Tuesday, the San Angelo City Council will vote on a toothless acknowledgement that there exists opposition to frac sand trans-loading facilities within the city limits. The motivation for such a move is the proposed Hill Street project.
At a meeting last Oct 24, Councilman Don Vardeman asked the city’s legal staff if council could do anything. During that meeting, a long line of concerned citizens appeared to express their opposition to investor Lee Pfluger’s proposed frac sand trans-loading facility on Hill Street. Citizens are concerned that the sand, said to be much more fine than sand in children’s sandboxes, would cause health problems if the fine silica escapes into the west Texas wind and invades surrounding neighborhoods. The truck traffic the facility will attract also was cited as a cause for concern. Pfluger offered a spirited defense.
The council learned at that meeting that the process did not require their immediate input, or a vote, to approve or disapprove.
The head of the city’s planners, Patrick Howard, said that his team’s interpretation of “light manufacturing” meant Pfluger’s proposed depot could proceed. But if citizens wanted to reverse the city planners’ decision, the Zoning Board of Adjustment is the venue to request a review of city staff zoning decisions.
Those in opposition to the Hill Street frac sand depot are expected to make their case at the regularly scheduled ZBA meeting February 2. It’s scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in the South Meeting Room of the McNease Convention Center, 501 Rio Concho Drive.
In the meantime, City Council, the political body receiving the most heat over the controversy, will consider weighing in with a resolution on Tuesday that simply acknowledges that many in San Angelo are concerned:
The Council for the City of San Angelo acknowledges the considerable public opposition to future developments of frac sand mining, processing, storing, trans-loading and transporting operations within the corporate limits of the city and determines that it is necessary and in the best interests of the public, including the protection of the public health and safety of the residents of the City of San Angelo, Texas, that the Council express its concern for the potential negative impacts of such developments on the health and safety of the community, including impacts directly related to airborne pollution, increased commercial truck traffic, street maintenance, property values, and the overall quality of life for residents in the community.
After the council votes on the resolution of acknowledgement, they will consider nominations of three citizens to sit on the ZBA. They are:
- David Nowlin (chairman) for a third term through January 2016.
- John Haydn for a second term through January 2017.
- Ricardo Cortijo for a first term through January 2017.
Other interesting items
ASU Ram Football. Mayor Morrison will read and present a proclamation honoring the Angelo State Ram Football team for a winning 9-3 season that advanced into the NCAA Division 2 national playoffs for the first time since 2005. ASU’s athletic director Sean Johnson and head coach Will Wagner will be there to receive it.
Resort on Lake Nasworthy. City staff will seek direction from council in regards to advertising for Requests for Proposal to develop a resort and entertainment area in and around Mary E. Lee Park at Lake Nasworthy. This is a piece of the Lake’s master development plan that is ongoing since 2013.
Water Rate Study. Council will approve or disapprove hiring a consultant, Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc, to conduct a water and water reclamation rate study. If approved, the cost of the study cannot exceed $90,000.
New Venue Taxes. City staff is exploring options to finance upgrades to the city-owned venues. Two possibilities were discovered in state law. One is adding an additional two percent to the Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT), but he total HOT on a hotel room is not to exceed 17 percent of the gross rental rate. The other is taxing the use of rental cars in 1/8-percent increments, but the total local tax on rental cars cannot exceed five percent of the gross rental charges. Both options require approval via an election. The staff presentation suggests that the income from the tax(es) can be amortized into a multi-million dollar bond to finance venue improvements. Among the projects talked about are adding box seats, or sky boxes to the coliseum, expanding the McNease Convention Center’s exhibit hall, and building public restrooms at the Texas Bank Sports Complex.
New police station. In executive session, council will discuss possibilities, land or other real estate, for a new police station.
Subscribe to the LIVE! Daily
Required
Post a comment to this article here: