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Mount Pleasant council tables proposal to license boathouses on Lake Tankersley after residents raise safety and cost concerns
Summary
Council members heard hours of public testimony about proposed five-year licenses for docks and boathouses on city-owned Lake Tankersley, including safety concerns about the dam and shallow depths, and unanimously voted to table the proposal for further study and prioritization.
Mount Pleasant's city council on the evening under discussion paused consideration of a proposed ordinance that would allow private boathouses, docks and slips on city-owned portions of Lake Tankersley.
The council's action followed a lengthy staff presentation describing a proposed five-year license that would let property owners build boat houses, fixed piers and slips inside the lake's takeline, and would set initial and recurring fees (the draft staff proposal included a $1,000 one-time fee and $600 annual fee). Staff also described required setbacks, size limits and a neighbor-review process.
Property owners and lake users packed the public-comment period. Colin Cowan, a long-time property owner, presented maps, depth measurements and a redacted Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) inspection he obtained; Cowan said most of the lake is shallow (many locations he measured were 2–8 feet deep), that he found no locations at or above 30 feet, and that the lake's narrow geometry and lack of long unobstructed distances make it unsuitable for wake-producing boats. He also highlighted the 07/28/2022 TCEQ inspection, which he said showed failed slope and spillway components and a "high" hazard-potential classification, and urged the council to consider a no-wake designation to protect the dam, downstream infrastructure and public safety.
Other residents voiced frustration with the proposed fee structure and asked whether long-standing docks and slips would be grandfathered. Staff said the draft fees were informed by comparisons with nearby lakes (Lake Bob Sandlin and Lake Cypress) and that the licensing revenue would help cover enforcement and fire-department lake-monitoring costs.
Council members acknowledged the technical and fiscal concerns raised, with several members saying more study is needed on dam condition, dredging policies, boating regulations and long-term maintenance costs. Council Member Hagman moved to table the proposal and place it on the city's project priority list for additional study; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
The council did not adopt an ordinance or license program; the item will return for further work and scheduling as part of the council's project prioritization process.
