For media inquiries or to schedule an interview with Bill or Colleen Ellison, contact Marketing@EllisonDev.com or (281) 936-0936.

For Immediate Release

Montgomery County Considers Second Lot Size Increase in 13 Months — Ellison Development Shares What It Could Mean for Housing Affordability

Conroe, Texas — March 31, 2026

CONROE, TX — A public hearing is scheduled for April 9, 2026 at the Montgomery County Commissioners Court to address a proposed increase to the minimum residential lot width in unincorporated areas of the county — from 40 feet to 50 feet. Ellison Development, a horizontal land developer with communities throughout unincorporated Montgomery County, is sharing data and perspective on how the proposed change could affect housing affordability for working families in the region.

Montgomery County adopted a 40-foot minimum lot width in March 2025 as part of its first overhaul of development regulations in over 40 years. The proposed change before commissioners would raise that minimum again to 50 feet — a second increase in just 13 months. Builder analysis documented by Community Impact estimates that each additional 10 feet of required lot width adds approximately $100,000 to the cost of a new home, through increased land cost and the larger home typically built on a wider lot.

"The communities we have developed in this county — Marie Village, William Trails, Castle's Edge — were made possible by attainable lot sizes," said Bill Ellison, founder of Ellison Development. "We have seen firsthand what happens when working families can access homeownership, and we have seen what happens when they can't. The data on this is clear — lot size is one of the most direct drivers of home price, and what gets decided at this hearing will shape who can afford to live in this county for years to come."

The hearing comes against a backdrop of sustained affordability pressure in the Houston region. The Houston Association of Realtors' Q4 2025 Affordability Report found that 56% of Houston-area households cannot afford the current median home price of $337,200. A 2025 study from Rice University's Kinder Institute found the median affordability gap — the difference between what a median-income household can afford and what homes actually cost — stands at approximately $130,000. The National Association of Home Builders' 2023 Priced-Out study found that every $1,000 increase in home price eliminates 3,054 potential buyers from the Houston metro market.

For the families currently living in Ellison Development communities, the difference between renting and owning has been life-changing. "I never thought I would own a home," said Melissa, a homeowner in an Ellison Development community in Montgomery County. "I thought I was doomed to rent for the rest of my life — and I am here now." For Victoria and Joshua, another couple who found an attainable home in the county, the experience redefined what felt possible. "It is not a dream that our age group kind of gets to have anymore," Joshua said. "So it was amazing to find something attainable — that we can own something, and build generational wealth."

A 2024 Aspen Institute study found that the median net worth of U.S. homeowners stands at approximately $400,000, compared to $10,400 for renters — a gap of nearly 40 times. That wealth gap begins the moment a family is priced out of buying and into permanent renting instead.

"Something worth noting in this conversation is the regulatory asymmetry between rental and ownership housing," said Colleen Ellison, co-founder of Ellison Development. "Apartment construction in the Houston area faces no equivalent lot-size restriction — 7,770 new apartment units were built in 2025 alone. Single-family homes, which are the only housing type that allows a family to build equity and generational wealth, face increasing restrictions on the land they can be built on. That gap is worth understanding when evaluating any policy that affects the price of new ownership housing."

The Texas Legislature addressed the relationship between lot size minimums and housing affordability in its 2025 session, passing Senate Bill 15 — which prohibits large municipalities from requiring residential lot widths greater than 20 feet in new single-family subdivisions. The law took effect September 1, 2025 and reflects a statewide legislative recognition that minimum lot size requirements are a significant barrier to housing affordability.

Ellison Development currently has two communities under active development in unincorporated Montgomery County — Baron Village and Saddle Village — designed to bring attainable homeownership to first-time buyers, veterans, and workforce families. The company is encouraging all interested residents to attend the April 9 hearing and learn more about the proposed change and its potential impact.

The hearing is open to all Montgomery County residents. Those who wish to attend or learn more can visit ellisondev.com/montgomery-county-affordable-housing.

About Ellison Development

Ellison Development is a horizontal land developer based in Conroe, Texas, founded by Bill and Colleen Ellison — advocates for workforce housing affordability and attainable homeownership for over two decades. The company develops residential communities throughout Montgomery County and the greater Houston region, partnering with trusted homebuilders to deliver quality homes at attainable price points. Its mission is to create unique communities that support the American Dream of homeownership for working families. Established communities include Marie Village, William Trails, and Castle's Edge. Baron Village and Saddle Village are currently under active development. For more information, visit EllisonDev.com or contact General@EllisonDev.com.

 

Supporting Resources for Media

 

• Full hearing details and community information: ellisondev.com/montgomery-county-affordable-housing

• Cost impact data and timeline: Two Lot Size Increases in 13 Months

• Homeowner stories: In Their Own Words

• Texas SB 15 legislative context: What Texas Senate Bill 15 Says About the Right Size for a Residential Lot

• Renting vs. owning wealth gap research: Renting vs. Owning in Montgomery County