Developer charged under colonia prevention law near Port Isabel
PORT ISABEL — The Texas Attorney General’s Office on Wednesday charged a Cameron County developer with unlawfully subdividing and leasing lots in violation of colonia prevention laws.
The state enforcement action charges that the developer leased residential lots “that lacked either bonded or installed water and wastewater infrastructure” outside the city of Port Isabel.
Court records released Wednesday name Phillip C. Watrous, Jeanine Watrous and the Watrous Family Living Trust as defendants.
“According to state investigators, the Watrouses unlawfully subdivided one lot containing less than one acre of land into multiple lots for residential use without seeking plat approval from the Cameron County Commissioners Court,” a statement from the Attorney General’s Office says.
“In 2008, the defendants unlawfully created a recreational vehicle park on one of the lots, which they lease to mobile home owners.”
According to court records, nine mobile homes and four efficiency apartments were placed on the Watrous property.
The Watrous family could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
The state’s enforcement action is seeking an injunction that would require the Watrouses to comply with Texas colonia prevention laws and provide adequate water and sewage connections on their property.
The state is also seeking to prevent the Watrouses from marketing property until the minimum infrastructure is installed.
The family may face up to $15,000 in fines for each improperly leased lot, state officials said.
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Isaac Garcia writes for the Valley Morning Star in Harlingen.
