FAQs • The Woodlands Township • CivicEngage

Is The Woodlands, including the new village of Creekside Park, subject to annexation by Houston?: In 2007, The Woodlands Township, including The Village of Creekside Park, entered into an agreement (with Houston) which provides that the City of Houston shall not take any action to annex any part of The Woodlands Township for a term of 50 years. This agreement also provides that on or after May 29, 2014, The Woodlands Township may incorporate as a municipality or adopt an alternate form of local government under Texas State law and upon doing so, will be released from the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City of Houston.

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Incorporation, Transition and Governance

1. How can I find the most recent FAQs?: Please visit www.thewoodlandsincorporationstudy.com for the most up-to-date FAQs and information.

2. Will the 2007 legal agreement entered into by the Township to continue to enforce our covenants be binding on a future city, whether it be a General Law or Home Rule City?: Link to response

3. When will The Woodlands become a city? Why are we not a city now?

The Woodlands was built as an unincorporated master-planned community within Montgomery County and the extra-territorial jurisdiction of the City of Houston. This means that prior to 1999, the City of Houston had the ability to annex The Woodlands with a vote of the Houston City Council. Parts of The Woodlands were also built within the extra-territorial jurisdiction of the City of Conroe. In 1999, an agreement was signed that in essence put a moratorium on the ability for Houston to annex The Woodlands and on the ability for The Woodlands to incorporate.

In late 2007, The Woodlands Township signed an agreement with the City of Houston, as well as the City of Conroe, that will allow The Woodlands to contribute to projects of regional and mutual benefit (such as better access to the Houston Medical Center or extending the Hardy Toll Road) in exchange for those cities releasing The Woodlands from potential annexation for a period of 50 years. This agreement gives The Woodlands freedom to determine its future governance once the moratorium agreement expires. Based on legal requirements related to these agreements, the earliest date that an election could be held to determine whether or not The Woodlands residents choose to become a city was May 2014.

The Woodlands Township Board of Directors took action on Friday, August 13, 2021, to place Incorporation on the ballot for the election on November 2, 2021. Residents of The Woodlands were asked to vote "for" or "against" the propositions shown below:

THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP – PROPOSITION A

Authorizing the Type-A city incorporation of The Woodlands Township District and the adoption of an initial property tax rate of not more than $0.2231 per one hundred dollars ($100) valuation of taxable property.

THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP – PROPOSITION B

Upon incorporation of The Woodlands Township District into a Type-A General Law City to be called the City of The Woodlands, the transfer of the rights, powers, privileges, duties, purposes, functions, responsibilities, the authority to issue bonds, and the authority to impose taxes from The Woodlands Township District to the City of The Woodlands.

As of November 2, 2021, residents of The Woodlands Township voted not to incorporate as the City of The Woodlands.

For more information on The Woodlands Township election, visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/NovemberElection. Transition and Governance

4. When are the Township elections?: The Village Associations and the Residential Design Review Committees are elected annually in February. The Woodlands Township Board of Directors election is held in November. Elections

5. Is The Woodlands, including the new village of Creekside Park, subject to annexation by Houston?: In 2007, The Woodlands Township, including The Village of Creekside Park, entered into an agreement (with Houston) which provides that the City of Houston shall not take any action to annex any part of The Woodlands Township for a term of 50 years. This agreement also provides that on or after May 29, 2014, The Woodlands Township may incorporate as a municipality or adopt an alternate form of local government under Texas State law and upon doing so, will be released from the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City of Houston.

6. Does Harper’s Landing have representation in The Woodlands Township and the Village Associations?: The neighborhood of Harper’s Landing is located within the boundaries of The Woodlands Township. Residents in Harper’s Landing are able to vote in The Woodlands Township Election. Voters must be registered though, to vote in this election. Additionally, the neighborhood of Harper’s Landing is located within the Village of College Park and is part of the College Park Village Association. As a courtesy, the bylaws and a link to the College Park Village Association website are included on The Woodlands Township website.

In addition to the College Park Village Association, Harper’s Landing residents are eligible to run for and vote for the College Park Residential Design Review Committee (RDRC). The election for the RDRC and Village Association positions are usually held in February and information is available on the Township Election website.