TCEQ sets second public meeting for proposed venue Fitzhugh venue

DRIPPING SPRINGS —  The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has scheduled a second public meeting about a proposed music venue in Dripping Springs/southwest Austin to take place later this month.

This comes after the initial meeting in November 2022 drew a crowd of several concerned residents.

The public meeting will be regarding a proposed wastewater and water quality land application permit submitted by Blizexas LLC, a California-based developer. The permit requests the authorization of the disposal of treated domestic wastewater at a daily average flow not to exceed 12,000 gallons per day via subsurface drip irrigation system with a minimum area of 2.75 acres of public access land, according to the meeting notice.

The wastewater treatment facility and disposal site will be located approximately 0.25 mile east of the intersection of Crumley Ranch Road and Fitzhugh Road in Hays County. The wastewater treatment facility and disposal site will be located in the drainage basin of Barton Creek in Segment No. 1430 of the Colorado River Basin.

State Sen. Donna Campbell, who represents District 25 that includes parts of San Antonio and Austin, requested for TCEQ to schedule a second meeting.

“As state senator for the area, ensuring the community’s concerns are heard is of the utmost importance,” she said. “My office has been contacted by dozens of constituents from both sides of the issue. Any issue that impacts the constituents of Senate District 25 is important to me.”

Mike Clifford, technical director for the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance (GEAA), is one of many who is concerned about the potential impacts if the music venue were to be constructed as it is currently proposed.

The alliance submitted comments on the permit that outlined its concerns, including that it would “likely degrade Barton Creek and local groundwater quality in violation of the Clean Water Act and state law through treated sewage and stormwater runoff.” Some of the main hesitations that the GEAA has are: no requirement of nitrogen or phosphorus removal in an environmentally-sensitive area; wastewater/stormwater runoff into Barton Creek and surrounding properties; and a high impervious cover of 66.45%. While the site is not located in either city, Austin’s impervious cover limit is 20% and Dripping Springs’ is 35%.

Although the GEAA and concerned residents hope that the development does not move forward altogether, Clifford said that he thinks that the permit would be adjusted.

He also said that the people will now have a voice, and a better understanding, going into the meeting.

“At the first public meeting, which was in November 2022, a lot of people weren’t really aware of this. It was barely even on our radar at the time, so we didn’t even get to submit comments at the first public meeting,” Clifford said. “We didn’t know what the permit would be — they issued the draft permit between the two public meetings. So now, we have an understanding of what they’ve proposed.”

The public meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 29 at Dripping Springs Ranch Park, located at 1042 Event Center Drive in Dripping Springs.

Members of the public are encouraged to submit written comments anytime during the meeting or by mail before the close of the public comment period to the Office of the Chief Clerk, TCEQ, Mail Code MC-105, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, TX 78711-3087 or electronically at www.tceq.texas.gov/goto/comment, according to TCEQ. Those who need more information about the permit application or the permitting process can call the TCEQ Public Education Program at 1-800-687-4040. General information about the TCEQ can be found at www.tceq.texas.gov. The comment period will end at the conclusion of the public meeting.

"It is a great opportunity for the people of the community to voice their opinions, whether that be in support or against the development of the Fitzhugh venue,” Sen. Campbell said. “Part of what makes America so great is the public’s opportunity [to] engage with their government and this second public meeting is a great example of that.”