2009 Council Retreat Presentation

Conroe Growth, Annexation Trendsand ChallengesJune 26th, 2009
Annual Council retreat
Presented By:
Mr. Guy d. andrews
Director-Community development,
for the City of Conroe
Our Mission
“To protect and serve the citizens of Conroe
and exceed their expectations”

Conroe Challenges
Source: Community Development
Conroe Growth, Annexation Trends and Challenges

Planning Challenges
Comprehensive Plan integration and implementation into business practice. Coordination of a more integrated approach to update the Major Thoroughfare Plan, including developing a Sidewalk & Trails Master Plan to address pedestrian mobility. Analyze Housing Stock to help understand community’s true housing needs.
Meeting this challenge means, focused planning efforts that develop each individual plan or study and integrating other planning efforts where applicable.
Source: Community Development, Burditt and Associates

Residential Growth Challenge
Maintain a balance of quality residential growth that meets the needs of the current and future marketplace.
Meeting this challenge means, a focused effort to understand the City’s housing needs, and to convey those to developers.

Commercial Growth Challenge
Maintain a balance of dynamic commercial growth without fostering urban sprawl that results in unplanned mobility issues.
Meeting this challenge means fostering a strong relationship with the commercial development community that leads to a win-win situation.
Source: Read King Commercial Real Estate, Covarrubias Associates Architects, Bleyl & Associates
Conroe Arts and Communications

Industrial Growth Challenge
Continue to attract responsible industrial businesses to the City’s northern industrial park, and begin to consider broadening the City’s industrial site offerings.
Meeting this challenge means, focused efforts to study feasibility of an industrial park located in the southeast portion of Conroe, and other areas for potential industrial growth.
Source: Greater Conroe Economic Development Council

Permitting Challenge
Recent spike in building activities without a permit have become an issue in Conroe.
Illegal construction activity compromises the public health and safety. If left unchecked, it will proliferate beyond control.
Meeting this challenge will mean: creating public awareness; swift enforcement; coordinating with Police, Municipal Courts, and other city departments; establishing stricter penalties; and developing new procedures and standards.

Mobility Challenge
The Comprehensive Plan outlined a Major Thoroughfare Plan for 2025 to begin to address mobility issues of Conroe & Montgomery County.
This Dynamic plan needs to be updated.
Meeting this challenge means, integrating sub-consultant work such as along Fm-3083, and current staff planning efforts. Publishing and Adopting a major Thoroughfare Plan as a result.
Source: Community Development,Wilbur Smith

Traffic Signals Challenge
In 2011 the City will inherit maintenance and responsibility for
traffic signals from TxDOT.
This includes 10-Flashing Red, 26-Flashing Yellow, 11-Luminary, and 71- Signalized Intersections.
Meeting this challenge means, sub-contracting this work, and/or building an internal division of manpower and equipment to respond to this 24/7 maintenance operation.

Multi-modal Transportation Challenge
With the expansion of commercial and industrial development, along with an influx of people into Montgomery County, Conroe faces a multi-modal transportation challenge.
Mobility of people and freight are key to make Conroe an attractive alternative to Houston.
Meeting this challenge means, focused efforts to support the expansion and development of Lone Star Executive Airport into a regional air traffic hub. Additionally, future studies regarding mobility should include transit options of high speed rail, HOV lanes, and toll-ways.
Source: Lone Star Executive Airport, Community Development

Annexation Challenge
In 2009 the City is planning to annex west along SH-105, and two neighborhoods adjacent to the previous years annexed territory and Lake Conroe.
This also includes adopting a 3-year Annexation Plan for Longmire on Lake Conroe and Studying Non-Consent tracts.
Meeting this challenge means, completing two annexations, a Non-Consent Exempt Study and adopting a 3-Year Plan by the end of the current year. Continuing to improve how we evaluate each potential annexation, especially in terms of service provisions.

Non-Consent Exempt Challenge
Identified large AG & TIM Exempt tracts
Should Annex or seek SPA’s, with 4 that are adjacent to city
Click for Appraisal Cards

Annexation Growth Challenge
Click for Feasibility Studies
Potential Expanded
3-Year Area
Water Pointe

Northward Expansion Challenge
Potential Voluntary
Annexations
Willis ISD

Asset Management Challenge
In 2010 the City is planning to implement Carte’graph Asset Management Software in Public Works.
This changes Conroe’s current business practices.
Meeting this challenge means, providing more manpower to capture, detail and manage those assets.

FIRM Map Revision Challenge
The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has undertaken an initiative to modernize National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) maps nationwide.
FEMA prepared Preliminary copies of the Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) and Flood Insurance Study (FIS) report for Montgomery County, Texas and its Incorporated Areas dates September 23, 2008 for review and comment.
Meeting this challenge means, educating the public of Floodplain changes and staying abreast of FEMA-related requirements.
*Update the FMP to better align these challenges with CRS NFIP requirements.
Source: Community Development, FEMA

Challenge Balance

Credits:
Mr. Jerry S. McGuire – Conroe City Administrator
Conroe Community Development Department
Conroe Arts & Communications
Lake Conroe Convention & Visitors Bureau
USDA Forest Service – National Forest & Grasslands in Texas
Conroe Parks and Recreation
Burditt and Associates
Read King Commercial Real Estate
Covarrubias Associates Architects
Bleyl & Associates
Greater Conroe Economic Development Council (GCEDC)
LJA Planning
Wilbur Smith
Lone Star Executive Airport
Professional Group Associates
Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA)