Sabino Ranch is no longer in city
Sabino Ranch, the nearly 100-acre property owned by the Johnson family that runs from Ranch Road 12 to the edge of Blue Hole Regional Park, was de-annexed (legally called disannexation) by the city of Wimberley last week.
After the decision, the property is no longer in the city limits and is part of the unincorporated area of Hays County.
The decision was a contentious one with the council split in a 2-2 tie before Mayor Susan Jaggers voted in favor of de-annexation. Council members Gary Barchfeld and Mike Mc-Cullough voted in favor of de-annexation.
“We are surrounded by property that is not within the boundaries in the city,” Barchfeld said before talking about the contributions the Johnson family has made to the Wimberley Valley. “I think what they want to do is to preserve their property in one large parcel and protect it against taxes.”
Council members Craig Fore and Allison Davis were against the de-annexation.
“I have a real problem with this to be honest with you,” Fore said. “I am pretty close fiends with the Johnsons and that in itself is a problem for me. The other thing is that I understand everybody’s concern… if we let these people out of the city we have no control over anything on that property… As an elected official for the city of Wimberley I believe it is my responsibly to protect the city in all aspects whether I like it or not. For that reason I do not support this de-annexation at this time.”
Davis argued that de-annexation would keep the city from being able to have control over potential future development of the property, which is across Cypress Creek from the “money maker” for Wimberley in Blue Hole. She also said that the vote “stinks” of a “quid pro quo.” Aqua Texas needs easements on Sabino Ranch to reach the sewer line proposed to cross Cypress Creek as part of the city’s change in scope for the sewer system.
“It is illegal to legislate away or bargain away our legislative authority,” Davis said. “…Whether or not someone can prove that, this really stinks… Maybe the quid pro quo can’t be proven ever, but it is obvious we are up against a wall and we need an easement to get our (wastewater) to Aqua Texas… votes like this destroy trust in our beautiful government.”
Councilmember Eric Wollam, who is also a local attorney, abstained from voting saying that he had previously represented Sabino Ranch. He said he had cleared the issue with the State Bar of Texas, and they agreed he did not have a conflict of interest. But he felt he should still abstain so that people wouldn’t think the vote was tainted by his previous representation.
Scott Johnson, whose family owns Sabino Ranch, said they wanted out of the city to protect their private property rights. He also insisted that the move out of the city was not inspired by a want to avoid future property taxes or for more lax development regulations.
“Quite frankly, those who think this is about development – it is so foreign to us,” Johnson said. “That is not on the radar with anybody I know in our family… People think we are going to build a Marriot or a hotel or crazy stuff like. That is ridiculous in our mind… They don’t know us. People have a fear of what they don’t know… We’ve been here over 100 years and we’ve demonstrated our intent of keeping this a beautiful place.”
“When you own property you are trying to protect it, and especially in our family,” Johnson continued. “The way I was raised and my father was raised, you have to be good stewards of the land and take care of it, and that is what we want to continue doing.”