DEPARTMENT: Development Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Michael Shannon, PE, CBO
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Briefing, discussion, and possible action regarding the Habitat Compliance Form and possible modifications to the form.
SUMMARY:
In 2009, the City Council passed an ordinance that requires Habitat Compliance Forms (HCF) be submitted for any Master Development Plan, Planned Unit Development, Subdivision Plat, and Tree Permits for properties greater than two acres in size. The HCF is intended to be a communication tool which provides notification of development activity within the jurisdiction of the City of San Antonio to the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service (USFW). The City is pre-empted by state law from enforcing the Endangered Species Act, as such, the HCF is not meant to imply the City's concurrence with biological studies or surveys, or that a project is in compliance with the Endangered Species Act; rather, the form is intended to provide information to USFW so that they can enforce the Endangered Species Act according to their policies and procedures. It is important to note that since the HCF was created in 2009, the form has not been updated.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City Council considered the training missions carried out at Camp Bullis. The City of San Antonio and the ETJ is in an area where the habitat of both the Golden-cheeked Warbler and Karst Invertebrate Species are known to exist. Additionally, Camp Bullis is known to contain habitat for these species. When the initial 16,000 acre Camp Bullis training site was established in 1916 it was in a remote part of Bexar County, a considerable distance from any urbanized development. In fact, San Antonio urbanization was largely contained within Loop 410 through the 1950s. The remote location of Camp Bullis was conducive to the military's training activities which included explosives, helicopter activity and, later, night vision operations. Additional land acquis...
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