Frequently Asked Questions

UPDATE: Conroe/Woodlands Agreement Announced!

In yet another historic move toward future governance for The Woodlands, community leaders and City of Conroe officials announced today their intentions to enter into a series of agreements that will benefit both communities. Pursuant to the authority recently granted by Texas Senate Bill 1012 and House Bill 4109, the parties are authorized to enter into a mutually beneficial, enforceable and satisfactory agreement to resolve current and future boundary issues between the City of Conroe and The Woodlands. [more]

FAQs regarding the proposed annexation of Harper’s Landing by Conroe.

Why Harper's Landing?
What’s MUD 39?
What does the annexation mean?
What started this?
How do we stop it?
When will it go into effect?
Why are we just now finding out?
What can we do if it goes through?

Why Harper’s Landing?
The annexation is not limited to Harper’s Landing but entails all surrounding industrial lands comprising the realm of MUD 39. Those industrial taxes are what Conroe really wants. They account for anywhere from $89 million to $319 million in value and ensuing taxation. We are working to find the actual figure, 89 million, 319, or somewhere in between. Will update when we have that.

What’s MUD 39?
Municipal Utilities District number 39. This is the entity to which we currently pay our water bill and which provides water service to us.

What does the annexation mean?
Annexation to the City of Conroe means that the City of Conroe would be providing some of the services currently supplied by The Woodlands. Primarily this entails waste management, water and sewer service (provided by M.U.D. 39), fire service and police service. We assume but don’t know for certain as the issue has not been presented to The Woodlands at this point, that we would receive a lowered assessment fee from The Woodlands to account for the non-provision of services. Conroe right now posts lower rates for the delivery of trash pick-up, water and fire services than The Woodlands; however those services are not exactly the same as we receive today. By law the City is required to provide the same services as were in place when a community was annexed. It does not have to provide them at the same cost. Right now, for instance, curbside recycling is not offered by Conroe. We would as a community have to pay additional fees for that.

We will remain part of The Woodlands in name and in service provided in terms of pathways, pools, landscaping, covenants and so forth – until the remainder of The Woodlands is annexed by Houston in 7 years or until they are able to incorporate. To be able to incorporate, the legislature in Austin must pass a law. That law would allow annexation of communities to occur only after passing a public vote and communities in danger of being annexed could indeed incorporate themselves into cities. If that happens and we are already part of the City of Conroe, we cease to be part of The Woodlands.

What started this?
The mayor of Conroe wanted to change the design of the Conroe fire department. He offered the fire station by the railroad tracks near Harper’s Landing to The Woodlands in exchange for service provided. The Woodlands considered it, evaluated it, and decided against it. The fire chief could provide full detail of the reasons; there were many. The mayor did not like the decision and decided to find another way to pay for the continued existence of that station. He then began looking at the Extended Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) of the city. That jurisdiction included M.U.D. 39. Walmart is not included in that jurisdiction. The dividing line runs right between Walmart and Garden Ridge.

By law, the City of Conroe is able to expand its limits to include the ETJ. That’s what is happening.

How do we stop it?
The College Park Village Association board met with the mayor Tuesday morning, December 6, 2005. The board asked that he table the issue before the City Council. They are to meet Thursday night, December 8, 2005, to vote on beginning the annexation. He refused.

The board indicated that we needed time to review the issue, to find costs involved, to explain the matter to other residents. He refused. The board repeatedly mentioned that we support the town of Conroe, we shop there, we dine there, we recreate there, but we chose to live in The Woodlands, not in the town of Conroe. We understood that we pay perhaps a higher rate of service at times to live in The Woodlands, but we chose that route. He didn’t care.

To stop the annexation, we need: a) The Conroe City Council to vote it down Thursday night, b) legislation passed through the State Legislature to enable us to vote before being annexed, c) the City of Conroe to decide before December 8, 2008, that they do not want M.U.D. 39, or d) a special consideration from the city that allows them to absorb the industrial lands but leave the residential area as is, circa 2005.

We need people to attend the meeting of the City Council on Thursday, 12/8. Their bylaws permit only 3 people to speak per issue, limited to 3 minutes each. They do not have limits to the number of people who can attend the meeting. A showing of interest and concern by the residents of Harper’s Landing would influence the council IMMENSELY. Please check with Ted Stanley regarding the speakers.

When will it go into effect?
The process to begin annexation legalities will begin December 8, 2005, if the City Council of Conroe so approves the measure. The annexation will not go into effect until three years later, on December 8, 2008. The City of Conroe, meaning the City Council, can vote at any time during those 3 years to cease annexation procedures against any part of the M.U.D.

Why are we just now finding out?
Joel Deretchin of the The Woodlands Development Company and of The Woodlands Associations just happened to overhear a conversation the last week of November mentioning the annexation. He immediately contacted Ted Stanley, our representative to The Woodlands. The board had a special session the first weekend of December. Ted contacted the mayor and the board met with him, trying to convey to him that the residents of Harper’s Landing wished to remain residents of The Woodlands and not of Conroe. The board also repeatedly mentioned that this annexation process seemed to have been conducted in secrecy and figuratively swept under the rug.

The item was addressed during the November meeting of the Conroe City Council. We in Harper’s Landing were not aware of it because we, not being citizens of Conroe, do not habitually log onto the web site of Conroe to read the agenda of the council. It would be akin to keeping abreast every month of the agenda of the town of Willis, Spring, Shenandoah or the like.

What can we do if it goes through?
If the plan to annex is approved, the CPVA board will begin working on a counter proposal of special consideration to show that the annexation of Harper’s Landing is not financially advantageous to the City of Conroe. One of our concerns is that if The Woodlands is able to incorporate and we are at that point part of Conroe, the maintenance of the pool, the parks, the trails, the landscaping, the trees, the covenant enforcement will be provided by….? The City will incur major costs in annexing Harper’s Landing. The board will work in earnest to detail each and every one of those costs to the extent that they show the annexation of Harper’s Landing will cost more than it will benefit the City.

The residents of Harper’s Landing will also have the ability to vote in Conroe. The current mayor won the last election with just over 1700 votes. Roughly 3000 votes were cast. Harper’s Landing currently carries 3800 residents and can sway elections.

A thought that came to mind earlier today was something playing on a mistake the Mayor made in dealing with the board. He mentioned that if The Woodlands incorporated, we in Harper’s Landing could not re-join them unless released from the City to do so. His tone of voice implied that such action would never occur. With 3800 residents, Harper’s Landing could, however, elect members of its own to the City Council. The council is elected at large, not by representation of particular areas. Those members could then vote to de-annex Harper’s Landing. I think. It may not be so simple as that. But it’s a thought.

The Woodlands was appropriately mortified by the news of this annexation. They will support us in any way they can.

For additional information please contact any member of the board. We are disseminating information as soon as we have it and welcome any ideas and support anyone can provide.