City of San Antonio - File #: 14-2171

• File #: 14-2171
• Type: Procedural
• In control: City Council A Session
• On agenda: 10/16/2014
• Posting Language: Consideration of the following three items associated with an acquisition of a conservation easement of the Crescent Hills property totaling 1,521 acres over the Edwards Aquifer Contributing Zone. [Erik Walsh, Deputy City Manager; Mike Etienne, Director, EastPoint & Real Estate Services Office]
• Sponsors: Conservation Advisory Board
• Indexes: CIMS Real Estate
• Related files: 13-833, 14-711, 14-1032, 14-1584, 14-1736, 15-2464, 14-2805, 15-4288

DEPARTMENT: Office of EastPoint & Real Estate

DEPARTMENT HEAD: Mike Etienne

COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide

SUBJECT:

Contribution of $5 million of Proposition 1 funds towards the acquisition of Crescent Hills and approval of agreements related to impervious cover credits and Cibolo Canyon.


SUMMARY:

This item will authorize the following agreements associated with the acquisition by the City of San Antonio (the "City") of a conservation easement across 1,521 acres of real property over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone:

A. An ordinance authorizing the acquisition of an aquifer-protection conservation easement over an approximately 1,521 acre tract of land located in Comal County and generally known as "Crescent Hills" for a contribution of $5,000,000.00 of Proposition 1 funds through a Funding Agreement among the City, The Nature Conservancy ("TNC"), Bat Conservation International ("BCI") and Forestar (USA) Real Estate Group L.L.C ("Forestar"); and

B. An ordinance authorizing the transfer of 86 impervious cover credits to Forestar through an Impervious Cover Credit Agreement; and

C. An ordinance authorizing the Third Amendment to the Declaration of Restrictive Covenants associated with the Amended and Restated Agreement for Services in Lieu of Annexation between the City and Forestar to allow for the use of up to 43 impervious cover credits on Cibolo Canyon.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In 2011, Bexar County negotiated the sale of 1,244 acres of land known as the "Dierks tract." This property was environmentally sensitive to the region and was determined to be essential to both protection of the endangered golden cheek warbler and the military missions of Camp Bullis. To broker the transaction, Bexar County worked with TNC and Forestar, a real estate development corporation, to secure the purchase of the Dierks tract through funding provided by Forestar. As a result, the Dierks tract was conveyed to TNC and 97.5 imper...