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UM, IT IS NINE OH FIVE AND WE'LL CALL THE SPECIAL, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING FOR JANUARY 16TH, 2026 TO ORDER, WOULD STAFF PLEASE DO A ROLL CALL? COMMISSIONER SANCHEZ PRESENT.
UM, COMMISSIONER SIEGEL? HERE.
COMMISSIONER PROFIT, PRESENT CHAIR.
CAN WE GET THE SPANISH ENGLISH INTERPRETER PLEASE? HELLO.
TODAY WE ONLY HAVE ONE THING ON THE AGENDA.
IT IS THE, UH, UM, CONSENT OR RECOMMENDATION FOR THE CITY TO CONSENT TO THE CREATION OF THE MUD FOR THE WA RANCH SUBDIVISION.
UM, COUPLE OF HOUSEKEEPING THINGS.
UM, WE'RE GONNA ALLOW SIGNUPS UNTIL NINE 30.
AT NINE 30, THE SIGNUP WILL BE CUT OFF.
UM, THE SPEAKING TIME FOR EACH PERSON WILL BE ONE MINUTE AND 30 SECONDS.
IF YOU WANNA APPROACH THE PODIUM IN GROUP LARGE GROUPS, FEEL FREE TO DO SO.
BUT IF THE, IF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AT THE PODIUM IS MORE THAN THREE, THE SPEAKING TIME WILL STILL BE FOUR MINUTES AND 30 SECONDS.
UM, I'M GOING, THE WAY WE'RE GONNA DO THIS IS I'M GONNA CALL NUMBERS.
WE'RE GONNA START WITH NUMBERS ONE THROUGH FIVE AND ONE THROUGH FIVE WILL LINE UP KIND OF IN THE AISLE HERE, AND THEN AS EACH PERSON SPEAKS, WE, THE NEXT PERSON CAN, UH, CAN JUST FILE UP AND THEN WE'LL CALL FIVE THROUGH 10 AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
UM, WHEN YOU GET TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
UM, AND JUST FOR, UH, STAFF'S, UH, KNOWLEDGE, UM, AFTER THE, UH, CITY'S PRESENTATION AND THE APPLICANT'S PRESENTATION, WE'RE GONNA DO THE VOICEMAILS AND THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO WITH THAT, WE WILL, UH, START WITH THE, UH, STAFF PRESENTATION.
UH, MY NAME IS PRISCILLA ROSALES PINA, AND I'M WITH THE CITIES OF SAN ANTONIO'S PLANNING DEPARTMENT, UH, REGIONAL PLANNING SECTION, THE PLANNING MANAGER.
AND TODAY WE HAVE A PRESENTATION ON A PUBLIC HEARING AND RESOLUTION REGARDING THE REQUEST FOR THE CITY'S CONSENT TO THE GU RANCH MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT, WHICH WILL ALSO BE KNOWN AS THE BERK COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT, OR MUD NUMBER TWO BY TCAQ, AND ALSO AN ASSOCIATED DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE, UH, PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE, OF THE PROPERTY.
SO ON THIS SLIDE, UH, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE MAP, THE PROPERTY IS LO IS LOCATED WEST OF NORTHWEST OF SCENIC LOOP AND BABCOCK ROAD.
IT IS IN THE NORTHWEST PART OF THE CITY'S ETJ IN BURKE COUNTY.
IT, UH, THE PROPERTY OWNERS ARE, UH, GU RANCH AND SYDNEY AND MARCY EDWARDS, AND THEY HAVE SUBMITTED A REQUEST TO TCQ TO, TO, UH, CREATE THE MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT IS TO PROVIDE AND FINANCE SERVICES INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT.
THE DEVELOPMENT IS APPROXIMATELY 3000 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, AND IT WILL PROVIDE WATER SUPPLY, SANITARY STORAGE SYSTEM, A WASTE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLAN, AND OTHER SERVICES.
SO AS WE DO WITH OTHER AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER SPECIAL DISTRICTS, THERE ARE SOME STANDARD CONSIDERATIONS AND TERMS FOR THIS MUD DISTRICT.
THERE ARE THESE, UH, OTHER CONSIDERATIONS THAT ARE PART OF THE CITY'S CONSENT TO THE CREATION BY TCQ OF THE MUD.
SO IT'S, UM, THERE WERE NINE, UH, SERVICE, UM, UTILITY SERVICE AGREEMENTS, DEVELOPMENT CONTROLS THAT WERE NEGOTIATED BY SAS THAT'S INCORPORATED INTO THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
THERE'S ALSO A THIRD PRIORITY CONSERVATION EASTMAN HOLDER.
IT WILL ENSURE APPROPRIATE INGRESS AND EGRESS TO THE DEVELOPMENT.
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ON THE INSURANCE OF BONDS BY THE DISTRICT, UM, AND IT'S GONNA COMPLY WITH ALL THE STATE AND CITY REGULATIONS THAT ARE APPLICABLE IN PROP FOR ALL PROPERTIES IN ETJ.AND THERE'S ALSO TERMS FOR A FUTURE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT ALONG WITH THE ANNEXATION OF THE, OF THE COMMERCIAL AREAS IN THAT THERE'S ALSO AN APPLICATION PROVISION FEES, AND THEY WILL PAY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FEES.
SO BY STATE LAW, UH, IT, ONCE A MUD PETITION IS SUBMITTED TO THE CITY FOR ITS CONSENT, THERE'S A 90 DAY, UH, TIME LIMIT.
SO THE PETITION WAS SUBMITTED ON NOVEMBER 10TH.
THEN WE HAD THE, WE HAD THE DECEMBER 17TH, WE HAD A BRIEFING TO THIS COMMISSION.
UM, AND THEN, WHOOPS, GOT THE WRONG DATE.
JANUARY 16 IS, UH, TODAY'S HEARING.
AND, UH, THEN THE COUNSEL WILL CONSIDER THIS ITEM ON FEBRUARY 5TH.
AND AT THAT TIME, THEY WILL EITHER APPROVE OR DENY WHETHER THEY EXTEND THEIR CONSENT FOR THE DEVELOPER TO PROCEED TO, UM, TCEQ FOR, FOR THEIR CREATION OF THE PI MEAN, OF THE MUD.
SO THAT IS, IT IS A STATUTORY PROCESS THAT THE CITY IS PARTICIPATING IN THAT'S REQUIRED BY STATE LAW.
SO THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I DON'T THINK SO.
UH, WOULD THE APPLICANT LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION? GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS.
UM, AM I GIVEN 10 MINUTES? JUST WANT TO, OKAY.
KEVIN DEDO WITH ORTIZ MCKNIGHT, UH, ONE 12 EAST PECAN STREET REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE APPLICANT, AND PROPOSED DEVELOPER, UH, LENNAR HOLMES.
UM, I'M GONNA FOLLOW UP QUICKLY ON STAFF'S PRESENTATION.
UM, I THINK WE BUILD PRETTY SEAMLESSLY OFF OF EACH OTHER.
UM, MY PRESENTATION STARTS WITH INITIAL SLIDE SHOWING THE GENERAL LOCATION OF THE PROPERTY.
YOU CAN SEE THE PROPERTY THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING.
IT'S APPROXIMATELY A 1,160 ACRE SITE, GENERALLY LOCATED NORTHWEST OF LOOP 1604 AND I 10.
UH, BUT MORE SPECIFICALLY LOCATED AT THE NORTHWEST INTERSECTION OF SCENIC LOOP ROAD AND BABCOCK ROAD.
THE PROPERTY ITSELF IS WHOLLY IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S ETJ AND BEXAR COUNTY.
YOU CAN SEE THAT WE FRONT ON SCENIC LOOP ROAD AND THE SITE IS CURRENTLY UNDEVELOPED.
UH, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO TELL FROM THIS EXHIBIT, BUT IN THE GENERAL VICINITY OF THIS SITE IS TRADITIONAL SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
THE REQUEST BEFORE PLANNING COMMISSION TODAY IS WE ARE REQUESTING CITY OF SAN ANTONIO CONSENT TO THE CREATION OF A MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT OR A MUD, WHICH WOULD EVENTUALLY BE CREATED AT TCEQ.
ON THIS SLIDE, YOU SEE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT.
THIS EXHIBIT HERE SHOWS A TYPICAL RENDERING OF A LENNAR HOME.
UH, THIS IS FROM ANOTHER LENNAR DEVELOPMENT IN THE SAN ANTONIO AREA.
UH, THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT PROPOSED FOR GU RANCH, AS WE ARE CALLING IT, IS A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
THIS WOULD BE A MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY WITH A MIX OF LOT SIZES AND HOME TYPES.
WE'RE PROPOSING 3000 TOTAL HOMES WITH MIX OF HOME SIZES, RANGING FROM ROUGHLY 1,200 SQUARE FEET TO 2,400 SQUARE FEET.
THERE'LL BE A MIX OF SINGLE AND TWO STORY HOMES.
WE'LL ALSO INCLUDE NEIGHBORHOOD AMENITIES SUCH AS PARKS, OPEN SPACE, AND POTENTIALLY, UH, SWIMMING POOLS, UH, SOMETHING THAT NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS CAN VISIT AND ENJOY.
BUT OVERALL, WHAT WE ARE DISCUSSING HERE TODAY IS A TYPICAL SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS AN ENHANCED VIEW OF THE SITE, AGAIN, DEMARCATED IN RED.
OVERALL, THE INTENT OF THIS SLIDE IS TO SHOW THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT PROCESS TIMELINE AND ENTITLEMENTS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED TO DATE.
SPECIFICALLY, THERE ARE THREE MAJOR ENTITLEMENTS THAT EXIST FOR THIS SITE.
THOSE ARE AN APPROVED SAS UTILITY SERVICE AGREEMENT AND APPROVED MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN, AND A, AND AN APPROVED DISCHARGE PERMIT.
I'LL GO INTO DETAIL ON THE THREE MAJOR ENTITLEMENTS ON THE COMING SLIDES, BUT HERE IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WITH GU RANCH, WE'VE RECEIVED STANDARD DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS THAT YOU WOULD OTHERWISE SEE WITH ANY OTHER DEVELOPMENT IN SAN ANTONIO, IN THE ETJ IN BEXAR COUNTY.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE TIMELINE, THIS IS A DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS RECEIVED ENHANCED REVIEW.
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STARTED IN 2022 WHEN SAWS APPROVED THEIR WATER USA FOR THE DEVELOPMENT WITH SPECIAL CONDITIONS ON WASTEWATER SERVICE.I'LL GO INTO MORE DETAIL ABOUT THAT HERE IN A LITTLE BIT.
UM, AND THEN WE HAD AN APPROVED MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN FROM THE CITY IN MARCH OF 2023.
AND MOST RECENTLY, AS YOU MAY HAVE HEARD, WE RECEIVED TCQ UH, PERMIT APPROVAL FOR A WASTEWATER DISCHARGE PERMIT.
AS STAFF MENTIONED, IN NOVEMBER OF 2025, WE FILED A PETITION WITH THE CITY FOR THE CITY'S CONSENT TO THE CREATION OF A MUD.
AS I MENTIONED, WE DO HAVE A UTILITY SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH SAWS.
SAWS HAS AGREED TO PROVIDE WATER SERVICE BUT NOT SEWER SERVICE.
AND I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO EXPLAIN WHY WE ARE NOT RECEIVING SEWER SERVICE FROM SAWS.
THE REASON FOR THE LACK OF SEWER SERVICE IS THAT WE ARE NOT IN SAWS SEWER JURISDICTION.
SO SAWS IS NOT MANDATED TO PROVIDE SEWER TO THIS SITE, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT MANDATORY FOR SAWS TO PROVIDE.
SEWER SAWS DID EVALUATE POTENTIAL SEWER OPTIONS FOR THIS SITE WHEN EVALUATING WATER SERVICE.
NOTABLY, SAWS EVALUATED TRADITIONAL SEWER SEPTIC SYSTEMS AND A POTENTIAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.
ULTIMATELY, THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT WAS THE OPTION THAT SAWS FELT COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD WITH.
TRADITIONAL SEWER WOULD'VE REQUIRED THAT SAWS EXTEND SEWER LINE FIVE MILES FROM THE CLOSEST CONNECTION POINT THROUGH THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE ZONE, AND WOULD HAVE REQUIRED MULTIPLE EASEMENTS FROM PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN COSTLY AND TIME CONSUMING.
MOREOVER, TRADITIONAL SEWER WOULD HAVE OPENED TRADITIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THIS AREA.
THAT IS ANYBODY WHO HAD THE ABILITY TO CONNECT TO A SEWER LINE COULD DEVELOP PROPERTY.
AS YOU KNOW, THIS PROPERTY IS IN THE ETJ.
A LOT OF THIS PROPERTY IS IN THE ETJ.
THERE ARE VERY LIMITED LAND USE CONTROLS IN THIS AREA.
THE NEXT OPTION THAT SAWS EVALUATED WAS A SEPTIC SYSTEM.
AND SAWS FOUND THAT THIS WAS AN INFERIOR TREATMENT METHOD FOR WASTE, AND IT REALLY DOES NOT SOLVE THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN.
SPECIFICALLY, SEPTIC SYSTEMS LACK SUPERVISION AND MAINTENANCE.
WHEN SEPTIC SYSTEMS ARE PERMITTED AT THE INITIAL STAGE BY BEXAR COUNTY, THAT IS THE ONLY PERMITTING THAT IS REQUIRED.
IT IS UP THEN, IT IS THEN UP TO PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS TO MAINTAIN REVIEW, MAKE SURE THAT THEIR SEPTIC SYSTEM IS NOT LEAKING OR DISCHARGING.
AND THE LEAKING OR DISCHARGING THAT COMES FROM SEPTIC SYSTEMS IS RAW SEWAGE.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH TRADITIONAL SEPTIC.
AND IN THIS AREA WHERE GUHA RANCH IS, THE TOPOGRAPHY HAS LENT ITSELF TO SEPTIC SYSTEMS FAILING OR SHOWING SIGNS OF WHERE, WHERE RAW SEWAGE DOES LEAK.
THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT PROVIDED CLEAR SUPERVISION AND MAINTENANCE.
IT ALLOWED SAWS TO, UH, REQUIRE ENHANCED DEVELOPER OBLIGATIONS FOR THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
AND SAWS ALSO FOUND THAT THERE IS A HISTORY OF USE IN THE AREA.
I HAVE A SLIDE THAT I'LL SHOW YOU TO EXPLAIN THAT IN MORE DETAIL, BUT BEFORE MOVING ON, I WANTED TO NOTE THAT SAS GRANTED THE WATER USA AND AS STAFF MENTIONED, INCLUDED NINE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR A POTENTIAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, WHICH LENNAR AGREED TO.
I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH ALL NINE, BUT I'LL LIST SOME IMPORTANT ONES.
ONE, LENNAR AGREED TO REDUCE THEIR DENSITY FROM 6,000 TOTAL UNITS TO 3000 TOTAL UNITS.
SO THAT IS WHAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO YOU TODAY.
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE LIMITING OURSELVES TO.
LENAR AGREED TO LIMIT IMPERVIOUS COVER TO 30%.
AGAIN, THIS SITE IS WHOLLY WITHIN THE CONTRIBUTING ZONE.
SO THE LIMITS ON IMPERVIOUS COVER THAT WE TYPICALLY SEE IN THE UDC, THOSE ARE ONLY APPLICABLE TO PROPERTIES THAT ARE IN THE RECHARGE ZONE, WOULD NOT BE APPLICABLE TO THIS SITE.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE AGREED TO THE OPERATOR OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
WE ALSO AGREED THAT THE OPERATOR WOULD BE A TYPE A CLASS OPERATOR, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE FOR OPERATORS IN THE STATE.
MOREOVER, WE AGREED TO SET ASIDE 50% OR ROUGHLY 580 ACRES OF THE DEVELOPMENT AS OPEN SPACE UNDEVELOPABLE LAND.
WE ALSO AGREED TO WAIVE ANY VESTED RIGHTS THAT MAY EXIST AND COMPLY WITH THE 2010 TREE ORDINANCE.
AND LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, UM, AS IT RELATES TO THE ITEMS THAT I'M HIGHLIGHTING, WE AGREED THAT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT WOULD ONLY SERVE THE, THIS DEVELOPMENT THAT IS HIGHLIGHTED HERE IN RED.
THAT IS THE 1,160 ACRES THAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU.
SO NO CONNECTION FROM POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS ADJACENT OR THAT WOULD COME IN THE FUTURE.
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OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT WOULD SOLELY SERVE OUR SITE ALSO, DURING PRESENTATION AT SAWS, I, I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT STAFF NOTED THE POSSIBILITY OF A SPECIAL DISTRICT TO ASSIST IN MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.UM, I'LL GO INTO MORE DETAIL ABOUT THAT HERE, HERE SHORTLY.
BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WHEN WE INITIALLY STARTED THIS PROCESS IN 2021 AND 2022, A SPECIAL DISTRICT WAS ALREADY ON.
THE HORIZON WAS ALREADY BEING DISCUSSED SO QUICKLY ABOUT THE APPROVED MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN, UH, THIS WAS THE SECOND ENTITLEMENT THAT WAS APPROVED FOR THIS SITE.
WE RECEIVED APPROVAL OF THE MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN IN MARCH OF 2023.
JUST FOR SOME CONTEXT, A MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN FUNCTIONS AS AN UMBRELLA FOR MULTIPLE STUDIES REQUIRED BY THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S UDC STUDIES SUCH AS DRAINAGE, WATER QUALITY TRAFFIC, UH, TREE STUDIES.
AND AS IT RELATES TO GUA RANCH, SPECIFICALLY, LENARD AGREED TO PROACTIVELY MITIGATE DEVELOPMENT CONCERNS.
UH, NOTABLY, THEY AGREED TO DRAINAGE AND WATER QUALITY ITEMS, INCLUDING, UH, INSTALLATION OF ONSITE DETENTION TO MITIGATE DOWN STREET DOWNSTREAM IMPACTS, AND UTILIZING SAND FILTER BASINS FOR RETENTION PONDS AND VEGETATED BUFFERS FOR TREATMENT OF DRAINAGE RUNOFF AS IT RELATES TO TRAFFIC, UH, LENNAR AGREED TO WIDEN SCENIC LOOP ROAD AND BABCOCK ROAD AND INSTALL MULTIPLE TRAFFIC SIGNALS, UH, NOTABLY AT THE INTERSECTION OF SCENIC LOOP ROAD AND BABCOCK ROAD AND SCENIC LOOP AND CROSS MOUNTAIN TRAIL.
MOREOVER, LENNAR WILL CONSTRUCT DEDICATED TURN LANES FROM THE DEVELOPMENT ONTO SCENIC LOOP ROAD.
FINALLY, YOU HAVE HERE IN FRONT OF YOU THE APPROVED DISCHARGE PERMIT, WHICH AGAIN WAS THE LAST MAJOR ENTITLEMENT THAT WE RECEIVED FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT.
TCEQ REVIEWED VETTED THIS DISCHARGE PERMIT, UH, FOR OVER THREE YEARS, AND THEIR REVIEW ANALYSIS, UH, CENTERED ON EFFLUENT DISCHARGE AND POTENTIAL EFFECTS ON WATER QUALITY AND AQUATIC LIFE IN CONNECTION WITH THIS DISCHARGE PERMIT.
THERE WERE MULTIPLE PUBLIC HEARINGS BEFORE TCEQ, UH, AND AFTER THE THREE, THREE YEAR LONG PROCESS, UH, TCEQ ULTIMATELY GRANTED THE DISCHARGE PERMIT.
YOU CAN SEE IT HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW THERE.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO STOP HERE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT APPROVAL OF THE DISCHARGE PERMIT WAS THE FINAL STEP BEFORE DEVELOPMENT OF GU AT THE RANCH COULD BEGIN.
SO JUST WANNA UNDERSCORE THAT FOR, FOR YOU COMMISSIONERS THAT TODAY WE HAVE WHAT WE NEED TO DEVELOP THIS SITE WITH A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT WITH A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT WITH 3000 HOMES.
THIS EXHIBIT HERE SHOWS THE EXISTING WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS IN THE AREA SURROUNDING US AND NOTABLY IN THE CONTRIBUTING ZONE.
THE CONTRIBUTING ZONE IS SHOWN ON THE, ON THIS EXHIBIT AS THE BLUE HIGHLIGHT.
YOU CAN SEE GU RANCH IS HIGHLIGHTED IN ORANGE-ISH YELLOW, AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS THAT CURRENTLY EXIST IN THIS AREA AND IN THE CONTRIBUTING ZONE.
SO REALLY UNDERSCORING THE FACT THAT WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TODAY IS NOT A NOVEL CONCEPT.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN USED IN THE PAST AND HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
GETTING TO THE HEART OF WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY, WE ARE REQUESTING CONSENT FOR A MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER IN MY PRESENTATION, A SPECIAL DISTRICT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN CONTEMPLATED MENTIONED AS IT RELATES TO GUA RANCH AND THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
SINCE WE STARTED THIS DEVELOPMENT PROCESS BACK IN 20 21, 20 22, THIS MUD THAT WE ARE REQUESTING FOLLOWS THROUGH ON LENNAR'S COMMITMENT TO ENSURE THAT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IS PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND FUNCTIONS AS DESIGNED.
UH, IT'S, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT VERY QUICKLY THAT, UH, THE ADVIL ARM TAX THAT WOULD COME WITH THIS MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT WOULD BE A TAX ON RESIDENTS THAT LIVE IN THE DISTRICT ONLY.
IT WOULD NOT BE A TAX ON RESIDENTS OUTSIDE OF THE DISTRICT.
SO THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF GROWTH, PAIN FOR GROWTH.
UH, AS STAFF MENTIONED, WE ARE CURRENTLY NEGOTIATING A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
THE BALL IS IN OUR COURT TO RETURN A RED LINED VERSION BACK TO THE CITY, AND WE FEEL THAT WE ARE, UH, IN A POSITION TO DO THAT RELATIVELY QUICKLY.
SO AGAIN, IN SUMMARY, THIS REQUEST IS TO
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BUILD A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT WITH 3000 HOMES WITH A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT TO SERVICE THIS SITE.THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT IS NOT NOVEL, AND THERE ARE EXISTING DEVELOPMENTS WITH WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS AND THE CONTRIBUTING ZONE IN THESE SPECIFIC AREA AROUND GU RANCH.
THE MUD REQUEST AND THE CORRESPONDING DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT ALLOW THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO DEVELOPMENT REGULATION OVER GU RANCH.
AND WITHOUT CONSENT TO THE MUD, THAT DEVELOPMENT REGULATION DOES NOT EXIST.
SO I JUST WANNA UNDERSCORE THAT FOR YOU TODAY.
THERE ARE VERY LIMITED LAND USE CONTROLS IN THE ETJ.
IF WE WERE TO DEVELOP THIS SITE CURRENTLY, THERE WOULD BE VERY LIMITED THINGS THAT THE CITY AND OR COUNTY COULD REGULATE.
BUT THROUGH THE MUD PROCESS, THROUGH THE CONSENT TO THE CREATION OF THIS MUD, AND THROUGH NEGOTIATION OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, THE CITY IS ABLE TO IMPART SOME DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ON THIS PROPERTY.
WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR CONSENT TO THE CREATION OF THIS MUD.
UH, BEFORE LEAVING, I DO WANT TO INTRODUCE MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM.
UH, WITH ME TODAY IS JAMES MCKNIGHT FROM MY OFFICE, BRUNA SPANGLER FROM PAPE DAWSON, JAMIE MILLER FROM J WASTEWATER, UH, HELEN GILBERT FROM BARTON BENSON JONES, AND BECKY CARROLL FROM PAP DAWSON.
UH, AT THIS POINT WE WILL MOVE ON TO, UH, LISTENING TO THE VOICEMAILS.
AND REMEMBER THAT'S MINUTE AND A HALF WILSON, AND MY ADDRESS IS 99 23 CEDAR CREST DRIVE, GRAY FOREST, TEXAS 7 8 0 2 3.
I'M CALLING FROM 2 1 0 3 6 3 6 8 6 3.
AND COMMENTING ON THE GUILLO RANCH MUD.
THAT WILL BE ITEM NUMBER ONE ON THE JANUARY 16TH PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA.
I'D LIKE TO PROTEST THIS AS A POOR IDEA.
IF IT WAS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST, THEN A PUBLIC DISTRICT WOULD'VE BEEN ALLOWED.
NOW THEY'RE MOVING FOR A PRIVATE INTEREST THAT WILL BASICALLY DESTROY OUR WATER SUPPLY.
I THINK THIS IS A BAD MISTAKE.
HELLO, MY NAME'S ISON AND I LIVE AT 3 7 1 5 MATCH LOCK CIRCLE IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
UM, MY PHONE NUMBER IS (210) 275-8438.
UM, I WAS JUST CALLING TO COMMENT ABOUT THAT
UM, THAT WILL BE ITEM NUMBER ONE ON A JANUARY 16TH PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.
UH, I'M AGAINST THE MUD AND I WISH THAT EVERYONE WAS INFORMED OF ALL THE INFORMATION.
UM, THERE WAS A BELIEF THAT EVERYONE IS AWARE OF THE PROJECT AND THAT THEY NEEDED APPROVAL WHEN THAT WAS NOT TRUE.
UH, THE BEXAR COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL OFFICE WAS CONTACTED TO SEE IF THEY KNEW OR APPROVED OF THIS DEVELOPMENT AND THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE DATED QUOTE, WE HAVE NO RECORD, UH, RESPONSIVE TO YOUR REQUEST.
THE BEXAR COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE HAS NOT HAD ANY CONTACT FROM THE DEVELOPERS OF THIS PROPERTY.
UM, THIS MEANS THAT THE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS ARE BEING ASKED TO SUPPORT THIS DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT ANY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OVERSIGHT.
UM, THIS WILL PUT FIRST RESPONDERS AT RISK, WHICH MEANS A LOT BECAUSE I'M A FIRST RESPONDER IN SAN ANTONIO.
SO I SEE HOW THESE SCENARIOS CAN SOMETIMES GET OUTTA CONTROL WHEN NOT, NOT ALL THE INFORMATION IS OUT THERE AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH OVERSIGHT OVER SOME OF THESE DANGEROUS, UH, FACILITIES.
UM, FOR THIS REASON AND MANY OTHERS, UH, PLEASE DENY THE MUD DURING THE MEETING TOMORROW.
HELLO, MY NAME IS AUSTIN BROWNING.
MY ADDRESS IS 1 0 4 1 9 KENDALL CANYON, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
MY PHONE NUMBER IS (309) 826-7556 AND I'M SUBMITTING THIS PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THE GUSU RANCH MUD, WHICH IS ON AGENDA ITEM ONE ON JANUARY 16TH, PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.
I'M ONLY QUI PLEA AGAINST THE CREATION OF THIS MUD.
THIS PROPOSAL IS NOT TO SERVE AN EXISTING COMMUNITY NEED.
IT IS FINANCING AND CONTROLLED MECHANISM DESIGNED TO BENEFIT A PRIVATE DEVELOPER AND THE LONG-TERM EXPENSES SURROUNDING RESIDENTS NEARBY AND NEARBY PROPERTY OWNERS.
THE COMMISSION HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT THE LONG-TERM PUBLIC INTEREST, NOT SERVE PRIVATE CONVENIENCE.
I RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO VOTE NO FOR THE GU RANCH MUD THAT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED.
HELLO, MY NAME IS KATHLEEN HENDERSON AND MY ADDRESS IS 1 0 4 1 9
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KENDALL CANYON, SAN ANTONIO, 7 8 2 5 5.I AM COMMENTING ON THE G RANCH MUD.
THAT WILL BE ITEM NUMBER ONE ON THE JANUARY 16TH PLANNING MISSION MEETING.
I AM AGAINST THE MUD DUE TO THE OBVIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT OUR WATER SUPPLY AND ALSO THE, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUPPORT A PROJECT OF THIS SIZE.
AGAIN, JUST TO REAFFIRM, I AM AGAINST THE MUD FOR THE G RANCH.
MY ADDRESS IS 1 9 4 4 2 SHERWOOD TRAIL IN GREAT FOREST, TEXAS.
I'M COMMENTING YOU ON THE PROPOSED GUACAMOLE RANCH MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT MEETING THAT YOU HAVE ON FRIDAY, THE 16TH, 2026 PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND NUMBER ONE, WHY.
WELL, I'M TOTALLY OPPOSED TO THIS GUAM RANCH BUILDING AND ESPECIALLY THE TAXES THAT THEY WOULD ATTACH ONTO THIS, MAKE IT BE KNOWN.
YOU CAN CALL ME BACK IF YOU WANT, TWO TEN EIGHT TWO SEVEN SEVENTY ONE THIRTY.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I LIVE AT 1 11 0 2 NINA RIDGE AT THE CANYONS ON SCENIC LOOP IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
I'M CALLING BECAUSE LENNAR PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT IN GU RANCH WOULD DISCHARGE AN AVERAGE OF 1 MILLION GALLONS A DAY OF TREATED SEWAGE INTO THE HOLY CREEK WATERSHED, WHICH DIRECTLY RECHARGES THE TRINITY GLEN ROSE AQUIFER.
IT ALSO CONTRIBUTES UP TO 15% OF THE TOTAL RECHARGE OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER, THE PRINCIPAL WATER SOURCE FOR OVER 2.5 MILLION PEOPLE ACROSS MULTIPLE COUNTIES.
THIS IS WHY I'M CALLING TO OPPOSE THE MUD FORMATION, A MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT FOR QUALITY RANCH WHO SIGNIFICANTLY DEGRADE THE WATERSHED AND THE QUALITY OF THE WATER RECHARGING THE EDWARDS AQUIFER.
MUD MUD IS A DEVIOUS TECH TECHNIQUE USED BY DEVELOPERS TO ISSUE BONDS, TO BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING WASTEWATER TREATMENT, PLANTS OUTSIDE SIMUL LIMITS, AND IMPOSE TAXES ON THEIR RESIDENTS TO PAY IT BACK.
NEW HOME BUYERS FRANKLY, HAVE BEEN HIT WITH PROPERTY TAX, DOUBLE OR TRIPLE THOSE OF THE COUNTY OR NEIGHBORING CITY, PLUS MONTHLY FEES FOR BASIC SERVICES, FROM TRASH PICKUP TO POLICE PROTECTION RESULTING IN NON AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I LIVE IN AN ADJACENT GUA RANCH SUBDIVISION, WHICH LOT SIZES INTENTIONALLY ZONE TO ACCOMMODATE SEWER AND WASTE TREATMENT DEMANDS.
WE HAVE PAID FOR THE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
MY NAME IS DOUG EPSTEIN AND I LIVE AT, UH, 1 1 1 0 6 NINA RIDGE IN, UH, SAN ANTONIO, 7 8 2 5 5, UH, WHICH IS IN THE CANYON CENIC LOOP.
I'M CALLING, UH, BECAUSE OF YOUR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE.
UH, I'M CALLING BECAUSE OF LENNAR'S PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF THE GUADALUPE RANCH THAT WOULD DISCHARGE OVER A MILLION GALLONS A DAY ON AVERAGE OF TREATED SEWAGE INTO THE HALOES CREEK WATERSHED, WHICH DIRECTLY RECHARGES THE TRINITY GLEN ROSE AQUIFER.
IT ALSO CONTRIBUTES UP TO 15% OF THE TOTAL RECHARGE OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER.
THE PRINCIPAL WATER STARS WERE OVER TWO AND A HALF MILLION PEOPLE ACROSS MULTIPLE COUNTIES.
THIS IS WHY I AM CALLING TO OPPOSE THE MUD FORMATION.
A MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT FOR GUADALUPE RANCH WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY DEGRADE THE WATERSHED AND THE QUALITY OF THE WATER RECHARGING THE EDWARDS AQUIFER.
MUD IS A DEVIOUS TECHNIQUE USED BY DEVELOPERS TO ISSUE BONDS, TO BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS OUTSIDE OF CITY LIMITS AND THE IMPOSED TAXES ON THEIR RESIDENTS TO PAY A DECK.
NEW HOMEOWNERS FREQUENTLY HAVE BEEN HIT WITH PROPERTY TAXES.
UH, UM, AND I OPPOSE, THEY'RE ASKING FOR A MUD FOR, FOR THIS PROJECT.
UM, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE EVEN CONSIDERING, UH, GIVING AN OUT OUTSTATE DEVELOPER.
[00:30:01]
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S EVEN CONSIDERED.IT IS JEOPARDIZING THE, THE WHOLE CITY'S WATER, NOT TO MENTION RUINING ALL OUR, ALL OUR WATER AND HOMES DOWN THIS ROAD.
UH, IT'S ELLEN O'NEILL, 1 7 9 1 5 ST.
HELLO, TEXAS 7 8 0 2 3 2 1 0 8 2 3 8 1 3 7.
HELLO, I'M CALLING ABOUT THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING ON FRIDAY THE 16TH, MUD NUMBER TWO.
I LIVE AT 59 75 LOCKHILL ROAD, SAN ANTONIO, SEVEN EIGHT TWO FOUR ZERO.
MY PHONE NUMBER IS (210) 859-2202.
I'M ASKING THAT THE PLANNING MISSION IN THE CITY DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO PREVENT THE SAME UD FROM GOING FORWARD.
THE SOIL SHOULD BE PROVIDING AUDIBLE WATER TO AN AREA WHERE THEY'RE UNWILLING TO PROVIDE, UH, SANITARY SEWER IF IT'S OVER THE RECHARGE ZONE IN SUCH AN ENDANGERED AREA.
THIS IS PARTICULARLY NOXIOUS BECAUSE THE DISCHARGE WILL BE IN, INTO A CREEK.
THE DIRECTLY ENTER, THERE'S THE RECHARGE ZONE.
UM, I HAPPEN TO LIVE DOWN, UH, GRADE FROM IT WHERE, UH, WE DEPEND ON A WATER WELL THAT COULD BE IMPAIRED IF THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THIS.
AND IF THIS UTILITY DISTRICT IS APPROVED AND THEN LATER FAILS OR DOESN'T OPERATE PROPERLY, IT WOULD BE PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE FOR SOIL TO EXTEND A SANITARY SEWER AS A CURE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CONSIDERING MY COMMENT.
I RESIDE AT ONE EIGHT SIX OH SIX HILLSIDE DRIVE IN GRAY FOREST, TEXAS.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT, COMMENT ON THE MUD REQUISITE OR RE, UH, REQUEST FOR WA RANCH.
I AM TOTALLY AGAINST THAT BEING APPROVED.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU NOT ALLOW THEM TO HAVE A MUD.
UH, AND I JUST, I HOPE YOU DON'T DO IT.
ADDRESS, 19 4 6 5 NOTTINGHAM LANE, A LOTUS, TEXAS, AND I'M CALLING IN REGARD TO THE, UM, PROPOSED THE RANCH MUNICIPAL UTILITY, UH, DISTRICT, UH, LISTENING ITEM NUMBER ONE ON JANUARY THE 16TH, PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA.
I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF THIS DEVELOPMENT, AND MY PRAYER IS WHEN WILL THE COUNTY START TAKING THIS SENSITIVE WATER AREA OF BEXAR COUNTY? SERIOUSLY, WE NEED TO PROTECT THIS AREA IF WE'RE GOING TO PROTECT OUR WATER.
I LIVE AT 1 8 7 2 3 SHERWOOD TRAIL, LOTUS, TEXAS 7 8 0 2 3 IN THE CITY OF GRAY FOREST.
I'M CALLING ABOUT MUD NUMBER TWO.
I AM EXPRESSING MY OPPOSITION TO ALLOWING THIS MUD TO BE FORMED IN MY AREA AND TRY TO PREVENT THE WASTEWATER FROM THIS LOCATION BEING PUMPED INTO THE HE LOTUS CREEK.
I LIVE AT 16 8 0 3 CAMINO DEL VISTA, THE, UM, IN HE LOTUS, TEXAS.
MY TELEPHONE NUMBER IS (210) 823-3599.
I'M CALLING ABOUT MUD NUMBER TWO AND I, I LIVE ON THE HE LOTUS CREEK.
IT GOES THROUGH MY PROPERTY AND I'M REALLY OPPOSED TO THE, UM, DUMPING OF THOUSANDS, MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF, OF TREATED WATER INTO THE WATER SYSTEM.
I DON'T THINK IT'S HEALTHY FOR THE AQUIFER AND I'M, I'M DEEPLY OPPOSED TO IT.
HELLO, MY NAME IS ALAN MUNSON AND I LIVE AT TWO ONE TWO EIGHT FIVE SAMS RANCH ROAD.
MY PHONE NUMBER IS (210) 317-5685.
I'M COMMENTING ON TOPIC ONE ABOUT THETE RANCH MUD ON YOUR JANUARY 16TH AGENDA.
MY CONCERN IS THAT A MUD ALLOWS A SELF-GOVERNING GROUP TO MANAGE SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS WASTEWATER.
WE LIVE NEXT DOOR TO THE DEVELOPMENT WHO WILL MAKE SURE OUR WATER ISN'T AFFECTED AND WHEN IT IS, WHO IS GONNA CORRECT IT.
I REQUEST YOU DENY THE MUD APPLICATION.
[00:35:01]
THANK YOU.I LIVE AT 6 6 0 6 COUNTRY VIEW LANE, AND I'M CALLING REGARDING THE AGENDA ITEM MUD NUMBER TWO FOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 16TH, MEETING THE WATER RANCH.
THE RANCH WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT FACILITY THAT POTENTIALLY FEEDS INTO THE HELO CREEK AND INTO EDWARDS AQUIFER WILL AFFECT NOT ONLY OUR WELLS, BUT ALSO THE WATER SUPPLY FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE CITY WOULD SUPPORT A PROJECT THAT HAS THIS POTENTIAL TO POTEN NEGATIVELY IMPACT ALL THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO WITH THE ONLY POSITIVE OUTCOME BEING FOR LANIER, WHICH IS THE THIRD LARGEST DEVELOPER IN SAN ANTONIO.
I ASK YOU TO VOTE NO TO FUND THIS PROJECT.
MY NAME IS SUSAN ROCHELLE MONTGOMERY.
MY ADDRESS IS 23 4 0 2 JOSHUA CREEK IN SAN ANTONIO, 7 8 2 5 5.
I'M CALLING TO COMMENT ON MCGUIRE RANCH, MUD, COMING TO THE AGENDA OF JANUARY 16TH, FILING COMMISSION MEETING.
I I'M INCREDIBLY OPPOSED TO THIS MUD.
IT SEEMS LIKE ANOTHER, UH, FINANCIAL GRAB BY LENNAR TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO SUBSIDIZE THE PROFITS OF THEIR BUILDING.
FIRST THEY GOT A PID AND WHEN THAT FAILS, THEY NOW SWITCHED TACTICS TO ANY, THAT NEIGHBORHOOD IS NOT GONNA HAVE A LOT OF MONEY AND HAVING NOW TAX ON TOP OF WHAT THEY'RE ALREADY PAYING FOR THE HOUSES, THEY'RE GONNA GO BANKRUPT.
PLEASE VOTE NO ON
HI, TRACY HAVEN, WALLACE 9 5 1 9 MARSHALL POINT, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 7 8 2 4 0 2 1 0 4 8 2 0 0 4.
YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.
WE DON'T EVEN HAVE ENOUGH WATER FOR THE CITY AND WE AREN'T SOLVING THAT PROBLEM.
AND NOW WE WANT TO DUMP TOXIC ITEMS AND MATERIAL INTO IT AND THE OVERFLOW INTO THE, THE LITTLE BIT THAT WE HAVE IS ANYBODY THINKING THIS THROUGH? PLUS WE WANNA BUILD RIGHT OUT THERE.
ALL THESE HOMES DON'T BUILD ANYTHING ELSE UNTIL YOU FIGURE OUT HOW TO SOLVE THE WATER PROBLEM.
WE DON'T NEED TO BE BUILDING MORE.
WE NEED TO SOLVE THAT AND WE DEFINITELY DON'T NEED TO CONTAMINATE WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
SOMEBODY NEEDS TO SIT DOWN AND RETHINK ALL OF THIS.
AND YOU NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THE WATER ISSUES AND KEEP THE WATER HEALTHY AND CLEAN AND QUIT MOVING ANIMALS THAT ARE LIVING AREAS UNTIL YOU HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO PUT THEM.
HELLO, MY NAME IS ROSSON WOOD.
I LIVE AT 9 7 3 9 AUTUMN CANYON IN THE CANYONS AT SCENIC LOOP AND I'M CALLING REGARDING LENNAR'S PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT IN THE GU RANCH THAT WOULD DISCHARGE OVER A MILLION GALLONS OF SEWAGE INTO THE HE LOTUS CREEK AND THEN IT WOULD CONTAMINATE THE TRINITY GLEN AQUIFER.
IT ALSO CONTRIBUTES, UH, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT TO THE EDWARDS AQUIFER.
AND I'M AGAINST SOME MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT MUD, UH, FOR THIS FEATURE, UM, AGAINST THE OVERALL POLLUTING OF OUR, UH, AQUIFER.
AND I AM OPPOSED TO THE INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAXES TO SUPPORT THIS MUD, THE ROADS AND THE BUSINESSES THAT THEY PLAN ON ADDING THAT WOULD ADD 6,000 CARS A DAY TO THIS, UH, AREA OF SAN ANTONIO.
BUT REALLY THE CONCERN IS THE, UH, TERRIBLE CONTAMINATION RISK TO OUR PRECIOUS AQUIFER.
SO WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF WE COULD HAVE, UH, NUMBERS ONE THROUGH FIVE FORMAL LINE THERE IN THE MIDDLE, AND NUMBER ONE MAY APPROACH THE PODIUM.
DON'T FORGET TO STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND YOU'LL HAVE ONE MINUTE AND 30 SECONDS.
MM-HMM
I'M LOUIS VETTER AT 39 11 FOREST CREEK STREET IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
I'M PRESIDENT OF THE CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF SAN ANTONIO.
NICE SPEAK ON BEHALF OF OVER A THOUSAND MEMBERS AND 10,000 VOLUNTEERS IN OUR ORGANIZATION.
AND I SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSAL MUD AND IT'S THE ONLY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE LENAR HOMES.
THEY WANT TAXPAYERS TO PAY FOR THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE PROPOSED SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT SITUATED OVER THE TOP OF SAN ANTONIO'S PRIMARY DRINKING WATER SOURCE.
IT DISAPPOINTS ME THAT YOU WOULD EVEN CONSIDER GRANTING THEIR REQUEST SOLELY TO HAVE OTHERS PAY FOR LENDERS PROJECT AND PROVIDE THEIR PROFITS.
EACH OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES LIVING HERE
[00:40:02]
DEPEND UPON THE WATER FROM THE EDGES AQUIFER.ALL IT TAKES IS FOR ONE ACCIDENT, ONE OOPS, ONE UNINTENDED OVERFLOW AND DISCHARGE A RAW SEWAGE TO CONTAMINATE THE AQUIFER.
NO TREATMENT PLANT RUNS PERFECTLY FOREVER.
ONCE THAT HAPPENS, IT CANNOT BE UNDONE.
EVEN THE SEWAGE THEY PLANT TO TREAT WILL STILL HAVE POLLUTANTS THAT THEY CAN'T FILTER.
AND SUGGESTED THAT WE SIMPLY MIGHT SPRAY EVERYTHING OVER THE GROUND AND PRETEND THE PROBLEM DOESN'T EXIST, BUT IT DOES.
I HAVE VISITED THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES WHERE EVERYONE MUST BUY PURIFIED WATER AND PLASTIC BOTTLES IN ORDER TO SURVIVE BECAUSE THEIR WATER SOURCES POLLUTED.
IF YOU APPROVE AND RECOMMEND THIS MEASURE, YOU'LL BE SEEING THAT YOU'RE OKAY WITH SAN ANTONIO'S CITIZENS WATER SUPPLY MIGHT BECOME THAT OF A THIRD WORLD NATION.
FINALLY, ALL OF WHAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT TODAY, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, WE'LL END UP BEING IN YOUR GLASS OF ICE TEA.
AND UH, JUST FOR THE RE OR CLARIFICATION, DID NUMBER 56 DONATE THEIR TIME TO YOU? YES.
MY NAME IS ELAINE MILAM VEDER AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY AND FUTURE GENERATIONS OF MY FAMILY ASKING YOU TO VOTE AGAINST THE MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT FOR LENAR HOMES.
MY FAMILY HAS LIVED IN SAN ANTONIO FOR GENERATIONS, AND THE WATER FROM THE EDWARDS AQUIFER IS A LIFE SOURCE, WHICH WE COUNT ON THE CEO OF LENAR HOMES.
STUART MILLER LIVES ON AN ESTATE IN FLORIDA.
HE DOESN'T DRINK OUR WATER OR WORRY ABOUT HIS FAMILY GETTING SICK FROM A POLLUTED WATER SOURCE.
YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SHOULD ALSO SHARE MY CONCERNS.
IT ONLY TAKES ONE MISTAKE AND OUR WATER WILL BE TAINTED BY THEIR PROPOSED SEWAGE TREATMENTS PLANT FOREVER.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMETHING HAPPENS.
INSTEAD OF ENDORSING THE MUD FOR LENNAR HOMES, WHY NOT USE THAT SAME MONEY THAT Y'ALL WANNA RAISE FOR WHATEVER AND BUY THE LAND FOR SAN ANTONIONS AND PUT A PARK OR GREEN SPACE FOR ALL OF SAN ANTONIO? THE SEMINOLE INDIAN TRIBE IN FLORIDA IS SUING OUR HOMES BECAUSE HUNDREDS OF HOMES BUILT ON THEIR RESERVATION HAVE WATER INTRUSION AND MOLD AND ARE INHABITABLE.
DON'T BRING THOSE SIMILAR ISSUES TO SAN ANTONIO.
THEY ALL SAID NO, THERE WASN'T ONE.
OH, LET'S HURRY UP AND GET LENORA IN HERE.
PROTECT OUR AQUIFER FROM MY FAMILY AND FOR YOURS, I'M A DIRECTOR OF THE CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND YOU HAVE THREE, NINE AND 10 ON YOURS, RIGHT? SO YOU HAVE FOUR AND A HALF MINUTES.
UH, MY NAME IS STEVE LEE AND MY FAMILY LIVES AT 97 15 DASH FIVE PARK DRIVE OUTSIDE OF GREAT FOREST ON LAND THAT'S BEEN IN MY FAMILY FOR MORE THAN 160 YEARS.
AND WE GET OUR WATER FROM A WELL IN THE TRINITY GLENROSE AQUIFER.
WE GOT INVOLVED IN THIS CAUSE BECAUSE LENNAR'S DEVELOPMENT AT GU RANCH WOULD DISCHARGE AN AVERAGE OF 1 MILLION GALLONS A DAY OF TREATED SEWAGE INTO THE LOTUS CREEK WATERSHED, WHICH DIRECTLY RECHARGES THE TRINITY GLEN ROSE AQUIFER.
THAT WATERSHED ALSO CONTRIBUTES UP TO 15% OF THE TOTAL RECHARGE OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER, THE PRINCIPAL WATER SOURCE FOR ABOUT 2.5 MILLION PEOPLE ACROSS MULTIPLE COUNTIES.
THE ONLY SCIENCE SHOWING WHAT THIS DEVELOPMENT WOULD DO WAS A COMPREHENSIVE HYDROLOGICAL STUDY BY SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE FUNDED BY THE CITY AND CONCLUDING THAT ADDITIONAL WASTEWATER SYSTEMS FROM RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE HELLO CREEK WATERSHED WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY DEGRADE THE WATERSHED AND THE QUALITY OF WATER RECHARGING THE EDWARDS AQUIFER.
A MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT FOR GUA RANCH WOULD PRACTICALLY ASSURE THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN.
NOTABLY, THE ONLY MUD THAT CURRENTLY HAS A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IN THE CONTRIBUTING ZONE OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER WHERE GU RANCH IS LOCATED, HAS VIOLATED DISCHARGE LIMITS OF DANGEROUS POLLUTANTS.
[00:45:01]
THE SCREEN THERE.THE MEYER RANCH MUD IN COMAL COUNTY WAS CITED FOR WASTEWATER DISCHARGES, EXCEEDING PERMITTED LIMITS FOR NITRATES AND PHOSPHORUS FOR TWO QUARTERS IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.
ACCORDING TO THE US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, LENNAR TELLS YOU THE THIRD WASTEWATER PLANT WILL BE ADVANCED, BUT THREE OF THE FOUR MOST ADVANCED PLANTS CURRENTLY OPERATING IN THE AREA CONTRIBUTING ZONE.
AND HALF OF ALL THE PLANTS THAT THEY SHOWED YOU ON THAT MAP A WHILE AGO HAVE BEEN OUTTA COMPLIANCE DURING THE PAST THREE YEARS, ALL ACCORDING TO THE EPA DATA.
BUT THERE'S EVEN MORE TO THE STORY AS YOU'LL LEARN FROM OTHER SPEAKERS HERE TODAY, INCLUDING A DIRECTOR OF THE ONLY OTHER MUD IN BEAR COUNTY MUD NUMBER ONE AT SAN ANTONIO RANCH, WHO OPPOSES LENNAR'S MUD.
NUMBER TWO, AS WE KNOW, A MUD IS A SCHEME BY DEVELOPERS TO ISSUE BONDS TO BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS, AND IMPOSE TAXES ON THEIR OWN RESIDENTS TO PAY IT BACK.
RECENT REPORTS IN THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE AND PUBLISHED IN THE SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS NEWS HAVE DOCUMENTED HOW MUDS HAVE BEEN PROMOTED STATEWIDE BY DEVELOPERS AS BOOSTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT RATHER HAVE RESULTED IN THE OPPOSITE, WHILE ALSO SCREENING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, NEW HOME BUYERS LURED UH, LURED BY ATTRACTIVE LIST PRICES FREQUENTLY HAVE BEEN HIT WITH PROPERTY TAXES, DOUBLE OR TRIPLE THOSE OF THE COUNTY OR NEIGHBORING CITIES, PLUS MONTHLY FEES FOR BASIC SERVICES FROM TRASH PICKUP TO POLICE PROTECTION SHATTERING THE ILLUSION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
MUDS HAVE RESULTED IN HIGHER TAXES FOR RESIDENTS OUTSIDE THE DEVELOPMENTS EVEN AS CITIES AND COUNTIES HAVE BEEN ON THE HOOK TO PROVIDE SERVICES OR EVEN MAINTAIN INFRASTRUCTURE OF MUDS.
THOSE COSTS OFTEN FALL ON ALL EXISTING TAXPAYERS AND PROPERTY OWNER, ALL OF US TO EXPAND ROADS, STAFF, POLICE DEPARTMENTS, AND PROVIDE CITY SERVICES OR PROVIDE OTHER SERVICES.
MOREOVER, MUDS OFTEN FUNCTION LIKE INVISIBLE OR PERMANENT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, BUT WITHOUT THE SAME LEVEL OF, OF, UM, OF UPKEEP AND SERVICES AND WITHOUT THE SAME ACCOUNTABILITY AND YOU, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT WOULD LOSE CONTROL.
DEVELOPERS WITH DEEP POCKETS CAN JUST WALK AWAY LEAVING UNSUSPECTING HOME BUYERS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HOLDING THE BAG.
DON'T BECOME ONE OF THOSE GOVERNMENTS PLEASE AND RESPECTFULLY, WE ASK THAT YOU REJECT THIS MUD.
THE NEXT PRESENTERS WILL FURTHER DOCUMENT ALL THIS AND MORE ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS TIED TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS TRAFFIC, CIRCULATION AND CONNECTIVITY, DRAINAGE, FLOODING AND STORM WATER MANAGEMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE ADEQUACY, CONSISTENCY WITH THE MASTER CODE OR ADOPTED AREA PLANS AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
SO YOU HAVE FOUR AND SEVEN, SO YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
MY NAME IS PATRICIA SEIDENBERG.
I LIVE AT 11 4 1 8 HOLLOW TREE STREET.
UM, LANIER'S, UH, GU RANCH PROPOSED 2,900 HOMES ON 1,167 ACRES WITH A WASTEWATER PLANT SENDING 4 MILLION GALLONS DAILY OF TREATED SEWAGE AND PHARMACEUTICALS DOWN THE HE LOTUS CREEK INTO THE EDWARDS AQUIFER WILL SIGNIFICANTLY DEGRADE THE WATERSHED AND THE QUALITY OF WATER RECHARGING THE EDWARDS AQUIFER.
14 STATE LEGISLATURES HAVE GONE ON RECORD TO OPPOSE THE GU RANCH PROJECT AS WELL AS A BEAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MAYOR RON NUREMBERG AND STATE SENATORS DONNA CAMPBELL AND ROLAND GUTIERREZ.
THE LANGUAGE OF THE CONCESSIONS OF THE LANIER SAN ANTONIO METROPOLITAN HEALTH DISTRICT ARE VAGUE, LACKING ENFORCEABLE DEFINITIONS, MEASURABLE THRESHOLDS OR OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS.
AS A CONSEQUENCE, LANIER HAS NO CLEAR OBLIGATIONS TO FULFILL THE INTENT OF THE CONCESSIONS OR THE TERMS OF THE NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.
THIS HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED IN THE PAST WITH THE GREATER EDWARDS AFER ALLIANCE WITH FINDING LANIER HOMES $175,000 IN SETTLEMENT FOR VIOLATING NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT FOR THE FOUR S RANCH.
THE EDWARDS AQUIFER IS AN IRREPLACEABLE STATE TREASURER REQUIRING IMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM PROTECTION AND ELECTED OFFICIALS AT EVERY LEVEL ALONG WITH NON-ELECTED REGULATORY BODIES, SHOULD SAFEGUARD THIS QUALITY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE NATURAL RESOURCES IN TEXAS.
IN CLOSING, BY VOTING NO FOR THE GU RANCH MUD, YOU CAN STOP A CATASTROPHIC PROJECT
[00:50:01]
FROM FULLY RESTORE DESTROYING SAN ANTONIO'S DRINKING WATER FROM THE EDWARDS AQUIFER AFFECTING 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO.IF SIX THROUGH 10 CAN APPROACH OR LINE UP IN THE MIDDLE.
YOU HAVE FIVE AND 25, SO YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
I LIVE AT 2 1 2 8 5 SAMS RANCH ROAD.
HE LOTUS AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE CENIC LOOP HEES CREEK ALLIANCE NEIGHBORHOOD.
OUR COM OUR COMMUNITY SUBMITTED A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST TO THE BEXAR COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE DATED NOVEMBER THE 24TH, 2025.
REQUEST NUMBER R 0 2 4 0 9 0 DASH 112 4 2 5 SEEKING ALL DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE FIRE MARSHAL'S REVIEW OF THE RANCH MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
WE ASKED THREE VERY SPECIFIC CATEGORIES OF RECORDS, ANY RECOMMENDATIONS OR REQUIRED MODIFICATIONS THE FIRE MARSHAL MADE TO THE PRELIMINARY NDP, WHETHER OR THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE INCLUDED IN THE FINAL PLAN.
ALL DOCUMENTATION SHOWN A REVIEW OR APPROVAL OF THE DEVELOPER'S PROPOSAL TO USE A SINGLE INGRESS EGRESS FOR A DEVELOPMENT OF ROUGHLY 3000 UNITS.
DESPITE THE UN UNIFIED UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE REQUIRING FOR TWO ACCESS POINTS AND ANY DOCUMENTATION RELATED TO ROADWAY CLASSIFICATIONS, INCLUDING THE CLAIM THAT CYNIC LOOP ROAD IS AN ARTERIAL ROADWAY, EVEN THOUGH TDOT HAS NOT DESIGNATED AS SUCH AND HAS NO FUNDED PROJECTS TO DATE, THE FIRE MARSHAL'S RESPONSE WAS SIMPLY AN ALARMING.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE NO RECORD RESPONSE TO YOUR REQUEST.
THE BEXAR COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE HAS HAD NO CONTACT WITH THE DEVELOPER OF THIS PROPERTY.
A 3000 UNIT DEVELOPMENT, ONE OF THE LARGEST PROPOSED IN THE AREA HAS HAD NO CONTACT WHATSOEVER WITH THE BEXAR COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL.
NO REVIEW, NO RECOMMENDATIONS, NO SAFETY ANALYSIS, NO APPROVAL FOR A SINGLE ACCESS POINT, NO DOCUMENTATION SUPPORTING ROADWAY CLARIFICATIONS, CLAIMS NOTHING.
THIS MEANS THE PUBLIC, THE COUNTY, AND THE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS ARE BEING ASKED TO ACCEPT A MASSIVE DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT ANY SAFETY, FIRE SAFETY OVERSIGHT AT ALL.
THIS IS NOT A PAPERWORK ISSUE.
A SINGLE ACCESS POINT FOR 3000 HOMES IS NOT A MINOR DEVIATION IS A HAZARD CATASTROPHIC RISK TO IN THE EVENT OF WILDFIRE STRUCTURE.
FIRE, MEDICAL EMERGENCIES, ROAD BLOCKAGE, CYNIC LOOP ROAD IS ALREADY OVERBURDENED.
THERE ARE NO FUNDS PLANNED TO MAKE IT ONE.
YET THE DEVELOPER IS MOVING FORWARD AS IF THESE FACTS SIMPLY DON'T MATTER.
IF THE FIRE MARSHAL HAS NOT REVIEWED THIS PROJECT, THEN THE PUBLIC HAS NOT BEEN PROTECTED.
IF THE FIRE MARSHAL HAS NOT APPROVED A SINGLE ACCESS POINT, THEN THE PROJECT DOES NOT MEET UDC.
IF THE FIRE MARSHAL HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED, THEN THE MDP IS INCOMPLETE AND SHOULD NOT ADVANCE.
WE ARE ASKING THIS BODY TO INSIST ON WHAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED FROM THE BEGINNING.
A FULL DOCUMENTED TRANSPARENT FIRE SAFETY REVIEW BEFORE ANY FURTHER ACTION IS TAKEN.
OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES DEVELOPMENT THAT IS SAFE, LAWFUL, AND GROUNDED IN REAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE STANDARDS, NOT ASSUMPTIONS, NOT SHORTCUTS, NOT SILENCE.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND WE, WE REQUEST THAT YOU DENIED THIS PERMIT.
YOU ARE NUMBER SIX, SEVEN AND 44 44.
SO YOU'LL HAVE FOUR AND A HALF MINUTES.
UH, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY AND I WANT TO ADDRESS THE CLAIM OF PUBLIC NECESSITY IN THE PETITION FOR A MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT FOR THE WAO RANCH.
THE PETITION ARGUES THAT THE AREA LACKS ADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THAT THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF FUTURE RESIDENTS REQUIRES THE CREATION OF WATER, SEWER, DRAINAGE, PARKS, AND ROADS.
IN MY VIEW, THIS IS NOT EVIDENCE OF NECESSITY.
IT IS SIMPLY A DESCRIPTION OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIRED FOR THE SPECIFIC HIGH DENSITY PROJECT THAT THIS DEVELOPER WANTS TO BUILD.
CLAIMING THIS MUD IS A NECESSITY, IS LIKE DECLARING AN EMERGENCY TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT DOESN'T EXIST.
THE NECESSITY IS SELF-CREATED AND THE PUBLIC IS BEING ASKED TO SOLVE IT.
[00:55:01]
JUST NORTH OF THIS PROPERTY LIES THE CANYONS AT SCENIC LOOP.ONCE PART OF THE SAME RANCH AND SEPARATED TODAY BY NOTHING MORE THAN A BARBED WIRE FENCE.
IT SHARES THE SAME TOPOGRAPHY, THE SAME GEOLOGY, AND THE SAME ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITIES.
BUT THAT'S WHERE THE SIMILARITIES END.
THE CANYONS WAS DEVELOPED IN THE TRADITIONAL HILL COUNTRY PATTERN, LARGER LOTS, AEROBIC SEPTIC SYSTEMS, STORM WATER CONTROLS AND ALL OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE PRIVATELY FINANCED.
NO MUD, NO PIT, NO PUBLIC DEBT, NO SPECIAL DISTRICTS.
SO WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE HERE? ONE WORD DENSITY.
LENNAR ORIGINALLY PROPOSED 6,000 UNITS AND LATER REDUCED THAT TO 3000.
BUT EVEN AT THAT SCALE, THE PROJECT IS DRAMATICALLY OUT OF STEP WITH HILL COUNTRY DEVELOPMENT NORMS. THE SA TOMORROW MASTER PLAN AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL REALITIES OF THIS SITE, WE CAN GO TO NUMBER TWO.
THIS LAND SITS ATOP OF THE BALCONES ESCARPMENT, THE BALCONES FAULT ZONE WITH MORE THAN 200 MAPPED FAULTS.
THE TRINITY AQUIFER RECHARGE ZONE, THE EDWARDS AQUIFER CONTRIBUTING ZONE, AND ALL WITHIN FIVE MILES OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE ZONE.
THESE ARE NOT ABSTRACT DESIGNATIONS.
THEY ARE MAPPED, DOCUMENTED, AND SCIENTIFICALLY SIGNIFICANT.
BEAR COUNTY IS THE EPICENTER OF TEXAS CAR GEOLOGY AND THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF THAT CAR LIES IN NORTHWEST BEAR COUNTY, RIGHT WHERE THIS DEVELOPER WANTS TO BUILD A MINI CITY.
THE DEVELOPER HAS ALSO SECURED A PERMIT TO DISCHARGE 1 MILLION GALLONS OF TREATED WASTEWATER PER DAY INTO HE LOTUS CREEK.
THE SCIENTIFIC CONSENSUS IS CLEAR.
THE TRINITY AND EDWARDS AQUIFERS ARE TRANSMISSIVE.
WHAT ENTERS HE LOTUS CREEK HAS PATHWAYS INTO THE AQUIFERS IS SUPPLI DRINKING WATER TO TWO AND A HALF MILLION TEXANS, INCLUDING THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
APPROVING A MUD HERE WOULD AMOUNT TO A DELEGATION OF OVERSIGHT.
SEEDING SAN ANTONIO'S CONTROL OVER AN AREA THAT PLAYS A DIRECT ROLE IN REGIONAL WATER SECURITY TO A QUASI GOVERNMENTAL MUD BOARD.
MUDS WERE CREATED TO HELP RURAL COMMUNITIES FINANCE BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE WHERE NONE EXISTED NOT TO SUBSIDIZE HIGH DENSITY, DEVELOP DEVELOPMENT IN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE TERRAIN SO THAT A PRIVATE DEVELOPER CAN BE REIMBURSED NOT JUST FOR THE INCREMENTAL COSTS OF BUILDING IN A DIFFICULT AREA, BUT FOR THE FULL COST OF INFRASTRUCTURE, THUS MAXIMIZING PRIVATE PROFIT THROUGH PUBLIC DEBT.
THERE IS NO PUBLIC NECESSITY HERE.
THERE IS A PRIVATE PREFERENCE FOR A FINANCING TOOL THAT MAKES HIGH DENSITY MORE PROFITABLE.
THAT IS NOT A NECESSITY AS THE STANDARDS SET FORTH IN TEXAS MUD LAW SHOW AND IT IS NOT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
I RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO DENY THIS PETITION.
THE STAKES ARE TOO HIGH, THE PRESIDENT TOO CONCERNING AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT TOO FRAGILE TO JUSTIFY THIS REQUEST.
WELL A IS, I MEAN, YEAH, WELL A IS COMING UP TO THE PODIUM.
IF 11 THROUGH 15 COULD LINE UP IN THE MIDDLE.
I'M THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 1 22 AND MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
I'M GONNA KEEP THIS SHORT BECAUSE THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE WITH A WHOLE LOT MORE TO SAY THAN I DO.
IF CREATED THIS MUD WOULD BE IN HOUSE DISTRICT 1 22.
IT'S A DISTRICT THAT I REPRESENT SINCE I FIRST HEARD ABOUT THE GUADALUPE RANCH BACK IN THE SPRING OF 23.
I'VE HAD NUMEROUS MEETINGS WITH ABOUT THIS.
I'VE STOOD BEFORE COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS LIKE THIS ONE SEVERAL TIMES AND HAVE MET WITH LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF CONSTITUENTS FROM STAY AT HOME MOMS TO SCIENTISTS TO DOCTORS.
ALL OF THEM HAVE OPPOSED THIS PROJECT.
NEVER ONCE HAVE I HEARD A SINGLE PERSON I REPRESENT ADVOCATE FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT.
I'VE NEVER HEARD ANYONE ADVOCATE FOR THIS MUD AND HAVE HEARD PLENTY OF PEOPLE OPPOSE IT.
AS I TRAVEL THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT, ONE OF THE TOP ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IS PROPERTY TAXES, THE WHOLE DISTRICT PROPERTY TAXES.
FROM WHERE I STAND, IT SEEMS THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE PROTECTING THE DRINKING WATER AND LOWERING PROPERTY TAXES.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT BE PURCHASED THINGS THOUGH, THESE HOMES WILL NOT SEE THE MUD UNTIL IT ACTUALLY COMES INTO EFFECT AND THEY HAVE TO START PAYING THE PROPERTY TAXES TO PAY FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
ON THIS JOB, THIS MUD DOES EXACT OPPOSITE.
IT CREATES NEW TAXES AND IT PUTS OUR WATER AT RISK.
I'M MARK DERAZIO, STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR
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HOUSE DISTRICT 1 22.SUSAN BEVIN, 1 9 8 0 7 SCENIC LOOP ROAD.
THERE IS NOTHING APPROPRIATE ABOUT THIS PROJECT OR THIS PROCESS.
IT IS RARE THAT THE PLANNERS PERSONALLY INVESTIGATE A PROPERTY BUT RELY ON MAPS AND PAPERWORK.
THE PLANNERS ONLY HAVE THE DEVELOPER'S INPUT AS REGISTERED NEIGHBORHOODS AND CITIZENS WITHIN 200 FEET OF THE PROJECT ARE NOTIFIED AT THE END OF THE PROCESS.
YOUR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS, THE WAO MUD APPLICATION SHOULD BE FACT CHECKED FOR ITS MANY ERRORS.
I LIVE IN GRAY FOREST, HAVE A WELL AND AM LOCATED BETWEEN TWO BRANCHES OF THE HE LOTUS CREEK THAT COULD RECEIVE 1 MILLION GALLONS OR MORE A DAY OF TREATED SEWAGE.
IF THE WAAL DEVELOPMENT IS APPROVED.
OUR AREA IS SUBJECT TO FREQUENT FLOODING.
HOWEVER, TCEQ DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH FLOODING GROUNDWATER OR ANY AREA BEYOND ONE MILE OF THE PROJECT.
IT RELIES ON ANTIQUATED SCIENCE AND DOESN'T ACCEPT THAT THE AREA'S CONTRIBUTING ZONE CAR ENVIRONMENT IS A DIRECT CONDUIT TO THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE ZONE.
TCE Q'S APPROVAL OF THE WAAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT WILL APPEAR ON THIS APPLICATION.
THE DEVELOPMENT ALSO INCLUDES A GAS STATION SUBJECT TO SURFACE RUNOFF, FLOODING AND CARS GEOLOGY.
THIS NOT ONLY PUTS CONTAMINATION OF THE HALOES CREEK IN NEARBY WELLS IN JEOPARDY, BUT SAN ANTONIO'S DRINKING WATER AS THE PLANT APPLICATION INCLUDES THE LEON AND COLLAB CREEK WATERSHEDS.
THIS AREA WAS DEEMED SO ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE THAT THE NORTHWEST SECTOR PLAN LABELED IT COUNTRY TIER WITH SUGGESTED LOT SIZES OF 10 ACRES OR MORE WITH SEPTIC SYSTEMS. WE ARE TOLD THIS IS MERELY A SUGGESTION FOR DEVELOPERS YET YOU CONTINUE TO AMEND THIS PLAN WHENEVER A PROJECT IS LOCATED IN THE AREA AS A MUD MUST BE REQUESTED BY INDIVIDUALS, NOT DEVELOPERS.
LAPPER AND EDWARDS ARE LENNAR'S PUPPETS APPLY TO OBTAIN FREE MONEY AND IT WILL NOT PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE WADI DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT BELONG IN THIS AREA AND THE MUD SHOULD BE DENIED.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
1326 AND 47, YOU'LL HAVE FOUR AND A HALF MINUTES.
MY NAME IS LISA PAC AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO TODAY ON THE BEHALF OF THE HELO, THE C LOOP HELOTES CREEK ALLIANCE.
IN 2018, OUR ALLIANCE FORMALLY REGISTERED THE CENIC LOOP HE LOTUS CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD.
WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, OUR BOUNDARIES ENCOMPASS 6,000 ACRES MAKING US THE LARGEST NEIGHBORHOOD BY AREA OF THE ENTIRE CITY.
WE DID IT SO THAT WHEN DEVELOPMENT WAS PROPOSED WITHIN OUR BOUNDARIES, ESPECIALLY DEVELOPMENT OF SIGNIFICANT SCALE OR ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES, WE WOULD BE NOTIFIED, ENGAGED, AND ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS AS PARTNERS OF RESPONSIBLE PLANNING.
YET DESPITE THAT CLEAR PURPOSE, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD RECEIVED NO NOTIFICATION WHATSOEVER UPON LENNAR'S PLAN FOR THE 23 ACRE SIDNEY AND MARCY EDWARDS PROPERTY, WHICH LIES SQUARELY INSIDE OUR REGISTERED BOUNDARIES.
THIS FAILURE TO NOTIFY US IS NOT A MINOR OVERSIGHT.
IT DERIVE, IT DEPRIVED OUR COMMUNITY OF THE VERY FUNCTION.
THE CITY ESTABLISHED NEIGHBOR NEIGHBORHOOD REGISTRATION TO SERVE AS EARLY AWARENESS, EARLY DIALOGUE, AND EARLY PROBLEM SOLVING.
BECAUSE WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED THE CYNIC LOOP, HOL CREEK ALLIANCE WAS DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT DENSITY, AQUIFER PROTECTION, EMERGENCY ACCESS, WASTEWATER DISCHARGE, AND THE CUMULATIVE IMPACTS OF LARGE SCALE DEVELOPMENT ON ONE OF THE MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE REGIONS OF BEXAR COUNTY.
INSTEAD, WE LEARNED ABOUT THE PROJECT ONLY AFTER KEY DECISIONS WERE ALREADY IN MOTION.
THIS LACK OF NOTIFICATION HAS HAD REAL CONSEQUENCES.
IT ERODED TRUST IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
IT UNDERMINED THE CITY'S OWN STATED
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COMMITMENT TO NEIGHBORHOOD PARTICIPATION, PARTICULARLY IN AREAS LIKE OURS WHERE RURAL CHARACTER, WATER RESOURCES, AND ECOLOGICAL VIABILITY ARE NOT ABSTRACT VALUES BUT DAILY REALITIES.WE ARE NOT HERE TO OBSTRUCT ALL DEVELOPMENT.
WE ARE HERE TO ENSURE THAT DEVELOPMENT IS ALIGNED WITH THE LAND, WITH THE AQUIFERS BENEATH IT AND WITH THE COMMUNITIES HAVE WHO HAVE STEWARDED THIS REGION FOR GENERATIONS.
THAT REQUIRES TRANSPARENCY, IT REQUIRES NOTIFICATION, AND IT REQUIRES HONORING THE PURPOSE OF NEIGHBORHOOD REGISTRATION.
WE ASK THE COMMISSION TO RECOGNIZE THIS FAILURE OF PROCESS HAS HARMED OUR ABILITY TO ENGAGE, WEIGH THAT HEAVILY.
AS YOU CONSIDER THIS MUD PETITION, OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES A VOICE.
OUR WATER SOURCES DESERVE PROTECTION AND THE CITY'S OWN PROCEDURES DESERVE TO BE UPHELD.
SO IF 16 THROUGH 20 COULD LINE UP IN THE AISLE, PLEASE.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF SCENIC LOOP PAUS CREEK ALLIANCE, A REGISTERED NEIGHBORHOOD IN SAN ANTONIO THAT WILL OVERLAP WITH THE GU PROJECT.
I'M HERE TODAY TO TOUCH ON TWO SERIOUS CONCERNS IMPACTING THE PUBLIC.
FIRST, THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY SHOULD NOT ASSUME THE RISK OF THIS $150 MILLION MUD.
THAT RISK CAN BE ASSOCIATED WITH UDC 35 5 0 6 SECONDARY ACCESS POINTS.
THIS PROJECT IS OPERATING UNDER A VARIANCE UP TO A THOUSAND DU AND WE HAVE ASSURANCE FROM SURROUNDING PROPERTY OWNERS THIS PROJECT WILL NOT GAIN ADDITIONAL INGRESS OR EGRESS LIMITING THIS PROJECT TO A THOUSAND SECOND, THE DEVELOPER EGREGIOUSLY INDICATES ON THEIR MDP AND ALL OTHER ENGINEERING FORMS THAT SCENIC LOOP ROAD IS A SECONDARY ARTERIAL ROADWAY BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THE UDC PROHIBITS A PROJECT OF THIS SIZE MORE THAN ONE MILE FROM ANY ACTUAL ARTERIAL ROADWAYS.
ACCORDING TO THE ALAMAR AREA, NPO AND TDOT SCENIC LOOP ROAD IS ACTUALLY CLASSIFIED AS A COLLECTOR ROADWAY, NOT AN ARTERIAL ROADWAY.
THE TIA PERFORMED AND AGREED TO BY OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS IS MORE LIKE CORPORATE WELFARE.
THE DEVELOPER ONLY HAS TO WIDEN THE INTERSECTION OF SCENIC LOOP ROAD AND BABCOCK A FEW A HUNDRED FEET OUTSIDE THEIR DEVELOPMENT AS PER OF THE TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS.
SEE THE BLUE SECTION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SCREEN? THERE ARE NO CONVENIENCES LOCATED WITHIN FIVE MILES OF THIS DEVELOPMENT, AND ALL OF THE RESIDENTS WILL NEED TO TRAVEL TO BANDERA ROAD TO THE SOUTH 1604 TO THE EAST, OR IH 10 TO THE NORTH.
THIS LEAVES THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY TO FUND APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES OF ROADWAY EXPANSION WHEN THIS DEVELOPER INCREASES TRAFFIC FROM 5,000 TRIPS PER DAY TO 30,000 TRIPS PER DAY ON THESE TWO LANE RURAL ROADS.
PLEASE CONSIDER THE GREATER PUBLIC GOOD AND RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL DENY THIS MUD, MAKE THE DEVELOPER REACH INTO THEIR OWN POCKETS.
WHAT NUMBERS ARE YOU? 16 AND 17.
GOOD MORNING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
I LIVE AT 1 8 4 1 8 HILLTOP DRIVE IN, UH, GREAT FOREST AND I REPRESENT THE CITY OF GREAT FOREST AS A COUNCILMAN.
SO I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE DANGERS OF FLOODING IN THIS AREA IN THE SCENIC LOOP CORRIDOR.
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UH, MY PREDECESSOR MR. BLOOM, TALKED ABOUT, UH, THE THREE WAYS OUT OF THIS AREA RIGHT HERE ON BABCOCK.I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT SCENIC LOOP, OR I'M SORRY, GRAY FOREST IS NEVER GOING TO WIDEN THIS LITTLE STRETCH OF SCENIC LOOP ROAD THAT WE OWN.
SO ACTUALLY YOU HAVE TWO CORRIDORS OUT OF THIS AREA.
I'M GONNA TELL YOU WHY I, SO ACCORDING TO THE SOUTHWEST STREET STREET INSTITUTE, THE SCENIC, I'M SORRY, THE, UH, LOWER CREEK WATERSHED GETS ABOUT 2.8 INCHES OF, UH, RAINFALL PER YEAR, UH, PER MONTH.
LENNAR PRO PROPOSING TO DUMP 1 MILLION GALLONS OF RAINFALL AND AVERAGE PER DAY INTO THIS LITTLE AREA RIGHT HERE THAT'S GONNA EFFECTIVELY DOUBLE THAT.
SO THAT WOULD EFFECTIVELY DOUBLE THE FLOW OF THE ALREADY FLOOD PRONE AREA.
IN MY CONSTITUENTS AREA RIGHT HERE, UH, ABOUT A ONE THIRD OF MY CONSTITUENTS, HOUSEHOLDS ARE SUBJECT TO FLOODING ALREADY AND YOU'RE GONNA DOUBLE THAT AMOUNT OF RAINFALL RIGHT THERE.
UH, AND THAT IS OVER THE RECENT TIMEFRAME.
SO YOU CAN IMAGINE WHEN WE RETURN TO NORMAL RAINFALL, WHAT THAT'S GONNA MEAN FOR US.
AND EVEN IF THE CITY WAS INCLINED TO WIDEN SCENIC LOOP ROAD, WHICH OR NOT, WE COULDN'T AFFORD IT.
SO THIS RIGHT HERE, THIS IS BLUE HILL PASS.
THIS IS OUR ONE LOW WATER CROSSING IN SCENIC LOOP.
UH, YOU CAN SEE RIGHT HERE, THIS IS LOW WATER CROSSING.
YOU SEE THAT'S A GAS LINE, THAT'S A UTILITY LINE.
MY ESTIMATION RIGHT HERE, JUST THIS ONE LITTLE AREA WOULD COST US 10 TO $15 MILLION TO PUT A A TO RAISE THAT UP.
SO IT WAS SAFE FOR A FOUR LANE RIGHT THERE.
THAT'S 10 TO 15 YEARS OF OUR ANNUAL BUDGET.
EVEN IF, EVEN IF THE COUNTY GAVE US THAT MONEY, THAT SECTION WAS RIGHT ABOUT THERE NEXT TO GRANDMA SAN.
THE NEXT PART I'M GONNA SHOW YOU IS, UH, THIS IS RIGHT NEAR SAM'S RANCH ROAD.
UH, EFFECTIVELY YOU CAN SEE RIGHT HERE, THERE'S A WATER GAUGE AND ANOTHER LOW WATER CROSSING UP THERE THAT'S ABOUT TWO TENTHS OF A MILE THAT WOULD COST THE COUNTY.
THIS IS IN COUNTY LAND RIGHT HERE.
THAT WOULD COST THEM UP TO 40 TO $50 MILLION BECAUSE THERE'S A SAM'S RANCH ROAD RIGHT THERE AND A DRIVEWAY BACK THERE.
YOU KINDA SEE THAT IT'S A LITTLE UP CLOSE THERE.
THAT'S WHAT THAT WOULD COST THEM.
SO I'VE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THE POTENTIAL COST OF PREPARING THIS STRETCH OF ROAD.
NOW I'M GONNA COST TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE COSTS OF THE CONSEQUENCES RATHER OF FLOODING HERE, RIGHT HERE.
IN 2007, WE HAD LOSS OF LIFE, AND THIS IS ON A RAISED AREA.
THIS PART RIGHT HERE, FLOODS STILL.
AND THIS IS A RAISED BRIDGE, AN ACTUAL, NOT JUST A CULVERT, A RAISED BRIDGE.
WE'VE HAD A LOSS OF LIFE HERE IN 2007.
THAT'S THE COST OF DOUBLING THE AMOUNT OF WATER COMING DOWN ON LOTUS CREEK.
I URGE YOU TO REJECT THE MUD FOR THE SAKE OF MY CONSTITUENTS.
I'M CHAPLAIN CAPTAIN, UH, LIEUTENANT COLONEL JAMES C BARBIA, SR.
I LIVE AT 1 6 4 0 6 ANCHORS EDGE IN SAN ANTONIO RANCH.
I WONDER IF YOU'VE EVER ASKED YOURSELF WHY THERE'S ONLY A MUD.
NUMBER ONE, FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.
THERE IS NO TWO AND NOW YOU'RE BEING ASKED TO JOIN IN A TERRIBLE IDEA.
THE MUD DOESN'T REPRESENT THE PEOPLE.
THE MUD IS AUTONOMOUS AND RESPONSIBILITY.
TEXAS STATE LAW, I'M A MEMBER OF THE CURRENT, UH, SAN ANTONIO RANCH, UH, MUD BOARD.
UH, OUR HISTORY HAS BEEN SO CONFLICTED AND OPEN FOR CORRUPTION THAT THERE SHOULD NEVER BE ANOTHER MUD.
THE MUD TAKES $150 MILLION THAT LENNAR, UM, BORROWS AND LIFTS IT OFF OF THEMSELVES AND PUTS IT ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO PAY $1,500 EXTRA, UH, EVERY YEAR IN TAXES FOR 38 YEARS.
THE, THE MUD ITSELF DOESN'T REPRESENT THE PEOPLE WE REP.
WE ARE RESPONSIBLE ONLY TO THE STATE.
AND SO THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LIKE THE MUD GROUP GETTING TOGETHER AND VOTING THEMSELVES.
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PER MEETING EACH WITH NO, NO, NO ONE BEING ABLE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AFTER THAT.UH, THE MUD ALSO, UM, IN OUR CASE, HAS FOUND A WAY AROUND ELECTING MEMBERS AND SIMPLY ASSIGNED THOSE MEMBERS THAT WERE GOING OFF THE BOARD TO STAY ON THE BOARD.
WE HAD A CONTRACT WITH, UM, A LAWYER FOR $700 AN HOUR.
CURRENTLY WE'RE PAYING FOR THE SAME THING, $150 AN HOUR.
THEY VOTED TO PAY THE SECRETARY VERY PART-TIME, $39,000.
NOW WE PAY ONE THIRD OF THAT AMOUNT, SO WHEN NER LEAVES BEFORE THEY LEAVE, THEY APPOINT FIVE PEOPLE TO BE THE NEW MUD BOARD.
THOSE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GETTING INTO.
IT'S ONE OF THE MOST COMPLICATED THINGS YOU CAN IMAGINE.
THAT'S WHY THERE'S NEVER BEEN A MUD TWO.
IF 21 THROUGH 25 COULD LINE UP IN THE MIDDLE.
MY NAME IS ALAN MONTEMAYOR, 2186 JACKSON KELLER ROAD NUMBER 4, 3 2.
I REPRESENT THE ALAMO GROUP OF THE SIERRA CLUB.
OUR ALMOST 3000 MEMBERS ARE OPPOSED TO THE WA DEVELOPMENT.
THE NORTH SECTOR PLAN PLOTTED THIS FOR 10 ACRES OR LARGER LOTS.
LENNAR WANTS TO COME IN AND PUT 2,900 UMS HOMES ON 1,160 ACRES.
THIS IS WAY BEYOND THE CARRYING CAPACITY OF THIS LAND IN ANY WAY YOU WANNA LOOK AT IT.
THAT NORTH SECTOR PLAN WAS PUT IN PLACE TO PROTECT THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO.
SOUTHWEST RESEARCH STUDY STATED THAT ADDITIONAL WASTEWATER SYSTEMS FROM RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN HELOS CREEK WATERSHED, REGARDLESS OF TYPE, WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY DEGRADE THE WATERSHED AND THE QUALITY OF WATER RECHARGING THE EDWARDS AQUIFER.
THAT'S THE WATER THAT SAN ANTONIO DEPENDS ON.
OTHER DEVELOPMENT DEPENDS ON IT.
I WILL REMIND YOU THAT WE ARE IN THE CHRIS MORTON, UH, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES BUILDING.
THAT SERVICE IS NOT JUST TO DEVELOPERS, BUILDERS, AND REALTORS.
THAT SERVICE IS TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO PROTECT US.
I'M ASKING YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS APPLICATION FOR THE MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION.
I LIVE AT 1 8 4 1 9 SHERWOOD TRAIL IN THE CITY OF GRAY FOREST.
I WANNA CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION A CRITICAL ISSUE THAT GOES DIRECTLY TO THE FEASIBILITY OF THE GU RANCH DEVELOPMENT AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF GRANTING A MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT IN THIS LOCATION.
PAPE DAWSON, ENGINEERS PREVIOUSLY SOUGHT A HARDSHIP VARIANCE FOR INGRESS AND EGRESS BASED ON THREE PROPOSED ACCESS POINTS, WHICH ARE TO THE NORTH.
UM, IT IS NOW CLEAR THAT NONE OF THOSE ACCESS POINTS ARE VIABLE.
AS A RESULT, WE UNDERSTAND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES HAS SUGGESTED THE DEVELOPER PURSUE SECONDARY ACCESS EITHER TO THE WEST OR TO THE SOUTH.
LIES BEAR RANCH, PART OF THE HISTORIC WHITE RANCH.
THIS LANDOWNER HAS PREVIOUSLY INDICATED NO INTEREST IN PARTICIPATING IN OR ACCOMMODATING CONNECTIVITY WITH THE GU RANCH PROJECT.
IN FACT, THE STOUT ROAD SHOWN THERE TO THE WEST, UH, UM, IS AGAINST, UH, AGAINST THEIR FENCE LINE IN THE GU.
IN THE GU MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN HAS CAUSED GREAT CONCERN PRECISELY BECAUSE IT IMPLIES A CONNECTION THAT HAS NOT BEEN GRANTED TO THE SOUTH.
THE MDP DOES NOT IDENTIFY A CLEAR ACCESS ROUTE.
ANY POTENTIAL CONNECTION WOULD REQUIRE COOPERATION FROM THE TOPER WINE SAM'S AND SAT OFF RANCHES.
ALL THESE LANDOWNERS CURRENTLY HAVE STANDING IN AN ACTIVE APPEAL IN TRAVIS COUNTY DISTRICT COURT REGARDING THE
[01:20:01]
GU WASTEWATER PERMIT.GIVEN THAT ONGOING LITIGATION, THE LIKELIHOOD OF SECURING ACCESS IN THAT DIRECTION IS EXTREMELY LIMITED.
THESE FACTS MATTER BECAUSE A DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SCALE CANNOT PROCEED WITHOUT RELIABLE, LAWFUL, AND MUTUALLY AGREED UPON ACCESS.
AND THEY MATTER EVEN MORE IN THE CONTEXT OF A MUD PETITION GRANTING A MUD, PARTICULARLY ONE THAT COULD INCLUDE THE POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN, WOULD SET A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT.
IT WOULD RISK PLACING PRESSURE ON NEIGHBORING LANDOWNERS WHO HAVE ALREADY MADE THEIR POSITIONS CRYSTAL CLEAR AND IT WOULD SHIFT THE BURDEN, BURDEN OF RESOLVING ACCESS PROBLEMS CREATED BY THE DEVELOPER'S OWN DESIGN CHOICES ONTO THE PUBLIC.
A MUD IS NOT A TOOL FOR OVERCOMING PRIVATE LAND DISAGREEMENTS OR FOR FORCING CONNECTIVITY WHERE NONE EXISTS.
IT IS INTENDED TO SERVE GENUINE PUBLIC NECESSITY NOT TO SOLVE SELF-CREATED OBSTACLES IN A HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT LOCATED IN ONE OF THE MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE REGIONS OF BEAR COUNTY.
FOR THESE REASONS, I URGE THE COMMISSION TO CONSIDER THE FULL CONTEXT OF THE ACCESS CONSTRAINTS AND THE BROADER IMPLICATIONS OF GRANTING GRANTING A MUD AUTHORITY.
WE WERE RESPECTFULLY ASKING THE COMMISSION TO ADVISE AGAINST THIS PERMIT.
IF I, IF, UH, 28 THROUGH 30 COULD LINE UP IN THE MIDDLE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR SERVICE.
MY NAME IS DIANA DUNCAN AND I LIVE AT 2 1 2 1 8 BABCOCK ROAD.
AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PROPOSED MUD TWO AND WHY APPROVING THE MUD WOULD ENDANGER PUBLIC HEALTH AND PLACE OUR WATER SUPPLY AT RISK.
AT THE HEART OF THIS ISSUE IS GOVERNANCE.
IF THIS MUD IS APPROVED, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WOULD NOT HAVE NO OVERSIGHT OR ENFORCEMENT OVER THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
THIS MEANS THAT NO ELECTED OFFICIALS WOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC FOR COMPLIANCE.
THERE'D BE NO MECHANISM FOR TRANSPARENCY AND NO EFFECTIVE WAY TO SAFEGUARD, TO ENFORCE SAFETY STANDARDS.
IF A LEAK OF FAILURE OR ONGOING COMPLIANCE ISSUES OCCUR, IT IS THE PUBLIC THAT PAYS THE PRICE.
SAN ANTONIO LEADERS HAVE LONG SHOWN FORESIGHT IN PROTECTING OUR GROUNDWATER.
SINCE THE YEAR 2000, THE CITY HAS INVESTED $50 MILLION, ALMOST $50 MILLION TO PURCHASE LAND IN AND AROUND THE WA RANCH.
TO SAFEGUARD THE AQUIFERS APPROVING THIS PLAN WOULD EFFECTIVELY NEGATE THAT GOOD WORK AND THROW AWAY HARD EARNED TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
THE TCEQ PERMIT TO POLLUTE GRANTED LAST OCTOBER APPROVED A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT THAT WOULD DISCHARGE AND SPREAD TREATED WASTEWATER INTO ONE OF THE MOST SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENTS IN TEXAS, THE CONTRIBUTING AND RECHARGE ZONES OF THE CONTR OF THE EDWARDS AND TRINITY GLENROSE AQUIFERS.
THOSE AREAS APPEAR ON MAPS THIS WAY FOR A REASON BECAUSE RAINWATER RUNOFF AND NOW POTENTIALLY WASTEWATER CAN MOVE DIRECTLY THROUGH THIS LAND AND INTO THE GROUNDWATER ITSELF.
MANY PEOPLE MAY NOT REALIZE THIS, AND I CERTAINLY DIDN'T AT FIRST, BUT AQUIFERS IN THIS REGION ARE CLASSIFIED AS KAR TO AQUIFERS.
A QUICK SEARCH ON GOOGLE WILL SHOW THAT KAR TO AQUIFERS ARE AMONG THE MOST SENSITIVE GROUNDWATER SYSTEMS IN THE WORLD.
A KARST ROCK THERE JUST LIKE THAT IS BASICALLY HOLES AND CRACKS.
CARIOLOGY IS LIKE SWISS CHEESE.
WATER MOVES RAPIDLY THROUGH NATURAL CRACKS AND CONDUITS.
UNLIKE AQUIFERS WITH NATURAL SAND, SOIL AND FILTRATION CONTAMINATION HERE MOVES QUICKLY AND DIRECTLY.
AND A FAILURE WOULD THREATEN PRIVATE WELLS LIKE MY OWN AND MANY OTHERS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THE DRINKING WATER SUPPLY FOR 2.5 MILLION OF US.
THE TYPE OF WASTEWATER PLANT LENNAR PLANS TO INSTALL IS AN MBR MEMBRANE BIOREACTOR.
WHILE THE WATER MAY LOOK CLEAN, IT IS NOT CHEMICALLY PURE AND IT IS NOT TO TYPE ONE HUMAN STANDARDS.
FOR ALL THESE REASONS, I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO CONSIDER LACK OF GOVERNANCE ISSUES, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND THE CITY'S PRIOR FORESIGHT AND INVESTMENTS AND THE SAFETY OF OUR WATER SUPPLY.
I URGE YOU TO RECOMMEND DENIAL OF MUD TWO TO CITY COUNCIL.
[01:25:09]
OKAY, THANK YOU.UH, MY ADDRESS IS 1 1 3 1 0 WHISPER DAWN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
AND AGAIN, I'M AN INDEPENDENT, UH, TEXAS, UH, PROFESSIONAL GEOLOGIST LICENSE NUMBER 9 1 1, AND I'M A PRACTICING CARS HYDROGEOLOGIST.
I HAVE MORE THAN 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING IN WATER RESOURCES, WATER QUALITY AND HAZARD WASTE MANAGEMENT ISSUES IN MORE THAN 30 STATES AND 10 COUNTRIES.
I'VE SERVED AS THE CHIEF TECHNICAL OFFICER FOR THE AFER SCIENCES DIRECTOR AND SENIOR HYDROGEOLOGIST WITH THE EVEREST AQUIFER FOR MORE THAN 23 YEARS.
AND WHERE I, UH, WAS HIRED TO SET UP THEIR SCIENCE AND DATA COLLECTION PROGRAM, PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE BOARD.
AND AMONG MANY OF MY TASKS AND PERSONNEL I SUPERVISED, I OVERSAW THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE EEA A'S GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT MODELS SET UP AND RAN THEIR DYE TRACING PROGRAMS, AND WAS A LIAISON FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S EDWARDS OFFER PROTECTION PROGRAM AND FORMALLY KNOWN AS PROP ONE.
I WAS THE SENIOR AUTHOR OF THE US EPAS GUIDANCE DOCUMENT ON SOURCE WATER PROTECTION AND COST AREAS.
I'VE HELD PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS IN FIVE STATES, AND I'VE MANAGED INVESTIGATIONS OF NATIONAL PRIORITY LIST SUPERFUND SITES.
I'M ALSO THE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL THEOLOGICAL SOCIETY AND THEN VISIT THOUSANDS OF CAVES ON FOUR CONTINENTS.
SO YOU MAY SAY THAT I KNOW MY REAR FROM A HOLE IN THE GROUND.
I HAVE DIRECT EXPERIENCE WORKING ON THE HYDROGEOLOGY OF THE
I PERFORMED GEOLOGIC ASSESSMENTS ON MORE THAN 1000 ACRES IN THE BASIN AND MADE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY ON THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTIES TO PROTECT THE WATER QUALITY OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER.
I SPEAK TO YOU TODAY AS AN INDEPENDENT HYDROGEOLOGIST WITH ONLY THE INTEREST OF THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO.
I'M NOT RECEIVING COMPENSATION TO BE HERE TODAY.
I WANT TO ASK THAT YOU TURN DOWN THE REQUEST FOR LENNAR'S MUD APPLICATION TO WAWA TODAY RANCH WITH A CONCERN THAT HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT IN THE LOW AREA CREEK SURROUNDING BASIN AND, UM, WITHIN THE EDWARDS AQUIFER CONTRIBUTING ZONE WILL ADVERSELY IMPACT WATER QUALITY IN THE TRINITY AND EDWARDS AQUIFER.
THIS WILL PLACE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES AT GREAT RISK.
HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT WILL EXCEED THE CAPACITY OF THE SOIL, SHALLOW SOILS IN THE FILTER AND RETAIN CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WASTE.
CONCENTRATING SEPTIC WASTE WITHIN THE SMALL PUBLIC TREATMENT WORKS DOES NOT TREAT WASTE CONTAMINATE WITH OIL GREASE, PAINT, SOLVENTS, PFOS, METALS, ET CETERA.
THOSE MATERIALS WILL BE DISCHARGED INTO THE WASTE STREAM AND INTO HOLY CREEK, WHERE THEY WILL ENTER THE TRINITY AND THE EDWARDS AQUIFER WATER FROM THE TRINITY AND THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECEIVES VERY LITTLE TREATMENT UNTIL IT REACHES THE CONSUMER WHERE IT'S HIGHLY FILTERED THROUGH YOUR LIVERS AND YOUR KIDNEYS, PLACING THE BURDEN ON THE BODY AND INCREASING CANCER RISKS.
GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION CARS IS EXCEPTIONALLY DIFFICULT TO INVESTIGATE AND REMEDIATE.
WATER WELLS WILL COMMONLY HAVE TO HAVE HIGHLY TECHNICAL TREATMENT SYSTEMS OR BE ENTIRELY ABANDONED.
THE OLD SAYING THAT AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE IS VERY TRUE IN KARST HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT, UH, IN THE DOWNGRADING ZONE OF THE CONTRIBUTING ZONE OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER IS UNDUE BURDEN ON THE SCIS OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND I REQUEST THAT YOU DENY THE, UH, THE MUD APPLICATION.
IF, UH, 30 THROUGH, I'M SORRY, 31 THROUGH 35 CAN LINE UP IN THE MIDDLE PLEASE.
MY NAME IS MICHAEL WILLIAMS SCHICK.
MY ADDRESS IS 2 3 0 0 7 LINWOOD RIDGE IN SAN ANTONIO.
IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO APPEAR FOR YOU THIS MORNING.
THANK YOU FOR FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
I'M HERE TO RAISE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE HARDSHIP VARIANCE GRANTED TO THE GUA DE RANCH SUBDIVISION.
THIS VARIANCE WAS APPROVED IN 2022 BASED ON REPRESENTATIONS MADE BY PAPE DAWSON, ENGINEER JUSTIN CLARK.
IN A LETTER TO CHRISTINA DE LA CRUZ OF THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES OFFICE, MR. CLARK CLAIMED THAT PERMANENT EMERGENCY ACCESS WOULD BE PROVIDED AT THREE POINTS ALONG THE NORTHERN BOUNDARY OF THE PROPOSED SUBDIVISION AS WELL AS TO THE SOUTH AND THE WEST.
AS WE JUST HEARD, THIS SOUNDS LIKE HAVING THE CAMEL'S NOSE UNDER THE TENT.
THIS LINE HERE IN THE LETTER SAYS THAT STREETS ARE PROJECTED TO THE SOUTH AND WEST FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT, BUT THAT IS QUESTIONABLE.
IF THESE ACCESS POINTS WERE INDEED TRUE, THEN WHY DIDN'T PAPE DAWSON NAME THE STREETS AND SHOW IMAGES OR MAPS OF THEM? AND WHY DIDN'T THEY PROVIDE EVIDENCE THAT THEY HAD PRIOR PERMISSION TO ACCESS ANY OF THESE? THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO THE NORTH IS A PRIVATE
[01:30:01]
GATED COMMUNITY.WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THAT BEFORE.
IT'S CALLED THE CANYONS AT ST LOOP.
THAT'S MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN MY HOME ABUTS THE EAST SIDE OF THE WAHO DE RANCH.
IT'S ASTONISHING TO ME THAT NO ONE FROM LENAR OR PAP DAWSON HAS EVER CONTACTED THE CANYONS TO REQUEST OR CONFIRM ACCESS, EMERGENCY OR OTHERWISE.
IN FACT, AS YOU'LL SOON HEAR FROM OUR BOARD PRESIDENT, THE CANYONS HAVE MADE THEIR POSITION TO UNEQUIVOCALLY CLEAR.
WE ARE A PRIVATE GATED SUBDIVISION.
AND WAHOO DE RANCH WILL NOT BE GATED.
GRANTING ACCESS WOULD EFFECTIVELY CONVERT THE CANYONS INTO AN OPEN ACCESS COMMUNITY, WHICH ALL OF OUR HOMEOWNERS CATEGORICALLY REJECT.
UNLESS AN EASEMENT IS GRANTED OR STREETS ARE PUBLICLY DEDICATED, A PRIVATE SUBDIVISION CANNOT BE COMPELLED TO PROVIDE ACCESS, EMERGENCY OR OTHERWISE.
THE PRESUMPTUOUS CLAIM THAT ANY KIND OF ACCESS WILL BE PROVIDED IS NOT ONLY SPECULATIVE, BUT IT'S MISLEADING AT BEST AND DISINGENUOUS AT WORST.
STRANGELY, THE VARIANCE WAS APPROVED IN NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THE VARIANCE WAS APPROVED BY AN ENGINEER ASSOCIATE WITHOUT A PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS NO SEAL.
THIS RAISES SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCEDURAL INTEGRITY AND LEGAL VALIDITY OF THE APPROVAL.
AND THEREFORE, I RESPECTFULLY URGE THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES OFFICE AND THE CITY COUNCIL TO REEXAMINE THE BASIS OF THE HARDSHIP VARIANCE TO REQUIRE WRITTEN DOCUMENTED PROOF OF GRANTING EMERGENCY ACCESS BEFORE ANY FURTHER APPROVALS TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER FALSE OR MISLEADING REPRESENTATIONS WERE KNOWINGLY MADE TO THE CITY OFFICIALS, AND TO ENSURE THAT FUTURE VARIANCES ARE REVIEWED AND SIGNED BY LICENSED PROFESSIONALS WITH APPROPRIATE CREDENTIALS AND AUTHORITY.
THIS IS NOT JUST A MATTER OF TECHNICAL COMPLIANCE, IT IS A MATTER OF PUBLIC TRUST.
IT IS A MATTER OF LEGAL INTEGRITY AND COMMUNITY SAFELY.
THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR OF BEING HERE.
I LIVE AT 23 8 0 2 ANDORRA RIDGE IN THE CANYONS SCENIC LOOP.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION AND I'M HERE JUST TO MAKE A MATTER OF RECORD THAT, UM, THE NORTH SECTION THAT BORDERS THE WAHA TE RANCH OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS THEIR ENTIRE BOUNDARY.
ALL OF OUR STREETS ARE PRIVATE.
WE HAVE NO INTENTION OF ALLOWING ANYONE OTHER THAN THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO USE OUR STREETS.
I HAVE, UH, DIRECTED OUR LAWYER WHO SENT A LETTER TODAY TO LENNAR, THE ATTORNEYS OF RECORD, THE CORPORATE ATTORNEYS OF THIS MATTER, AND THAT WE DO NOT, UH, HAVE THERE, THERE'S NO WAY THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ALLOWING OUR PRIVATE STREETS TO BE USED FOR THE PUBLIC USE OF ANOTHER COMMUNITY.
OKAY, GOOD MORNING COMMISSION.
I OWN 13 ACRES THAT WILL BE ADJACENT TO THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
I PRESENT TODAY TO EXPRESS CONCERN REGARDING LANGUAGE IN THE A MUD APPLICATION.
UM, IN PREPARATION FOR THIS MEETING, I WENT THROUGH ALL THE DOCUMENTS AND THE DOCUMENT THAT I HAVE UP THERE IS WHAT VERY MUCH CONCERNS ME.
IN ADDITION TO ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT PRIOR TO ME COMING UP HERE TO TALK WITH YOU TODAY, THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE DEVELOPER OF THE PROPOSED GU RANCH SUBDIVISION.
SPECIFICALLY THE PETITION STATES THAT THE MUD BOND PROCEEDS WILL BE USED FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE ACQUISITION OF THE LAND.
THIS PHRASE PHRASING RAISES SERIOUS QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS UNDER THE TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE TITLE 30 PART ONE SUBCHAPTER E RULE 2 95 2 93 0.51.
UNDER THE, UH, MUD BOND SECTION SAYS THAT FUNDS MAY ONLY BE USED TO ACQUIRE EASEMENTS FOR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, NOT FEE.
SIMPLE LAND EASEMENTS FOR WATER SEWER DRAINAGE AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THOSE, UH, MUD BONDS.
BUT THE PURCHASE OF LAND ITSELF IS NOT.
[01:35:01]
ACQUISITION IS CONSIDERED A DEVELOPER'S COST, AND IT'S A COST OF THEM DOING BUSINESS, NOT PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE EXPENSE.IN THIS CASE, THE DEVELOPER WILL ALREADY OWN THE ENTIRE ENVELOPE OF LAND OUTLINED IN THE MDP UNLESS THEY INTEND TO PURCHASE LAND FROM THEMSELVES, A MANEUVER THAT WOULD RAISE ETHICAL AND LEGAL CONCERNS.
THERE IS NO NEED FOR FURTHER ACQUISITION.
LET ME BE SPECIFIC ON THREE POINTS.
SAWS HAS ALREADY EXTENDED WATER LINES ALONG BOTH THE EAST AND NORTH PROPERTY BOUNDARIES, AND A NEW WATER MAIN FOR GUA HOLTE RANCH HAS ALREADY BEEN INSTALLED ALONG SCENIC LOOP ROAD RIGHT UP TO THE PROPERTY'S ENTRANCE.
THE SUBDIVISION WILL OPERATE ITS OWN WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, AS WE HEARD EARLIER, ELIMINATING THE NEED FOR OFFSITE SEWER EASEMENTS AND THE REQUIRED BUFFER ZONE AROUND THE PLANT LIES WITHIN THE LAND ALREADY OWNED BY THE DEVELOPER.
THE DESIGNATED PARKLANDS, AS SHOWN IN THE MDP, ARE ALSO INTERNAL TO THE ENVELOPE OF THE PROPERTY.
GIVEN THESE FACTS, THE INCLUSION OF PURCHASE AND ACQUISITION OF LAND IN THE SUMMARY DOCUMENTS THAT THEY OUTLINED AS COVERED UNDER THE BONDS, UM, IS POTENTIALLY MISLEADING AND UNNECESSARY.
IT GOES TO THE HEART OF PUBLIC TRUST, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND LAWFUL GOVERNANCE OF A MUD.
I URGE THE COMMISSION TO SCRUTINIZE THIS AND ALL ASPECTS OF THE MUD AND THIS DEVELOPMENT.
WHAT LAND IS ACTUALLY BEING PURCHASED WITH BOND FUNDS.
IF THE DEVELOPER'S SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR LAND THEY ALREADY OWN OR INTEND TO TRANSFER TO THEMSELVES UNDER THE GUISE OF A PUBLIC ACQUISITION, THAT WOULD VIOLATE BOTH THE SPIRIT AND THE LETTER OF THE TEXAS LAW.
AND THEREFORE, I URGE YOU TO LOOK AT ALL THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TODAY, TODAY, TAKE THEM TO HEART, PROTECT OUR WATER, AND DENY THIS APPLICATION REQUEST.
HELLO, MY NAME IS PHILLIP MANNA AND UM, I'M THE PRESIDENT OF ALMO FARMSTEADS BROCK ROAD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
AND I WAS THE PLANNING CHAIR FOR THE HEDON OR LEON CREEK COMMUNITY PLAN.
AND, UM, I PARTICIPATED, UM, WITH SOME OF Y'ALL AS WELL AS A LOT OF PRIOR COMMISSIONERS IN DEVELOPING A WHOLE LOT OF PLANS FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND SO, SO I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL THING AND I THINK THAT THE CITY IN GENERAL DOES A GREAT JOB FOR SETTING UP THESE PLANS.
AND SO, UM, SO, UM, IN THE HE LEON CREEK COMMUNITY PLAN, UH, WE HAVE ESSENTIALLY, UH, ROSS LAED, SO IN OAKLAND ESTATE, UM, ALLO FARMSTEADS AND VERDE HILLS, WHICH HAVE OVER 300 PRIVATE WELLS IN THAT COMMUNITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
THAT IS DOWN, I GUESS DOWNSTREAM ESSENTIALLY FROM THIS DEVELOPMENT.
SO, SO WE HAVE A MAJOR CONCERN WITH REGARDS TO WHAT'S GOING ON OR, OR THE POTENTIAL OF WHAT'S GONNA GO ON.
AND SO, UM, AND SO SOME OF THIS IS, Y'ALL KNOW ALL THIS, BUT I'M JUST GONNA KIND OF WALK THROUGH IT.
SO, NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS, COMMUNITY PLANS AND SECTOR PLANS ARE ADOPTED COMPONENTS OF THE CITY'S, UH, CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE MASTER PLAN.
AND SO THEY ACTUALLY HAVE WEIGHT AND VALUE AND, AND I THINK WE FORGET THAT SOMETIMES.
AND IT, AND YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO REMIND PEOPLE ABOUT THAT.
'CAUSE THIS IS REALLY, THE COMMUNITY'S ONLY OFF CHANCE TO REALLY KIND OF GIVE THEIR INPUT AND EXPECTING YOU, YOU KNOW, TO HELP SUPPORT THEM.
'CAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE NOTHING ELSE BUT THESE PLANS, YOU KNOW, TO SUPPORT THEIR SUPPORT AND, UH, HELP THEIR COMMUNITIES.
AND THESE PLANS ARE NOT MADE IN A VACUUM.
AND SO IT TAKES YEARS AND MONTHS, MONTHS AND YEARS.
AND, UM, AND SO THIS, THIS PARTICULAR PLAN, THE NORTH SECTOR PLAN, I WAS THERE, UH, CITY PLANNERS WERE THERE, UH, JODY, SHE AS A COMMISSIONER WAS THERE.
AND SO IF YOU GO LOOK HIS PICTURES THERE.
SO, UM, SO FOR PROOF, UH, BUT DEVELOPERS, REALTORS, BUSINESSES, RESIDENTS, CITIZENS, AND SO THEY GET EVERYBODY TOGETHER TO MAKE THESE PLANS.
AND SO, SO YOU KNOW, EVERYONE GETS A, A SPOT AT THE TABLE TO KIND OF SAY, HERE'S HOW WE WANT THIS TO HAPPEN.
SO, UM, UM, AND SO LOOKING AT ONE STOP, YOU KNOW, SO PART OF THE PLAN, YOU, YOU KIND OF LAY OUT HOW YOU WANT THIS PROPERTY TO, TO BE MANAGED.
AND SO, UM, THESE PROPER, THESE PROPERTIES WERE DESIGNATED AS CON UH, COUNTY TIER.
AND SO THAT SAYS WHAT THE SIZE TO BE DEVELOPED AND THEN THE WEST PORTION AND EVERY ACTUALLY, UM, EVERYTHING AROUND IT IS KIND OF, UH, LISTED AS LOW DENSITY OR RESIDENTIAL.
AND SO, SO, UM, ONE STOP DIDN'T IDENTIFY ALL THE REST OF 'EM, BUT, BUT, SO IT'S EITHER, UH, COUNTY TIER OR LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL.
AND, AND THEN ALSO I THINK WAS KIND OF BROUGHT UP WITH REGARDS TO THERE'S A REGISTRATION FOR SCENIC LOOP LOTUS CREEK, AND THEY WEREN'T NECESSARILY NOTIFIED AS WELL AS THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN.
AND I'M FIGHTING FOR THAT REGULARLY ON ALL KINDS OF OTHER THINGS GOING ON, YOU KNOW, FOR THE CITY REACHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITIES.
BUT, YOU KNOW, BUT, BUT IT'S TRUE THAT THEY PROBABLY WEREN'T REACHED OUT AS WELL AS THEY COULD HAVE BEEN.
AND SO WITH REGARDS TO THE MASTER COMP, UH, THE COMPREHENSIVE
[01:40:01]
MASTER PLAN, IT TALKS ABOUT IF THE DEVELOPMENT IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE LAND USE PLAN.SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SUPER HIGH DENSITY GOING INTO WHAT'S CURRENTLY COUNTY, UH, COUNTY TIER, THAT'S NOT CONSISTENT.
IT SAYS THE REQUEST MUST BE APPROVED, UM, UM, BY A, A ZONING, YOU KNOW, BY A PLANNING COMMISSION TO MAKE THE CHANGE TO SUPPORT WHATEVER THEY'RE GETTING READY TO HAVE.
THAT THAT'S NOT HAPPENING AND IT'S KIND OF, BECAUSE IT'S IN THAT ETJ.
AND SO THAT'S KINDA A SQUIRRELY THING WHERE WE'RE GONNA ALLOW FOR THIS SUPER INTENSE DEVELOPMENT, UM, INTO A COUNTY TIER AND NOT REALLY WORK WITH OUR WORK WITH THE PLAN ITSELF.
SO THAT SEEMS CONTRADICTORY THERE.
UM, SO, UM, THE PROPOSED MUD, YOU KNOW, AS I SAID, WAS SURROUNDED BY THE COUNTY TIER AND LOW DENSITY.
WE HAD NORMAL, NORMAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH ALL THOSE.
PLANNING MEANS SAYS YOU KIND OF MOVE FROM LESS DENSE TO MORE DENSE AS YOU GO OUTSIDE THE, THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE CORE IS THE, THE LOWER DENSITY AND YOU MOVE TO THE, TO THE OUTSIDE, IT BECOMES A LOT MORE DENSE AND THAT'S WHERE YOU PUT, WE'LL SAY, YOU KNOW, THE ARTERIAL ROADS ARE.
AND SO THAT'S WHERE YOU ALLOW FOR THE HIGHER DENSITY.
SO THAT'S JUST NATURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OR PLANS AND HOW YOU DO THAT.
UM, AND SO WE TALKED ABOUT PART OF THE REASON FOR, YOU KNOW, DOING THAT WITH REGARDS TO, YOU KNOW, CORE NOT MUCH PEOPLE, NOT MUCH TRAFFIC, AND AS YOU MOVE OUT TO UH, ADD MORE INTENSITY WHERE YOU WANT THEM TO BE ON THOSE MAJOR ROADWAYS.
AND SO WE WOULD EXPECT THIS KINDA DEVELOPMENT TO BE ON A MAJOR ARTERIAL.
AND IT'S NOT, IT'S ON, AS WE WERE SAYING, ON, ON A PUBLIC, UH, UM, LOW, LOW DENSITY, LOW PASSING ROADWAY AND IS JUST NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THIS AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC.
SO, SO A LOT OF CHANGES WOULD HAVE TO OCCUR THAT THE CITY IS GONNA HAVE TO FUND AND THAT'S A PROBLEM.
UM, AND THEN THE WHOLE DIALOGUE WITH REGARDS TO THE, UH, EGRESS AND INGRESS, YOU KNOW, UM, A VARIANCE WAS GIVEN AND I DON'T KNOW WHY, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE WE TALK ABOUT ON THE OTHER BOARD I SIT ON ABOUT LIFE AND SAFETY AND, YOU KNOW, I COULD NOT SUPPORT SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA PUT ANY CITIZENS, YOU KNOW, AT RISK FOR SAFETY PERSPECTIVE.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE A 10 MINUTE RECESS.
IT IS 10 58 AND WE WILL RECONVENE THE MEETING IF NUMBERS 39 THROUGH 45 COULD LINE UP IN THE MIDDLE AND 39 CAN APPROACH THE PODIUM THERE.
READY WHEN YOU'RE MY NAME'S MADELINE MCCLOSKEY.
UM, 1 8 7 1 7 LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN TRAIL IN GRAY FOREST.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BE ON A MUD BOARD.
I WOULD LIKE TO BE APPOINTED BY EITHER A DEVELOPER WHO HAS MADE THEIR MONEY AND LEFT, OR THE BOARD THAT HAS ZERO OVERSIGHT AND CAN ASSESS MUD TAXES WITHOUT JUSTIFICATION.
WHAT'S DONE WITH, UM, WHAT WOULD BE DONE WITHOUT WHAT WE DO WITH OUR BUSINESS WOULD BE OUR BUSINESS.
I WOULD VOTE, IN FACT, FOR US TO BE PAID $500 PER MEETING, WE WOULD BE IN CONTROL OF HOW THIS MONEY IS SPENT.
NOW AS A FORMER TEACHER, OKAY, I HAD CONTROL OF MY CLASS, BUT WHAT WOULD HAVE TO, BUT WHAT WOULD IT HAVE BEEN LIKE IF I HAD BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH MONEY I GOT PAID DAILY? THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN THE EXPRESS NEWS THIS PAST WEEK ABOUT SANDRA WILSON WHO LIVES OUTSIDE OF DALLAS, WHO BOUGHT A HOUSE WITH NO KNOWLEDGE OF THESE MUD TAXES.
I WENT AND LOOK UP HER TAXES IN COLLINS COUNTY.
COLLINS COUNTY, COLLINS COLLEGE, COLLINS ISD ARE LISTED ALONG WITH THE FREE CEILINGS FOR EACH, EXCEPT FOR MAGNOLIA POINT MUD NUMBER ONE, IT HAS NO CEILING.
THERE WILL BE NO OVERSIGHT ON THAT.
SO, YOU KNOW WHAT I'D LIKE TO TELL ACTUALLY ALL TEACHERS THAT IF THEY'D LIKE TO MAKE SOME GOOD MONEY, THAT THEY SHOULD GET ON A MUD BOARD.
UH, WHAT NUMBER ARE YOU THERE? UH, 43.
I LIVE AT 1-807-CAROUSEL LOOP 7 8 2 5 3.
AND I'M COMMENTING ON THE GUA DE RANCH MUD, WHICH IS ITEM ONE ON THE JANUARY 16TH PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA.
UH, IF WE HAVE LEARNED ANYTHING FROM FLINT, MICHIGAN, UH, WE CAN NEITHER PRESUME ON THE SAFETY OF THE WATER SUPPLY WHERE HAZARDS EXIST NOR RELEASE FROM ACCOUNTABILITY.
[01:45:01]
US THAT THE WATER WILL BE SAFE WHEN THE TRUTH OF THE HA THOSE HAZARDS MAY NOT BE FULLY MANIFEST FOR YEARS.ONCE CONTAMINATION OCCURS, THE DAMAGE CANNOT BE UNDONE AND RESIDENTS DESERVE STRONGER PROTECTIONS AND CLEARER AVENUES FOR ACCOUNTABILITY THAN THIS PROPOSED MUD CAN PROVIDE.
FOR THESE REASONS, I OPPOSE THE MUD UNDER CONSIDERATION.
GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
I LIVE AT 10 15 TRIP LANE, 7 8 1 3 0.
THE GENTLEMAN REPRESENTING LENNAR SAID THAT GROWTH IS PAYING FOR GROWTH.
AND I THINK HE MEANT TO SAY THAT GREED IS PAYING FOR GREED.
MAY I SUGGEST THAT WE LET COMMON SENSE PAY FOR PUBLIC INTEREST.
ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS ARE MADE FOR BUSINESSES.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS ARE MADE FOR PEOPLE.
I ASK, WILL YOUR LEGACY BE THAT OF VOTING FOR HEALTH AND PROSPERITY OF OUR COMMUNITY? OR WILL IT BE OF CANCER, DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS, WATER BOILS AND FINANCIAL BURDENS ON THE CITIZENS OF THIS SACRED LAND? WILL YOUR LEGACY BE OF SHORTSIGHTED FINANCIAL GAIN FOR THE FEW, OR OF LONG-TERM INVESTMENT FOR GENERATIONS OF MILLIONS TO COME? I URGE YOU TO MAKE THE DECISION WE ALL KNOW IS RIGHT.
WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO YOUR LEGACY.
UM, CAN IS NUMBER 40 OUT THERE IN THE AUDIENCE? WE SEEM TO HAVE SKIPPED THAT.
I WANNA MAKE SURE WE DIDN'T MISS ANYBODY.
UH, IF 45 THROUGH 50 COULD APPROACH OR COULD LINE UP IN THE MIDDLE AND 45 CAN APPROACH THE PODIUM? YEP.
UH, I'M 45, NOT THAT 45, BUT I'M 45.
HEY, THANKS EVERYBODY FOR YOUR ENDURANCE.
I LIVE AT ONE 10 HIBISCUS LANE, 7 8 2 1 3.
AND I'D LIKE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED MUD.
I FIND DISINGENUOUS THE PRESENTATION SUPPORTING THE PROPOSAL THAT SPEAKS TO THE NUMBER OF EXISTING WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS CURRENTLY IN OPERATION OVER THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE ZONE.
PAST MISTAKES DON'T REPRESENT JUSTIFICATION FOR FUTURE MISTAKES.
IN FACT, CHEMICAL POLLUTION ITSELF HAS CHANGED.
WE NOW HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT PHARMACEUTICAL POLLUTION AND WASTEWATER, MICROPLASTICS, ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS, AND MY LEAST FAVORITE NEW POLLUTANT.
P-F-A-S-I FIRST LEARNED ABOUT P-F-A-S-A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO IN READING IN THE PAPER THAT CATTLE WERE DYING IN THE PANHANDLE AND FARMERS WERE POINTING THE FINGER AT PFAS POLLUTION.
MOREOVER, WE LIVE IN A STATE IN WHICH THE LEGISLATURE SEES FIT TO ALLOW THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY TO PERFORM FRACKING, TO RECOVER LES MINERALS, TO DISCHARGE THE FRACK WATER, THE TOXIC WASTEWATER FROM THEIR OPERATIONS INTO SURFACE STREAMS. I ONLY BRING THIS UP TO UNDERLINE THAT WE, THE CITIZENS NEED TO BE ABLE TO, TO DEPEND ON YOU, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND LOCAL OFFICIALS TO PREVENT FUTURE POLLUTION OF A NEW KIND FROM ENTERING THE EDWARDS AQUIFER AND ENTERING OUR DRINKING WATER POLICE, SAY NO TO THIS CONSTRUCTION REQUEST FOR THE MUD.
MY NAME IS ARMANDO CAR CRUZ, UH, 91 39 SYCAMORE COVE.
UM, I JUST WANNA KEEP IT SIMPLE.
UM, WE HAVE NO WATER AND WHATEVER WATER WE DO HAVE IS GETTING STOLEN BY DATA CENTERS.
AND NOW WE WANNA POLLUTE WHATEVER WATER WE HAVE LEFT ON TOP OF THAT.
UM, I AM HERE TO, AND AS EVERYBODY HERE HAS SAID BEFORE AGAINST THIS MUD, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENS SHOULD THIS DEVELOPMENT OCCUR AND WASTEWATER FACILITY FAILS, 80% HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO FAIL.
WHAT IF SOMETHING CATASTROPHIC SHOULD HAPPEN? WHAT IF WE HAVE ANOTHER BIG WATER SYSTEM, ANOTHER FREEZE, SOMETHING HAPPENS AGAIN, THAT WATER WILL GET INTO WHATEVER WATER WE HAVE LEFT FOR THE CITIZENS.
[01:50:01]
AND, YOU KNOW, SADLY, WHAT IF WE WERE TO GO TO BOIL NOTICE FOR SAN ANTONIO? THAT IS JUST POSSIBILITIES OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN.AND I'M JUST HERE TO BE AGAINST THE MUD.
WHAT ARE YOUR NUMBERS, SIR? 50 AND 51.
UM, AND I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
UH, I SERVED, I LIVED IN THE AREA FOR LIKE F 50 YEARS, UH, LIVED AND WORKED IN THE AREA.
THE, UH, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I SERVED ON THE ESD BOARD AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER FOR EIGHT YEARS.
I WAS, WHEN THEY STARTED THE ESD BOARD, I WAS ON THE BOARD.
I WAS ON THE VERY START OF THE BOARD AND I'VE SAT ON, WE BUILT A FIREHOUSE DURING THAT TIME AND I SAT ON BOARD JUST LIKE YOU ARE NOW.
UH, THE, THE, MY TIME ON THE BOARD, WE BUILT A FIREHOUSE.
UH, AND IN THE TRAINING THAT I HAD DURING THAT TIME, THEY SAID, DON'T BUILD IT FOR TODAY, BUILD IT FOR 20 YEARS FROM NOW.
WE'RE THE DEVELOPMENT GONNA GO? AND THEY WERE EXACTLY RIGHT.
UH, WE SAW OUR, OUR BUDGET WHEN I FIRST GOT ON THE BOARD, WE WAS 125,000 BUCKS.
WHEN I LEFT THE BOARD, IT WAS OVER TWO AND A HALF MILLION.
IN OTHER WORDS, I SAW A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT DURING THAT TIME, UH, AND LIVING.
NOW THIS AREA THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, IS EXACTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR ESD EIGHT, WHICH I SERVED THE, SO I KNOW THAT AREA VERY, VERY WELL.
NOW, WHEN I LOOK ON THE, READ THE ARTICLES ON THE NEWSPAPER TV SUCH, THEY ALWAYS SHOW A BEAUTIFUL FLOWING CREEK AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE GUADALUPE RIVER.
AND IF THAT WERE THE CASE, NO PROBLEM.
BUT LET ME TELL YOU, I'VE LIVED OUT THERE FOR 50 YEARS AND HE, LOTUS CREEK, WHEN I FIRST GOT IT, QUITE OFTEN WE HAD TO SLOW DOWN BECAUSE THERE WAS WATER RUNNING OVER THE ROAD, RIGHT WHERE ACROSS THE ROAD GOING IN THE GRAY FOREST.
UH, I HAVEN'T SEEN WATER WARNING OVER THE ROAD FOR 10 YEARS.
IT, IT HAS NO WATER IN IT WHATSOEVER UNLESS THERE'S A RAIN.
NOW, THE LAST RAIN WE GOT OUT THERE WAS IN JUNE AND WE GOT LIKE A QUARTER INCH.
UH, STILL WE HAD NO WATER IN THE CREEK.
IT TAKES AN INCH OR MORE TO WATER TO GET ANY WATER, UH, INCH OR MORE RAIN TO FILL UP THE CREEK ENOUGH TO FLOW.
SO IF WE DON'T HAVE FLOWING WATER, WHAT DO YOU HAVE? YOU HAVE A CESSPOOL.
NOW THAT TO ME IS HORRIFIC DISEASE AND SUCH IS GONNA, I THIS IS GONNA BE VERY FERTILE WALL WATER COMING OUT OF THIS A MILLION GALLONS A DAY AND IT'S GOTTA FLOW FOR A QUARTER OF A MILE OR SO BEFORE IT EVEN CROSSES THE FIRST ROAD.
AND THE IDEA THAT PROVING THIS, THIS PROPOSAL IS INSANE.
IF, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS ON ESD BOARD, I TRAVELED ALL OVER THE PLACE TALKING TO PEOPLE, TRYING TO LEARN WHAT THEIR NEEDS WERE AND SUCH.
I'M SURE Y'ALL DO THE SAME THING.
WELL, IF YOU TAKE THE WORD OF THE NEWSPAPERS AND DO AND AND, AND THE NEWS ME MEDIA, DON'T BELIEVE IT.
GO UP THERE YOURSELF PLEASE GO UP THERE YOURSELF AND LOOK AT IT.
NOW EVERYBODY IN THAT AREA HAS.
IS NUMBER 48 AND 49 IN THE AUDIENCE? OKAY.
UH, 52 THROUGH 55 CAN LINE UP AND 52 CAN APPROACH THE PODIUM
UH, GOOD MORNING PLANNING COMMISSION.
I'M A TECHNICAL DIRECTOR WITH THE GREATER EDWARDS AQUIFER ALLIANCE.
WE'RE LOCATED AT 8 0 9 BLANCO ROAD HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
UH, I'M BE, I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF OUR 16 BEXAR COUNTY MEMBER GROUPS AND OUR 63 MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS TO URGE THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO DENY, TO DENY THE APPLICATION REQUEST FOR THE CREATION OF BEXAR COUNTY MUD TOO, WHICH IS WHILE HTE RANCH MUD.
UM, WE HAVE SUBMITTED MORE IN-DEPTH COMMENTS, WHICH I PROVIDED HANDS-ON COPIES TO Y ALL THIS MORNING.
UH, BUT TO SUMMARIZE SOME OF OUR KEY POINTS IN THAT LETTER, UH, THE FIRST POINT, IT'S BEEN MENTIONED OVER AND OVER AGAIN ABOUT THE NORTH SECTOR PLAN AND HOW THIS AREA HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS COUNTRY SUITABLE FOR 10 ACRES PLUS FOR DEVELOPMENT.
A DEVELOPMENT THAT'S SLATED FOR THIS AREA IS BEING TOO DENSE AND IT'S
[01:55:01]
TOTALLY INCONSISTENT WITH THE CURRENT LANE USES, POSES A REAL THREAT TO SAN ANTONIO'S WATER SUPPLY AND TO THE WELLBEING OF NEARBY NEIGHBORS.UH, SECOND, WHILE WE AGREE THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS NEEDED, WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE WALL H RANCH DEVELOPMENT WILL PROVIDE HOMES THAT ARE AFFORDABLE TO MOST SAN ANTONIO FAMILIES.
ALTHOUGH THE SALES PRICE OF THESE HOMES MAY BE AFFORDABLE, THE ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAXES TO BE ASSESSED ON HOMEOWNERS IN THIS MUD COULD EQUAL OR SURPASS THE ASSESSMENTS COLLECTED BY GE BEAR COUNTY.
WE FURTHER ASSERT THAT THEY ARE PLENTY OF SITES IN SAN ANTONIO WHERE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COULD BE BUILT WITHOUT THREATENING SAN ANTONIO'S GROUNDWATER SUPPLIES.
AND LASTLY AND WORTH NOTING, UH, MY ORGANIZATION HAS TWICE CONTACTED THESE APPLICANTS FOR THE CREATION OF THIS MUD WHO CURRENTLY OWN THE PROPERTY TO INFORM THEM THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WAS INTERESTED IN DISCUSSING THE PURCHASE OF A CONSERVATION EASEMENT THROUGH THE SAN ANTONIO EDWARDS AQUIFER PROTECTION PROGRAM.
AS FAR AS WE KNOW, THEY HAVE REFUSED TO CONSIDER THIS OPTION, WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN PROVIDED A MORE LUCRATIVE AND MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FOR PROTECTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO SELLING THE SELLING TO LENNAR FOR.
WHAT NUMBERS ARE YOU, MA'AM? 54.
YOU CAN COME ON UP AND 55 THROUGH 60 CAN LINE UP IN THE MIDDLE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS OLI DE LA GARZA AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MY DAD.
UM, HE DIED FROM CANCER AND HE WAS A HARDCORE, THE MOST TOUGHEST RANCHER IN TEXAS.
I HAVE A LONG LINE OF FAMILY DE LA GARS THAT SOME WERE SOME OF THE FIRST RANCHERS HERE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND MY DAD UNFORTUNATELY DIED OF CANCER AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.
HE ALWAYS TOLD ME TO STAND UP FOR WHAT'S RIGHT AND FOR WHAT'S WRONG.
AND WHAT THESE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO DO IS ABSOLUTELY WRONG.
YOU'RE HAVING A FLORIDA BASED GREEDY BUILDER COMING INTO OUR BEAUTIFUL STATE OF TEXAS AND THEY WANNA POISON OUR DRINKING WATER.
AS MOST TEXANS WOULD SAY, DON'T, DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS.
OKAY? 'CAUSE YOU ARE, YOU ARE ALL BEING ASKED TO AUTHORIZE THE PROJECT.
WE'RE LENNAR THE PRIVATE DEVELOPER AND HIS SHAREHOLDERS TAKES THE PROFIT WHILE THE PUBLIC BOARD, Y'ALL TAKE THE RISK AND THE CITIZENS TAKE THE HEALTH CONSEQUENCES SUCH AS CANCER LIKE MY DAD AND COMMENDABLE GOLD DISEASES AND ALL KINDS OF HEALTH HAZARDS.
WE ASK THAT YOU REFUSE TO ACCEPT THE TRANSFER OF LIABILITY AND VOTE NO TO THIS MUD AND NOT EVER COMPROMISE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF YOUR CITIZENS AND THEIR DRINKING WATER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND GOD BLESS YOU.
OKAY, NOW WE'RE WORKING ON THE OVERFLOW AREA.
SO WE HAD CALLED UP 55, 57, 58, 59 LEFT, AND 60.
ARE THEY OUT THERE? HAS ANYBODY FOUND THOSE NUMBERS? WHAT NUMBER ARE YOU? 60.
60? UH, MY NAME IS LAUREN GUZMAN.
I WORKED IN POTABLE WATER PROTECTION SINCE 2019 AND I'M AN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE STUDENT.
I'M VERY CONCERNED WITH LONG-TERM ACCESS TO CLEAN DRINKING WATER IN TEXAS, AND I'M STRONGLY OPPOSED TO THIS DEVELOPMENT.
LAST YEAR, TEXAS PASSED PROPOSITION FOUR TO ESTABLISH THE TEXAS WATER FUND TO HELP ADDRESS FLOOD PREVENTION AND AQUIFER STORAGE AND RECOVERY.
VOTERS PASSED THIS WITH OVER 70% APPROVAL.
THE PUBLIC IS VERY CLEARLY CONCERNED WITH THESE WATER ISSUES.
THIS WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLAN WOULD GO DIRECTLY AGAINST PUBLIC OPINION.
LENNAR STATES THAT THERE ARE ALREADY SIMILAR PLANTS IN SAN ANTONIO AND USES TO JUSTIFY FURTHER POLLUTING OUR AQUIFERS.
SEVERAL OF THESE PLANTS HAVE BEEN OR ARE CURRENTLY OUT OF COMPLIANCE, AND TCEQ HAS ALREADY IMPOSED FINES FOR SYRIA AND NONCOMPLIANCE ISSUES.
THE BEST AVAILABLE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE TELLS US THAT BUILDING THESE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS AND DUMPING WASTEWATER, INSENSITIVE CAR STONES WILL HARM PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENDANGER OUR LONG-TERM ACCESS TO CLEAN DRINKING WATER.
ALLOWING A DEVELOPER TO EXTERNALIZE THEIR COSTS ONTO US AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR HEALTH IS NOT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I URGE YOU TO REJECT THE DEVELOPMENT.
IS, UH, 55 AND 57 OUT THERE? 55.
AND THEN IF WE COULD GET, UH, 61 THROUGH 65 TO COME IN AND LINE UP.
UH, PEDRO MELENDEZ, UH, 6 0 5 ROOSEVELT.
UH, THE REASON I'M HERE IS FOR THE
[02:00:01]
KIDS AND THE SEVEN GENERATIONS.OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS ADULTS ARE TO THE CHILDREN, NOT AN INSATIABLE LUST FOR PAPER AND GREEN INK ON IT.
YOU CAN'T DRINK MONEY A SECOND TO AIR.
WATER IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ON THIS EARTH TO LIVE.
IT'S MORE VALUABLE THAN GOLD DIAMONDS THE PROBLEM WITH MONEY.
NUMBERS ARE ENDLESS, WHICH MAKES GREED ENDLESS.
I'M INDIGENOUS TO THIS LAND AND FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, MY ANCESTORS KNEW WATER IS LIFE.
WATER CONNECTS EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US, AND WE'RE MADE OF 60% WATER.
SO IT'S VITAL TO OUR COMPOSITION.
YOU EVER WALK DOWN TO A CREEK OR LAKE, YOU LOOK AT THE WATER, YOU CAN SEE YOURSELF.
WATER IS THE ONLY NATURAL SUBSTANCE YOU CAN LOOK AT AND IT LETS YOU KNOW IT'S A PART OF YOU AND YOU'RE A PART OF IT.
IF YOU MUDDY THE WATER, YOU'RE KILLING YOURSELF AND OTHERS.
IF YOU APPROVE THIS DEVELOPMENT, DON'T CHOKE ON YOUR MONEY WHEN YOU TRY TO, WHEN YOU TRY TO DRINK IT.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO AND I LIVE IN NEW BRAUNFELS NOW.
I HAVE FAMILY ALL THE WAY FROM SAN ANTONIO ALL THE WAY TO AUSTIN, AND MOST OF US RELY ON THE AQUIFER.
AS WE KNOW, OUT OF ALL THE BEAUTIFUL SPRING FED CITIES, SAN ANTONIO IS THE ONLY ONE THAT YOU PROBABLY NEVER SWIM IN THE RIVER.
IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME WE HAVEN'T TAKEN WATER, HEALTH, WATER CLEANLINESS.
IF WE'RE THINKING ABOUT MONEY, COULD WE THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY OUR COMMUNITY WOULD MAKE IF WE HAD MORE CLEAN WATER, IF WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF MORE PEOPLE? WE DIDN'T HAVE HUGE, HUGE HOARDS OF PEOPLE COMING THROUGH THE WEST SIDE.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT EVEN THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC THAT MUD WOULD ADD TO TWO, JUST SOME OF OUR COMMUTERS, IN ADDITION TO THE CONCERN OF WATER, UM, I JUST ASK THAT YOU SAY NO TO MUD.
THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE ASKING.
THEY'RE TELLING YOU, HEY, APPROVE THIS, OTHERWISE WE'RE GONNA DO IT ANYWAY AND WE'RE GONNA DO IT WITHOUT Y'ALL'S QUALITY CARE.
AND SO IF, IF YOU'RE CITIZENS, IF YOU LIVE HERE, EVEN GOING HOME AND CALLING TCEQ AND ASKING THEM, WHY DID YOU APPROVE THIS PERMIT? WHY IS THIS APPROVED? CALL THEM.
RAISE PUBLIC SERVICE AWARENESS.
ALL OF YOU CALL BECAUSE IF THIS CONTINUES, NOT ONLY IS IT GONNA BE WOULD MUD PUT THE MONEY AND THE COST ON THE PEOPLE, BUT IF WE SAY, OKAY, WE MADE IT THROUGH MUD AND WE DIDN'T APPROVE IT, THEY'RE STILL SAYING WE'RE STILL GONNA TRY TO DO IT.
REGARDLESS OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING, NO, YOU CAN'T USE OUR ROADS.
NO, YOU CAN'T DIRTY OUR WATER.
AND SO DON'T JUST SAY NO TO MUD AS A CITIZEN BE CONCERNED.
GO BACK FURTHER INTO THE PROCESS AND ASK WHY WERE THESE PERMITS APPROVED? WHY DO WE KEEP ADDING MORE NEGATIVITY TO THE WATER? OH, THERE'S SO MANY WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS.
OKAY, THEN THAT MEANS IT'S OKAY.
OKAY? SO IF WE ADD MORE POISON TO AN ALREADY SERIOUS ISSUE, IT'S JUST GONNA BE NOT AS BAD.
THAT'S NOT A GOOD REASON, THAT'S NOT A GOOD REASON.
AND THEY'RE NOT COMING HERE TO CARE FOR US OR TO GIVE IT, GIVE TO US.
YOU CAN EVEN GOOGLE THAT COMPANY AND FIND NOT JUST ONE, BUT MANY, EVEN IN TEXAS, UM, COURT CASES AGAINST THEM FOR MANY, MANY REASONS.
WE NEED TO TRUST EACH OTHER, NOT THESE BIG CORPORATIONS COMING IN, TRYING TO TAKE OUR LAND, OUR WATER, AND OUR TRUST FROM EACH OTHER.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY.
I KNOW YOU'RE ALREADY, YOU'VE HEARD SO MANY AND YOU KNOW THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS WATER SITUATION AND I JUST THANK YOU.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ULTIMATELY WATER AND, AND JUST THE HUMAN POPULATION, THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO, AND ULTIMATELY MA'AM, SORRY, CAN YOU PLEASE STATE
[02:05:01]
YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD? OH, YES, ABSOLUTELY.MY NAME IS JESSICA RAMIREZ AND I LIVE ON 14,500 BLANCO ROAD, APARTMENT 6 2 5.
UM, SO I'M HERE DRINKING WATER.
WATER IS VERY IMPORTANT AND WE HAVE TO CONSIDER ALL OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF WHAT THIS DEVELOPMENT ENTAILS.
FROM EVERYTHING THAT EVERYONE THAT HAS COME UP HERE HAS TALKED ABOUT.
I'M NOT HERE TO SAY ANYTHING NEW, BUT JUST TO REITERATE A LOT OF THE CONCERNS THAT, UM, A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS HERE HAVE TALKED ABOUT.
ONE OF MY MAIN CONCERNS FROM BEING, UH, A PROFESSIONAL IN CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY IS THE HEALTH OF THE HUMAN POPULATION.
AND WATER IS AN INTEGRAL PART IN OUR MENTAL HEALTH, IN OUR PHYSICAL HEALTH.
WATER IS IMPORTANT BEYOND ANY MEASURE THAT ANY OF Y'ALL PROBABLY REALIZE, WATER IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
AND WHEN I'M LISTENING TO, UM, THE DEVELOPMENTS, WHAT WE'RE REALLY ASKING FOR IS PERMISSION TO BE GREED, TO BE GREEDY AND EVERYTHING THAT ENTAILS IT.
AND THAT CAN ALSO INCLUDE DEATH.
CAN YOU LIVE WITH YOURSELF KNOWING THAT YOU OR ME, UH, CONTRIBUTED TO THE DEATH OF SOMEONE DUE TO FLOODING OR, ALL RIGHT, WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
AM I READY? HI, MY NAME IS MELISSA MAY.
I LIVE AT, UH, TEN FIVE TWO FOUR BLACK HORSE IN HE LOTUS.
I'M ALSO A HOMEOWNER AND A TAXPAYER IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
PLEASE REJECT THIS MUNICIPAL UTILITY, UH, DISTRICT PROPOSAL, THIS MUD SCHEME THAT WOULD PAY FOR AND ELIMINATE PUBLIC OVERSIGHT OF THIS PROPOSED AND DISASTROUS WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT FOR GU RANCH.
A MUD IS BASICALLY JUST A GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY FOR LENNAR.
LENNAR IS A RICH, PRIVATE FLORIDA BASED DEVELOPER WITH A VERY LONG HISTORY OF QUALITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL VIOLATIONS.
YOU CAN EASILY GOOGLE THEM OR LOOK ON FACEBOOK TO SEE THE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT, UH, THEIR BUSINESS PRACTICES AND THEIR HOMES.
I IMPLORE YOU TO REJECT THIS PROPOSAL.
HI, MY NAME IS MIDORI RI LIVE AT 2 1 7 6 5 SCENIC LOOP ROAD AND THE WATA ENTRANCE WOULD LITERALLY BE A FEW HUNDRED FEET FROM MY GATE, BUT THAT'S BESIDE THE POINT.
THE POINT IS THE EDWARDS AQUIFER IS IMPORTANT TO NOT JUST SAN ANTONIO, BUT EVERYONE AROUND THE AREA.
AND WHEN YOU GUYS VOTE ON THIS MUD SITUATION, YOU LITERALLY ARE HOLDING THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN YOUR HAND.
I HOPE WHEN YOU MAKE THAT VOTE THAT YOU VOTE FOR LIFE AND WATER AND PEOPLE AND NOT MONEY.
OKAY? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THIS IS.
AND THERE'S LITERALLY NOT ONE PERSON HERE BESIDES LENNAR HOME REPRESENTATIVES THAT WANT THIS IN OUR BACKYARD.
I HAVE GOLDEN CHEEK WARBLERS IN MY BACKYARD.
I HAVE PAINTED BUNTINGS IN MY BACKYARD.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE START SPRAYING CHEMICALS ALL OVER THEIR YARD? WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THINGS GET POISONED? HOW WILL I KNOW MY WELL IS POISONED? WILL I JUST DIE? IS SOMEBODY GONNA TELL ME? IS EVERYBODY IN MY FAMILY GONNA BE IN THE HOSPITAL? MY FAMILY, MY HUSBAND'S FAMILY HAS LIVED THERE SINCE 1882.
IT'S BEEN SLOW AND IT'S BEEN THOUGHTFUL DEVELOPMENT, BUT THIS IS A BULLDOZER TO ALL OF THAT.
AND THE PEOPLE DESERVE BETTER.
SO I REALLY HOPE THAT WITH YOUR GREAT POWER, YOU CHOOSE THE RESPONSIBLE ROUTE AND YOU VOTE FOR THE WATER AND THE PEOPLE.
MY NAME IS NISHA ROBSON AND I'M A CONCERNED RESIDENT AT LINWOOD RIDGE REPRESENTING MY COMMUNITY TO FORMALLY EXPRESS MY OPPOSITION TO THE MUD.
[02:10:01]
ABOUT THE LONG-TERM IMPACTS THIS PROJECT WILL HAVE ON OUR COMMUNITY.SPECIFICALLY THE IMPACT OF RELEASING WATER THAT WOULD CONTAMINATE A SOURCE OF WATER AND AFFECT THOSE WITH WELL WATER.
IMAGINE 2.5 MILLION PEOPLE, INCLUDING LITTLE KIDS THAT WHO WOULD GROW UP WITH ALL KINDS OF HEALTH ISSUES.
THE DEVELOPMENT RAISES SERIOUS CONCERNS RELATED TO TRAFFIC CONDITIONS, STRAIN ON WATER RESOURCES SPECIFICALLY SINCE WE ARE ON STAGE TWO RESTRICTIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION AND THE BURDEN IT WOULD PLACE ON EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS ROADS, SCHOOLS, AND EMERGENCY SERVICES WHO HAVE NO IDEA OF THIS PLAN.
THE RANCH ITSELF IS AN IMPORTANT AREA FOR OUR OPEN SPACE WILDLIFE AND OVERALL CHARACTER OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THIS PROPOSAL THREATENS TO PERMANENTLY ALTER IT.
SAN ANTONIO IS AT A CRITICAL POINT WHERE RESPONSIBLE PLANNING AND CONSERVATION MUST BE PRIORITIZED OVER RAPID LARGE SCALE DEVELOPMENTS THAT BENEFIT JUST THE PRIVATE DEVELOPERS AT THE EXPENSE OF RESIDENTS AND FUTURE GENERATION.
APPROVING THIS PROJECT WOULD SET A TROUBLING PRECEDENT FOR THE UNCHECKED SPRAWL AND INADEQUATE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS THAT THEY'RE PLANNING TO OFFER.
I URGE A COMMISSION TO CAREFULLY CONSIDER WHETHER THIS DEVELOPMENT ALIGNS WITH EXISTING ZONING REGULATIONS, COMPREHENSIVE PLANS, AND THE WILL OF THE LOCAL RESIDENTS.
GROWTH SHOULD BE THOUGHTFUL, SUSTAINABLE, AND AT THE BEST INTEREST FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.
NOT SOLELY DRIVEN BY LARGE DEVELOPERS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE COMMUNITY.
HAVING STUDIED AND PUBLISHED ALL THE LF EFFECTS, I AM STRONGLY APPROVING, UH, REQUESTING THAT YOU ARE DENY THIS.
I REQUEST THE COMMISSION TO SET UP AN AI MODEL TO STUDY THE ILL EFFECTS THAT THIS WOULD BRING IN 20 YEARS, 30 YEARS.
LET'S ACT SIMILAR TO COMFORT TEXAS WHO DECIDED TO PROTECT THE CITY.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL DO.
I AM SPEAKING AND IF, UH, EXCUSE ME, IF, UH, 66 THROUGH 70 COULD LINE UP IN THE MIDDLE.
I WAS IN THE RESTROOM WHEN I WAS CALLED UP.
I LIVE AT 1 6 7 1 9 WORTHINGTON, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 7 8 2 4 8.
AND I'M A CONCERNED RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
I'VE LIVED HERE MY WHOLE LIFE.
I'VE GONE TO SCHOOL HERE AND I'VE MADE MYSELF A FAMILY HERE.
IN ADDITION TO BEING A STUDENT AT UTSA, I'M ALSO A PARENT TO A 1-YEAR-OLD WHO IS THE JOY OF MY LIFE.
RECENTLY, IT CAME TO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT A DEVELOPER IS PLANNING A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT THAT WOULD DUMP TREATED SEWAGE INTO THE HELOS CREEK WATERSHED.
I AND MY FAMILY, SOME OF WHOM LIVE IN HELOS HELOS, ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.
I WAS INVITED INTO THIS CAUSE AND LEARNED OF THE DANGEROUS TYPES OF CHEMICALS THAT WOULD STILL BE PRESENT IN THIS WATER BEING PUMPED INTO A MAJOR ARTERY OF THE CITY.
NOT ONLY IS HELO DE'S CREEK A MAJOR ARTERY, BUT IT IS HOME TO DOZENS OF CONDUIT SPRINGS AND SINKHOLE THAT DRAIN DIRECTLY INTO THE TRINITY AND EDWARDS AQUIFERS.
I CAN'T SAY MY CONCERN WAS QUELLED WHEN I HEARD THAT THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY APPROVED THE PERMITS TO BUILD THIS PLANT WITH LITTLE OVERSIGHT OR ASSURANCE THAT THIS WATER WOULD NOT CONTAMINATE THE DRINKING WATER FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.
THIS IS A RECKLESS THREAT TO OUR DRINKING WATER THAT IS SEEMINGLY BEING RUBBER STAMPED IN SPITE OF OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE THAT THIS PROJECT WOULD DEGRADE THE QUALITY OF WATER FOR MY FAMILY AND EVERY OTHER TEXAN, DEPENDING ON THE EDWARDS AND TRINITY AQUIFERS FOR WATER.
FURTHERMORE, THIS PLANT DOES CONTINUE FUNDING WHO WILL BEAR THE BURDEN OF MAKING SURE THAT OUR WATER RESOURCES ARE SAFE AND USABLE FOR MILLIONS OF TEXANS WHO RELY ON IT.
I URGE YOU TO DENY THIS ENDANGERMENT OF A VITAL RESOURCE AND VOTE AGAINST THIS MUD.
I LIVE AT 4 1 5 DENVER BOULEVARD ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE.
I DON'T THINK I NEED TO SAY ANYTHING MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE HAS ALREADY SAID.
UM, SO I WOULD LIKE TO USE MY TIME FOR US TO HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE, TO THINK ABOUT EVERYONE THAT'S GONNA BE POISON, INCLUDING, UM, HUMANS, ANIMALS, AND LAND.
JUST THINK ABOUT IT, FOR MONEY TO STEAL MORE LAND.
I, WE'RE ALL ON STOLEN LAND ALREADY.
IS THIS THE DIRECTION WE REALLY WANNA KEEP GOING?
[02:15:07]
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES HAVE DEALT WITH THIS FOR CENTURIES.UM, I'M GLAD PEOPLE ARE OUT SPEAKING AGAINST IT TODAY, BUT, UM, THE FACT THAT THIS IS EVEN BEING DISCUSSED IS DISGUSTING TO ME.
AND I HOPE Y'ALL GO HOME AND THINK ABOUT THIS TONIGHT.
YOU PEOPLE ARE COLONIZERS AND EVEN ANY INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, WE ARE PART OF A SYSTEM.
THAT FLAG THAT HAS GENOCIDED, THE PEOPLE WHO WERE ORIGINALLY HERE AND EVEN PEOPLE ON THIS CONTINENT, TURTLE ISLAND IS MY ADDRESS.
DO Y'ALL UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE VOTING ON SOMETHING THAT IS GONNA IMPACT GENERATIONS UPON GENERATIONS.
YOU'RE SETTING A PRECEDENCE FOR SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A VERY LONG TIME SINCE THE FIRST COLONIZER BOATS LANDED ON THIS PLACE.
ALL THAT'S BEEN DONE IS LEGAL, HAS BEEN BY THE BROOKS, HAS BEEN OFFICIAL.
WHAT'S OKAY, WHICH OTHER ARE APPROVING OF IF YOU DO, THIS IS MURDER.
EVERY SINGLE DECISION THAT'S MADE IN THESE PLACES IS UPHOLDING SOMETHING THAT THAT FLAG STANDS FOR.
THERE'S BLOOD ON EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOUR HANDS.
I WANT Y'ALL TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING WHEN INDIGENOUS PEOPLE TALK TO YOU.
WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR YOUR ACCEPTANCE.
WE'RE TRYING TO TELL YOU, LOOK AT WHAT YOU'RE DOING, NOT JUST TO ME, NOT JUST TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY WHO HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO BE THERE, NOT JUST TO PEOPLE WHO CAN SHOW UP TO THESE MEETINGS AND HEAR ABOUT IT AND HAVE THE CAPACITY TO LISTEN TO Y'ALL'S B******T.
I WANNA SAY SOMETHING RIGHT NOW.
WE'LL TELL YOU WHAT, THIS IS WHAT I WANNA SAY.
THAT WAS A SETUP TO MAKE ME LOOK REALLY MILD.
I REALLY DO RESPECT THAT POSITION.
UM, MY NAME IS KELLY LYONS AND I LIVE ACROSS THE STREET AT 1 2 0 2 SOUTH FLOORS.
I'M A PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY AT TRINITY UNIVERSITY AND I AM A CONSERVATION BIOLOGIST.
I WAS A LONG-TERM PRESIDENT OF THE SAN ANTONIO NATURAL AREAS, BUT I NO LONGER HAVE ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN THIS, IN THAT AREA.
UM, I HAVE SEEN THE GOOD AND BAD WAYS TO GO ABOUT A DEVELOPMENT AND IT IS EVIDENT THAT THIS PROCESS, UH, OF THIS PARTICULAR CASE HAS ERODED PUBLIC TRUST.
UH, YOUR CONSTITUENTS DO NOT TRUST THESE PRIVATE DEVELOPERS, UH, AND OR THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT TO MAINTAIN A WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY.
THEIR STRATEGY WAS TO START AS USUAL WITH A HIGH DENSITY UNTENABLE PROPOSAL AND THEN WALK IT BACK.
IT'S GETTING REALLY OLD AND YOU CAN SEE THE OUTCOME OF IT.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY, THE DISTRUST IS AN OUTGROWTH OF A CONTINUED HISTORIC DEGRADATION OF THE REGULATORY END OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
UM, AND THIS COMES AT THE HAND OF THE LOBBYISTS, DEVELOPERS, ALL THAT KINDA STUFF THAT'S WORKING ON THE REGULATORY BACKEND THAT MAKES PEOPLE DISTRUST WHEN SOMETHING LIKE A, A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT NEEDS TO GO INTO PLACE AND THEN NOBODY'S TRUSTING THAT IT'S ACTUALLY GONNA BE MAINTAINED THROUGH TIME.
RIGHT? THAT'S A REGULATORY PROBLEM.
AND THAT'S ALL OF OUR PROBLEM.
SO, FURTHERMORE, IT'S CLEAR THAT THE PUBLIC WANTS DEVELOPERS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR THE UTILITIES, UM, THE UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS.
AND I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE SET A PRECEDENT WITH THIS CASE TO TELL THE DEVELOPERS THAT THEY NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT AHEAD OF TIME AND PAY FOR THE UTILITIES.
IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE PROTECT AND CONSERVE THIS PRECIOUS RESOURCE.
I'M IMPRESSED BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME HERE FROM ALL SORTS OF WALKS OF LIFE, UM, AND WHO HAVE COME IN A UNANIMOUS OPPOSITION.
I ASK THAT YOUR ACTIONS REFLECT THE CLEAR AND STRONG PUBLIC OPPOSITION ON THIS MATTER.
ALL RIGHT, SO THAT IS ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO WE'RE GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WE'RE GOING TO, UH, ALLOW THE APPLICANT FOR A REBUTTAL.
AGAIN, KEVIN DINDA WITH ORTIZ MCKNIGHT, UH, REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE DEVELOPER LENNAR HOLMES.
UM, MY REBUTTAL IS GOING TO BE FAIRLY QUICK.
[02:20:01]
AM GOING TO REMIND US WHY WE'RE ALL HERE TODAY.THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THE DISCHARGE PERMIT, ABOUT THE, UH, MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN, THE DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS THAT WE'VE ALREADY OBTAINED.
THE QUESTION BEFORE US TODAY IS WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL CONSENT TO A MUNICIPAL UTIL UTILITY DISTRICT TO HELP MANAGE THE ALREADY APPROVED WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT FOR THE GUHA RANCH DEVELOPMENT.
THAT IS THE QUESTION IN FRONT OF US.
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT.
THE MUD ITSELF HAS BEEN MENTIONED BY THE OPPOSITION, AND I WANT TO DRILL DOWN ON IT BECAUSE IT'S BEEN MENTIONED AS SOMETHING OF A PUBLIC HANDOUT TO LENNAR THAT WE ARE GOING TO TAX OUR FUTURE RESIDENTS OR THAT WE ARE GOING TO ISSUE BONDS UPFRONT TO PAY FOR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE.
I WANNA BE CLEAR THAT THE MUD DOES ALLOW FOR THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS, BUT THESE BONDS ARE BACKED BY THE VALUE THAT IS ON THE GROUND.
SO THERE IS NO WAY FOR US TO GO OUT AND FLOAT BONDS WITH RAW DIRT.
LENNAR WILL HAVE TO CONSTRUCT AND INSTALL THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS BEFOREHAND, AND THEN THEY WILL BE ABLE TO BE REIMBURSED FROM THE MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT.
SO IT IS A WAY FOR GROWTH TO GREAT TO PAY FOR GROWTH.
I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT, UM, THAT WAS MENTIONED.
THIS IS, AGAIN, 1,160 ACRES, AND WE ARE PROPOSING 3000 LOTS THAT COMES OUT TO ROUGHLY THREE UNITS PER ACRE.
IT WAS MENTIONED THAT WE ARE IN THE NORTH SECTOR PLAN, WHICH WE DO ACKNOWLEDGE.
UH, BUT I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT THE NORTH SECTOR PLAN, AS YOU SAW ON ONE OF THE SLIDES, WAS ADOPTED IN 2010.
THAT WAS ROUGHLY 16 YEARS AGO.
WE KNOW THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS CHANGED RAPIDLY IN 16 YEARS.
AND THAT LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL THAT WAS SHOWN JUST TO THE NORTH OF US, THAT WAS IMPARTED BY WAY OF THE ETJ MILITARY PROTECTION LAND USE THAT WAS INSTALLED IN ROUGHLY 2019.
SO THAT LAND USE DESIGNATION IS MORE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT IS TO BE EXPECTED WITH DEVELOPMENT TODAY.
LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL ALLOWS FOR AR FIVE ZONING DISTRICT, WHICH IF YOU WERE INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS, R FIVE ALLOWS NINE UNITS PER ACRE.
AGAIN, WE'RE AT THREE UNITS PER ACRE.
SOMETHING WAS ALSO NOTED ABOUT OUR TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS ABOUT A GAS STATION AT THE INTERSECTION OF SCENIC LOOP AND BABCOCK ROAD.
I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT OUR DEVELOPMENT IS A 100% SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
THAT GAS STATION THAT WAS PROPOSED IS FROM AN ADJACENT LAND USER, WHOLLY INDEPENDENT FROM US.
THAT IS NOT OUR PROPERTY, THAT IS THEIR PURVIEW TO USE IT AS THEY WANT.
THE LACK OF NOTICE THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP CONSISTENTLY.
I WANT TO REITERATE HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS DEVELOPMENT AND THE PUBLIC PROCESS THAT HAS GONE ON.
WE'VE BEEN BEFORE TCEQ MULTIPLE TIMES.
IT TOOK US THREE YEARS TO GET THROUGH THE TCEQ PROCESS.
SO FOR THE CLAIM THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO PUBLIC NOTICE, WE HAVE KEPT STAKEHOLDERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS UPDATED REGARDING THIS DEVELOPMENT.
THIS IS THAT, THAT'S THE END OF MY REBUTTAL, BUT, UH, MY TEAM AND I ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF COMMISSIONERS HAVE THEM.
UM, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A 30 MINUTE RECESS AND COME BACK AT, WELL, LET'S CALL IT 1140 AT 1210.
IT IS 1210 AND WE'LL RECONVENE THE MEETING.
UM, WE, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT IS OVER, SO THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
AND, UH, WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS.
SO WE CAN START WAY DOWN THERE ON THE, UH, COMM UH, COUNCILMAN MUNGIA.
UH, JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, CHAIR, AM I ABLE TO MAKE A MOTION AT THIS POINT? UM, YEAH, YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION AT ANY TIME.
UH, AT THIS POINT, I'D LIKE TO MOTION TO DENY ITEM NUMBER ONE.
THERE IS A MOTION ON THE TABLE BY COUNCILMAN MAGILLA TO DENY THE ITEM.
IS THAT WHO IT WAS, OR, UH, IT WAS COMMISSIONER SANCHEZ.
WELL, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS.
WE'RE GOING TO START ON THE LEFT WITH COMMISSIONER SANCHEZ.
UM, OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE FORUM, FOR THE, FOR THE AGENDA FOR THE CUSTOMER, FOR THE PUBLIC, UM, I'M GONNA WITHHOLD,
[02:25:01]
UM, MY COMMENTS JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY, AND I UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY.UM, BUT OUT OF RESPECT FOR EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY, UM, THIS COMMUNITY, I'M GONNA WITHHOLD MY COMMENTS.
UM, EVERYTHING THAT WAS EXPRESSED TODAY IS ON MY MIND AS WELL, IN ADDITION TO SO MUCH MORE.
UM, BUT AGAIN, I, OUT OF RESPECT, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA REFRAIN FROM EXPRESSING WHAT'S, WHAT'S ON MY MIND.
UM, BUT I DO KNOW WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY.
UM, AND I KNOW WHAT'S AT STAKE.
UM, SO I, I HAVE TO, I HAVE TO, UM, SAY I DO NOT SUPPORT THIS AT THIS TIME.
AND I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY IN ATTENDANCE FOR MAKING MY FIRST, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.
UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN HERE AT CITY COUNCIL, UH, AS A STAFFER AND NOW AS A COUNCIL MEMBER FOR OVER, UH, ABOUT 10 YEARS ALREADY.
AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE FOLKS HERE THAT HAVE ORGANIZED IS, IS ONE OF THE MOST ORGANIZED, UH, COMMUNITY THAT I'VE EVER SEEN AT COUNCIL.
UH, AND I THINK A LOT OF YOUR POINTS, UH, WERE BA YOU KNOW, BASED ON SCIENCE, UH, AND BASED ON TRAFFIC AND BASED ON SOME FACTS OF THE ISSUES.
UM, AND I APPRECIATED THERE WAS VERY, VERY LIMITED PERSONAL ATTACKS, UM, BY EVERYBODY ON THE APPLICANT AND ON ANYBODY UP HERE AS WELL.
SO I THINK THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
UH, WE DON'T ALWAYS SEE THAT AT CITY COUNCIL SOMETIMES.
AND I ALSO WANNA THANK THE APPLICANT FOR BEING HERE AND, AND FOR DOING THE PRESENTATION.
DISTRICT FOUR IS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF TOWN, SOUTHWEST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO.
WE HAVE A LOT OF LENNAR DEVELOPMENTS, AND I THINK MOST OF THE CRITICISM HERE TODAY WAS NOT ABOUT THE ACTUAL PRODUCT, UH, OR THE PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE TO LIVE IN LENNAR HOMES.
IT WAS ABOUT THE LOCATION, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE EFFECT ON THE AQUIFER.
AND, YOU KNOW, SOUTHWEST SIDE CITIES, SAN ANTONIO, VERY, VERY FAR FROM GRAY FOREST.
UH, I'VE HAD A RESIDENCE COME UP TO ME, RIGHT? AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND SAY, COUNCILMAN, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT THIS SITUATION? YOU KNOW, THE EDWARDS AQUIFER IS THE MAIN SOURCE OF WATER FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND FOR BEAR COUNTY.
UH, AND SO WE HAVE TO BE VERY, VERY SENSITIVE AND VERY, VERY CAREFUL AROUND DEVELOPMENTS IN AND AROUND THE AQUIFER.
UM, AND SO I WAS ABLE TO DO A TOUR, UM, WITH SOME OF THE FOLKS HERE TODAY, UM, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE MONTHS BACK AND GET TO LEARN A LOT MORE ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY.
'CAUSE OBVIOUSLY, I'M NOT FROM THERE.
UM, AND SO I WAS ABLE TO SEE EVERYTHING THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT AND VISIT PROPERTIES WHERE THIS CREEK IS LOCATED, WHERE THIS DISCHARGE WOULD KIND OF COME INTO, UH, AND SEE THAT FIRSTHAND.
SO I THINK THAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB IN ORGANIZING, GETTING FACTS OUT THERE, GETTING PEOPLE, UH, TO THE DOOR.
AND IT TRULY IS A VERY BIPARTISAN, UM, ISSUE.
UH, AND I DON'T KNOW ANY OTHER TIMES THAT I MIGHT BE ON THE SAME SIDE WITH SENATOR CAMPBELL, UH, AS SOMEONE ON THE LEFT.
BUT I DO APPRECIATE THAT EVERYONE HAS TAKEN THIS AS A ISSUE, NOT NECESSARILY A POLITICAL ISSUE.
UH, AND SO THAT'S WHY TODAY I'M HAPPY TO MAKE THE MOTION TO DENY THIS, AND I, IT WILL BE AT CITY COUNCIL.
I WILL ALSO VOTE AGAINST THAT THERE.
UM, BUT I APPRECIATE EVERYONE WHO'S BEEN HERE AND, AND TOOK THE TIME TO COME OUT HERE AND TAKE THE DAY OFF, UH, AND TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.
SO, AGAIN, I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU, APPRECIATE THE APPLICANT FOR BEING HERE AND FOR GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS, UH, AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEE WHAT THE REST OF MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS HAVE TO SAY.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER SIEGEL.
UH, WELL, I DO HAVE QUESTIONS.
UM, AND I DO RESPECT EVERYONE'S TIME.
MY FEDERAL COMMISSIONERS AS WELL AS ALL THE PUBLIC PARTICIPANTS WHO CAME TODAY, AND THE STAFF MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.
AND, UM, WATER QUALITY ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION ARE CRITICAL.
RIGHT? UM, BUT IT'S, IT'S A LITTLE MORE THAN THAT.
WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO ACTUALLY CLARIFY WHAT WE'RE BEING ASKED TO DECIDE HERE TODAY, RIGHT? ARE WE BEING ASKED TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S SUFFICIENT INGRESS EGRESS FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES? ARE WE BEING ASKED TO DECIDE WHETHER THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, UM, IS, UH, MEETS CERTAIN GUIDELINES? UM, ARE WE BEING ASKED TO DECIDE WHETHER THE CHANGE IN PROPERTY TAXES WILL AFFECT NEIGHBORS OR ONLY THE PEOPLE ON THIS PROPERTY? ARE WE BEING ASKED TO DECIDE WHETHER THIS DEVELOPMENT CAN GO FORWARD? OR ARE WE BEING ASKED TO DECIDE HOW THE WATER AND SEWER SERVICE WILL BE DELIVERED TO THIS DEVELOPMENT? I THINK THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CONCEPTIONS ABOUT WHAT IS BEING CONSIDERED TODAY, AND NOT ALL OF THEM ARE TRUE.
SO, IF I COULD GET A LITTLE CLARIFICATION,
[02:30:03]
COMMISSIONER, UH, WHAT YOU ARE CONSIDERING WITH THE REQUEST TODAY IS FOR THE CITY'S CONSIDERATION, EITHER TO GIVE HIS CONSENT OR TO DENY OR TAKE NO ACTION ON THE REQUEST FOR THE CREATION OF A MUD DISTRICT, WHICH IS A FINANCING DISTRICT.SO IT WOULD HELP FINANCE THE SERVICES THAT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS BEING PROVIDED.
SO THAT'S WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA TODAY, IS THE, WHETHER THE CITY, WHETHER YOU WOULD RECOMMEND, OR THE, AS A BODY, WOULD Y'ALL RECOMMEND IF IT, IF THE MUD DISTRICT IS CREATED AND IT HEADS TO TCAQ OR IF IT GOES THROUGH A DIFFERENT PROCESS.
SO THOSE ARE, SO THOSE ARE THE OPTIONS THE CITY HAS.
JUST TO RESTATE, WE ARE BEING ASKED TODAY TO, AND, AND IT'S NOT REALLY OUR DECISION, WE'RE GONNA MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL AND THEY'LL BE THE FINAL WORD.
UM, SO, BUT TODAY WE'RE BEING ASKED TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON WHETHER OR NOT THE CREATION OF A MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT AS A GOVERNING BODY FOR THIS, UM, WATER AND SEWER SERVICE TO THIS DEVELOPMENT IS APPROPRIATE.
OR IF NOT, THEN HOW WILL THE WATER AND SEWER SERVICE BE OVERSEEN IF THERE IS NO MUD? THE, THE MUD IS FOR THE FINANCING.
SO THE T THEY WILL BE REGULATED BY TCQ BECAUSE TCQ IS THE CREATING ENTITY.
SO AS THE CREATING ENTITY, THEY HAVE THE REGULATORY POWERS.
SO I, ON THIS SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE IF, FOR INSTANCE, IF THE CITY WERE TO DECIDE TO APPROVE THE MUD, THEN IT, THE DEVELOPER WOULD GO TO TCQ FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION.
IF THE CITY WERE TO DENY OR TAKE NO ACTION, THEN THE DEVELOPER WOULD GO, WOULD COULD ASK, AND THIS HAS TO BE DONE WITHIN 90 DAYS.
AND I HAVE A LITTLE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS AND EVERYTHING, BUT BASICALLY IF IT'S DENIED OR IF IT'S NO DECISION IS MADE, THEN THE DEVELOPER CAN ASK FOR A SERVICE TO NEGOTIATE A SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH CITY AND SAS FOR THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLAN.
IF, UH, THE CITY AND THE DEVELOPER COME TO AN AGREEMENT, THEN THEY, WITHIN 120 DAYS AFTER THE CITY HAS GIVEN, IT'S, IT'S A DENIAL, THEN THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO ASK FOR ANOTHER TYPE OF DISTRICT.
THEY CAN GO BACK TO TCQ, OR THEY CAN COME BACK TO US, OR THEY CAN GO TO THE COUNTY.
THE CITY'S ROLE IS, IS BY STATE LAW, IS THAT IT REQUIRES PARTICIPATION AS FAR AS REQUIRE GIVING US OUR CONSENT.
WE DON'T CREATE IT, BUT IF WE GIVE OUR CONSENT, BECAUSE IT'S OUR CITY'S ETJ.
SO THE OTHER PROCESS IS IF NO AGREEMENT IS MADE, THEN THE DEVELOPER HAS EXHAUSTED ALL HIS, UM, MEANS.
AND SO THE ITEM GOES BACK TO TCQ AND TCQ CAN CREATE THE, CAN CONSIDER THE CREATION OF THE DISTRICT.
BUT THIS IS, THE MUD IS A FINANCING DISTRICT, AND THEY'LL HAVE, AND IT'S, THE PURPOSE IS TO, IT'LL BE A UTILITY.
IT IS THIS MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT.
IT IS A UTILITY THAT'S GONNA BE RUNNING IN THAT AREA.
SO THE MUD IS A FINANCING DISTRICT THAT ENABLES THIS UTILITY SERVICE TO BE PAID FOR AND MAINTAINED.
AND SO WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM? I, I CAN ALLOW THE, UM, DEVELOP, I MEAN THE REPRESENTATIVE, BUT IT, THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO ISSUE BONDS, AND THEY ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO ASSESS, UH, SOME ASSESSMENTS OR TAXES ON THE PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
COMMISSIONER, JUST TO DRILL DOWN ON THAT, YOUR QUESTION ABOUT WHO PAYS FOR THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE IS GOING TO BE PAID UPFRONT BY THE DEVELOPER.
THIS FINANCING MECHANISM, THIS MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT, WILL ALLOW FOR REIMBURSEMENT TO LENNAR FROM THOSE AVALOR TAXES THAT ARE PAID BY EVENTUAL HOMEOWNERS.
THOSE EVENTUAL HOMEOWNERS WILL HAVE NOTICE OF THE TAX RATES.
THEY WILL HAVE NOTICE OF BONDING CAPACITY FOR THE DISTRICT.
THAT'S ALL STATUTORILY REQUIRED TO BE INCLUDED IN CLOSING DOCUMENTS AND FILED IN THE REAL PROPERTY RECORDS.
SO THERE WILL BE SUFFICIENT NOTICE.
BUT TO, AGAIN, ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE IS PAID FOR BY THE DEVELOPER.
SO IT'S FRONTED BY THE DEVELOPER, BUT THEN THE DEVELOPER IS REIMBURSED THROUGH A VALOREM TAXES? CORRECT.
AND DOES THAT INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT THE COST AS FRONTED BY THE DEVELOPER, DOES THAT INCLUDE THE, UM, STREET INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL AS LIKE THE IMPROVEMENTS TO SCENIC LOOP ROAD, AS WELL AS IT INCLUDES EVERYTHING THAT IS CONSIDERED A PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT.
SO THAT WOULD BE YOUR POWER ROADWAYS, YOUR POWER,
[02:35:01]
YOUR SEWER, YOUR SEWER LINE, UH, THAT IS TRAVERSING THE LAND FROM THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, THE WATER LINES THAT COME THROUGH THE PROPERTY.ANYTHING THAT IS FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE AND PUBLIC IS NOT INTENDED FOR EVERYBODY OUTSIDE OF THE DISTRICT.
PUBLIC IS TALKING ABOUT THE EVENTUAL RESIDENTS WHO WILL LIVE IN THE DISTRICT AND BENEFIT FROM THESE HOMES THAT ARE CONSTRUCTED WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE DISTRICT.
SO S THE TOTAL INFRASTRUCTURE BILL WILL BE INCLUDED, LIKE INVOICE WILL BE INCLUDED IN THIS MUD.
AND THE TOTAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT COST WILL BE PAID FOR BY THE PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN THE WAHA TE RANCH DEVELOPMENT? THAT'S CORRECT.
SO THE, THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLAN IS INCLUDED AS PART OF THAT PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE? THAT'S CORRECT, YES.
SO THAT WILL ALSO BE PAID FOR AS PART OF THIS MUD? CORRECT.
SO THEN I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT AND THE PLANS FOR IT, EVEN THOUGH I BELIEVE THAT, HAS THAT PLANT ITSELF ALREADY BEEN LICENSED? HAS IT ALREADY BEEN APPROVED? LIKE WHERE ARE WE WITH THAT? SO THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED.
THAT WAS THE LAST DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL THAT WE RECEIVED FROM TCQ, THAT WAS GRANTED IN OCTOBER OF 2025.
SO WE NOW HAVE OUR DISCHARGE PERMIT FROM THE STATE.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DESIGNING THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
AND THIS WAS NOT A QUICKIE REVIEW, THIS WASN'T JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, PUT IT ON MY DESK AND LET ME STAMP IT.
THIS WAS A THREE YEAR PROCESS? CORRECT.
OUR INITIAL APPLICATION FOR THE DISCHARGE PERMIT WAS FILED IN 2022, AND AS I STATED, WE RECEIVED FINAL APPROVAL FROM THE STATE IN OCTOBER OF 2025.
I, I HAVE NOTES, LEMME REFER TO MY NOTES.
SO, UM, WHERE WE, WE'VE SEEN A MAP THAT SHOWS THAT THERE ARE OTHER WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS IN THE CONTRIBUTING ZONE.
THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT ONE MORE IS OKAY, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.
UM, BUT LET'S JUST SAY THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE IT THERE.
HOW MANY OF THE OTHER WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS IN THE CONTRIBUTING ZONE ARE TYPE A OPERATORS? UM, FIVE MILES AWAY.
CAN YOU, CAN YOU, UH, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTION.
THE TYPE OF OPERATOR IS TIED TO THE VOLUME OF EFFLUENT BEING TREATED BY THE PLANT.
THE CLOSEST PLANT TO, TO THE GU RANCH IS THE LEON SPRINGS, WTP.
IT'S FIVE MILES AWAY AND IT DOESN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO SERVE THIS DEVELOPMENT.
THE CLOSEST CITY PLANT IS THE ME PLANT, WHICH IS 17 MILES AWAY.
AND THAT'S INFEASIBLE AND SAWS DIDN'T WANNA TREAT THIS DEVELOPMENT FROM THAT FACILITY.
UM, AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THAT PLANT BASED ON THE VOLUME HAS A CLASS A OPERATOR.
HOWEVER, UM, THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IN THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED AS WELL AS THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH MET HEALTH REQUIRES A CLASS A OPERATOR UNDER THE TCQ RULES, A CLASS B OPERATOR WOULD BE REQUIRED AT THE ULTIMATE MILLION, UH, GALLON PER DAY DISCHARGE.
SO IT'S ALREADY ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT'S REQUIRED BY STATE LAW.
SO, UM, IN TERMS OF THE TREATED WATER, CAN WE LOOK AT THE MAP OF THE SITE? CAN WE LOOK AT YOUR MASTER PLAN? MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN? YEAH, I WANT THE ONE THAT SHOWS THE SITE AND SHOWS WHERE THE PHASED DEVELOPMENTS ARE.
PUBLIC COMMENT IS OVER FOR TODAY.
SO I CAN SEE ON THIS MAP, UM, AND LIKE, I DON'T NEED YOU TO WALK ME THROUGH IT OR ANYTHING, BUT I CAN SEE WHERE SCENIC LOOP ROAD IS.
UM, I CAN SEE, AND IT'S HERE LISTED AS A COLLECTOR TYPE A, UM, I SEE WHERE THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IS AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER.
I SEE THERE'S A LOT OF GREEN OPEN SPACE.
AND THEN ALL THE, UM, GRADIENT THAT
[02:40:01]
WE'RE LOOKING AT IS ACTUALLY COMES FROM THE CLOSENESS OF TOPOGRAPHIC LINES, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.SO IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO TELL WHAT'S A HIGH SPOT AND WHAT'S A LOW SPOT.
COULD YOU POINT TO THE LOW SPOTS? IS THERE A POINTER? SO THERE ARE MULTIPLE LOW SPOTS THROUGHOUT THIS DEVELOPMENT, BUT ONE THING THAT I WANT TO NOTE THAT WE AGREED TO DO IS TO DO MANDATORY DETENTION AND RETENTION ON SITE, WHICH IS NOT REQUIRED FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT.
SO THERE ARE GOING TO BE A NUM, THERE ARE GOING TO BE NUMEROUS DETENTION AND RETENTION PONDS ON SITE, AND I WILL SHOW THEM, THERE WILL BE ONE GENERALLY IN THIS LOCATION.
ONE HERE, ONE HERE, THERE WILL ALSO BE ONE HERE, AND THERE IS ONE HERE AS WELL.
SO WE'VE HEARD THIS FIGURE OF A MILLION GALLONS PER DAY, WHICH HOLY MOLY, RIGHT? YEAH.
SO CAN YOU TELL ME COMPARATIVELY THE SIZE OF THE DETENTION RETENTION PONDS COMPARED TO THAT FIGURE? SO, I, I DON'T KNOW THAT NUMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD, PERCENTAGE OF WATER IS ANTICIPATED TO BE DETAINED? LET, LET ME, UH, LET ME SAY THIS BEFORE BRUNO COMES UP HERE.
OUR ULTIMATE GOAL WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT IS TO RETAIN ALL WATER ON SITE, ALL WATER THAT COMES FROM THIS WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
OUR GOAL IS TO KEEP IT ON SITE BY UTILIZING THESE DETENTION AND RETENTION PONDS.
UM, BRENA, DID YOU HAVE THE I'LL ADD.
UH, SO, UH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FIRST DRAINAGE, RIGHT? SEPARATE FROM THE, THE REUSE WATER THAT'S GONNA BE TREATED, THE DETENTION, WE'RE GONNA HAVE MULTIPLE DETENTION PONDS, AND I'LL GET THERE.
I WANT YOU, YOU MENTIONED USING FIRST, FIRST, I'M SORRY, YOU MENTIONED A COUPLE OF CYCLES OF WATER REUSE, RIGHT? SO I WANT, COULD YOU JUST TAKE ME THROUGH LIKE THE LIFE CYCLE OF WATER? LIKE IF WE FLUSH IT OR IT GOES DOWN THE DRAIN, IT GOES TO THE TREATMENT PLANT, AND THEN WHAT? SO WE'RE TALKING, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE, THE, UM, SEWER WATER, RIGHT? IT'S GONNA GO DOWN THE DRAIN.
IT'S GONNA GO IN THE SEWER SYSTEM.
UH, THERE WILL BE ONE LIFT STATION ON SITE SO FAR THAT'S PLANNED THAT BECAUSE THERE'S LOTS OF HIGHS AND LOWS AND IT'S GONNA BE PUMPED TO ANOTHER GRAVITY MAIN AND IT'S GONNA MAKE IT TO THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
IT'S GONNA BE TREATED, ONCE IT'S TREATED, IT'S GONNA BE PUMPED TO A REUSED STINK.
SO THAT TREATED AFFLUENT IS GONNA BE STORED AND WE PLAN TO USE THAT WATER FOR IRRIGATION ON SITE.
AND SO IS THAT WATER ALREADY READY TO BE USED LIKE AS A GRAY WATER SYSTEM? CORRECT.
BUT IT'S APPROPRIATE TO USE IN THE LANDSCAPE.
IT'S WELL USED IN GOLF COURSES, FOR EXAMPLE.
WELL, GOLF COURSES ARE NOTORIOUSLY POLLUTIVE TO GROUNDWATER MM-HMM
BECAUSE OF THE FERTILIZERS AND PESTICIDES THAT THEY USE.
SO LIKE, YEAH, I'M NOT COMPARING, I'M JUST SAYING THAT IT, IT'S GONNA BE WATER USED FOR IRRIGATION ONLY.
SO IT'S NOT TO BE USED TO GROW FOOD OR NO.
IT'S NOT GONNA BE MIXED WITH A PORTABLE USE.
IT'S GONNA BE IN A PURPLE PIPE.
IT'S GONNA GO TO THE REUSE TANK WHENEVER WE CAN.
WE'RE GONNA IRRIGATE THE OPEN SPACE AREAS WITH THAT WATER.
UM, BUT THERE WILL STILL BE A DISCHARGE POINT IF WE CANNOT USE ALL THAT WATER, IT'LL BE DISCHARGED.
BUT THE GOAL IS TO USE A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE WATER ON SITE FOR IRRIGATION OF OUR OPEN SPACE.
SO, UM, THE WATER WILL BE TREATED IN THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT AND THAT'S GONNA REMOVE BIOLOGICAL CONTAMINANTS.
I AM NOT THE WASTEWATER ENGINEER.
I AM ON THE DRAINAGE SIDE, ON THE CIVIL SIDE FOR ROADS AND ALL THAT.
SO I CANNOT SPEAK SO MUCH ABOUT THE TREATMENT.
WE HAVE OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM HERE, BUT THAT WAS DISCUSSED FOR THOSE THREE YEARS.
HOW MUCH TREATMENT WE WOULD BE DO, UH, THAT WAS DISCUSSED WITH ECQ AND WE ARE DOING AN MBR SYSTEM THAT'S A MEMBRANE SYSTEM THAT IS PROBABLY THE HIGHEST TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE FOR US TO BE DOING FOR TREATMENT.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT.
BECAUSE IF THERE IS A CHANCE THAT THIS WATER GETS INTO OUR AQUIFER MM-HMM
THEN WE WANNA BE, UH, YOU KNOW, VERY CONSCIENTIOUS.
HELEN, DO YOU WANNA SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT? SO DURING THE CONTESTED CASE HEARING, UM, EVIDENCE WAS PRODUCED FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGES ON THE EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS.
UM, THE EFFLUENT WILL BE TREATED BY A MEMBRANE BIOREACTOR PLANT.
UM, AS YOU'VE HEARD, THE PLAN IS TO REUSE BENEFICIALLY
[02:45:01]
ON SITE TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE.THIS IS A TERM OF, UH, THE DEVELOPER'S SETTLEMENT WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND SO THE DEVELOPER'S REQUIRED BY THAT STANDALONE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, WHICH IS ALSO PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT TO USE THE EFFLUENT TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE.
HOWEVER, IN THE CASE OF INUNDATION RAIN FLOODING WHERE THEY CAN'T, UH, IRRIGATE COMMON SPACE, AND BY THE WAY, THE IRRIGATION HAS TO BE ON COMMON SPACE.
IT CANNOT BE ON INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNER SITES.
UM, AND IS DISCHARGED IN, AS THE CROWD POINTED OUT, THE DRY HE LOTUS CREEK.
UM, A EXTENSIVE GEO GEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS WAS DONE BY BOTH THE PROTESTANTS SIDE, UM, HIRED BY THE CITY OF GRAY FOREST, AS WELL AS, UH, THE APPLICANT, UM, SHOWED THAT ALL THE WELLS IN THIS AREA ARE COMPLETED IN, UH, THE MIDDLE TRINITY.
AND SO THERE'S A COMBINING LAYER BETWEEN THE UPPER AND MIDDLE.
THIS WAS CONCEDED BY THE PROTESTANTS, UH, GEOLOGIST, DR.
MATTER OF FACT, UH, THE GEOLOGY, UH, EXPERT FOR THE APPLICANT ALSO WORKED FOR THE CITY OF GRAY FOREST.
SO WE ARE NOT CONCERNED, NOR WAS THE TCEQ CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS A PATHWAY OF CONTAMINATION TO AREA GROUNDWATER WELLS.
AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW THAT THE STATE LAW ALLOWS IN NOT JUST BEAR COUNTY, BUT SEVEN OTHER COUNTIES WHERE THE EDWARDS AQUIFER EXISTS DISCHARGE PERMITS OVER THE CONTRIBUTING ZONE.
WE ARE NOT IN THE RECHARGE ZONE, WE ARE IN THE CONTRIBUTING ZONE.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS? IT DOES, BUT YOU SAID SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING AND THAT IS THE CONFINING LAYER.
SO CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE CONFINING LAYER? I'M NOT A GEOLOGIST, I'M AN ATTORNEY.
THIS WAS THE EVIDENCE PRODUCED AT HEARING, AGAIN, BY BOTH DR. GREEN AND BY APPLICANT'S GEOLOGIST, KAVE CORZO, WHO HAD BEEN HIRED BY THE CITY OF GRAY FOREST.
SO THE UPSHOT IS THAT THERE IS A CONFINING LAYER OF CLAY THAT PROHIBITS THE DOWNWARD MIGRATION OF EFFLUENT BEING DISCHARGED IN THE CREEK.
AND REMEMBER, BY THE WAY, IT'S NOT GONNA BE DISCHARGED INTO THE GREEK, BY AND LARGE, IT'S GONNA BE REUSED BENEFICIALLY ON SITE.
AND WHEN I SAY BENEFICIALLY REUSED, THE POINT OF THAT IS IT EVAPORATES OFF THE TOP OF THE GRASS OR IN THE ROOT ZONE.
SO IT, THERE'S NO DOWNWARD MIGRATION FROM THE IRRIGATION PROCESS ITSELF IN ANY SEASON.
UM, THEY ALSO RECALL, UM, WHAT COUNCIL SAID EARLIER, HALF OF THE, UH, 1100 ACRE FOOTPRINT IS NOT GONNA BE DEVELOPED, AND THAT, UH, AREA IS AVAILABLE FOR IRRIGATION AS WELL.
SO THERE IS, UM, LOTS OF, UH, ROOM, THERE'S A GRAY FOREST.
PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY IS 2.6 A, UH, MILES AWAY FROM THE DISCHARGE POINT.
UM, THEY'RE ALL THE PRIVATE WELLS ARE, UM, MORE THAN 150 FEET AWAY, WHICH IS STATE LAW.
AND AS WELL, YOU HAVE THAT, UM, AQUA TARD SITUATION PROHIBITING DOWNWARD MIGRATION.
SO THERE'S ESSENTIALLY THREE DIFFERENT MECHANISMS TO PROTECT GROUNDWATER.
UM, THAT DEFINITELY ANSWERS MY QUESTION.
UM, IS THERE SOMEBODY WHO COULD TALK ABOUT SURFACE RUNOFF AND, UM, FLASH FLOODING FOR THIS AREA? IS THERE SOMEBODY HERE WHO CAN TALK ABOUT THAT? SO THAT'S THE OTHER WATER THAT WAS GONNA TALK TO EARLIER, THE DRAINAGE WATER.
RIGHT? THAT'S THE RAIN WATER, THAT'S WHAT'S CAPTURED BY THE STORM, UH, SEWERS, UH, SORRY.
THE STORM SYSTEM, UM, IS ALL GONNA BE ROUTED THROUGH WATER QUALITY AND DETENTION BASIN.
WE'RE GONNA BE FOLLOWING THE UDC, THE SAN ANTONIO CODE, UH, TO SHOW THAT WE'RE NOT CAUSING IMPACTS DOWNSTREAM.
AND YOU PROBABLY HAVE RUN SOME MODELS, UM, REFLECTING A HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD, CORRECT? YEAH, WE GO ALL THE WAY FROM THE ONE YEAR EVENT TO THE 100 YEAR EVENT.
AND WHAT HAPPENS IN THE EVENT OF A 100 YEAR FLOOD? UH, THE WATER IS HELD IN OUR PONDS AND IT'S RELEASED AT THE SAME RATE AS IN EXISTING
[02:50:01]
CONDITIONS.WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO HOLD THE WATER, SO THERE'S NO WATER THAT GOES DOWNSTREAM.
THE CODE REQUIRES US TO MITIGATE FOR EXISTING CONDITIONS.
SO WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW, UNDEVELOPED, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO ONCE THE PROJECT'S DEVELOPED.
SO THE MAXIMUM FLOW RATE AT LOTUS CREEK WOULD NOT CHANGE JUST THE LENGTH OF TIME IN WHICH WATER FLOWS DOWN THAT CREEK.
IS THAT CORRECT? AN UNDERSTANDING CORRECT.
IS A FLOW RATE THAT'S GONNA REMAIN THE SAME.
UM, COULD I HAVE SOMEBODY TELL ME, UM, WHAT ARE THE SAFEGUARDS FOR THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT AGAINST MALFUNCTION AND ACCIDENTAL FAILURE? SO IN OUR UTILITY SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH SAWS, THERE WERE NINE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, WHICH I WALKED THROUGH.
UH, ONE OF THEM BEING A CLASS A OPERATOR, WHICH WE'VE DISCUSSED, UH, IN OUR SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH METRO HEALTH.
THOUGH METRO HEALTH DRILLED DOWN ON, UM, WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, UH, IN THE EVENT THAT THERE IS A, UH, MALFUNCTION WITH THE, UH, WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, IT'S GOING TO BE MONITORED 24 HOURS A DAY.
THERE IS GOING TO BE SOMEONE ON SITE, UH, TO MANAGE THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT TO HELP MITIGATE THE, UM, THE, THE IMPACT OR THE POSSIBILITY OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT MALFUNCTIONING OR FAILING.
THAT IS ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS FROM OUR SETTLEMENT WITH METRO HEALTH.
UM, SO YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE WILL BE A BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO GOVERN THE, THE, THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLAN.
IS THAT CORRECT? OR IS, ARE THEY GOVERNING THE MUD AS A WHOLE? SORRY.
YES, THE MUD WOULD HAVE A BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
UH, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WOULD ALSO OVERSEE THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT AS IT IS A PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE DISTRICT.
HOW WILL THOSE BOARD OF DIRECTORS BE SELECTED? THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ARE SELECTED INITIALLY BY THE DEVELOPER.
UM, BUT EVENTUALLY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL BE MADE UP OF RESIDENTS FROM THE DISTRICT WHO ACTUALLY OWN PROPERTY.
SO INITIALLY, WHEN THE DISTRICT IS IN ITS INFANCY, IT WILL BE SELECTED BY THE DEVELOPER.
UH, AND THE IDEA GOAL IS TO SELECT EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELD TO HELP ENSURE THAT THIS WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IS BUILT AND MANAGED CORRECTLY IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS NO DOWNSTREAM IMPACT.
THERE IS NO NEGATIVE IMPACT TO ADJACENT LANDOWNERS.
AND THEN, UM, WHAT KIND OF OVERSIGHT DO YOU ANTICIPATE THERE BEING TO MANAGE A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS? SO THE BOARD OF DIRECTOR, THE, I'LL TAKE A STEP BACK.
A MUD IS A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE.
SO THINK OF IT AS A SMALL CITY.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL HAVE THE, THE, THE MUD WILL HAVE ITS OWN DISTRICT COUNCIL WILL HAVE ITS OWN FINANCIAL ADVISOR.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL HAVE TO TAKE OATHS AND ALSO PUT UP BONDS IN ORDER TO SERVE ON THE BOARD.
UM, AND IN THE EVENT THAT THERE IS ANY MALFEASANCE OR LACK OF FIDUCIARY DUTY, OTHER BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE ALLOWED THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, REMOVE THEM.
UM, LASTLY, UM, I THINK THIS MIGHT BE LASTLY, UM, IS THERE LIKE A BALLPARK FIGURE FOR THE ANTICIPATED COST OF INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS? THE ROUGH ESTIMATE THAT WE'VE PUT TOGETHER IS $150 MILLION IN TWO DAYS DOLLARS.
THAT DOES NOT ACCOUNT FOR ESCALATION OF THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
BUT IN TODAY'S DOLLARS, WE ARE ESTIMATING $150 MILLION IN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
AND WHAT IS THE TERM IN, IN WHICH THE DEVELOPER WOULD ANTICIPATE THOSE BEING REPAID BY THAT THROUGH THE ADVIL ORUM TAX? LIKE, IS THERE A CAP ON HOW MUCH TAX PROPERTY TAXES, HOW MUCH WILL BE TACKED ONTO THE PROPERTY TAXES FOR THESE 1000 PROPERTY OWNERS? SO THE TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE REQUIRES, UH, SPECIAL DISTRICTS IN BEXAR COUNTY.
WE CANNOT EXCEED $1 PER, UH, $100 VALUATION.
I CAN'T SPEAK TO PREVIOUS MUDS THAT MAY HAVE HAD HIGHER TAX RATES THAT MAY HAVE BEEN BEFORE THIS STATUTE WAS IMPLEMENTED, BUT THE HIGHEST TAX RATE THAT WE CAN UTILIZE IS $1.
BUT REALISTICALLY, COMMISSIONER, OUR TAX RATE IS GOING TO BE SET BY THE MARKET.
UH, LENNAR HOMES IS KNOWN AS A, UH, ATTAINABLE HOME BUILDER WHO MARKETS TO FIRST TIME BUYERS MOVE UP BUYERS.
UM, AND AS I INDICATED IN MY PRESENTATION, THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL HAVE A MIX OF HOMES, UM, MARKETED TOWARDS FIRST TIME
[02:55:01]
BUYERS AND MOVE UP BUYERS.WE CANNOT PRICE OR WE CANNOT INSTILL A TAX ON THIS PROPERTY AT SUCH A RATE THAT WE PRICE OURSELVES OUT OF THE MARKET.
AND WE CANNOT PUT A, A AVALOR TAX ON THIS PROPERTY THAT WOULD LIMIT OUR MARKET FROM BEING ABLE TO AFFORD THESE HOMES.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, AS WE GO THROUGH THIS DEVELOPMENT HERE, UH, WHO WILL BE THE ENTITY TO, UM, TO USE THE EMINENT DOMAIN POWERS? SO RIGHT NOW, BY STATE LAW, UH, MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT IS ALLOWED THE ABILITY TO EXERCISE IMMINENT DOMAIN.
I CAN TELL YOU, COMMISSIONER, THAT IN THE DRAFT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, THAT IS A RIGHT, THAT THE CITY IS NOT ALLOWING TO THIS MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT.
SO AS CURRENTLY WRITTEN, THE ABILITY TO EXERCISE IMMINENT DOMAIN WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED FOR THIS MUD.
I DO THINK THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST ORGANIZED AND BEST TURNOUTS I'VE SEEN IN, IN BEING ON PLANNING COMMISSION.
SO I APPLAUD THE COMMUNITY FOR, FOR BEING A PART OF THIS AND FOR MAKING THEIR COMMENTS.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO THIS, UH, ESPECIALLY MYSELF HAVING, UH, BEEN INVOLVED IN POLITICS FOR WHEN I WAS MUCH WHEN I WAS YOUNGER AND TO SEE THIS KIND OF ORGANIZATION.
YOU KNOW, I CERTAINLY APPLAUD YOU FOR SHOWING UP, BUT I ALSO APPLAUD THE APPLICANT FOR HIS DETAILED, THOROUGH ANALYSIS.
BUT I, YOU KNOW, HONESTLY, I'M NOT GONNA REHASH WHAT FROM THE, MY COMMISSIONERS ON MY LEFT HAND SIDE HAVE ALREADY GONE THROUGH.
UM, I JUST, YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT IT WITH THE WATER QUALITY.
I KNOW WE'VE GONE THROUGH THAT.
AND WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON IS WHETHER WE WANT TO CREATE A DISTRICT TO MANAGE THE UTILITIES AND THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE OF THIS, OF THIS DEVELOPMENT.
UH, WE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, TCQ HAS ALREADY APPROVED IT.
UM, I GUESS, YOU KNOW, I GUESS I HAVE JUST ONE LAST LITTLE TECHNICAL QUESTION TO ASK IS THAT, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES AND GOING THROUGH THE FACT THAT YOU STATED THAT, NUMBER ONE, WE LOOKED AT A, UM, PULLING IN THE SEWER LINES FROM SAWS B SEPTIC SYSTEMS, AND THEN C THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLAN, CAN YOU JUST, YOU KNOW, WALK ME THROUGH ONE MORE TIME, HOW DID THAT, HOW DID THE ULTIMATE AND WHAT WERE SOME OF THE FACTORS THAT LED TO ULTIMATELY DECIDING, YOU KNOW, IS IT ALL COST? WAS IT FEASIBILITY OF GETTING ADJACENT LANDOWNERS TO CONTRIBUTE TO BRINGING IN THE SAW SEWER LINE THROUGH PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT WITH SAWS, ANYTHING LIKE THAT? BUT WHAT WAS, I MEAN, HOW DID WE GET TO THIS POINT? YEAH, AND THEN I HAVE A FOLLOW UP QUESTION JUST ON, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, LOOKING AT ADJACENT DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE ULTIMATELY SPRINGED UP BECAUSE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS EXPANDING SO MUCH.
SO, TO WALK THROUGH SAS ANALYSIS RELATED TO SEWER SERVICE IN THIS SITE, AND AGAIN, WE ARE OUTSIDE OF SAWS SEWER JURISDICTION, UH, THAT IS WHY THERE WAS A FULL ANALYSIS OF POTENTIAL SEWER OPTIONS FOR THIS SITE.
SAS LOOKED AT PROVIDING TRADITIONAL SEWER, UM, BUT THE CLOSEST SEWER LINE TO THIS SITE IS ROUGHLY FIVE MILES AWAY.
AND IN ORDER TO DRAG A SEWER LINE TO THIS SITE, YOU WOULD HAVE TO NEGOTIATE WITH PRIVATE LANDOWNERS AND ACQUIRE EASEMENTS OR ACQUIRE PROPERTY TO GO THROUGH THEIR PROPERTY AND REACH GU RANCH.
UH, SO THAT WOULD BE VERY COSTLY, UH, TO, WHAT THAT WOULD DO IS THAT SEWER LINE WOULD GO RIGHT THROUGH THE RECHARGE ZONE.
SO THERE'S A VERY LARGE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT WITH PROVIDING TRADITIONAL SEWER SERVICE.
AND LASTLY, UH, CAN YOU PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF DETAIL ON THAT? WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE'D BE AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT? SO YOU'RE PUTTING A, A, UH, SEWER LINE RIGHT THROUGH THE RECHARGE ZONE, WHICH HAS ITS OWN PITFALLS.
NAMELY, IF THERE'S EVER A LEAK BREAK IN THAT SEWER LINE OVER THE RECHARGE ZONE, THEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT RAW SEWAGE GOING RIGHT INTO OUR DRINKING WATER.
THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT IS PROPOSED WITH GU RANCH.
SINCE WE ARE IN THE CONTRIBUTING ZONE, THE RECHARGE ZONE IS WHERE WE DO GET OUR DRINKING WATER FROM.
UM, THE FINAL POINT, GETTING BACK TO WHY SAWS DECIDED THAT TRADITIONAL SEWER WAS NOT A GOOD OPTION FOR THIS SITE, UM, TRADITIONAL SEWER WOULD'VE OPENED UP FURTHER DEVELOPMENT
[03:00:01]
IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA.SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SAWS CONSIDERED WHEN THEY DECIDED TO MOVE AWAY FROM, OR DECIDED AGAINST PROVIDING TRADITIONAL SEWER.
SEPTIC HAS ITS OWN DOWNFALLS PITFALLS AS WELL.
UH, NAMELY, UH, SEPTIC DOES NOT TREAT WASTEWATER TO A LEVEL OF A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
UH, THAT WASTEWATER IS RAW, IT IS TREATED VERY MINIMALLY, AND ONCE IT'S TREATED MINIMALLY, IT'S DISPERSED ACROSS THE PROPERTY.
AND IN HEAVY RAIN EVENTS, THAT WASTEWATER DISCHARGE IS CARRIED INTO NEIGHBORING LANDS, INTO NEIGHBORING WATERWAYS.
AND SAWS FOUND THAT SEPTIC SYSTEMS HAVE A TENDENCY TO FAIL IN THIS AREA OR LEAK.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POTENTIAL RAW SEWAGE IN THIS AREA.
AND I NOTICE IN SURROUNDING DEVELOPMENTS IT'S ALL SEPTIC.
IS THAT, IS THAT CORRECT? DID I HEAR THAT CORRECTLY? THAT'S RIGHT.
SO THE EXISTING DEVELOPMENT TO OUR NORTH, WHICH, UH, SOME RESIDENTS INDICATED THEY WERE PART OF THAT IS A, UH, SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT THAT IS PRIMARILY SEPTIC, IF NOT ALL SEPTIC.
I'M NOT SURE IF SOMEBODY CAN ANSWER THAT'S HERE, BUT, YOU KNOW, JUST THE OVERALL EFFECTS OF HAVING A SEPTIC SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY THERE MANY ON IN CANYONS.
UM, WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE EFFECT OF, SAY EVEN HALF OF THEM? IS THERE, IS THERE A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE EFFECT THAT EVEN HALF OF THEM FAIL OR, OR SEEP OUT VERSUS HAVING A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, YOU KNOW, UH, LIKE YOU'RE PROPOSING FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT? I, I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER FOR YOU, COMMISSIONER.
WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT SAWS EVALUATED THIS VERY THOROUGHLY, AND WHEN SEPTIC WAS MENTIONED SPECIFICALLY IN THIS AREA, IT WAS IDENTIFIED TO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE TOPOGRAPHY AND THE ROCKY NATURE OF THIS AREA.
AND THERE WAS A, THERE WAS A FEAR THAT IF THERE WERE 3000 1500, UH, SEPTIC SYSTEMS, EVEN ONE COULD DAMAGE OUR DRINKING WATER.
YET A DEVELOPMENT NORTH OF IT HAS QUITE A FEW.
I, I CAN'T SPEAK TO HOW THAT DEVELOPMENT WAS PLANNED.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY EVER APPROACHED SAS ABOUT PROVIDING TRADITIONAL SEWER.
UM, I, I, I JUST KNOW THAT IS A SEPTIC, UH, DEVELOPMENT.
I, I WANT TO ECHO COMMISSIONER ROULETTE.
UH, THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST ORGANIZED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR AN ISSUE THAT I'VE, I'VE SEEN IN MY ALMOST NINE YEARS ON THE COMMISSION.
UM, YOUR VOICES ARE HEARD AND YOU HAVE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS, AND THE COMMISSION IS HERE TO LISTEN.
UH, I WANNA APPLAUD THE STAFF FOR PROVIDING A SPECIAL SESSION SO WE HAVE ADEQUATE TIME TO, TO DEBATE, DISCUSS, UM, MADE THE PROCESS HOPEFULLY SEAMLESS FOR YOU WITH THE ENTRY AND THE PARKING, UM, AND ALLOWING, UH, UNDERSTANDING WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM GEOGRAPHICALLY ADDITIONAL TIME TO SIGN UP.
AND OUR, MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, WE'RE ALL TAKING, YOU KNOW, DAYS OFF TO BE HERE TODAY.
SO, UM, WHY ARE WE HERE AND WHY? YOU KNOW, AS A PLANNING COMMISSION, WE'RE GENERALLY LOOKING AT PLAN AMENDMENTS.
WE DO DO LOOK AT PIDS AND, AND, UH, NOT ONLY MUD, BUT PIS PLAN AMENDMENTS.
UM, SO THIS IS NOT TYPICALLY SOMETHING THAT WOULD COME TO OUR ATTENTION.
THERE'S NO PLAN AMENDMENT WITH THIS BECAUSE THIS PROPERTY IS OUTSIDE THE MILITARY PROTECTION OVERLAY.
UM, AND AGAIN, IT'S IN THE ETJ.
SO THE SOLE PURPOSE, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IS TO PROVIDE, UM, RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL WHERE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO SHOULD CONSENT, UH, AND SIGN A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE, WITH THE BORROWER, WITH THE, UH, OWNERS.
UH, MY QUESTION, I GUESS TO MR. DINDA, IF WE, HOWEVER, WE RECOMMEND, AND CITY COUNCIL ULTIMATELY DENIES PARTICIPATION, THIS IS PRIVATE LAND, THIS WILL NOT COME BACK TO PLANNING COMMISSION AS I SEE IT FOR PLAN AMENDMENT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, OR ZONING, WHAT COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN? UM, SO IN THIS HYPOTHETICAL PLANNING COMMISSION TAKES ACTION AND CITY COUNCIL DENIES, IS THAT, IS THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT? SO IN THAT SITUATION, IF CITY COUNCIL DENIES CONSENT, THEN THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED, UM, THAT WOULD NOT COME INTO EFFECT.
UH, THERE WOULD BE NO AGREEMENT BETWEEN LENNAR THE PROPERTY OWNER AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
SO THERE WOULD BE NO FURTHER DEVELOPMENT RESTRICTIONS APPLICABLE BY THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT TO THIS SITE.
THAT DOES NOT STOP THE MUD PROCESS.
THE NEXT STEP IN THE OVERALL PROCESS WOULD BE TO, UH, PETITION
[03:05:01]
THE CITY TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO THIS SITE.UM, AND I CAN'T SPEAK TO EXACTLY WHAT THAT WOULD ENTAIL, BUT THEORETICALLY IT WOULD ENTAIL READ RE UM, REAPPROACHING THE CITY ABOUT PROVIDING TRADITIONAL SEWER TO THIS SITE.
AND IF THE CITY IS NOT, UH, CANNOT PROVIDE TRADITIONAL SEWER, UH, WITHIN A TIMEFRAME THAT STAFF MENTIONED, THEN THE DEVELOPER APPLICANT HAS THE ABILITY TO PETITION TCQ WITHOUT CITY CONSENT, WITHOUT, UM, THE CITY AB ABILITY TO PROVIDE SERVICE.
WE STILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO, UH, PETITION TCEQ TO CREATE THE MUD.
SO POTENTIALLY THERE COULD BE A MUD WITHOUT, UH, I, I DON'T WANNA SAY PROTECTIONS BECAUSE I DON'T UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY.
I DON'T THINK THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IS FINALIZED.
BUT IN, UM, AS IT'S CURRENTLY SORT OF CONTEMPLATED, COULD YOU MAYBE OUTLINE WHAT THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS TO THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES WOULD BE WITH THE CITY'S PARTICIPATION? YEAH.
SO ONE OF THE BIG FACTORS THAT WE CONSENT TO IN ALL OF OUR DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS, AND WHICH IS AGAIN, STILL GONNA BE BEING NEGOTIATED BETWEEN OUR SIDE AND THE CITY, UM, IS ANNEXATION CURRENTLY THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS NO ABILITY TO ANNEX THIS PROPERTY WITHOUT THE LANDOWNER CONSENTING.
THAT WOULD BE A BIG ITEM THAT THE CITY WOULD GET WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
THIS DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IS A LITTLE UNIQUE FROM WHAT WE SEE WITH OUR OTHER SPECIAL DISTRICTS IN THAT IT GOES FURTHER BECAUSE WE ARE PROPOSING A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT.
AND IT RESTATES THE NINE ITEMS THAT SAWS REQUIRED IN THEIR USA AND ALSO RESTATES THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH METRO HEALTH.
SO EFFECTIVELY WHAT IT DOES IS IT GIVES THE CITY THE ABILITY TO MONITOR SAS DEVELOPMENT RESTRICTIONS, THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, AND IF THE CITY HAS ANY ISSUE OR IF THERE IS ANY CLAIM THAT WE, THE DEVELOPER BREACH THOSE REQUIREMENTS, UH, THE CITY HAS THE ABILITY TO CLAIM BREACH UNDER THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AND POTENTIALLY ANNEX THE PROPERTY.
SO THERE IS, UH, CONSIDERABLE, UH, WEIGHT BEHIND THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AND OUR SIDE WANTING TO COMPLY WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
SO POTENTIALLY WITHOUT THE CITY'S, UM, PARTICIPATION, PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT CAN OCCUR.
SINGLE FAMILY HOMES CAN BE BUILT AT, THERE'S REALLY NO LIMIT, RIGHT? BECAUSE THERE'S, THERE'S, UNLESS IT'S LIMITED TO THE COUNTY TIER, I DON'T THINK IT IS.
'CAUSE IT'S NOT IN THE MILITARY PROTECTION OVERLAY.
IS THAT CORRECT? UM, THEY, SORRY, JUST TO CLARIFY REALLY QUICKLY.
UH, COMMISSIONER, SO THE UTILITY SERVICE AGREEMENT WOULD STILL BE APPLICABLE, SO WE WOULD STILL BE LIMITED TO THE 3000.
BUT, UM, THE FURTHER PROTECTION FROM THE CITY TO OVERSEE, UM, THE NINE RESTRICTIONS FROM SAWS, THAT WOULD BE OFF THE TABLE, IT WOULD JUST BE SAWS WHO HAS TO, UH, OVERSEE THE UTILITY SERVICE AGREEMENT AND, AND NOT IF YOU, IF YOU RETAIN VESTED RIGHTS, YOU AREN'T SUBJECT TO THE TREE ORDINANCE TO IMPERVIOUS COVER RESTRICTIONS.
IS THAT RIGHT? THAT, THAT'S CORRECT.
UH, WE DID, UM, THAT THOSE ARE REQUIREMENTS OF THE UTILITY SERVICE AGREEMENT.
SO AGAIN, WE WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THOSE.
UM, BUT AGAIN, THE BIG ITEM WITH THE CITY'S CONSENT IS THAT WE ARE AGREEING TO BE ANNEXED INTO THE CITY LIMITS AT A FUTURE DATE.
UM, THAT WOULD BE OFF THE TABLE.
SO THIS DEVELOPMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO FUNCTION OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS.
UM, AND IF SAWS HAD ANY ISSUE WITH IT, SAWS WOULD BE THE BODY WHO WOULD HAVE TO ENFORCE THOSE UTILITY SERVICE RESTRICTIONS.
UM, SO I'M JUST KIND OF PUTTING IT OUT THERE FOR PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, AWARENESS THAT, UM, THERE MAY STILL BE DEVELOPMENT THERE.
SO I THINK THE QUESTION TO PONDER, AND THIS MAY BE MORE TOWARDS CITY COUNCIL, IS WHAT IS THE BEST OUTCOME FOR THESE COMMUNITIES? UH, WHAT IS THE BEST OUTCOME FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS THE TRAFFIC IMPACTS? I UNDERSTAND THE DEVELOPERS DOING SIGNALS AND DOING SOME INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.
I WAS SURPRISED THERE'S NOT SIGNALS AT, UH, BABCOCK AND CROSS MOUNTAINS.
SO I THINK THOSE ARE BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITY AND MAYBE YOU'VE ALREADY MAYBE SHOULD BE THERE REGARDLESS OF THIS DEVELOPMENT.
UM, SO I'M JUST TRYING TO WEIGH THAT, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS, I UNDERSTAND THE OPTICS AND THE POLITICAL, UM, APPEARANCES.
SO I'M JUST, I'M AWARE OF THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT.
I AM THINKING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS AND HAVE NO FURTHER COMMENTS.
WELL, I GUESS ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF GOING TOWARDS THE END IS A LOT OF MY QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ASKED AND ANSWERED.
[03:10:01]
TO TO ECHO WHAT EVERYONE HAS ALREADY SAID TO, TO THANK YOU ALL FOR REALLY THOUGHT PROVOKING, INTERESTING, UM, PROCESS.I MEAN, YOU ALL ARE FROM THE COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN SO WELL ORGANIZED AND HAVE BROUGHT SO MANY EXCELLENT THINGS.
AND I JUST, DURING OUR BREAK, WENT DOWN A BIG RABBIT HOLE LOOKING UP MEMBRANE BIOREACTORS AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.
UM, AND THE, THE REST OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE REMINDED ME OF WHAT OUR DUTY IS HERE TOO.
SO IT'S NOT TO DECIDE ABOUT THAT, BUT IT WAS FASCINATING.
UM, AND, AND THANKS AGAIN TO THE APPLICANTS AND TO THE STAFF WHO MADE THIS AS LEAST PAINFUL A PROCESS AS IT COULD POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN.
AND SO I ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AND I'M GONNA SIT HERE AND PONDER UNTIL IT'S TIME TO VOTE.
SO NOBODY LEFT ME ANY QUESTION TO ASK WITH ME.
UH, AGAIN, YOU'VE BEEN THANKS ENOUGH FROM ALL MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS ABOUT ALL THE ORGANIZATION THAT, UH, HAS BEEN TAKING PLACE TODAY FROM THE STAFF, FROM THE RESIDENTS, AND THE THOROUGH PRESENTATION FROM THE APPLICANT.
UH, THERE WAS ONE POINT THAT IS NOT CLEAR TO ME.
UH, IF THE MONTH IS ESTABLISHED AND NOW IT IS TIME TO ISSUE BOND THAT EVENTUALLY WILL BE TO REIMBURSE THE DEVELOPER, IS THIS BOND COMING AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE TO THE RESIDENTS TO VOTE ON IT ON A BALLOT TO YES OR NO, WHETHER THIS BOND SHOULD BE ISSUED OR NOT? SO POTENTIALLY, COMMISSIONER, THE WAY THAT THIS SPECIAL DISTRICT WOULD WORK IS THERE WOULD BE AN ELECTION UPFRONT WHERE BONDING CAPACITY IS SET FOR EXISTING PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS PROPOSED.
UH, ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF THAT AT A FUTURE DATE, UH, THAT IS NOT COVERED BY THE BONDING CAPACITY.
IF FUTURE RESIDENTS WOULD LIKE TO INCREASE IT, THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO CALL ANOTHER ELECTION.
BUT FOR THIS $150 MILLION THAT WE ARE PROJECTING NOW, THAT ELECTION WOULD TAKE PLACE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DISTRICT.
SO THERE IS AN ELECTION WILL TAKE PLACE.
THE ELECTION IS TO CONFIRM THE DISTRICT THAT IS STATUTORILY REQUIRED.
THAT IS WE, WE CREATE THE DISTRICT.
BUT THERE IS A ELECTION THAT IS REQUIRED TO RATIFY THE DISTRICT.
WHAT HAPPENED IF THAT ELECTION DENY THE MUD, IF THAT ELECTION DENIED THE MUD, THEN THE MUD WOULD NOT BE RATIFIED AND WE WOULD, IT WOULD BE A MUD ON PAPER ONLY.
THAT IS, IT WOULD BE A SPECIAL DISTRICT, BUT IT WOULD NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO EXERCISE ANY OF THE POWERS THAT IS REIMBURSEMENT TO THE DEVELOPER OR, UM, OVERSIGHT, MAINTENANCE OF THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
YOU COULD ALWAYS CALL A SECOND ELECTION, BUT WE WOULDN'T LIKE TO DO THAT.
IDEALLY, WE ARE ABLE TO GET THE FIRST ELECTION APPROVED.
AND THAT ELECTION WILL HAPPEN EARLY BEFORE THE 3000 HALVES WILL BE FILLED WITH THE RESIDENTS INSIDE THE DISTRICT? YES, THAT'S CORRECT.
AND THE RESIDENTS WHO WILL MOST LIKELY GO TO THE ELECTION TO THESE BALLOTS WOULD BE THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE SITTING TODAY IN HELO, THIS AREA AND THE SURROUNDING THE DISTRICT? NO, NO, NO.
THE RESIDENTS WHO WOULD VOTE IN THIS ELECTION WOULD BE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE ON SITE CURRENTLY.
SO RESIDENTS WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE DISTRICT.
SO THEY WOULD VOTE TO EITHER CONFIRM OR DENY.
'CAUSE REMEMBER, THIS DISTRICT IS ONLY TAXING RESIDENTS WITHIN ITS BOUNDARIES.
IT IS NOT TAXING ANYONE OUTSIDE.
SO IT IS WHOLLY THE DISTRICT'S PURVIEW.
SO RESIDENTS OUTSIDE OF THIS DISTRICT WILL NOT SEE A RAISE IN THEIR TAX AS A RESULT OF THIS MUD DEVELOPMENT.
SO THAT, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION.
SOMEONE MENTIONED IT EARLIER, NOT FROM THIS MUD.
THIS MUD WILL NOT CHARGE A TAX OUTSIDE OF ITS BOUNDARIES.
I THINK THERE WAS A REFERENCE TO TAXES INCREASING.
I THINK THAT'S JUST GENERAL PROPERTY TAXES.
THEY INCREASE BECAUSE OF DEVELOPMENT.
BUT MORE SPECIFICALLY TO YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER, THIS MUD WILL NOT TAX ANY RESIDENCE OUTSIDE OF ITS BOUNDARIES.
IF, IF YOU CLARIFY TO ME HERE THAT IF THE $550 MILLION IS REQUESTED FROM THE RESIDENTS OF THIS DISTRICT, AND THERE IS AN ESSENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT NEEDS TO BE COMING TO THIS DISTRICT FROM THE OUTSIDE, WHICH IS A PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT.
[03:15:02]
THAT'S COMING TO THE DISTRICT WILL BE NOT PAID BY THE RESIDENTS OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT, ALTHOUGH IT IS IN THE RIGHT OF WAY OUTSIDE OF DISTRICT JUST TO DELIVER MAYBE UTILITIES, WATER LINES COMING TO THE FRONT OF THE DISTRICT.THIS IS GOING TO BE SPENT INTO THAT AS WELL.
I, I THINK I'M UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, COMMISSIONER, IF IT FALLS WITHIN AN IMPROVEMENT THAT WE'RE CONTEMPLATING FOR THIS 150, SO SAY IT IS A UTILITY IMPROVEMENT, UH, THAT WE'RE CONTEMPLATING AND IT FALLS WITHIN THIS 150 MILLION, THEN YES, THE DISTRICT WOULD BE ABLE TO REIMBURSE FOR THAT, UH, PURSUANT TO THE BONDING CAPACITY THAT WE, UH, ELECT AT THE OUTSET.
BUT IF IT IS OUTSIDE THE 150 MILLION, THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO HOLD A SUBSEQUENT ELECTION TO INCREASE OUR BONDING CAPACITY.
MY, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS TO MAKE IMPROVEMENT INSIDE THE DISTRICT, YOU NEED TO SEND UTILITIES TO IT, YOU SEE, TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE DISTRICT OUTSIDE.
THIS IS NOW OUTSIDE THE BOUNDARIES OF THE DISTRICT.
AND YOU'RE GOING TO USE THE TAXES ONLY FROM COLLECTED FROM THE INSIDE RESIDENTS TO COVER THAT.
SO THE RESIDENTS OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT WILL BENEFIT FROM THE IMPROVEMENTS IN ROAD EXPANSIONS IN UTILITIES COMING TO THERE, BUT THERE IS ROAD EXPANSIONS GOING TO GET BENEFITS.
SORRY, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YES.
THERE WILL BE IMPROVEMENTS MADE THAT ARE, UM, THAT THE PUBLIC, THE GENERAL PUBLIC BENEFITS FROM NOT ONLY THE RESIDENTS OF THIS COMMUNITY, BUT THE RESIDENTS AT LARGE, THE SIGNAL LIGHTS, THE EXPANDED ROADWAY, THOSE WILL BE IMPROVEMENTS THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC WILL BENEFIT FROM.
BUT THE PAYMENT FOR THOSE IMPROVEMENTS WILL COME FROM THE DISTRICT.
THOSE IMPROVEMENTS AT TIME, AT THAT TIME, AT ONE POINT IN THE FUTURE, WILL NOT BE BUILT TO THE OUTSIDE RESIDENTS FROM THE DISTRICT, ALTHOUGH IT IS A PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT.
SO I THINK THAT GETS TO A QUESTION THAT COMMISSIONER SIEGEL HAD.
THE DEVELOPER WILL FRONT ALL THOSE COSTS AND THE FUTURE RESIDENTS WITHIN THE DISTRICT WILL REPAY THE DEVELOPER FOR FRONTING THOSE COSTS, FOR BUILDING THOSE IMPROVEMENTS.
THERE WILL BE NO IMPACT TO, UH, OUTSIDE RESIDENTS.
THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY A SPECIAL TAX FOR THOSE IMPROVEMENTS.
ANOTHER QUESTION ON RECRUITING THE BOARD MEMBERS INITIALLY TO OVERSEE THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT.
WHY INITIALLY THIS HAS BEEN DONE UNSELECTED INDIVIDUALS BY THE DEVELOPER.
WHY NOT? YOU CAN HAND IT OVER TO SOURCE, FOR EXAMPLE, OR SOME OTHER PROFESSIONALS TO OPERATE IT INITIALLY UNTIL QUALIFIED BOARD MEMBERS COME LATER.
WHY THE TRANSITION IN THE BEGINNING HAS TO BE THROUGH DEVELOPER CHOICE? SO COMMISSIONER I, I'LL SAY THIS, I THINK LENNAR IS OPEN TO DISCUSSION ABOUT POTENTIAL BOARD MEMBERS.
OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE THIS WASTE, THIS DISTRICT WITH, UH, THE BACKGROUND AND BOARD MEMBERS WHO WOULD ALLOW IT TO SUCCEED.
WHAT WE WOULD WANT IS EXPERTS, BUT WE ARE OPEN TO NEGOTIATING WHO WOULD SERVE ON THE BOARD.
UM, SO I DON'T THINK THERE, THEY, IT'S OPEN AND SHUT ABOUT WHO WOULD SERVE ON THE, ON THE MUD BOARD.
I JUST FIND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT YOU WILL BUILD IT, YOU WILL OPERATE IT, YOU WILL CONTROL IT, AND THEN YOU WILL HAND IT OVER WHAT HAPPENED DURING THIS INITIAL TRANSITION TIME TO HAVE A FULL TRANSPARENCY OF OPERATING A WATER TREATMENT PLANT AND OVER CONTRIBUTING ZONE.
THAT SEEMS TO ME A VERY CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AT THIS POINT.
SO JUST THESE LITTLE THINGS IS, IS NOT A COMFORTABLE COMMENT FROM YOU WHEN YOU MENTIONED THAT IT IS INITIALLY, BUT I'M, I'M GLAD THAT YOU CLARIFIED IS THAT THIS IS AN OPEN DISCUSSION THAT CAN BE HANDLED.
IT, IT'S, AGAIN, DON'T WANNA CLOSE THE DOOR ON IT.
THERE AGAIN, IT'S A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE.
SO THERE ARE CERTAIN RULES THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW.
LIKE FOR INSTANCE, A COUNTY COMMISSIONER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SERVE ON THIS BOARD BECAUSE THERE WOULD BE A CONFLICT.
HOWEVER, SOMEBODY FROM SAS, SOME EXPERT SUBJECT LEVEL EXPERT, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO SERVE ON THE BOARD.
AND AGAIN, WE ARE OPEN TO DISCUSSING THAT, NEGOTIATING THAT IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY WOULD LIKE.
[03:20:01]
THE TCEQ AS A REOR REGULATORY ENTITY THAT OVERSEE THE WATER TREATMENT ON SITE.WHAT IS SARS CONTROL COMES IN PLACE WHEN IT COMES TO A MALFUNCTION IN THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT AND ISSUE WITH THE WATER MILL WHO WOULD REVISE AND OVERSEE WHATEVER HAPPENS? 'CAUSE I DON'T THINK TCEQ WOULD COME IN FROM THE STATE TO FREQUENTLY OVERSEE AND MONITOR THAT.
HOW ABOUT OUR LOCAL ENTITY, THE WATER ENTITY IN TOWN WHERE THE ROLE WOULD BE? SO REMEMBER, SAS IS NOT PROVIDING SEWER SERVICE CORRECT.
HOWEVER, SAWS REQUIRED CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
ONE OF THEM WAS A TYPE A LEVEL OPERATOR.
A TYPE A LEVEL OPERATOR HAS TO REPORT WITHIN CERTAIN TIMEFRAMES TO THE STATE.
AND IF WE EVER FALL OUTSIDE OF CERTAIN PARAMETERS, THEN THE STATE DINGS US OR THEY SEND A NOTICE TO US THAT WE ARE OUTSIDE OF THE PARAMETERS.
AND THE TIMEFRAME IS NOT DAYS.
UH, WE, WE HAVE A, AN IT'S AN HOUR, UH, TIMEFRAME.
SO IT, IT'S, UH, SPEAKING OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, HELEN, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE TIMEFRAME IS? 24 7 MONITORING.
UH, BUT WE DO HAVE TO PROVIDE NOTICE TO TCEQ OF THE WASTEWATER LEVELS FROM THE, UH, FROM THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
AND IF ANYTHING CAME OUT FROM THE MONITORING OF THIS WATER, WHAT ACTIONS NEEDS TO BE TAKEN AT THAT POINT? THEN WE WOULD BE SUBJECT TO TYPICAL TCEQ REGULATIONS.
AND IF WE ARE EVER OUTSIDE OF THE BALANCE, THEN WE FALL INTO REMEDIATION EFFORTS OR FINES FROM TCEQ.
SO THERE ARE HEAVY, THERE ARE HEAVY, HEAVY PENALTIES WITH NOT COMPLYING WITH TCE Q'S RULES, FEES, AND PENALTIES ON THE BOARD WHO OPERATE THE MUD.
AND THESE FEES AND PENALTIES WOULD BE PAID EVENTUALLY BY THE TAXPAYERS LATER NOT, NO.
IT WOULD BE ON THE OPERATOR OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
THE OPERATOR OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT WOULD BE FINED AND WOULD RECEIVE DEMERITS OR CITATIONS FROM TCEQ.
UM, AND JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR, A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR, UH, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY.
A TYPE A CLASS OPERATOR IS VERY HARD TO GET CLASSIFIED AS A TYPE A.
SO TYPE A CLASS OPERATORS WANT TO ENSURE THAT THEIR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS DO NOT RUN AFOUL OF TCEQ.
UH, RULES AND REGULATIONS HAVE NAR BEFORE, HAVE DONE A SIMILAR PROJECT AT THAT'S LEVEL WHERE A MUD HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED AND OPERATE OPERATED WHERE THEY CAN SHOW, UH, PREVIOUS, UH, WORK THAT FULFILL A SUCCESS OPERATIONS OF A MUD.
UM, CLIFF AND DO YOU WANT TO COME UP AND TALK ABOUT HIDDEN TRAILS? I'LL, I'LL TELL YOU THIS.
COMMISSIONER LENNAR HAS A, IT'S NOT A MUD, BUT IT IS A WATER DISTRICT.
IT'S CALLED A WATER CONTROL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO A MUD IN AN EXISTING COMMUNITY JUST NORTH OF SAN ANTONIO IN THE SPRING BRANCH AREA.
UH, AND THEY ARE UTILIZING AN ONSITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT FOR THAT COMMUNITY AS WELL.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO CLIFTON KORAN FROM LENAR TO, UH, WALK THROUGH THAT.
WELL, COMMISSIONER, UH, YES SIR.
WE, WE DO HAVE, UM, THE HIDDEN TRAILS PROJECT AS, AS KEVIN MENTIONED, UP IN THE VERDE AREA.
VERY SIMILAR SETUP WITH, UH, ONSITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
UM, IT HAS BEEN A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROJECT.
WE'RE, WE'RE BUILT OUT OF THERE NOW.
UM, AND I BELIEVE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.
I I NEED TO KNOW THE PERFORMANCE OF THE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS THAT WAS DEVELOPED BY LENAR AND OTHER NEARBY DEVELOPMENTS TO THE MUD IN QUESTION TODAY.
HOW THEIR PERFORMANCE IS, HAVE THEY PROVEN TO BE RUN AS EXPECTED, HOPEFULLY NO VIOLATIONS.
AND THEY MEET EXACTLY, BECAUSE ALL WHAT I'M HEARING TODAY ARE SPECULATIONS AND POTENTIAL THAT THIS IS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
SO AS A COMPANY AND THE SIZE OF NAR, HAVE THEY DONE A SIMILAR DEVELOPMENT WHERE THEY HAVE ESTABLISHED A WATER TREATMENT IN THE PAST THAT SHOW TODAY A RESULTS THAT PROVIDE A CONFIDENCE THAT IF THIS IS GOING TO BE HAPPENING AGAIN, WE SURE
[03:25:01]
REPEAT OUR SUCCESS BECAUSE WE HAVE OTHER SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENTS.IF THIS IS THE CASE, WHAT ARE THOSE DEVELOPMENTS AND HOW THEY ARE SPECIFICALLY THE WATER TREATMENT, HOW THEY ARE PERFORMED AS OF TODAY? DO YOU HAVE AN ANSWER TO THAT? NOT A COMPLETE ANSWER.
I DO NOT HAVE A A, UM, I DON'T HAVE THE DATA WITH ME RIGHT NOW FOR THE, THE, YOU KNOW, THE WATER TESTING FOR OUR HIDDEN TRAILS TREATMENT PLANT.
UH, COMMISSIONER, I DID NOT BRING THAT WITH ME TODAY.
UM, I CAN TELL YOU THAT, UM, YOU KNOW ABOUT THE HISTORY THAT IT'S BEEN A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT AND THAT I AM, LET ME SIMPLIFY THIS.
HAVE THERE BEEN ANY VIOLATIONS FROM THE TCEQ AND OTHER WHEAT WATER TREATMENT PLANTS THAT DID NOT HAVE DEVELOPED BEFORE?
YOU CAN GO BACK TO, TO THE RECORD AND TAKE YOUR TIME.
MAYBE I CAN ALLOW OTHER FELLOW COMMISSIONERS TO ASK MORE QUESTIONS.
UH, THE LAST QUESTION I HAVE TO THE, TO THE APPLICANT.
I, I, I DIDN'T HEAR ANY COMMENTS ABOUT INVOLVEMENT OF SARAH OR THE EDWARD AQUIFER AUTHORITY.
HAVE THEY BEEN ENGAGED IN ANY RECOMMENDATIONS, APPROVAL, INPUT TO THE PROCESS THAT YOU'VE BEEN TAKING SINCE THIS HAS BEEN COMING TO PLAY ON ONE SECOND.
SARAH, COMMISSIONER, I'M GONNA TRY TO KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE.
UM, AS OF OCTOBER 8TH, EAA, UM, SENT UM, A LETTER TO THE CITY COUNCIL SAYING THAT THE EAA DOESN'T TAKE A FORMAL POSITION, BUT THEY WERE NOT OPPOSED.
AND THEY FOUND, UM, JUST LIKE THE ALJS, THE TWO ALJS AND THE COMMISSION, UM, THAT THE, THE PERMIT WAS COMPLIANT.
ALSO, AS TO YOUR EARLIER QUESTION ABOUT COMPLIANCE HISTORY, UM, LENNAR HAS A SATISFACTORY COMPLIANCE HISTORY WITH THE TCEQ.
YOU REFERRED TO WATER TREATMENT PLANTS.
I ASSUME YOU MEAN WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS.
UM, AND I, I ALSO WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT THE MUD WOULD NOT BE OPERATING THE PLANT.
THE MUD WOULD BE CONTRACTING WITH THE CLASS A OPERATOR THAT'S REQUIRED.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, BECAUSE THEY'RE RETAIL PUBLIC UTILITY, THEY WOULD BE OVERSEEING NOT JUST BY THE TCQ, BUT THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION AS WELL.
SO THERE'S TWO LAYERS OF GOVERNMENTAL OVERSIGHT ON THE RETAIL PUBLIC UTILITY ASPECT OF THE SEWER SERVICE, AND OF COURSE THE WATER SEWER SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE CITY.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YEAH, THANK YOU.
WELL, UH, I WANNA, AGAIN, LIKE ALL MY OTHER COMMISSION OR MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR, UH, TIME TODAY FOR BEING HERE, UM, BOTH SIDES FOR, FOR, FOR THE, UH, COMMUNITY AND FOR THE APPLICANT.
UM, AND LIKE EVERYBODY HAS SAID, UM, IT'S VERY RARE WE HAVE SUCH WELL ORGANIZED, UH, PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FENCE.
AND THE THING THAT WAS REALLY NICE TO SEE WAS THAT YES, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERING OPINIONS IN THE ROOM, BUT THERE WAS NO YELLING, SCREAMING AND POINTING FINGERS.
IT WAS VERY GOOD CONVERSATION AND WE DON'T GET TO SEE THAT VERY MUCH ANYMORE.
AND, UH, JUST WANNA COMMEND EVERYBODY FOR KEEPING COOL HEADS AND JUST HAVING THE CONVERSATION.
UM, SO WITH THAT, UM, SO, UH, MR. DANDA, SO I JUST WANNA CLARIFY ONE THING.
SO BASED, YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST FEW HOURS OF OF COMMENT, WHAT I'VE COME TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT THE, UM, NO MATTER WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION DOES, NO MATTER WHAT CITY COUNCIL DOES, THE MUD WILL STILL BE CREATED.
THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GO AROUND THE CITY, IF YOU WILL.
SO THAT'S LIKELY GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THERE'S ALREADY BEEN TCEQ APPROVAL AND APPARENTLY THAT THAT'S WHO WOULD BE CREATING THE MUD AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT HAVE TO CREATE THE MUD NO MATTER WHAT THAT THAT'S RIGHT.
SO WHAT IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO, THEN THE TRAIN HAS LEFT THE STATION ON THE MUD, AND THAT'S WHAT IT APPEARS.
HONESTLY, THE, THE MUD IS MOVING
[03:30:01]
DOWN THE ROAD.UM, SO WHAT IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO THEN, IF YOU WANT TO JUST GET DOWN TO BASIC SIMPLE FACTS, IS, IS THE CITY GOING TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE, OR IS THE CITY NOT GOING TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE? THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT THIS COMMISSION IS TRYING TO DECIDE TODAY.
AND THE WAY THAT THE CITY HAS A SEAT AT THE TABLE IS THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY NEGOTIATING, AND THAT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IS TIED TO CITY CONSENT TO THE CREATION OF THE MUD.
SO IF WE DENY YOU THE CITY HAS, AND THEN IT MOVES ON TO CITY COUNCIL AND THEY DENY AS WELL, THEN THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.
AND THE EXTRA RESTRICTIONS AND REGULATIONS UP TO AND INCLUDING ANNEXATION THAT 30 YEARS IN THE FUTURE GO AWAY.
IF, IF WE APPROVE AND THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVES TO THE CONSENT TO THE CREATION OF THE MUD, AND WE'RE NOT APPROVING THE CREATION MUD, WE'RE APPROVING THE CITY'S CONSENT TO THE CREATION OF THE MUD.
I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION.
THAT THE CITY NOW HAS A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND THE CITY CAN IMPLEMENT THOSE ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS, WHICH WILL HOLD THE DEVELOPER ACCOUNTABLE AND KEEP THE PROJECT TO CITY STANDARDS, CORRECT? THAT'S RIGHT.
UM, WELL, I MEAN, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERING OPINIONS ON THE COMMISSION, PROBABLY, AND IN THE ROOM, BUT TO ME, I WOULD RATHER HAVE THE CITY AT THE TABLE THAN NOT.
AND WHEN, SINCE WE'RE NOT APPROVING THE CREATION OF THE MUD, MY PURVIEW IS WOULD I RATHER HAVE THE CITY AT THE TABLE OR NOT? I'D RATHER HAVE THE CITY AT THE TABLE.
THEREFORE, I THINK THIS COMMISSION SHOULD CONSENT TO THE CREATION OF THE MUD, RECOMMEND THE CITY CONSENT TO THE CREATION OF THE MUD.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCILMAN? THANK YOU, CHAIR.
I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S THOUGHTS, UH, AND OPINIONS UP HERE, BUT I THINK ESPECIALLY AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND, AND WHAT WE SHOULD DO AT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS, IS NOT JUST THINK ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT WHEN, AS THE FIRST BEGINS OR HOW IT'S GONNA BE DONE, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, 20 TO 30 YEARS FROM NOW, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN? AND, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND TCEQ IS GONNA BE, YOU KNOW, OVERSEEING THIS.
THEY'RE SEVERELY LIMITED ON THE FAR SOUTH SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO.
YEARS AGO, WE HAD A HUGE PROPERTY, HAD A LOT OF TIRES, AND IT TOOK MONTHS, IF NOT YEARS, FOR THE STATE TO GET INVOLVED AND RECTIFY THAT ISSUE, EVEN WITH THE STATE REP PUSHING, UH, ON THE STATE TO DO THAT.
SO TCE Q'S ABILITY TO, TO COME DOWN SWIFTLY TO IMPLEMENT FINES AND TO MOTIVATE AN OPERATOR OR A NEIGHBORHOOD TO FIX AN ISSUE IS NOT QUICK.
NOT AT ALL LIKE WE HAVE WITH SAWS.
THE PUCI WOULD SAY AS AN ACTOR, IS NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO ALWAYS BE FAIR TO THE RESIDENTS OF, OF BEAR COUNTY, SAN ANTONIO.
UH, IN FACT, I THINK THEY WERE, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, AFTER A WINTER STORM, THEY WERE TRYING TO SUE CPS OR GET MORE MONEY OUTTA CPS BECAUSE OF THEIR BELIEFS.
SO THOSE TWO STATE ENTITIES, I DO NOT HAVE A LOT OF FAITH IN, IN HELPING OR REPRESENTING PEOPLE WHO END UP CHOOSING TO LIVE THERE OR THE SURROUNDING AREAS THAT ARE GONNA BE AFFECTED BY THIS.
THE WA THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND WE'RE GONNA HAVE AN OPERATOR FOR THAT.
UH, AND WHO'S GONNA HIRE THE OPERATOR FOR THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT? THAT WOULD BE THE PERMITEE WHO WOULD BE HIRING THE CLASS A OPERATOR.
SO BASICALLY THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE THE NEIGHBORHOOD, I'M SORRY, THE, THE DEVELOPMENT WOULD PAY, WHO'S GONNA HIRE THE, THE, THE PERSON OVERSEEING THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT SO THAT, YES, IT WOULD BE A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE DEVELOPER AND A CLASS A TYPE OPERATOR.
BUT ONCE THE DEVELOPER BUILDS THIS OUT AND LEAVES, WHO THEN IS GONNA BE OVERSEEING THE CONTRACTOR? IT WOULD STILL BE THE CLASS A OPERATOR WHO IS OVERSEEING, AND AGAIN, THEY'RE OVERSEEN BY THE PUC AND TC.
SO ONCE YOU, AS THE DEVELOPER SELECT THAT CONTRACTOR WHO'S GONNA OVERSEE THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, THE RESIDENTS THERE WHO END UP LIVING THERE WILL HAVE NO SAY ANYMORE ABOUT WHO CONTROLS THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN FIVE YEARS AFTER YOU GUYS BUILD IT OUT.
CURRENTLY THE PERMITEE IS MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS, LLC, THEY ARE WHO APPLIED FOR THE PERMIT.
UM, THEY WOULD OPERATE THE PLANT.
HOWEVER, IF THE MUD IS CREATED, THE PERMIT WOULD LIKELY BE TRANSFERRED TO THE
[03:35:01]
MUD, THE POLITICAL SUBDIVISION, AND THE MUD WOULD CONTRACT WITH MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS TO OPERATE THE PLANT.IF THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS PER A CONTRACT, THE MUD CAN HIRE A DIFFERENT OPERATOR.
AND BECAUSE THE MUD IS COMPRISED BY, UH, ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS, ALL THOSE BOARD MEMBERS STAND FOR ELECTION, UM, WITHIN THE GOVERNANCE OF THE MUD, THEY CAN CHANGE THE OPERATOR AS WELL.
BUT AT ALL TIMES, THE PERMITEE IS UNDER THE OVERSIGHT OF THE TCEQ AND THE PUC, AND THEY'RE SUBJECT TO ADMINISTRATIVE CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES, WHICH ARE SIGNIFICANT ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES PER THE LEGISLATIVE.
RECENT CHANGES ARE A MINIMUM OF $25,000 PER DAY.
AND AS IN ADDITION TO, UM, PENALTIES, OF COURSE, THOSE ENTITIES CAN REQUIRE TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS.
UM, TECHNICAL, UM, YOU KNOW, COUNSEL MENTIONED REMEDIATION CHANGES TO THE PERMIT.
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THE COMMISSION OF THE TCQ CAN ALSO INSTIGATE CHANGES TO THE PERMIT AS THEY, UM, FEEL ARE NECESSARY.
AND AS FEDERAL REGULATIONS, UM, ARE ALSO PROMULGATED, FOR EXAMPLE, PFAS.
SO WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT P-F-A-S-P-F-A-S IS NOT REGULATED AT THE, AT THE STATE LEVEL, NOR IS IT REGULATED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
HOWEVER, WHEN AND IF IT IS THIS PERMIT, LIKE EVERY OTHER PERMIT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS WILL BE REOPENED AND THOSE REQUIREMENTS WILL BE IMPOSED ON THIS SITE.
SO ULTIMATELY, IF THERE BECOMES A PROBLEM WITH A CONTRACTOR OR ISSUES WITH THE PLANT ITSELF, THE, BASICALLY THE RESIDENTS, THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE PAYING FOR THAT.
OKAY? THE, THE ME CREEK THAT THEY MENTIONED, ALL THE CITY ONES, WE ALL AS SAWS RATE PAYERS PAY FOR THAT AT A VERY SMALL RATE DUE TO EACH OF OUR BILLS, RIGHT? COVER THAT.
IF THERE'S ANY ISSUES WITH THAT, UM, THINK ABOUT ANOTHER WINTER STORM URI, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO THAT WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IF THE WHOLE CITY FREEZES OVER AGAIN? HOW QUICKLY ARE THEY GONNA BE ABLE TO GET THAT? HOW MUCH WILL THE NEIGHBORS HAVE TO PAY IN ADDITION TO MAINTAIN THAT? SO I UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE CITY WANTING TO BE THERE AT THE TABLE.
PERSONALLY, I, I REALLY DON'T CARE ABOUT ANNEXATION.
I KNOW THAT IT HAS BEEN THE CITY MODEL FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
UH, THAT'S NOT WHAT I CONCERN MYSELF WITH AT THE CITY.
WE, I HAVE PLENTY OF RESIDENTS UNDER 65,000 OF 'EM THAT I, I'M A RESPONSIBLE FOR ALREADY.
WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS IN THE CITY TO FIX.
ANNEXATION, UH, IS NOT MY PRIORITY, NOR DO I THINK IT'S MOST OF THE COUNCIL'S PRIORITY AT THIS POINT, RIGHT? SO THAT BEING A BARGAINING CHIP IS, IS NOT REALLY SOMETHING FOR ME TO CONSIDER ABOUT THAT.
SO AGAIN, I TRY TO THINK ABOUT THE LONG-TERM PROCESS.
I UNDERSTAND THERE'S GONNA BE ELECTED OFFICIALS WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTING THAT I HAVE DEALT WITH, AND I KNOW YOU CALLED IT POLITICAL SUBDIVISION, A SMALL CITY.
AND I'VE NEVER LIVED IN HA I'VE DEALT WITH MANY H HOAS OVER THE YEARS.
I'M NOT SURE IF ANYBODY ELSE HERE LIVES AT AN HOA.
IT IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO MAINTAIN THE VEGETATION AROUND THE MONUMENT, RIGHT? IT IS HARD TO REPLACE TREES AND IRRIGATION IN AN HOA, AND NOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A WASTE WATER TREATMENT FACILITY.
WHO HERE HAD, KNOWS HOW TO MANAGE THAT.
SO IF YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE ALL OF A SUDDEN IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO DO THAT, HOW WOULD YOU EVEN GO ABOUT THAT? UH, AND I'M NOT SURE THAT EVERYBODY WHO'S GOING TO BE LIVING THERE NECESSARILY WOULD, WOULD KNOW THAT, RIGHT? THERE'S PLENTY OF EXAMPLES OF FOLKS THAT SIGN THEIR, THEIR DEEDS AND ARE UNAWARE OF THE RESTRICTIONS OR COVENANTS THAT ARE IMPOSED ON THEM.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF TIMES THE JOB HERE IS TO, IS TO LOOK AT FACE VALUE, UH, AND PROVIDE A RECOMMENDATION, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO CONSIDER THE EFFECTS AND THE SNOWBALL EFFECTS OF THIS DEVELOPMENT.
AND ONE LAST QUESTION FOR YOU.
UH, DOES LENNAR CURRENTLY OWN THIS PROPERTY? NO, LENAR DOES NOT OWN THIS PROPERTY.
SO DO, AND IS THE, LET'S JUST SAY IT DOES NOT PASS CITY COUNCIL.
YOU GO TO THE STATE, IS IT A GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL GET A MUD FROM THE STATE? IT, IT'S NOT A GUARANTEE COUNCIL.
SO YOU DON'T OWN THE LAND AND THERE'S NOT A GUARANTEE.
SO I WANT THE COMMISSIONERS HERE TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT GOING TO JUST HAPPEN EVEN IF THE COUNCIL DECIDES NOT TO DO.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S RIGHT.
THE MUD CREATION IS A PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS, VERY SIMILAR TO THIS.
THERE IS NO GUARANTEE WITH ANY PUBLIC HEARING.
OKAY? SO AGAIN, I WANNA REMIND THE COMMISSIONERS,
[03:40:01]
EVEN THOUGH THE CITY IS NOT AT THE TABLE, THAT'S NOT SAYING THAT THERE'S GONNA BE DEVELOPMENT WITH FEWER RESTRICTIONS NOW BECAUSE WE'RE NOT THERE.RIGHT? IS IT UNDER CONTRACT WITH YOU? LAW? I'M ASSUMING IT IT IS UNDER CONTRACT.
I CAN TELL YOU THIS, ALTHOUGH LENNAR DOES NOT OWN IT, THEY HAVE INVESTED HEAVY SUMS OF MONEY.
IT IS NOT IN THE CARDS FOR LENNAR TO WALK AWAY FROM THIS DEAL.
AND THAT'S ON Y'ALL RIGHT? AS A BUSINESS, YOUR INVESTMENTS AND HOW YOU KNEW THIS WAS GONNA PLAY OUT.
SO AGAIN, NOT A GUARANTEE THAT THE OWNER'S GONNA SELL TO YOU, NOT A GUARANTEE THAT A MUD WILL BE CREATED.
EVEN IF COUNSEL DENIES THE MUD APPLICATION, I HOPE THAT THE SELLER ABIDES BY THE CONTRACT AND DOES SELL TO US, CONSIDERING THE HEAVY SUMS THAT LENNAR HAS EXPENDED ALREADY.
UH, BUT AGAIN, I WANT TO REMIND YOU, YES, THE MUD IS NOT A FOREGONE CONCLUSION, BUT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IS COMING.
WE HAVE OUR DISCHARGE PERMIT, WE HAVE OTHER DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS.
THE DEVELOPMENT IS COMING, COUNCILMAN, SO WHY DO YOU, SO THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IS GOING TO BE BUILT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS.
THAT IS THE PLAN FOR THIS SITE TO BUILD THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
THAT IS WHY WE WENT THROUGH THE TCEQ PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS FOR THE DISCHARGE PERMIT.
SO ARE YOU GONNA, I, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HERE.
SO NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, EVEN IF THE STATE DENIES THE MUD, YOU ARE STILL GOING TO BUILD THAT PLANT THAT IS THE PLAN, AND YOU'RE STILL GONNA BUILD HOMES.
CORRECT? IT WOULD BE A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
AND THE WAY TO SERVE THIS WITH SEWER WOULD BE THROUGH THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
AND YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT WITHOUT A MUD.
WE COULD, IDEALLY, WE WOULD HAVE THE MUD TO ASSIST WITH THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS AND TO ADD THE ADDITIONAL LAYER OF OVERSIGHT FROM, UH, PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE EXPERIENCED IN WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS.
SO AGAIN, UM, IT'S ABOUT WHAT CAN HAPPEN AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN, WHAT'S A GUARANTEE TO HAPPEN, AND HOW MUCH WE ARE GOING TO HELP THAT DEVELOPMENT HAPPEN WITH OUR HAND AT THE CITY.
I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE HELPING THAT SITUATION.
IF THEY'RE GONNA DO IT, THEY DON'T NEED HELP FROM US TO DO THAT.
UH, BUT THAT'S MY PERSPECTIVE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER PROPHET.
AND JUST TO FOLLOW UP, JUST LISTENING TO THAT EXCHANGE AND CONVERSATION, YOU KNOW, TCEQ IS APPROVED, THE DEVELOPER CAN, CAN BUILD IT, OR ANOTHER DEVELOPER CAN COME AND BUY THAT LAND.
IF YOU DON'T CREATE THE MUD, THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS DON'T COME.
THE WIDENING SCENIC LOOP DOESN'T COME.
UM, IT SEEMS, IT SEEMS LIKE REGARDLESS OF YOUR, YOU KNOW, YOUR VIEW OF ANNEXATION, THE CITY DOES HAVE EXPERIENCE.
THE CITY OWNS SAWS AND SEEMS LIKE THAT WOULD BE A, PERHAPS A BETTER PARTNER IN THIS, UH, IN THIS DISTRICT.
BUT, UM, AGAIN, EXPLAIN THE SCENARIOS, YOU KNOW, THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US.
SO, AND THE POTENTIAL OUTCOMES.
SO AGAIN, WE HAVE DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS TODAY.
WE HAVE OUR UTILITY SERVICE AGREEMENT, WE HAVE A MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN, AND WE HAVE OUR DISCHARGE PERMIT.
AS PART OF THE MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN COMMISSIONER, WE DO HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS AND THE IMPROVEMENTS.
SO REGARDLESS OF THE MUD, WE WOULD HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THAT ASPECT.
UH, BUT WHAT THE MUD WOULD HELP US DO IS BRING THOSE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS, UH, TO FRUITION AT A FASTER PACE.
BECAUSE WITHOUT THE MUD, WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET REIMBURSED FOR THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS, AND WE HAVE TO RELY ON TRADITIONAL HOME SALES.
UM, I THINK WE'RE ALL COGNIZANT OF THE MARKET RIGHT NOW, UM, WITH THE MARKET THE WAY THAT IT IS, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT WE SELL A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF HOMES TO HELP WITH THOSE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR BABCOCK ROAD SCENIC LOOP, CROSS MOUNTAIN TRAIL.
SO IT KIND OF SOUNDS LIKE THE ISSUE WITH POTENTIAL WATER ISSUES HAS ALREADY BEEN ADDRESSED.
SO NOW IT'S JUST THE ADDITIONAL SAFEGUARDS THAT THIS DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IN THE USA WOULD PROVIDE? THAT'S CORRECT.
THAT'S UNDER CONSIDERATION, YES.
LOGAN, YOU HAD A COMMENT? I, I THINK IT WAS ADDRESSED.
I WAS MERELY, UH, GOING TO MENTION THAT REGARDLESS OF THE MUD, THIS IS STILL WITHIN THE SAN ANTONIO ETJ, SO THE SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS WOULD STILL APPLY REGARDLESS.
QUESTION, LOGAN, WOULD YOU, UH,
[03:45:01]
ARTICULATE WHEN THE CITY HAS A CITY ON THE TABLE, WHAT THAT MEANS, WHAT THAT CITY GONNA BENEFIT, AND HOW THE CITY'S GOING TO HAVE A SAY IN A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT IS GOING TO HAPPEN? IF YOU SUMMARIZE THAT, I JUST NEED TO KNOW WHAT THAT CITY WOULD DO.I'M, I'M AS THERE, THE EXPERTS IN THIS ARENA, I'M GONNA LET THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TACKLE THAT QUESTION.
RUDY NNU, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT YOUR QUESTION IS WAS WITH THE CITY INVOLVEMENT, THE CITY PARTICIPATION IN THIS EFFORT, UM, GIVEN THE, THE WAY THAT THE STATUTE IS WRITTEN, UH, HOW THE CITY INVOLVEMENT IMPACTS THE PROJECT OR IMPACTS THE PROCESS MM-HMM
UM, I, I THINK THAT, UH, WE LOOK AT IT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF, OF ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM, BECAUSE WHILE, UM, WE MAY HAVE SOME OF THE STANDARD, UH, DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT LINE ITEMS LIKE, UM, THE APPLICATION FEE, WHICH ISN'T SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT WE, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEGOTIATE, UM, A PER UNIT ASSESSMENT, UH, THAT IS PAID BY THE DEVELOPER TO THE CITY.
UM, ANNEXATION THE, UH, VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION AT THE END OF THE, THE TERM OF THE DISTRICT.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE, UH, HAVE AS ALSO AS AN ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM.
BECAUSE WHENEVER THE DEVELOPER GOES TO GET TO ORGANIZE THEIR FINANCING AND TO BOND, THEY ALSO HAVE TO WORK INTO THEIR PERFORMANCE.
THIS IDEA THAT, HEY, IF WE'RE NOT IN COMPLIANCE, THEY CAN ANNEX US, AND NOW THEY HAVE TO WORK IN THOSE ADDITIONAL COSTS INTO THE DEVELOPMENT.
SO, UM, I THINK IT'S, IT'S THAT ADDITIONAL LAYER OF ENFORCEMENT THAT, UM, THAT THE CITY BEING AT THE TABLE HELPS TO PROVIDE.
MY FOCUS QUESTION SPECIFIC WAS YOU CAN ENFORCE DEVELOPMENTS IN WIDENING THE ROADS.
CAN YOU ENFORCE CONTROL ON THE NUMBER OF UNITS THAT THEY BUILT? CAN YOU FORCE THE, UH, IN PREVIOUS COVER THAT THEY PROPOSED TO DO? IF THERE IS NO SEAT ON THE TABLE FROM THE CITY, THE DEVELOPER COULD GO IN A DIFFERENT PLAN THAT WAS PROPOSED TO US TODAY.
AND THERE IS NO SAY FROM THE CITY WHATSOEVER.
SO YOU'RE ASKING THEN ABOUT THOSE SPECIFIC ITEMS AND WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY CAN ACTUALLY ENFORCE THOSE.
SO SOME OF THOSE IMPROVEMENTS, PARTICULARLY THE OFFSITE IMPROVEMENTS, ARE THINGS THAT THE DEVELOPER IS SAYING THAT THEY'RE GONNA DO AS PART OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT.
THE CITY CANNOT REQUIRE THEM TO DO THOSE THINGS.
IF WE, IF, IF IT'S NOT AGREED UPON, IF IT'S NOT PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE SAYING THAT THEY'RE GONNA DO IT AND IT'S PART OF THE CONTRACT, THEN WE JUST CAN'T FORCE THEM TO DO THINGS THAT ARE OFFITE.
THEN SOMEBODY MAKE A, I I THINK JUST BECAUSE IT'S PERTINENT TO A LOT OF THE TESTIMONY THAT'S BEEN CONSIDERED TODAY, WHAT THE CITY CAN IN A REGULATORY CAPACITY REQUIRE IS CONFORMANCE WITH SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS, TREE ORDINANCE, THOSE THINGS THAT ARE APPLICABLE IN THE ETJ.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN LIMIT THE NUMBER OF UNITS TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE AGREEMENT, BUT WE CANNOT BECOME A REGULATORY AUTHORITY OVER WATER QUALITY.
THAT IS NOT A RIGHT RESERVE TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
UH, WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE BENEFIT FOR HAVING A SEAT ON THAT TABLE? SURE.
IN CASE THIS IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM COMMISSIONERS? NO.
WELL, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE HAVE A MOTION FOR DENIAL ON THE TABLE.
AND WE HAD A SECOND, SO WE WILL TAKE ACTION ON THAT.
WOULD STAFF PLEASE DO A ROLL CALL? VOTE.
UM, COUNCIL, UM, COMMISSIONER SANCHEZ? NO, I, I WANT TO CLARIFY FOR THE COMMISSION, BECAUSE THE MOTION IS FOR DENIAL.
A YES VOTE IS A VOTE TO RECOMMEND DENIAL OF THE, UH, CONSENT.
SO IF YOU ARE OPPOSED, VOTE YES.
IF YOU DO NOT SUPPORT A DENIAL, VOTE NO.
COMMISSIONER SANCHEZ LOOKING, I HEARD YOU SAY THAT AGAIN.
SO, SO THE, THE MOTION, IT'S KIND OF BACKWARDS.
SO A YES VOTE IS SUPPORTING THE DENIAL.
[03:50:01]
COMMISSIONER ROULETTE? NO.WELL, EVERYBODY, UH, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY, BUT I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A GOOD WEEKEND.
AND, UH, IT IS, THERE'S NO STAFF, UH, ANNOUNCEMENTS.
ANYTHING RIGHT DIRECT? NO STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS.
IT IS 1 37 AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.