DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Xavier Urrutia
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City wide
SUBJECT: Edwards Aquifer Protection Program - Land Acquisition
SUMMARY:
Acquisition of a tract of land by the Parks and Recreation Department to become part of Scenic Canyon Natural Area. The property consists of 41.594 acres, located on Bluehill Pass in the City of Grey Forest, situated north of Scenic Loop Road and in the Edwards Aquifer Contributing Zone. The property in question will become part of the City’s Scenic Canyon natural area.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In May of 2000, voters approved the first program, a 1/8-cent sales tax venue up to $45 million, for the acquisition of lands over the Edwards Aquifer, for parks and watershed protection. That program, referred to as Proposition 3, ran from 2000 through 2005 and was limited to Bexar County.
The current program, referred to as Proposition 1, is an extension of that initial endeavor, although the scope was narrowed to watershed protection and, due to a change in state legislation, funds could be expended outside of Bexar County. The purpose of the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program is to obtain property rights by fee-simple purchase, conservation easements or donations of land over the sensitive zones of the Edwards Aquifer.
The purchase of a the 41.594 acre Bluehill Pass property is presented for consideration to the Planning Commission under the Proposition 1 Edwards Aquifer Protection Venue Project, which was approved by the voters in November 2010. The City Council-approved Conservation Advisory Board has reviewed and recommends this acquisition. This property is located entirely over the Edwards Aquifer Contributing Zone in Bexar County. Most all of the land is located outside of the flood plain and suitable for potential residential development.
ISSUE:
The City Parks and Recreation Department seeks to purchase a 41.594 acre tract of land known as the Bluehill Pass property in northwest Bexar County. The property is over the Edwards Aquifer Contributing Zone and is adjacent to the City’s Scenic Canyon natural area. The property would be added to Scenic Canyon and would increase the total size of the natural area to 494 acres.
This 41.594 acre property acquisition meets the goals and objectives of the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program. The acquisition of this additional park acreage is to increase the overall size of Scenic Canyon natural area and to protect the quality and quantity of water recharging into the Edwards Aquifer.
ALTERNATIVES:
FISCAL IMPACT:
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this request.