Travis County Commissioners Court
January 5, 2010,
Item 9
Now, on item no.
9, which we have several residence here on, consider and take appropriate action on a plat for recording in precinct three: palomino ranch subdivision (9 total lots).
and -- and we had staff this morning sort of doing additional work, which is why the delay.
ms.
bolin?
>> good morning, anna bolin, Travis County, t.n.r.
this final plat was approved for alternative fiscal on March 28th, 2006.
and it's a large lot, plat.
eight single family lots on 109 acres in western Travis County.
at issue today is this plat is looking to come out of alternative fiscal and get approved for recording so that the owners can sell lots.
and -- I believe Commissioner Huber has raised a concern about well water.
i know that this plat is proposing to use wells for their source of water.
so -- so Commissioner?
>> sure.
i -- as we all know, the use of well water in the -- in the aquifers, in the western Travis County, has caused some angst, especially through this last drought because many of the wells were experiencing problems.
the aquifer out there is -- is like to use the word squirrely.
some places the water may provide sustainable water throughout or drought.
the other places at least a hint of a drought it may start giving problems.
so the more that we do subdivisions with well water, the higher the anxiety level that I have is that people will be aware, at least, that -- that the well water is their source, that there may be some uncertainty relative to that.
>> glen rose, not the trinity.
>> that's good.
>> that's huge, because we have drilled another well in the trinity which could go 500 to 800 with unnatural occurrences of salt and eight and a half gallons to --
>> sure.
that's reassuring that it is in glen rose.
>> there is more up in the -- in the mountain estates, they are drilling another one, looks like 80-gallons a minute.
that's a different area.
i can certainly appreciate and understand your concern because I have lived in the trinity for years.
>> as do i.
>> [one moment please for change in captioners]
>> I appreciate your hearing us, is in most areas I would probably agree with that but I would just hate to put something in there that would probably make somebody hesitant to buy something like that.
if I felt like it was in the trinity, then I would definitely agree with that but all of the exes perience in the well drilling we have had over there at the glenn rose has been pretty solid wells an we even went through two yearses of drought without having the water table change or anybody that I am aware of over in that area has had problems with their wells.
>> will you be drilling the wells for these parcels or will they be sold as individual parcels and it will be the responsibility of the pur purch.
>> we go through centex driller, they are a very professional company out of dripping strings and that's what we would rather see is them take care of their own wells.
>> well maybe we can work on language here but the awareness of the lack of knowledge that a lot of purchasers have was heightened to me recently when a friend of mine from houston, born and raised in houston, looked at buying property in western Travis County and said what kind of questions should I ask when I go to buy a piece of property?
and I said well, the first thing you should ask is what is the water supply and the availability of it and am I going to get it.
and he said what do you mean is the water supply, so many people buying properties in the unincorporated areases have never used well water and are totally unaware of the different issues that surround that so I would just like to see not only on your subdivision but others that are using well water, some kind of notice to people that, hey, this is well water, this is not municipal water supply and I would just like to see that attached to the plat.
so is there some way we can alert to them to this?
>> yes, ma'am, I think there is, I am not really sure of the language we would use but I hate to be so harsh on that particular subdivision and the surrounding areas on what is more of a proven fact on what people have been drilling, and not having many problems.
now, again, I am more familiar with the trinity and that's why we stayed away from that area.
>> are there any trinity wells that you know of in this immediate year?
>> no, ma'am, I know they are more toward 1431, ronald reagan and those areas but I can't tell you where the -- kind of the dividing line is.
>> would you be willing to postpone this a week so we could talk about the plat note language on that?
>> can I add something to the discussion while he is thinking about your question?
there is a note on this plat that says, loss to be served by private water well and osss, so, there is a note that says just that, it doesn't really -- it doesn't go into some of the concerns that you have addressed or that you have, yes, have addressed this morning, but there is a note that just -- that does say that this is private water well.
i don't know if that helps.
>> I guess in that area --
>> go ahead.
>> I guess in that area, and Commissioner you bring up some good valid points and I guess this whole court has been struggling with water issues here throughout all of of Travis County.
my question to you, though, is, how, with the rule of capture, so intimate and so present, in this particular situation, if not trinity, then glenn rose, what type prove technician will there be given to protecting the water source that is now available?
i am looking at maybe -- maybe as a format as a district, for an example.
yes, there is water available today but with the -- with the -- with the rule of captures is imminent -- and from it and just, you know, under this type of -- of -- of jurisdiction, you know, anybody can pump water from any source, if it's not protected by the district but my concern is that as growth continues to expand in this area and you mentioned noting with in the trinity but it is in the glenn rose area, what are you looking for -- it is well water, but what are we looking for as far as protecting that area, whereby future growth, this growth and future growth around there will have some comfort level of -- of a water source that has some rules and regulations as far as protection?
>> I honestly have not gone that far.
i don't know if I could even control that, as far as the protection of -- of a well.
i mean, there's a lot of rural areas around there that have wells and that's what most people --
>> not many, many lots on here, but I guess my concern, though, is -- is the rule of capture and how, as growth continues to expand, the source of water under a district configuration is probably something that may be considered.
so I am just throwing that out to -- under the rule of capture, anybody can pump the underground water from any source and get it.
so, that was my point.
>> right.
as -- as -- this is lloyd white, the city of Leander is right up to the edge of it and I think they Ron the lcra -- tied into the lcra water out of travis, and so I don't know that that would be a major concern but I definitely understand the concern.
>> yes.
yes.
>> absolutely.
>> right.
>> I just wanted to throw that out.
we have some serious challenge and water is going to be worth its weight in gold here after a while and it already is, in my opinion.
>> I agree.
>> and we have gone through some terrible drought situations, and it's not over, so -- but that was just my point --
>> sure.
>> -- to put on the table.
>> I didn't -- didn't realize that you were in the glenn rose.
that is good.
>> yes, ma'am.
>> I am comforted about that, but actually I don't have verifiable data on this but there is a subdivision in west Travis County that has water on the glenn rose and I heard there were recharge problems with that during the last drought.
i would like to get some more valid information on that because I just would like for people to be sure -- I mean, for example, if subdivision came in next year to this place and put in a couple of wells in glenn rose for holding tanks for the subdivision that could impact the rechargeability here.
so what I am interested in doing is just informing people on the front end in situations like this, that -- and basically it would be for your protection as well.
there is -- there may or may not be water at all times, you know.
>> and I agree with that.
obviously we are foot wanting to do anything unethical, okay.
and, again, that was a blessing of it being in the glenn rose because in the trinity, I have had so much experience that it certainly has been miserable and I can understand that certainly.
>> would you like to wait week and talk about plat note language?
i would offer up to say what I did which is well water in this area has demonstrated historically that it may or may not be available at all times as opposed to drought?
i understand your concerns about raising alarm but I think there is a difference between raising alarm and raising awareness which awareness is what we really want to do.
>> I agree.
>> state that again one more time, please.
>> in its entirety.
the plat note would read the water source for this property is stipulated in its platting as well water.
well water in this area has demonstrated historically that it may or may not be readily available at all times.
>> what is your thought on that?
>> I am saying no -- the language of it, going through the process of it having everybody sign the plat.
>> no.
we could put the plat note on -- with the sharpie.
>> you know like right now?
>> uh-huh.
>> I have no problem with it.
>> okay.
i think that would be great.
anything that we can go ahead and move forward on, that would be fantastic.
>> thank you very much and I appreciate your understanding of the well water issue.
>> I understand where you are coming from and I appreciate that as well.
thank you.
>> and we really appreciate your willingness to look at this because as we have struggled with this we know there is no state requirement that you prove up the long-availability of water, only that it is -- long availability of water, that it is there and I agree with Commissioner Huber's statement that we are trying to raise awareness, just because it is there right now, be warned it won't necessarily all be there, and it's not your fault, it is just the circumstance.
>> move approval.
>> so moved.
>> discussion.
>> with added plat notes.
>> did you get that?
i am going to get the wording from Commissioner Huber as soon as -- as soon as we are done.
okay.
>> discussion?
all those in favor.
this passes by unanimous vote.
thank you very much for your cooperation and your time.
>> thank you and happy new year each and every one of you.
>> thank you very much.
>> ms.
april white is here, would that give you time to settle in, 11.
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Last Modified:
Tuesday, January 5, 2010 2:30 PM
