In a prepared statement released today by the City of Kyle, Mayor Todd Webster said it is unfortunate that what he called special interest groups are "spreading disinformation" about the proposed bridge across the Blanco River that will be part of tonight’s city council discussions of five proposed amendments to the city’s Transportation Master Plan.
The statement featured a number of other city officials, including City Manager Scott Sellers, weighing in on the proposed bridge project.
"It is unfortunate that there are anti-development special interests spreading misinformation about the planned bridge," the city’s statement quotes the mayor as saying. "While it won't be built for over a decade, it is important that Kyle now take the necessary steps to plan for the city's future road needs."
The statement also quotes Sellers saying the bridge project is only in its "conceptual stage" and went on to quote Sellers as stressing "There are no plans to even let a contract out until approximately 2025."
The statement also tried to clarify exactly what CAMPO's role in the project will be, which is, according to the statement, no role at all. In fact, the statement argues, CAMPO screwed up by even placing a discussion of the bridge on a recent meeting agenda.
The text of the city’s statement:
"Kyle City Council will discuss and take possible action on several proposed amendments to its Transportation Master Plan at its October 4 meeting. The Transportation Master Plan was updated and adopted by City Council on March 15, 2016. City Council is being asked to consider the adoption of five amendments.
A brief explanation of each amendment is below:
Amendment #1 — Blanco River Span Bridge; the city has a contractual requirement to place this on our transportation plan based on the development agreement that was approved by City Council on May 3, 2016.
Amendment #2 — Kyle Parkway from Dacy Lane to Lehman Rd.; We are proposing a new route for the extension of Kyle Parkway, east of Dacy Lane, due to the fact that we will not be able to build any type of structure in the area of the reservoir.
Amendment #3 — Rebel Road/RM 150 from Center St. to IH35 Southbound Frontage Road; The intent is to provide another connection to I35 with the possibility of providing an underpass/overpass across the railroad tracks.
Amendment #4 — Bebee Rd. connection from Seton Parkway to Kyle Parkway; The proposed route would provide a direct connection for any proposed development on the north side of Bunton Branch.
Amendment #5 — Seton Parkway South Extension; Seton Parkway, by Goodwill, is currently a dead end. As development begins south of the dead end, the intent is to provide a connection to the new section of Philomena.
Kyle Mayor Todd Webster said one of these amendments, the Blanco River Span Bridge, has recently been a topic of discussion among some pockets of groups within Hays County and beyond.
"It is unfortunate that there are anti-development special interests spreading misinformation about the planned bridge," he said. "While it won't be built for over a decade, it is important that Kyle now take the necessary steps to plan for the city's future road needs."
Kyle’s Community Development Director, Howard Koontz, said, "The Blanco River Span Bridge is part of a development agreement (DA) between the City of Kyle and the Nance-Bradshaw Ranch."
The Nance Ranch has been in the same family since the original land grant was received from Mexico in the mid-1800s. "They care about their family land and desire to be the best stewards of the land as possible," Assistant City Manager James Earp said.
Kyle City Council approved this agreement in May 2016.
Koontz said the development agreement was included in the council agenda packet, which was published prior to the meeting where Kyle City Council approved it. Since they were posted, those documents have been available for public review on the city’s website.
"Council also discussed the issue in open session before taking a vote," Koontz said.
City records show that the landowners applied for voluntary annexation in February 2016; the city annexed the property, consisting of several thousand acres, in June of that same year. Koontz said the city published legal notices and notified affected neighbors and landowners in accordance with state law regarding the annexation.
"The owners of the Nance-Bradshaw Ranch, private property in the western part of Hays County, propose to develop a master-planned community that may include single family, multi-family, commercial and office sites along with recreational facilities, public parks, open space and space for public use," Koontz said. "According to the DA, development on this land shall not exceed 9,000 living unit equivalents."
Within that agreement, the city agreed to amend its Transportation Master Plan to include the roads necessary to provide sufficient access to the property to reasonably accommodate traffic when the project is completely built out. Current access to the property includes a low water crossing that is subject to flooding and not suitable for most vehicles otherwise.
Leon Barba, city engineer, said, "The City of Kyle submitted an application on August 3 to the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) to include the proposed Blanco Span Bridge in the 2040 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). The submittal description read, ‘A bridge spanning the property over the Blanco River is also part of the DA. Multi-lane span bridge, including a pedestrian/bike lane, starting at the elevated western Blanco River bank to a new road connecting to Hilliard Road.’"
Earp, said CAMPO staff mistakenly placed it on the agenda for TIP funding. "We didn't ask CAMPO for public funding. Our application was simply to add it to the RTP," he said. The application required a cost estimate, Earp said, and city staff used figures from bridges over I-35 as a baseline.
CAMPO held an open comment period from Aug. 21 to Sept. 21, with open houses held throughout the region between Aug. and Sept. 6. A public hearing was held at the Transportation Policy Board on Sept. 11.
"As with many proposed projects on the CAMPO 2040 plan, the Blanco Span Bridge is in the conceptual stage," Kyle City Manager Scott Sellers said. "There are no plans to even let a contract out until approximately 2025. The bridge is a line on a map at this point and would need to go through the engineering and design process prior to any construction."
Earp explained that part of the Nance Ranch is over the recharge area for the Edwards Aquifer.
"Any development or construction in that area will be protected and developed according to the state laws and rules of the Edwards Aquifer Authority, which is precisely why they have rules in place to allow development," he said.
Koontz said, "Should the project move forward, the City of Kyle will comply with all state requirements and regulations regarding environmental protections, which may include studies to determine any adverse impact to the local environment, including any impact down river."
The intention is to design a tension span bridge that would not have footings in the river and would not affect the water flow, Earp said.
"It would be high enough in elevation to be traversable during any flood event, including the most recent 500-plus year events that the basin experienced," Earp said. "We desire to design a bridge over the Blanco that will serve the Western portion of the Nance Ranch, and possibly those neighbors beyond if interconnectivity can be managed. That bridge will serve as a life line to those that need a way to cross the Blanco and other low water crossings, to access grocery stores, work or medical facilities during times of severe flash flooding."
He added that it would also help emergency services that need to get into the future development.
Koontz reiterated, "The City of Kyle will ensure that any project in our city limits meets all applicable laws and is in line with environmental regulations. Our goal is to engage in responsible development that benefits the city overall as well as its residents and businesses."
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