Tag: village

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Citizens Stand Up & Speak Up for the Pedernales River

On Jun 13, 2024, a large crowd of Gillespie County citizens showed up to ask questions and make comments to Developers of the Village – Fredericksburg (formerly known as the Village at Grape Creek) and TCEQ. The Village has applied for a permit to pollute  – to dump 20,000 gallons of treated wastewater into Beckman Branch (just west of Jenschke Lane off Hwy 290.)

It was clear that no citizens present in the room were supportive of the permit. Many were angry at the thought the dumping that would be approved by the permit. Some concerns were odor, pollution of the aquifers, pollution of local wells, the density of the development, noise, flooding potential, and more. Many cited the years and generations of their families who have lived on the Pedernales River and the importance of the River to them.

As expected, there were two opportunities to speak. The first was supposed to last for 1 hour but went well over. During the first comment time, people lined up to speak. It was an informal time when they could ask questions of the Developers or TCEQ. During this Informal time, the Developers or TCEQ attempted to answer questions. During the second time, Formal Comments were recorded for the record. TCEQ or the Developer will formally respond in writing via US post to each comment/question that was submitted.

Now that the formal comment time has expired, all comments/questions that were submitted online or by fax or mail or during the Formal Comment period at this meeting, will be answered. Upon answering these questions, TCEQ will make the decision to approve or disapprove the permit. We hope that the permit will be disapproved or that the Developers will decide to drop this permit in exchange for a No Discharge Permit. Until we hear one way or another, we wait.

Thank-you for caring enough to show up and speak up. Please continue to conserve water as we are still in drought conditions, pick up trash along roads and at river crossings. Take good care of the Pedernales River – there is non other like it.

 

 

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Village at Grape Creek: Request for a Public Hearing

Public meetings enable the public to learn about the application, ask questions of the applicant and the TCEQ, and offer formal comments. No decision to approve or deny an application is made at a public meeting. (See information about the Village at Grape Creek permit application at https://www.pedernalesriveralliance.org/village-at-grape-creek/ )

The TCEQ will hold a public meeting

  • if there is significant interest in an application (your comments and questions submitted to TCEQ will help indicate significant interest.)
  • if a legislator from the area of the proposed project requests one (See legislators contact info below.)
  • if a meeting is otherwise required by law.
  • On certain air applications, the TCEQ will also hold a public meeting if an interested person requests one.

A request for a public meeting must be submitted to the chief clerk during the public comment period and must specify that it is a request for a “public meeting.” A request for a “public hearing” will be considered a request for a contested case hearing, and not a request for a public meeting.,

Please email, call and write Sen. Pete Flores- TX Senate Dist. 24 https://www.senate.texas.gov/memberform.php?auth=nn689VTry1+/0gkh81Ni1jFuA9Zg+vNdSIPU8ALQIoQ6XzpfOtPa1jpPTGwEmdSqjt4AU0if8zam4M38f7cz6rX0IPDXDxWTOnw6fDoCtZjzXz7kGxvjbm7lj01e&lang=en 
Representative Ellen Troxclair Tx. House Dist.19 https://www.house.texas.gov/members/member-page/email/?district=19 

to ask them to request a public hearing.  

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Village at Grape Creek

Recently, we learned of a new development. The location of this development is Jenschke Lane and 290 appox. It looks like it will have an entrance on Hwy 290 that will be west of the museum.

Current plans call for 185 lots. Some will be small homes, some tiny homes and some single room cabins (simulated hotel rooms/small cabins with bed and bath) for overnight stays. 

Our concern at the Pedernales River Alliance is that they are requesting a permit to discharge 20,000 gallons of treated wastewater (sewage) into “an unnamed tributary” of the Pedernales River.  Peak flow may be as great as 50,000 gallons/day (attachment 5 in the application.) 

The application for this permit is available for review at the Library in Fredericksburg. It is at the reference desk and you have to ask to see it. The librarian has it. You can take it to a table and read it and you may copy it  or any portion of it, if you choose. Or you can read it online at Village at Grape Creek Permit Application.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is the state entity that will approve/disapprove the permit.

You can make comments citing why dumping 20-50,000 gallons into a dry creek bed that will eventually flow into into the Pedernales is not a great idea. Specifically, they may be dumping into a dry creek bed but it will sit in that dry creek bed, evaporate, accumulate, and, when it rains, this concentrate will be washed into the Pedernales.

If you grew up along this creek your comments are especially valuable. Tell TCEQ what this little tributary meant to you growing up.

In addition to voicing your opinion about this development, you may also ask questions about the following topics and more:

    • Flooding – Is the development on the flood plain?
    • Flooding – Is the development on the 100 year flood plain?
    • Where will runoff be directed when it rains?
    • What will the impact be on adjacent wetlands (See the Fema map @ https://msc.fema.gov/portal/search?AddressQuery=-98.7094%2030.21314) ?
    • Will there be a traffic light installed on Hwy 290?
    • Will the developer be required to install lighting supportive of Dark Skies?
    • Will the developer be required to preserve trees already existing on the land?
    • Will the developer be required to restore the understory that has been cleared from the creek banks?
    • Will streets and sidewalks in the development be permeable?
    • Will dumping treated sewage into the creekbed smell?
    • Will it be safe for children to play in the creekbed where the treated sewage will be dumped?
    • Where will water come from for this subdivision and will it affect my well? 
    • What will be done to ensure emergency vehicles can enter/depart the development without hindrance?
The URL for making comments is https://www14.tceq.texas.gov/epic/eComment/  and you will need to enter the wastewater permit application number which is WQ0016363001.
 
After entering the permit application number, please take note of the information just below about receiving an email from TCEQ acknowledging receipt of your comments. 
 
You will also be asked for your name, address, phone and email; It is recommended that you type out your comments and questions about the wastewater permit beforehand so that all you have to do is copy/paste.
 
Important: Be sure to ask for a public hearing on this request, especially if you live adjacent to the development or the dry creek. See information on how to do this at https://www.pedernalesriveralliance.org/village-at-grape-creek-request-for-a-public-hearing/
 
Once all is done, proofread and hit the Submit button. If you do not receive an email from TCEQ acknowledging receipt of your comments within an hour, go back and re-enter your comments. 
 
Thank-you for submitting your comments and questions to TCEQ. The more who do so, the more impact all the comments and questions will have.