NOVEMBER 17, 2021 Adopted Hays County Commissioner Precincts
PRECINCTS REZONED Hays County commissioners pass controversial precinct map.
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HaysNewsDispatch.com
Vol. 42 • No. 8
Serving Hays County, TX
Dripping Springs P&Z approves, denies zonings
STATE NEWS
Filing period for 2022 primary opens
BY MEGAN WEHRING
BY GARY BORDERS The filing period for the 2022 Texas primary elections opened on Nov. 13, allowing candidates to file with their respective party chairs for spots on the March 1, 2022, primary ballot. For primary elections, candidates must file their applications with their state party chairs. If a district is solely contained within a single county, a candidate would file with the county chair. The filing period for county, district and statewide offices ends at 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 13. Early voting for the March 1 primary begins on Feb. 14. Among the statewide offices on the ballot are governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller, agriculture commissioner, land commissioner, railroad commissioner and seven seats on the state board of education. To find out who has filed to date, go here: https://tinyurl.com/4s89j6be
TASK FORCE ON CONCERT SAFETY FORMED Gov. Greg Abbott last week announced the formation of a task force on concert safety after at least nine people were killed and hundreds injured at the Astroworld Festival in Houston on Nov. 5. Members include safety experts, law enforcement officials, firefighters and leaders from the Texas Music Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and a half-dozen other state entities. The task force is led by Brendon Anthony, director of the Texas Music Office.
CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS, 12
NEWS-DISPATCH FILE PHOTO The moratorium will take effect Nov. 18 and continue until Nov. 27, unless the city council decides on an extension, during which time the city is updating its Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance to accommodate land-use regulation issues.
Dripping Springs issues temporary development moratorium STAFF REPORT
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Dripping Springs has reached its wastewater capacity, among other issues, that caused the city to enact a temporary development moratorium. “The city’s responsibility is to protect how our community grows, and sometimes, that requires us to make tough, but necessary decisions,” said Dripping Springs Mayor Bill Foulds. “It’s no secret how quickly we are growing.” This will affect permits for new development related to subdivision, site planning, development, land use and construction in the city limits and extraterritorial jurisdiction for residential and commercial projects. No permit applications
for development will be accepted by the city. If the moratorium is extended, applicants will be able to apply for exception waivers. The moratorium will take effect Nov. 18 and continue until Nov. 27, unless the city council decides on an extension. Dripping Springs is undergoing rapid growth and recognizes that it should provide responsible development as it relates to density, transportation and wastewater
Public hearings will be held for residents and affected parties to provide comments regarding the moratorium extension. These meetings will be held at City Hall, located at 511 Mercer Street in Dripping Springs. These meetings will occur on the following dates and times: • Planning and Zoning Commission, Monday, Nov. 15, 6 p.m. • City Council, Tuesday, Nov. 16, 6 p.m. • City Council, Monday, Nov. 22, 6 p.m. The council will vote on the extension of the moratorium at this meeting.
provisions. The city is updating its Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance to accommodate land-use regulation issues. If the ordinance is approved, Dripping Springs will use the moratorium to give the city time to plan for responsible development and future planning. These ordinances, regulations and laws will prevent new developments from being detrimental to the public health, safety or welfare of residents,
but will also address the need for sustainable infrastructure. “Enacting the temporary moratorium and giving serious consideration to an extension of that moratorium would allow us the needed time to update the city’s comprehensive plan and ensure our ordinances and regulations are appropriate for addressing this growth now and in the future,” Foulds said. “Our goal is to protect the treasured quality of life we have all come to know and love.”
DSISD approves employee bonuses BY MEGAN WEHRING
Employees who sign on for hardto-fill positions, including bus drivers and custodial, are eligible for a $500 hiring bonus.
“What are we doing to really elevate them? We all DRIPPING SPRINGS agree that everybody has — Dripping Springs ISD been stressed. I feel like (DSISD) employees will a lump sum retention is get an extra $750 next in some ways devaluing month. those who are really truly four months of operwho were not yet hired Employees have told working overtime.” ating in fund balance,” would also be included. the district that this year Employees will Knepp said. “That was a Employees who sign on has been challenging, receive the bonus on threshold I made sure we for hard-to-fill positions, or before Dec. 17. The especially for those who including bus drivers and incentive does level the have worked longer hours could secure to and we custodial, are eligible for playing field, according because of staff shortages. are above that level.” More DSISD teachers a $500 hiring bonus. Knowing that, the trustees to Tiffany Duncan, execleft their jobs in 2020-2021 Board member Steunanimously approved utive director of human (16.6%) than in 2019-2020 fani Reinold said that a a one-time lump sum resource services. (10.7%), according to a larger conversation that payment of $750 to all “It’s not a percentage needs to be addressed employees as of Nov. 15. district teacher turnover of your income or a report presented to the in the district is how to The payment will percentage of your pay board. The top three rea- show employees they are grade,” Duncan said. come from fund balance sons listed for leaving the truly appreciated and in the budget, according “It is a flat lump sum valued, outside of giving amount regardless of to Catherine Knepp, assis- district were relocation, family and leaving the all employees the same tant superintendent of what position you hold profession altogether. lump sum payment. finance and operations. in the district. It is truly Board member Ron “Specifically in trans“One of the things that valuing equally all of the Jones agreed with proportation and food serI looked at quite heavily cogs and wheels that is viding the payment to vice, where people have in considering these Dripping Springs ISD current employees but taken on two roles in one and all of the life changnumbers was that we position,” Reinold said. always try to keep at least he hoped employees ers that we have.”
SPORTS
Wimberley Texans football shuts out Navasota High 56-0.
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DRIPPING SPRINGS — Not all rezoning requests are moving forward in Dripping Springs. With six items listed in the Nov. 9 consent agenda, the Dripping Springs Planning & Zoning Commission approved two rezoning requests for housing development projects — but the commission denied four.
WHAT THE COMMISSION APPROVED
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THE ESPERANZA DEVELOPMENT, PHASE 2 This 57-residential lot development, located at 4900 Bell Springs Road, received the commission’s application approval. The Esperanza Phase 2 final plat was originally approved in April but the updates now reflect changes to the construction plans, which eliminated the access to Yellow Bell Run from Bell Springs Road.
DRIFTWOOD GOLF AND RANCH CLUB PHASE 3 The commission approved the plan for 30 residential lots on a 56-acre tract located on Driftwood Ranch Drive, out of the Freelove Woody Survey, planned for the Driftwood Golf and Ranch Club.
WHAT THE COMMISSION DENIED
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PARTEN RANCH PHASES 6 &7 The 122-residential lot development at Parten Ranch Parkway near Running Bird Road was denied by the commission. In 2016, a development agreement was approved for this property and preliminary plats for phase one through five have also been approved. City staff recommended the developer provide documentation confirming approval from Hays County for street names, geological assessment and an engineers summary report.
BIG SKY RANCH Two rezoning requests for the Big Sky Ranch development were denied. The first is an 81.7-acre tract at the intersection of Sue Peaks Loop and Diablo Rim Terrace for 215 residential lots — not moving forward for the Big Sky Ranch Phase 3. Several changes were requested by
P&Z REQUESTS, 12