Conroe approves density cap on townhomes and duplexes
The Conroe City Council on October 22, 2026 approved a new law limiting unit developments such as townhomes and duplexes to a maximum of six dwelling units per acre. The city also deferred a $2.6 million payment to the San Jacinto River Authority for failing to pump required groundwater, and restored its partnership with Meals on Wheels Montgomery County.
Earlier story. First reported Oct 23, 2026 at 3:45 pm; added to this site Oct 23, 2026. Details may have changed since.
- When it happened
- Thursday, October 22, 2026
- Where
- Conroe
- First reported by an outlet
- Oct 23, 2026 at 3:45 pm
- Confirmed by
- the original record or a trusted outlet
Taxes & money
| What | Amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| payment owed to San Jacinto River Authority for failure to pump required groundwater in the last fiscal year | $2.6 million[1] | Conroe |
| Meals on Wheels agreement | $3 a meal[1] | Conroe |
Who's involved
The facts
- The city will now allow a maximum of six dwelling units per acre of land for unit developments, which include patio homes, townhomes and duplexes.[1]
- Conroe pumped 2.9 billion gallons of groundwater in the last fiscal year, below the four billion gallons required under its 2025 settlement with the San Jacinto River Authority.[1]
- The San Jacinto River Authority is asking Conroe to pay the remaining pumpage fees by November 18, 2026.[1]
- Six wells were down during the past year, which Jason Miller said contributed to the city pumping less groundwater than expected.[1]
- The Meals on Wheels Montgomery County agreement covers 25,000 meals a year.[1]
- Conroe previously had prepared meals internally before deciding it was not cost-effective to continue.[1]
Who said what
- John Sellars, Mayor Pro Tem The point of setting the density cap was to prevent developers from using unit developments as a loophole to build multifamily units and increase the number of rentals in the city. He said Conroe has too many rental properties in accordance with the number of owner-occupied homes, and that too many rentals would turn Conroe into a 'commuter community.' He stated that 'the only way to keep that in check is with home ownership.'[1]
- Sellars A lot of unit developments are owner-occupied already and there is a demand for that type of housing.[1]
- Mayor Duke Coon It is 'a travesty' that Conroe is being fined while attempting to save groundwater, and that the city is 'being fined because we didn't pump enough groundwater.'[1]
- Jason Miller, Conroe public works director The settlement with the San Jacinto River Authority 'definitely secures us for future needs — that is a good thing,' but the lost wells this past year 'put us in a tremendous bind.' He said Conroe should get close to or exceed four billion gallons in groundwater pumped for the next year.[1]
- Sellars He hopes the San Jacinto River Authority will work with the city on the issue, calling it 'a very hard number for all of us to swallow' and 'an awful thing to have to face.'[1]
- Brandy Taylor, Conroe director of municipal development The city previously worked with Meals on Wheels but 'concerns over the years' pushed the city to put its own chef in place. Preparing meals internally was 'just not cost-conducive for us to continue that.'[1]
Sources
- News New Conroe law puts density cap on townhome and duplex development Community Impact · Oct 23, 2026
Written by AI from the sources above, under fixed rules: every fact is cited, claims are kept apart from facts, and dollar figures appear only when a source states them. Mistakes get corrected in public.