Conroe orders CSI to remove unpermitted structures

**Conroe City Council Mandates Demolition of Unpermitted Structures at Petrochemical Plant, Citing Public Safety Concerns**

**Conroe, TX – October 15, 2021** – The Conroe City Council unanimously issued a serious stop-work order and mandated the removal of unpermitted structures at Custom Synthesis Inc. (CSI), a local petrochemical plant, following months of non-compliance with city zoning and permitting regulations. The decisive 5-0 vote took place on Thursday, October 14, 2021, underscoring the city’s firm stance on public safety and adherence to development codes.

The core of the issue revolves around the CSI plant, located at 2220 N. Frazier St., which began a significant expansion around June 2021 without obtaining a single permit from the City of Conroe. This expansion included the construction of several new structures, such as large tanks, chemical reactors, loading docks, and truck scales. City officials say the construction continued despite an initial stop-work notice issued on July 28, 2021, and the subsequent denial of the company’s Certificate of Occupancy application on September 20, 2021.

City Administrator Paul Virgadamo and Community Development Director Nancy Mikeska have been vocal about the company’s lack of cooperation. Mikeska stated that CSI essentially “blew off” the city’s requests for months, a sentiment echoed by Virgadamo, who highlighted the significant public safety concerns posed by the hazardous materials handled at the facility.

The CSI plant, which manufactures ingredients for pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and other specialty chemicals, is situated in an area zoned for “light industrial” use. However, city staff asserts that the recent expansion clearly falls into “heavy industrial” territory, necessitating a more rigorous permitting process and adherence to stricter safety standards.

Adding a layer of tension to the situation, the CSI facility borders the master-planned Woodforest community, a residential area. Virgil Yoakum, general manager for Woodforest, addressed the council meeting, explicitly relaying the community’s serious concerns regarding the plant’s operations and expansion without proper oversight.

Representatives for CSI, including an environmental consultant and their attorney, argued that they were “operating under a misapprehension” regarding the necessity of permits. They claimed to believe they were merely updating their existing “grandfathered” operations, which date back to their purchase of the property in 1999.

However, council members, including Curt Maddux, and Mayor Jody Czajkoski, pushed back strongly against this claim. They emphasized that an expansion of this magnitude unequivocally requires new permits and strict adherence to current zoning and safety regulations, regardless of previous operational history.

This is not the first time CSI has faced scrutiny over regulatory compliance. Records indicate the company has a history of previous violations, including issues related to stormwater and hazardous waste in 2018, and air pollution in 2019.

CSI now faces a strict 30-day deadline from the October 14th council vote to remove all unpermitted structures. Should the company fail to comply, the City of Conroe has indicated it is prepared to take more drastic measures, including the potential cutoff of utilities to the facility. Additionally, the city attorney is actively preparing a civil suit against Custom Synthesis Inc. to enforce the council’s order and recover any associated costs.