Sabino Ranch requests de-annexation

Sabino Ranch is once again asking to be de-annexed from the city of Wimberley.

The item will be discussed during this Thursday’s Wimberley City Council meeting’s executive session.

Sabino Ranch is a 100-acre ranch in the heart of Wimberley owned by the Johnson family. The property runs from near the post office, behind the under-construction senior living facility and down to Blue Hole.

Scott Johnson, president of Cedar Stump, LLC, which owns Sabino Ranch, has requested that the property be de-annexed from the city with essentially the same request that was made in 2011. The council in 2011 denied the request unanimously. At that time, the council stated concern about the impact of removing a large tract of land from the city’s territory and was worried about setting a precedent for other properties.

The city is currently trying to receive easements from Sabino Ranch to allow the city’s sewer system to reach Aqua Texas. The Wimberley View was unable to confirm whether or not de-annexation could be tied to the easement request. A memo from city staff states that the “State of Texas does allow for (de-annexation) under certain conditions” but does not go into detail about what those conditions are.

The council is expected to discuss the topic in executive session during the meeting. The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. For the full agenda, visit www.cityofwimberley.com.