DEPARTMENT: Development Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Michael Shannon, PE, CBO
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Briefing and Consideration of Amendments to the Habitat Compliance Form (Section 35-B133 of the Unified Development Code)
SUMMARY:
In 2009, the City Council passed an ordinance that requires a Habitat Compliance Forms (HCF) be submitted for any Master Development Plan, Planned Unit Development, Subdivision Plat, or Tree Permit 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) and Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD). 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. Since November 2018, a Task Force composed of representatives from USFW, TPWD, the Military, the development community, environmental consultants, and neighborhood representatives have met to discuss changes to increase the efficacy and clarity of the HCF.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City of San Antonio and the extraterritorial jurisdiction 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 conta...
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