January 2007 Archives
Grateful for today's Austin Chronicle coverage of the Reimers-Peacock Road issue: but they seem to miss the forest for the trees. The road will create its own demand for services.
With a number of subdivisions like Sweetwater on an imminent horizon, Travis Co. feels it can no longer ignore the need for a substantial north-south arterial through the area. Right now, getting from one end of the proposed road to the other, for instance, requires a circuitous round-trip – nine miles east on Hamilton Pool Road, then six miles back west on Highway 71. The Reimers-Peacock Road connection turns that into a 3.5-mile trip. That makes a difference to the local emergency-service districts and Lake Travis Independent School District, which expects to add 1,700 students in the next 10 years. Lake Travis school officials predict they eventually have to build schools on both Highway 71 and Hamilton Pool Road if the route can't be shortened.
Give me a break. First, Sweetwater has nothing to do with it: Nobody from Sweetwater ever will user that road. They're not heading south -- where would you go? Dripping? This road will almost exclusively be used by commuters living along it. There are no destinations to visit, traveling south along that road. We don't want any, and we don't need any. What now, a big box at the corner of RPR and HPR?
Second: emergency districts. Guess what: we get fire and EMS service from Hudson's bend, not Spicewood. They don't travel that nine mile leg of 71. Here's an idea if you want to help: put a fire station on HPR.
Third: Schools. I don't have a big problem if LTISD wants to put a school out here. But they won't need much of a school if we don't build the road. Get it? It's the road that creates the people. (Interesting concept, that.)
It's impossible to believe the Gang of Eight, a.k.a. LTISD Board, will be able to overcome the profoundly negative reaction. In today's Austin American Statesman article, not one of the Gang was available for a quote. The sum total of statements from the district was:
A spokeswoman for the school district said it has not yet pursued a court order to gain access to the property and hopes to avoid it. The district is considering other sites but would not disclose them.
Do you sense a little backpedalling? The district darn well better be considering other sites -- and it better be planning to buy them on the open market. There are plenty of willing sellers.
It's odd the Lake Travis Republican, property-rights-friendly community would seek to condemn the Grumbles family property to build a school bus barn and sports complex. Maybe they're undergoing a cultural revolution. "Takings" are OK, after all, if the community needs to park their kids on your property.
Jueri suggested a nice alternative location the Gang of Eight should consider:
We know why they didn't consider that proposal. The Grumbles aren't developing their land, they're just living on it. Ag-exempt, I'm guessing. It's not producing tax revenue. And since it's not on the market, it doesn't have a provable value, as Falconhead would. (As if it's even conceivable the board would condemn a thriving golf club). So the Gang of Eight sees an opportunity to "purchase" this land at a steal of a price, and they won't have to fight a corporation, just a patsy individual family.
The ice storm of '07 hit 78620 last week. We don't get much of that around here. As long as the power doesn't go out, and it doesn't last too long, most of us kind of like staying home from work for a few days, building a fire, and taking walks in the crunchy quietness.
A few images from around our place:
For larger images, click on "Continue reading...".
Southwest Travis County Roadway Planning Reimer-Peacock Road Neighborhood Meeting On Road Design
Travis County has begun the planning process for Reimer-Peacock Road. The road is planned to connect SH-71 (near Bob Wire Road) and Hamilton Pool Road (west of County Road 12).
C. Faulkner Engineering has been hired to design the roadway and to solicit public input on the work. The engineers have prepared alternate roadway alignments and design criteria.
The neighborhood meeting will be held at the following time and location:
Date: January 18, 2007
Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Bee Cave City Hall
13333-A SH-71 West
Bee Cave, 78738
For more information contact Hank Smith at 495-9470 or Steve Manilla with the county's Transportation and Natural Resources Department at 854-9383.
