Staff Report
The Hays Commons Development Agreement article contained many inaccuracies.
90% of this property is over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone. All of the surrounding neighborhoods are on individual or community wells. The property, which includes part of Little Bear Creek, is full of karst features and sinkholes which are necessary for the recharge of our drinking water. Many environmentally sensitive features are conveniently left off Milestone’s map.
The 200 acres of “Open Space” to “protect the site’s most sensitive areas” would have 56 acres sprayed daily with treated sewage and require clearing the land of old growth vegetation to install the system. The DA stated, “trails, utilities, and infrastructure necessary are permitted within the Open Space.” County regulations state “open space” is to remain in its natural state.
Lower Trinity water availability has not been verified through the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District and pumping permits cannot be issued while we are in a drought, which could be years.
The article said that “without the agreement there will be more than 100 private wells using the Edwards Aquifer.” It is cost prohibitive to drill 100 wells and this reduces the number of lots from 346 to 100…which means that to make the same profit, the homes would cost 3X more. That is not Milestone’s MO. What Milestone stated was nothing but a scare tactic and a bluff.
Commissioner Smith, Hays County does have tools to prevent this type of development over the Aquifer Recharge Zone: lot size requirements. But Milestone wants to put 346+ houses on 72 acres, hence the variance request. Milestone can develop an environmentally friendly subdivision under county regulations but they have stated it is not financially viable and they have never submitted a code compliant plan.
Commissioner Hammer was correct when she stated that this DA is incredibly flawed and we have only highlighted a few flaws.
The best option is for this property to be preserved. It is an important part of the preservation of the Edwards Aquifer where thousands of Hays County residents get their drinking water.
Carol Pennington
