By Anita Miller
San Marcos — Negotiations between Hays County and the developer of a proposed subdivision in Wimberley have already progressed beyond the “worst case scenario,” Commissioner Pct. 2 Will Conley says.
“The idea of drilling residential wells on all those lots is off that table. That’s significant,” Conley said of True Ranch, which would be located on 675 acres off FM 3235.
Commissioners were set to discuss the development agreement at their meeting earlier this week but postponed it. Conley said he plans to put the item back on the agenda within a matter of weeks.
Conley said the developer voluntarily entered into the agreement with the county, and the two sides are working on issues including a sustainable water supply, water quality, noise and light pollution, hike and bike trails, setbacks and green spaces.
“We’re working to put all this into the agreement,” he said. “That way we ensure ourselves the highest quality development we can possibly get.”
The location of the development is environmentally sensitive, said Dr. Patrick Cox of the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association (WVWA), with “abundant karstic features” marked by “sink holes, fractures and conduits that move water rapidly” into the Trinity Aquifer.
Cox also pointed to recent studies that suggest a connection between those features, Cypress Creek and the Blanco River, raising the possibility of a detrimental effect on both the quantity and quality of water reaching Jacob’s Well, which is about two miles from True Ranch.
“Over development in such topography is unforgiving and impossible to correct,” Cox said. The WVWA purchased Jacob’s Well and the surrounding areas more than two years ago, an area now known as the Jacob’s Well Natural Area.
Conley said he’s working to align the developer with the Hays Trinity Groundwater District (HTGD) “and work through their permitting process to make sure if they use any groundwater, if they drill their own municipal well, that’s strictly under the jurisdiction of the District and they have to abide by all their rules and regulations.”
He said likely, a “hybrid” water supply system will emerge, with the development using groundwater as well as surface water from Canyon Lake.
He said rainwater harvesting is also included in the development agreement. “The developer is agreeing to work with homeowners to educate them on rainwater harvesting and gray water use and to try to use those whenever possible.”
He added, though, that to plan a development exclusively on rainwater harvesting isn’t feasible at the current time.
Cox, whose association is urging Commissioners to deny the development agreement, said, “We must protect our drinking water and aquifer, the natural environment and our property values when we plan for future growth in our area.”
He said the WVWA strongly supports rainwater harvesting and would be pleased if developers took more advantage of the option. But, he added, “we’re also concerned about density and proposals for surface area lakes that will be supplied by groundwater.”
Conley said the process of negotiation is continuing. “What we have so far is well above any rules, regulations or authority the county has,” he said.
