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Emergency management presents 2024 permit and subdivision activity; officials warn development will continue
Summary
The county's emergency management and permitting office reported an increase in subdivision and septic permitting in 2024, described new pre-development meetings for subdivisions and flagged concentrated well drilling and water availability as concerns in certain precincts.
Gonzales County's emergency management and permitting office presented the department's 2024 annual permit report and described changes to the county's subdivision process intended to streamline reviews and give commissioners earlier input.
The report reviewed permit counts for septic systems, floodplain reviews, driveways and temporary water-line permits. The office said subdivision activity rose in 2024 and that more lots remain in the pipeline: the presenter said there could be "another 50 to 100 lots" coming before the court in the next months and noted more than 200 septic permits already approved for 2025.
County staff explained that the court changed its subdivision order: the county no longer requires a preliminary plat unless the developer requests it. Instead, county staff now schedule pre-development meetings that include the precinct commissioner so the court can comment earlier in the process. The office said most lots in a recent final-plat request will be served by Gonzales County Water and meet the county's acre-and-a-half requirement.
The presenter also discussed concentrated drilling of water wells in some areas and noted meetings with local groundwater-district officials and Gonzales County Water representatives to discuss capacity and line-size issues for fire suppression. The court did not take formal action on the report; staff said they intend to continue outreach with water authorities and to track permit volumes.
Quote: "I don't see our subdivision stuff slowing down," the presenter said, noting continued demand and the potential for a significant development in a precinct.
