Conroe council hears petition timeline, drainage easement concerns for Roman Hills property; Stanley Lake MUD to submit annexation petition

At the May 7 Conroe workshop, property owner Jennifer Kinzer presented a history of efforts to obtain water, sewer and drainage easement guarantees for land along Highway 105 West (Roman Hills / Sundowners Food Park and Conroe Forest). Kinzer said Stanley Lake Municipal Utility District (MUD) confirmed capacity is available and planned to sign a consent‑to‑annexation petition at the district’s May 9 board meeting; she said the signed petition would then be sent to the city for the mayor’s signature and council review.

Key points: Kinzer and her representatives said Stanley Lake MUD’s board approved the annexation petition and that legal and engineering documentation were in process. Michael Sullivan, representing the family, and attorney Randy Bays (represented by Kinzer in his absence) told the council that if the city does not follow required procedures the family may pursue a writ of mandamus.

Drainage/easement issues: Kinzer also raised a separate long‑running issue in Conroe Forest where she says no public drainage or utility easement was put in place after annexation; she told council that neighborhood drainage and erosion are causing property damage and said she had been unable to obtain promised easement implementation since annexation. Public works staff and city attorney said TxDOT has maintenance responsibility for an outfall in one area and that utilities in the state right of way require a permit; city staff agreed to review the Conroe Forest annexation paperwork and return with recommendations.

City staff response and next steps: Public works director Norman McGuire said staff would review the petition and coordinate legal review; he asked Stanley Lake MUD and its attorney to include a legal opinion clarifying that adding the parcel would not impair the city’s strategic partnership with the district. City engineering staff said they would review the drainage documentation for Conroe Forest and explore options for a drainage easement or permitted utility crossing. McGuire asked staff to prepare recommendations for council at the next meeting.

Why it matters: The case highlights how annexation, municipal utility district arrangements and right‑of‑way/drainage commitments intersect with development, utilities and county/city jurisdiction for properties near the city boundary. Kinzer emphasized that the affected parcels host small businesses (food park) and that service availability is foundational for both safety and business operations.

Public procedural note: Councilmembers discussed whether an extended citizen presentation outside typical public‑comment rules set a precedent; several councilmembers agreed the item had been properly posted and allowed the presentation to proceed. Council asked for the Stanley Lake petition, a supporting legal opinion, and staff recommendations for council action.

Ending: Staff agreed to review the petition and supporting documents, confirm Texas Roadhouse/parcel boundaries shown in Kinzer’s slides, and return with a recommended path to consent to annexation and a proposal to address the drainage easement issue for the Conroe Forest property.