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Ordinance change eases approval of swimming pools in Woodcreek

Getting approval to build a backyard pool within the city limits of Woodcreek just got a bit easier.

The Woodcreek City Council voted 3-2 in favor of changing the impervious cover regulations. The approval went against the recommendation of the city’s Ordinance Review Committee and the two scientists questioned about the impacts of the potential change.

Properties within the city limits of Woodcreek are allowed up to 30% impervious cover, which is cover such as driveways, buildings or sidewalks that cover the ground and therefore prevent rainwater from soaking into the ground. The amount of impervious cover has an impact on runoff and water quality.

Swimming pools are one of the things listed in the ordinance as impervious cover. The Ordinance Review Committee noted that they did not know how many pools could potentially be installed due to the change, and therefore how much impact the ordinance change would make.

However, the committee stated the recommendation not to make the change was in order to protect from the potential degradation and pollution of ground water resources, protect the springs and creeks and manage the quality of storm water runoff. This followed input from the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University.

The committee recommended “property owners wishing to add an in ground swimming pool to consider ways to decrease the existing impervious cover on their lots. Property owners could pursue steps such as the use of pervious pavers to replace impervious parking, driveway, and pathway surfaces in order to meet the impervious cover limit.”

The change to the ordinance allowed for 50% of the surface area of a swimming pool to be counted as impervious cover as opposed to 100 percent. This will make it easier for properties that are already near 30% impervious cover to install a swimming pool.

Councilmember Judy Brizendine, who voted for the ordinance change, stated that other cities in the area do not require a pool to be considered 100 percent impervious cover. She stated that while Wimberley does, Blanco and Austin were two examples of cities that do not. Councilmember Bob Hambrick, who voted for the ordinance change, stated that he felt the open space provided by the golf course would mitigate any potential impervious cover issues that additional pools could cause.

Councilmember Aurora LeBrun, who stated she typically supports limiting impervious cover, voted in favor of the change. She said that the city did not know how many pools this change would allow, but that there were many residents requesting the change to allow for pools to be more easily approved.

Council members Brent Pulley and Jeff Rasco, who voted against the ordinance change, argued that the city should stick with the recommendations of the scientists in order to protect ground water and mitigate flooding issues that can be caused by increased impervious cover.

Wimberley View

P.O. Box 49
Wimberley, TX 78676
Phone: 512-847-2202
Fax: 512-847-9054