GEAA Calls for Moratorium on Development Within Camp Bullis Buffer Zone
UPDATE: Despite heavy opposition, the San Antonio Planning Commission approved the Palmira Subdivision to be built within the Camp Bullis buffer zone. To read about it, click on the following link:
The City of San Antonio Planning Commission will consider an application for a 335-acre Palmira Subdivision Planned Unit Development (PUD). This tract is within the buffer zone of Camp Bullis, approximately 3 miles west of Camp Bullis on Scenic Loop Road. Much has been made of the City’s efforts to regulate development going in near Camp Bullis in a manner consistent with the Army’s needs. On June 18, the SA City Council passed a resolution to accept the Camp Bullis Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) and endorse and support the strategies it recommends.
An empty gesture?
Meanwhile, large developments such as Palmira, which have not complied with the recommendations of the JLUS or comments by the Army, continue to be considered and approved. Reportedly, in August the SA City Council will consider moving forward with ordinances to enforce the recommendations of the JLUS. No timeline for when these ordinances would actually be considered for approval was available. City Planning Department staff and Planning Commissioners say that as long as an application for development meets current City requirements, it must be approved. How much of the undeveloped land within the Camp Bullis Buffer Zone will be approved for development in the interim?
At issue in the Palmira tract is the developer’s failure to submit wildlife surveys to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, as specifically recommended by the JLUS. A 2001 ground estimate by Dr. David Diamond shows portions of this tract to be prime habitat for the Golden Cheeked Warbler; a small part of the tract may also contain karst features that are habitat for endangered cave invertebrates. Approximately 420 new homes are planned for this tract, which is currently bordered by ranches and large acre lots.
GEAA is calling on all San Antonio citizens to contact members of the San Antonio Planning Commission to request that this item be pulled from the agenda until such time as the SA City Council passes ordinances consistent with the JLUS recommendations. Further, they are calling on San Antonio to institute a moratorium on consideration of all applications for development within the 5-mile buffer zone of Camp Bullis until such time as ordinances consistent with the JLUS recommendations are approved.
GEAA is also urging concerned citizens to attend an upcoming critical meeting regarding development of the Camp Bullis buffer area. It is being held on Wednesday, July 8, at 2 p.m., at the Cliff Morton Development and Business Services Center at 1901 S. Alamo, San Antonio, in the 1st floor Board Room.
For more information, contact Annalisa Peace at annalisa@aquiferalliance.org or 210-320-6294.
To view the video of the news report, click on the link below:
http://www.ksat.com/video/19971446/?taf=ant
To read the article by Carlos Guerra, click on the link below:
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/Realtors_group_fires_first_dilatory_shot_on_Bullis.html