Citizens' Alliance for Smart Expansion
New Braunfels is One Step Closer to Having a Transportation Plan that Fits our Community Vision
New Braunfels Planning Commission votes in favor of Regional Transportation Plan with parkways instead of an Outer Loop, but changes to the plan create a pause by City Council.
Next Step: City Council will host at least one workshop after the new year before voting. Send emails to City Council members and letters to the Editor of the Herald-Zeitung.
On Tuesday, November 15, the New Braunfels Planning Commission conducted a workshop and a hearing for the New Braunfels Seguin Regional Transportation Plan. Although the meeting was held at 4 PM when many people are working, there were about 75 in attendance. The workshop included a presentation by Shannon Mattingly, Director of Planning, and Chip Taylor, Project Manager with LAN planning and engineering consultants. The presentation included information on the parkway transportation plan and a review of the network of proposed roadways that will accommodate our future growth and transportation needs. They also discussed the location of the current Outer Loop, that in various forms has been on the Master Thoroughfare Plan since 1964, and the TxDOT Outer Loop plan for a 425 ft. wide Expressway, 40% of which is over the environmentally sensitive Edward's Aquifer Recharge and contributing zones and crosses the popular Guadalupe River along the second crossing of River Road. River Road was recently named the most scenic drive in Texas according to USA today.
The purpose of the workshop and hearing was for the Planning Commission to vote on their recommendation to City Council to update the Master Thoroughfare Plan with the parkway plan as presented, or to amend the plan including adding all or part of one of the variations of an Outer Loop into the plan. With an updated Master Thoroughfare Plan and Regional Transportation Plan, the cities of Seguin and New Braunfels can apply to the Governor's office by March 2012 to have a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for future road planning and funding. After the presentations, the public hearing began. The Chair of the Planning Commission, Cheryl Casteel, invited members of the public who are in favor of adding the Outer Loop to speak, followed by public comments of those in favor of the plan without the Outer Loop.
Who spoke in favor of adding the Outer Loop to the plan?
Only 3 citizens spoke in favor of an Outer Loop: Lee Edwards of D. Lee Edwards Realty, Mark Hampton of Randall Morris & Associates Real Estate, and Dean Word of Dean Word Road Construction Company. Interestingly, Dean Word surprised the Commission and the public when he threatened that he was taking names of anyone who votes or speaks in favor of the plan without the Outer Loop.
Citizens speak out in favor of the plan without the Outer Loop.
Due to time constraints, about 12 citizens presented their views in support of the transportation plan without the Outer Loop. Examples of comments included the need for road planning with consideration of protecting our natural resources and beauty while preventing traffic congestion, discussion of the incomplete and inaccurate data in the TxDOT plan, how the TxDOT plan was intended to be examined as stand-alone projects, and the need to examine road planning carefully because every line affects properties for many years for land owners who may want to sell their homes or land.
Planning Commission Votes
After one of the Commissioners pointed out that the parkway plan includes routes that adequately fulfill what the Outer Loop would accomplish, a proposal was made to approve the plan with minor changes and not include the Outer Loop. The vote was 5 yes and 3 no. The Commissioners voting no for the parkway plan were Cheryl Casteel, who stated she just wanted a Loop, Cory Elrod with Legacy Commercial Real Estate Brokers, and Matthew Hoyt.
City Council Holds Hearing
On Monday, November 28 the New Braunfels City Council held a public hearing and discussion regarding the Regional Transportation Plan. The changes made by the Planning Commission created impacts to properties along Engle Road and several citizens spoke out against this, however they also voiced that they are not supporting the Outer Loop concept. City Council made a motion to table their vote and will look more closely at the plans presented and hold additional meetings at a later date.
What's next?
The next step is for the New Braunfels City Council to hold workshops beginning as early as January 2012 and vote for a plan. In March 2012, an application (including the plan) to form an Metropolitan Planning Organizatoin for the region will be submitted to the Governor. Prior to that, citizens should email their respectful comments to Council members and send a letter for publishing as Letters to the Editor in the Herald-Zeitung by completing a form and submitting on-line.
The public hearing is scheduled for 6 PM on Monday, December 12 at City Council Chambers. Plan to attend and speak in support of a plan that fits our vision as a community with long-range planning that protects what makes this area so special.
Please see more information on the Regional Thoroughfare Plan - RTP here.
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Citizens' Alliance for Smart Expansion - P. O. Box 310473 - New Braunfels, Texas 78131-0473
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Our Mission:
To preserve what is unique to our area, protect our quality of life and encourage responsible growth
Current Issues:
- Regional Transportation Plan
