Council approval no longer needed for residential units in downtown Conroe

Mayor Pro Tem Duke Coon like a project that will create a hike and bike trail along Alligator Creek in an effort to provide connectivity between several city parks. Mayor Pro Tem Duke Coon like a project that will create a hike and bike trail along Alligator Creek in an effort to provide connectivity between several city parks. Photo: Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer Photo: Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Council approval no longer needed for residential units in downtown Conroe 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

The city of Conroe made adjustments to an ordinance last week that will allow for the development of residential units in the downtown area without the final approval of the city council.

According to the ordinance, those projects and replats of land for those projects would only be approved by the city’s planning commission. The ordinance defines unit development as housing with a common wall such as patio homes, town homes and duplexes on reduced sized lots.

The ordinance excludes the city’s Homestead District which lies north of downtown.

However, Mayor Pro Tem Duke Coon balked at the idea that those projects could now be done without the public’s knowledge.

“I would ask that you write into the ordinance that it is public disclosed at a city council meeting,” he said adding the city needed to be transparent regarding those developments. “The public should know when these things are happening.”

Councilman Raymond McDonald agrees.

“If it is brought into a meeting, it allows people to comment if they have concerns,” McDonald added.

City Attorney Marc Winberry said the law requires notification in a newspaper as a legal advertisement but Coon said notice should be made in an open council meeting of those projects and replats.

Winberry made those adjustments to the ordinance and the council approved the changes unanimously.

cdominguez@hcnonline.com