Conroe approves increasing minimum lot size width following concerns from Wedgewood residents

At Conroe City Council’s April 13 workshop and April 14 meeting, residents of the Wedgewood subdivision crowded the chambers to show support for amending an ordinance that would increase the minimum lot size width for residential developments in a golf course tract. Homeowners said they were concerned about the devaluation of property in the subdivision if 40-foot lots are allowed. The amendment was approved at the April 14 meeting.

The Wedgewood golf course, in the subdivision by the same name, was closed in 2016, and now developers are looking to make the land a residential area. The ordinance approved April 14 changes the minimum lot size for residential development on a golf course tract to 60 feet instead of the previous 40-foot minimum.

Council Member Curt Maddux said at the workshop April 13 that the devaluation of property due to lot sizes on golf course tracts has already affected other Houston properties.

“This has happened several times in Houston and in Humble ... and we saw some downward spirals over there with their property,” Maddux said at the workshop.

There are multiple other golf courses in Conroe the ordinance could affect, and Maddux said he believes changing the ordinance will help protect the value of property in Wedgewood.

“[The ordinance] is important and imperative for our city of Conroe knowing that we have others in the same situation, to protect those that invested in golf courses in that way,” Council Member Raymond McDonald said at the workshop.

Mayor Jody Czajkoski said at the workshop that the city and council failed Wedgewood residents in 2016 when the golf course was defunct.

Czajkoski said he believes the action was politically motivated and never should have happened.

“It’s certainly become apparent that Wedgewood has lost value in your homes in the fact that the golf course disappeared, and then to have an additional devolution of your homes with 40-foot lots, is tragic,” Council Member Marsha Porter said at the workshop.