New development in Magnolia is still paused after the Magnolia City Council unanimously approved extending its temporary development moratorium due to not having enough water capacity at its April 11 meeting. Council Members Matthew Dantzer and Richard Carby were absent from the meeting.

In effect for another 120 days for property within Magnolia’s city limits and its extraterritorial jurisdiction, the temporary development moratorium applies to all property within city limits and its extraterritorial jurisdiction unless it falls within an exception.

Exceptions to the moratorium include projects that do not impact the city’s water capacity, ongoing projects, projects that are grandfathered under state law and property owners who have a negotiated approval granted by City Council, according to the ordinance.

In an April 5 memo to City Attorney Leonard Schneider included in the April 11 agenda packet, City Engineer Mike Kurzy said the water capacity that necessitated the moratorium has not changed with the city capable of serving 3,693 connections with active connections sitting below 3,650, according to the memo.

Around 11,000 new connections are expected to be needed from new developments over the next five years, Community Impact previously reported.

To help increase water capacity, the city is under construction with Well No. 7 and Well No. 8. City Council approved temporary equipment for Well No. 7, which is expected to be installed and running by mid-May, according to previous reporting.

Well No. 8 is anticipated to be complete around December, Community Impact previously reported.

View the moratorium ordinance below.