Article by Cody Miller, GHBA Director of Government Affairs
At a special-called City Council meeting on Friday, May 30, the Conroe City Council voted unanimously to pause further discussion on a proposed citywide development moratorium for 45 days. This decision came after it was announced during the meeting that State Representative Will Metcalf and State Senator Brandon Creighton had successfully secured $15 million in the state’s budget to support water infrastructure in Conroe.
This development is a major milestone, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the consistent and coordinated efforts of our GHBA members. The city’s water capacity issues and the potential for a sweeping moratorium have been top-of-mind for our industry for more than a year.
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We want to sincerely thank every member who took the time to testify at council meetings, send emails, make phone calls, and meet directly with city officials. Your engagement made a difference. Special thanks go Jeremy Linzer of Builders Post-Tension, Carole Brady of HomeAid Houston, John Sellars and Mike Stoecker of Stoecker Corporation, Aaron Alford of Long Lake Ltd., Zack Wickens of Kendall Homes, Zach Gavos of Keepsake Custom Homes & Droplet Resources, Jeff Dewese of The Signorelli Company, Dan Miller of Camillo, Daniel Gillham of Tri Pointe Homes and Pat Wilson of Legends Architectural Stone for testifying at council.
Timeline of Moratorium Actions
- August 2024: Conroe enacted a development moratorium in the northern portion of the city.
- December 2024 & April 2025: The northern moratorium was extended twice.
- April 23, 2025: City staff first raised the possibility of a citywide moratorium during a council meeting, stating that existing water infrastructure may not be sufficient—even with planned plant expansions.
- May 7, 2025: Staff presented further details to council, highlighting repeated, unfunded water infrastructure requests dating back to 2016. They also noted that Conroe is currently out of compliance with TCEQ storage requirements, suggesting a citywide moratorium was necessary.
- May 8, 2025: City Council voted 3-2 to begin the formal process of enacting a citywide moratorium.
- May 22 & May 30, 2025: Two public hearings were held. On May 30, Council voted unanimously to pause the effort for 45 days.
What’s Next
While this pause is a positive step, the conversation is far from over. GHBA will continue to advocate for long-term, strategic solutions that support both the city’s infrastructure needs and its continued growth.
We’re also proud of our success at the state level this session with the passage of HB 2559, which strengthens transparency and accountability in how cities enact development moratoriums.
Thank you again to all who stepped up to protect housing opportunities in Conroe. Your voice matters, and it’s being heard.