Chambers County sets Sept. 9 public hearing to consider larger minimum lot sizes in subdivision manual

Chambers County Commissioners Court voted Aug. 5 to set a public hearing for 10:00 a.m. on Sept. 9 to consider proposed updates to the county Subdivision Manual, including a change to establish a minimum lot size of three-quarters of an acre and to retain a minimum lot width of 55 feet.

Zach (county engineering staff) told the court this is the formal step required to open the public hearing process; proposed changes will be posted online and highlighted in red so the public can review the amendments before the hearing. "The biggest change...we're gonna go to three quarters of an acre minimum size, as well as keep the minimum width of 55," Zach said, adding the minimum width is intended to prevent very narrow, unusable lots.

Samantha Humphrey, an Anahuac ISD trustee and Chambers County resident, told the court she supports the change, arguing larger lots will help manage rapid county growth, reduce strain on schools and reduce stormwater and fire risks. "We only get one chance to manage this moment of growth," Humphrey said, urging the court to be intentional about planning.

Commissioner Dagley moved and Commissioner Tice seconded the motion to set the Sept. 9 public hearing; the court voted in favor and the motion carried. Staff said the proposed changes and a redlined manual will be posted to the county engineering and purchasing websites in advance of the hearing.

The item establishes the formal comment period and next procedural step; no final changes to the manual were adopted at the Aug. 5 meeting.