody else’s.”