Letters to the Editor
Do we want urbanization in Wimberley? Do we want to endorse high density development even if it is packaged as something that is supposed to benefit us? High density development means many people living closely together in a small area. Is that why you live in the Wimberley community? It has been represented that Citaspel will be an urban development project being promoted for 54 acres on the south side of Wimberley by Jack Eure with the help of Will Conley. Citaspel will consist of 75,000 square feet of commercial/retail space fronting on Ranch Road 12 and houses, apartments and studios at the rear of the property on approximately nine acres of land. As it has been presented to the surrounding property owners, the plan calls for 34 buildings to house as many as 150 people on nine acres of the property. Several of the residential units will be sold to investors for use as VRBO and Air B&B units.
Jack Eure, with Will Conley’s guidance, is trying to sell his dream, Citaspel, by making many promises and packaging the development with all the right buzz words. He talks about sustainability, conservation, preserving nature and environmental stewardship. Packaging does not change the product. The project will require at least 20 acres of the 54 acres of land to be cleared. Due to the steep slope of the property, massive amounts of excavation and dirt work will be necessary before it is covered in acres of concrete for the commercial buildings, parking lots, streets and residential buildings. He is doing what all salespeople do— puffing his product. The method used to package the product will not change the environmental impact of the project and the impact on the wildlife that have made this land their home. The project will strain precious resources—water and sewer are just two of the many resources that will be affected. The effects will impact the entire Wim berley community.
Jack Eure offices in the Lakeway area of Austin. Will Conley and his family live on five acres in River Mountain Ranch. Mr. Conley admitted, after a challenge on Wimberley Community Forum, that he would not like this development next to his home. Together Jack Eure and Will Conley plan to make Citaspel a reality for Wimberley. They are totally disregarding the lack of consistency with how Wimberley has developed because it is not in their benefit to do so. They will both threaten that growth in our community is inevitable. That threat is probably a reality. Wimberley is going to grow; however, that growth should be required to be consistent with the manner Wimberley has matured to this point. Using Mr. Eure’s high density building model, Wimberley could see growth in the next ten years of over 10,000 new residents. Is that why you established your life in Wimberley, so you could experience living in an urban area? Do you want new property taxes and increased school taxes to fund a new police department to combat urban crime and new schools for all the new children? Do you want an increase in your taxes to fund additional ambulances, additional fire department personnel and equipment, as well as additional city administration and maintenance personnel?
A change in use of the property will require a change in the zoning classification for the 54 acres. If Wimberley allows that change then the entire Ranch Road 12 corridor will be in jeopardy. Every landowner and developer will be seeking a change of use based on the change Wimberley allowed Citaspel. Ranch Road 12 will be lined with fast food franchises, motels and convenience stores. Citaspel was originally planned for Dripping Springs and it will be responsible for turning our quaint and charming Wimberley into Buda or Kyle. Jack Eure has nev er lived in the Wimberley community and obviously has no appreciation for the Wimberley community nor the lifestyle we enjoy. Do you want your tax dollars used to defend the resulting litigation if the Wimberley city council buys into turning Wimberley into Buda or Kyle and allows this urban development plan to go forward? Your tax dollars will be used to defend a developer with total disregard for our Wimberley lifestyle. That is another precious resource, tax dollars, which will be consumed by this project if allowed to advance.
One final question for you—are you ready to give up your little slice of Heaven?
If you wish to express your opposition to this project and to preserve your slice of Heaven then contact the members of Wimberley’s Planning & Zoning committee and your City Council members:
Planning & Zoning committee members
David Hester
Rick Burleson
Charles Savino
Phillip McBride
Jerry Lunow
Tim Dodson
Austin Weeks
Mayor and Council Members Gina Fulkerson, Mayor [email protected] Rebecca Minnick, Mayor Pro Tem [email protected] Teressa Shell [email protected] Christine Byrne [email protected] Jim Chiles [email protected] David Cohen [email protected]
Written by Nelson Hensley