Settlement
The journey began with a developer's application to dump treated sewage into our creek from a proposed 10,000-resident city. That was three and a half years ago. The most recent 11 months were spent in settlement negotiations.
Going into this, we had no idea of what we were doing. Although we come from diverse backgrounds--a couple of us have even been small-scale developers ourselves--none of us had ever fought a development that wanted to pollute our creek. So we went to work.
The thing was a real eye opener and an education about life and politics. In addition to learning about pollution and availability of water, we learned how to pack courtrooms, committee rooms, and board rooms and to speak our minds. In so doing, we learned who listens to constituents and who doesn't. The Medina County Groundwater Conservation District (MCGCD), which tries to give away more water than it has; the Medina County Commissioners' Court, which doesn't enforce its own subdivision regulations; the Texas Natural Resources Committee (NRC), which let a bill die that would have helped us in spite of the fact that there were 17 yeas and only 6 nays from the public; and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), which rubberstamps all air and water quality permit applications no matter how drastic the resulting pollution, do not listen.
Oops. The Medina commissioners did listen once, letting the inter-local agreement with the city of San Antonio expire, but that was it for them. The Bexar County Commissioners dilly-dallied around until it was too late, although one commissioner, Tommy Adkisson, did testify on our behalf before the NRC. And TCEQ finally remembered one permit they denied in all the years they've been in existence.
On the other hand, the City of San Antonio, in whose Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction we live, and SAWS, the city's water purveyor, listened to us and even supported us in the sewer case. SAWS' application to extend its water and sewer service periphery to include us is still out there floating around, so we don't know yet what will happen with that.
Provisions of the settlement dated February 8, 2010:
a) There will be no sewer plant putting sewage, treated or otherwise, in the creek.
b) Density has been slashed from 3,500 units to 550. There will be no commercial district, 14-story hotel, golf course, or school. An amenity center is permitted.
c) The groundwater application will be amended from 1,724 acre feet per year to 425 acre feet, and if the developer reapplies to SAWS and is successful, the groundwater application will be amended to 25 acre feet per year. Sale or transfer of groundwater from the development is prohibited.
d) Architectural requirements including external dark sky lighting will apply.
e) A minimum of 700 acres of green space will be included. A 40-foot green space buffer will be maintained around the perimeter of the development. There will be buffers around the wells of four families who live adjacent to the development.
f) Impervious cover will be limited to 15%.
No poop, People! There will be NO POOP IN OUR CREEK!
Sorry, we just had to say that.
SGVA extends heartfelt thanks to all who have worked so hard on this, including members, sister groups, fundraiser donors and attendees, foundations, the anonymous donor who matched half the funds for a time, and individual contributors.
Although SGVA members have raised and spent more than $100,000 fighting this battle, we still need money to wrap up the last of the legal fees. So if you can find it in your heart and pocket, please help us for what we hope is the very last time.
We do plan to stay in existence in order to fulfill our mission (see "Home" page), but we sincerely hope not to have to fight another battle like this.
Thank you for your support!
Sincerely,
Randy Johnson, President
Ben & Camille White, Members
Neil Hernandez, Member
Gary & Madelyn Schott, Members
Jim & Judy Casey, Members
Doug & Judith McNeel, Members
Bob & Neel Scott, Members
George MacRossin, Member
Leslie & Dewane Schott, Members
Hank & Beth Schott, Members
Doris Johnson, Member
Betty & Mollie Jonas, Members
P.S. We can’t stress enough the importance of your involvement. Please make a donation through PayPal below or mail the donation form along with your check to SGVA Treasurer, 19903 Bandera Rd., Helotes, Texas 78023. Your help is greatly needed and appreciated.
San Geronimo Valley Alliance
DONATION FORM
First Name_____________________________________________________________________________________
Last Name_____________________________________________________________________________________
Donation Amount $______________________________________________________________________________
Phone Number__________________________________________________________________________________
Mailing Address_________________________________________________________________________________
Physical Address________________________________________________________________________________ Email Address__________________________________________________________________________________
Would You Like to be a Member of SGVA? Membership $25.00 YES ___ NO ___
Going into this, we had no idea of what we were doing. Although we come from diverse backgrounds--a couple of us have even been small-scale developers ourselves--none of us had ever fought a development that wanted to pollute our creek. So we went to work.
The thing was a real eye opener and an education about life and politics. In addition to learning about pollution and availability of water, we learned how to pack courtrooms, committee rooms, and board rooms and to speak our minds. In so doing, we learned who listens to constituents and who doesn't. The Medina County Groundwater Conservation District (MCGCD), which tries to give away more water than it has; the Medina County Commissioners' Court, which doesn't enforce its own subdivision regulations; the Texas Natural Resources Committee (NRC), which let a bill die that would have helped us in spite of the fact that there were 17 yeas and only 6 nays from the public; and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), which rubberstamps all air and water quality permit applications no matter how drastic the resulting pollution, do not listen.
Oops. The Medina commissioners did listen once, letting the inter-local agreement with the city of San Antonio expire, but that was it for them. The Bexar County Commissioners dilly-dallied around until it was too late, although one commissioner, Tommy Adkisson, did testify on our behalf before the NRC. And TCEQ finally remembered one permit they denied in all the years they've been in existence.
On the other hand, the City of San Antonio, in whose Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction we live, and SAWS, the city's water purveyor, listened to us and even supported us in the sewer case. SAWS' application to extend its water and sewer service periphery to include us is still out there floating around, so we don't know yet what will happen with that.
Provisions of the settlement dated February 8, 2010:
a) There will be no sewer plant putting sewage, treated or otherwise, in the creek.
b) Density has been slashed from 3,500 units to 550. There will be no commercial district, 14-story hotel, golf course, or school. An amenity center is permitted.
c) The groundwater application will be amended from 1,724 acre feet per year to 425 acre feet, and if the developer reapplies to SAWS and is successful, the groundwater application will be amended to 25 acre feet per year. Sale or transfer of groundwater from the development is prohibited.
d) Architectural requirements including external dark sky lighting will apply.
e) A minimum of 700 acres of green space will be included. A 40-foot green space buffer will be maintained around the perimeter of the development. There will be buffers around the wells of four families who live adjacent to the development.
f) Impervious cover will be limited to 15%.
No poop, People! There will be NO POOP IN OUR CREEK!
Sorry, we just had to say that.
SGVA extends heartfelt thanks to all who have worked so hard on this, including members, sister groups, fundraiser donors and attendees, foundations, the anonymous donor who matched half the funds for a time, and individual contributors.
Although SGVA members have raised and spent more than $100,000 fighting this battle, we still need money to wrap up the last of the legal fees. So if you can find it in your heart and pocket, please help us for what we hope is the very last time.
We do plan to stay in existence in order to fulfill our mission (see "Home" page), but we sincerely hope not to have to fight another battle like this.
Thank you for your support!
Sincerely,
Randy Johnson, President
Ben & Camille White, Members
Neil Hernandez, Member
Gary & Madelyn Schott, Members
Jim & Judy Casey, Members
Doug & Judith McNeel, Members
Bob & Neel Scott, Members
George MacRossin, Member
Leslie & Dewane Schott, Members
Hank & Beth Schott, Members
Doris Johnson, Member
Betty & Mollie Jonas, Members
P.S. We can’t stress enough the importance of your involvement. Please make a donation through PayPal below or mail the donation form along with your check to SGVA Treasurer, 19903 Bandera Rd., Helotes, Texas 78023. Your help is greatly needed and appreciated.
San Geronimo Valley Alliance
DONATION FORM
First Name_____________________________________________________________________________________
Last Name_____________________________________________________________________________________
Donation Amount $______________________________________________________________________________
Phone Number__________________________________________________________________________________
Mailing Address_________________________________________________________________________________
Physical Address________________________________________________________________________________ Email Address__________________________________________________________________________________
Would You Like to be a Member of SGVA? Membership $25.00 YES ___ NO ___