By Cody Miller, GHBA Director of Government Affairs
The City of Manvel recently considered adopting a Municipal Utility District (MUD) policy that would have established new requirements and approval processes for future MUDs. GHBA raised concerns that several of the included policies could create uncertainty in infrastructure financing, increase development and housing costs and discourage investment within the City’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.
Following a discussion on the policy at the June 15 City Council, the City invited several GHBA members and industry representatives to collaborate on potential revisions to the proposed policy. On July 6 after further consideration, the City chose not to move forward with adopting the policy and instead will continue evaluating future MUD requests on a case-by-case basis.
GHBA appreciates the City’s willingness to engage with the development community and looks forward to continuing to work together on policies that support responsible growth while preserving housing affordability and investment in the region.