Conroe Halts Housing Project After Residents Protest Clear-Cutting

Conroe has halted DR Horton's residential project after the developer cleared 34 acres under a previous tree ordinance. The action has outraged residents, prompting a firm response from city council members.

The property located off FM 2854 is set to transform into Collier Pointe, featuring 150 lots for new homes. DR Horton commenced operations this year following a variance approved in 2024, enabling the project to move forward in accordance with the city’s 2018 tree ordinance. The previous version allowed for complete clear-cutting, a method that is now prohibited under Conroe’s revised ordinance established in 2022.

“I am frustrated with learning about issues from residents before the city communicates them to me,” Councilwoman Marsha Porter expressed during Thursday’s council meeting. “I’m exhausted from being caught off guard, I’m fed up with the obvious destruction.”

Norm McGuire, the Assistant City Administrator and Public Works Director, announced that the project has been temporarily halted to allow staff to collect additional information and collaborate with the developer. He noted that the variance was approved by prior staff and not reviewed by the council.

Section 1 of Collier Pointe spans 34 acres and has been fully cleared. Section 2, currently in its undeveloped state, covers 20 acres and will be subject to the city's more stringent 2022 ordinance, mandating a tree inventory, canopy coverage, and a landscaping plan.

Representatives from DR Horton have yet to respond to inquiries for comment.

The tree ordinance has been a contentious issue for over ten years. In 2013, Conroe implemented stricter regulations to safeguard tree cover; however, a revision in 2018 eased those requirements, resulting in extensive clear-cutting. Following significant backlash from the communities of Wroxton Estates and Forest Estates, the council took action in 2022 to reinstate more stringent regulations.

In addition to the tree removal issue, residents are expressing concerns about traffic and flooding in the area. In 2021, locals raised concerns that the narrow streets lacking sidewalks were ill-equipped to accommodate additional vehicles. McGuire stated that Collier Pointe would remain disconnected from the neighborhoods, aside from an emergency-access gate, and highlighted the drainage enhancements planned along Broken Bough.

City officials are scheduled to meet with DR Horton next week to evaluate the project's effects. They will be evaluated, as McGuire stated, "Our goal is to identify the most effective way to move ahead for this community and its residents."

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