First report from the new Coupland Incorporation Committee, from Susan Schmidt in the January Coupland Herald:
The Coupland Incorporation Committee met on Monday, November 29. Members of the committee attending the meeting were Becky Sutton, Jack Piper, Jim Huntington, Luther Draehn, Karen Marosko, Charley Keating, Carey Franklin, and Chair Susan Schmidt.
Many topics were discussed, with more questions than answers. The highest priority at this point is having the correct number of people needed for incorporation within the two-mile radius.
The next meeting, slated for January 10, is being rescheduled due to scheduling conflicts experienced by several committee members. Anyone wishing to join this committee is more than welcome. Please call Susan Schmidt at 856-2588 for the next meeting date.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Friday, December 24, 2010
Christmas in Coupland
The Coupland Civic Organization (CCO) thanks Coupland teacher George McAdams and Superintendent Gary Chandler for bringing the school’s flutophone group and the guitar class to perform at the CCO’s Christmas program on December 16. A standing-room-only audience of parents, grandparents, and other community members greatly enjoyed the music. Also, thanks to the CCO’s hospitality committee for the holiday refreshments.
The steeple and windows of St. Peter’s Church of Coupland are outlined with Christmas lights, and together with the lights on the Old Coupland Inn and some elaborate displays on homes, Coupland’s Christmas lights make a beautiful scene in the middle of the countryside.
The steeple and windows of St. Peter’s Church of Coupland are outlined with Christmas lights, and together with the lights on the Old Coupland Inn and some elaborate displays on homes, Coupland’s Christmas lights make a beautiful scene in the middle of the countryside.
St. Peter’s choir presented their Christmas Cantata on December 19. Additional St. Peter’s Christmas activities include the Christmas bags that the Sunday School children have made for the church members who are not able to be out and about. Also underway is the annual Angel Tree project to provide gifts for children in the community.
Christmas time in Coupland--a wonderful time of year! Merry Christmas!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Coupland hears about neighboring cities' expansions--incorporation committee forms
At the Coupland Civic Organization meeting on October 25, an audience of about 60 heard from Taylor and Elgin officials about their cities’ annexation plans and their thoughts on the situation in the Coupland area.
Taylor’s plans
Taylor City Manager Jim Dunaway said that since Taylor’s last annexation, there are no more plans to go south along Hwy. 95. If Taylor goes south, it would be on 973. The new high school will open in the fall of 2011, and Taylor may annex there in 1012 or 13. In addition to the area around the new high school, Taylor will focus toward its northwest in the Chandler Road area.
The line between Pflugerville and Manor is Manda-Carlson Rd. because of an agreement. Pflugerville does not want to be any farther east, at least right now. Also, in August, Pflugerville and Taylor agreed that Pflugerville relinquished its ETJ in the Rice’s Crossing area, giving up its ETJ there that was in Williamson County. Dunaway said that Taylor was talking to Manor and Elgin “trying to negotiate a line between us.”
Elgin’s plans
Elgin Mayor Marc Holm said that Elgin and Coupland are in a similar situation. There is intense growth east of Austin. It is going to continue to be a desirable area. There are a lot of plans still in play. There will be pressure on Coupland, with developments coming.
He and other Elgin officials explained that their effort to voluntarily add property to the Elgin ETJ by sending letters to people who are in the Elgin ISD is a defensive effort in response to aggressive annexation by Manor. Manor is attempting to move to its northeast. If Manor is successful, its ETJ would be north of Elgin, between Elgin and Coupland, and moving toward Coupland. If Elgin can expand its ETJ toward Coupland, this would protect Coupland from Manor.
Mayor Holm said that Elgin is having to respond or decisions will be made for it. That’s a challenge that Coupland and Elgin have in common. He concluded that Central Texas is still the area for growth. He advised Coupland to create our own city or the decision will be taken away from us, and not too far in the future.
Taylor and Elgin in discussions
Jim Dunaway, Taylor city manager, said if Coupland does not choose incorporation, we have to decide which city will take us over. Current city officials can’t tell us what future city councils will do.
Taylor is in discussions with Elgin and Manor to agree that those cities will stop at the Williamson County line. If this comes to pass, it leaves Coupland only within the reach of Taylor for future annexation, given that Pflugerville says it does not want to come past Manda/Carlson Road. However, both Dunaway and Mayor Holm said we can’t predict what future city councils will do.
Business development could threaten Coupland
Greg Vick, Elgin interim city manager, doesn’t think the biggest threat to Coupland now is from a city; he thinks it would be a big development. Someone could be planning a big development for the Coupland area, and when something happens, it’s too late for us to have any control over it. Right now, Coupland has the ability to make these decisions. Greg Vick said the threat is not so much residential developments, but business developments.
Coupland incorporation committee
At the end of the meeting, Susan Schmidt announced that she is forming a committee to work on incorporation. She asked people who were interested to get in touch with her.
Taylor’s plans
Taylor City Manager Jim Dunaway said that since Taylor’s last annexation, there are no more plans to go south along Hwy. 95. If Taylor goes south, it would be on 973. The new high school will open in the fall of 2011, and Taylor may annex there in 1012 or 13. In addition to the area around the new high school, Taylor will focus toward its northwest in the Chandler Road area.
The line between Pflugerville and Manor is Manda-Carlson Rd. because of an agreement. Pflugerville does not want to be any farther east, at least right now. Also, in August, Pflugerville and Taylor agreed that Pflugerville relinquished its ETJ in the Rice’s Crossing area, giving up its ETJ there that was in Williamson County. Dunaway said that Taylor was talking to Manor and Elgin “trying to negotiate a line between us.”
Elgin’s plans
Elgin Mayor Marc Holm said that Elgin and Coupland are in a similar situation. There is intense growth east of Austin. It is going to continue to be a desirable area. There are a lot of plans still in play. There will be pressure on Coupland, with developments coming.
He and other Elgin officials explained that their effort to voluntarily add property to the Elgin ETJ by sending letters to people who are in the Elgin ISD is a defensive effort in response to aggressive annexation by Manor. Manor is attempting to move to its northeast. If Manor is successful, its ETJ would be north of Elgin, between Elgin and Coupland, and moving toward Coupland. If Elgin can expand its ETJ toward Coupland, this would protect Coupland from Manor.
Mayor Holm said that Elgin is having to respond or decisions will be made for it. That’s a challenge that Coupland and Elgin have in common. He concluded that Central Texas is still the area for growth. He advised Coupland to create our own city or the decision will be taken away from us, and not too far in the future.
Taylor and Elgin in discussions
Jim Dunaway, Taylor city manager, said if Coupland does not choose incorporation, we have to decide which city will take us over. Current city officials can’t tell us what future city councils will do.
Taylor is in discussions with Elgin and Manor to agree that those cities will stop at the Williamson County line. If this comes to pass, it leaves Coupland only within the reach of Taylor for future annexation, given that Pflugerville says it does not want to come past Manda/Carlson Road. However, both Dunaway and Mayor Holm said we can’t predict what future city councils will do.
Business development could threaten Coupland
Greg Vick, Elgin interim city manager, doesn’t think the biggest threat to Coupland now is from a city; he thinks it would be a big development. Someone could be planning a big development for the Coupland area, and when something happens, it’s too late for us to have any control over it. Right now, Coupland has the ability to make these decisions. Greg Vick said the threat is not so much residential developments, but business developments.
Coupland incorporation committee
At the end of the meeting, Susan Schmidt announced that she is forming a committee to work on incorporation. She asked people who were interested to get in touch with her.
Monday, November 15, 2010
The 2011 session--eminent domain protection redux
Sen. Craig Estes has refiled his bill to limit eminent domain takings to projects that are only for public use. Last session, the Senate passed this legislation, but it got caught up in the log-jam of bills that did not pass in the House when time ran out. This time, it is called Senate Bill 180, which redefines “public use” and includes compensation for diminished access. SB 180 also ends land speculation by the government.
Estes said, “I believe one of the most important functions of government is the protection of private property and the interests of property owners. Our ability to own and profit from private property is fundamental to not just our economic liberty, but also our personal liberty."
Here's hoping that this session does not end in the disarray of the previous session, when valuable legislation like this, that was on its way to being passed, was simply lost when time ran out.
Estes said, “I believe one of the most important functions of government is the protection of private property and the interests of property owners. Our ability to own and profit from private property is fundamental to not just our economic liberty, but also our personal liberty."
Here's hoping that this session does not end in the disarray of the previous session, when valuable legislation like this, that was on its way to being passed, was simply lost when time ran out.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
October Coupland meeting on Taylor and Elgin expansion
The October Coupland Civic Organization meeting will be the last in the series of presentations about the changing situation around Coupland. The CCO has heard from Taylor’s city manager and mayor pro tem and Pflugerville’s city planner. The group also has had a community round-table discussion about the situation. CCO directors have presented information about the small cities of Weir and Creedmoor and their experiences with incorporation.
Taylor and Elgin are considering the future of the area between them, which includes Coupland. Some residents who are close to Coupland but are in the Elgin school district have received letters from the City of Elgin asking them to voluntarily join Elgin’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.
On October 25, the CCO will present the Taylor/Elgin situation. Speakers will be Taylor City Manager Jim Dunaway, Elgin Mayor Marc Holm, Elgin City Manager Greg Vick, and Elgin City Planner Gary Cooke. The meeting is Monday, October 25, in the Fellowship Hall of St. Peter’s Church. Refreshments will be served at 6:30 p.m., and the program will begin at 7.
Taylor and Elgin are considering the future of the area between them, which includes Coupland. Some residents who are close to Coupland but are in the Elgin school district have received letters from the City of Elgin asking them to voluntarily join Elgin’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.
On October 25, the CCO will present the Taylor/Elgin situation. Speakers will be Taylor City Manager Jim Dunaway, Elgin Mayor Marc Holm, Elgin City Manager Greg Vick, and Elgin City Planner Gary Cooke. The meeting is Monday, October 25, in the Fellowship Hall of St. Peter’s Church. Refreshments will be served at 6:30 p.m., and the program will begin at 7.
More on solar farm in Coupland area
Update on the 600-acre, $240 million solar farm at the intersection of Manda-Carlson Road and Felder Lane, about 3-1/2 miles west/southwest of Coupland:
On September 15, the Blackland Prairie Concerned Citizens Association hosted a meeting at the New Sweden Parish Hall to get more info to area residents.
RRE Solar, formed late last year, is the company doing the project. A consultant for RRE Solar, Angelos Angelou of Angelou Economics, said that they have not yet chosen a construction company. He said that when a company is chosen, RRE will put the concerns of the surrounding residents in the contract. He noted that RRE has purchased right-of-way for a line to connect the solar farm to the nearby LCRA transmission line and thus to the ERCOT grid.
They hope to break ground here in November; construction should take 2-1/2 to 3 years.
Clay Fischer presented the findings of Zephyr Environmental. Zephyr did not find any endangered species on the site, although nearby residents said they have spotted whooping cranes on their properties. Cottonwood Creek and a tank are on the RRE site. Fischer said, “All plant work will happen outside of these areas. RRE and Zephyr have developed stormwater pollution prevention plans to stop erosion during construction and operation.”
Fischer claimed that there were no cultural resources on the site or within one mile of the project boundaries. However, residents pointed out that the Carlson Community historical marker is across the road from the project, at the intersection of Lund-Carlson Road and Manda-Carlson Road.
Daven Mehta, CEO of RRE, explained that the solar panels will be 6 to 7 feet high, fixed at a 30 degree angle. Unlike some solar panels, these will not move, and there will be no noise. The panels will be set back from the property boundaries. There will be two fences with a gravel road in between, the fencing will be 20 feet back from boundaries, and the panels will be 50-70 feet inside. The fence and panels will be screened from view by berms and plantings of trees and shrubs around the property.
When asked about lighting, Mehta said, “We don’t work at night and only need lights for security.” RRE is considering new type of lighting that mitigates the brightness reaching neighboring properties.
At the previous BPCCA meeting, some attendees thought that the solar farm was not the worst project that could be put on this property. It is a large parcel that was owned by out-of-state owners, and some neighboring property owners were concerned that it was being considered for high-density housing or an Austin landfill.
Some adjoining property owners at the September meeting disagreed with the above analysis and are unalterably opposed to the solar farm. Some neighbors were considering having their own environmental study done.
On September 15, the Blackland Prairie Concerned Citizens Association hosted a meeting at the New Sweden Parish Hall to get more info to area residents.
RRE Solar, formed late last year, is the company doing the project. A consultant for RRE Solar, Angelos Angelou of Angelou Economics, said that they have not yet chosen a construction company. He said that when a company is chosen, RRE will put the concerns of the surrounding residents in the contract. He noted that RRE has purchased right-of-way for a line to connect the solar farm to the nearby LCRA transmission line and thus to the ERCOT grid.
They hope to break ground here in November; construction should take 2-1/2 to 3 years.
Clay Fischer presented the findings of Zephyr Environmental. Zephyr did not find any endangered species on the site, although nearby residents said they have spotted whooping cranes on their properties. Cottonwood Creek and a tank are on the RRE site. Fischer said, “All plant work will happen outside of these areas. RRE and Zephyr have developed stormwater pollution prevention plans to stop erosion during construction and operation.”
Fischer claimed that there were no cultural resources on the site or within one mile of the project boundaries. However, residents pointed out that the Carlson Community historical marker is across the road from the project, at the intersection of Lund-Carlson Road and Manda-Carlson Road.
Daven Mehta, CEO of RRE, explained that the solar panels will be 6 to 7 feet high, fixed at a 30 degree angle. Unlike some solar panels, these will not move, and there will be no noise. The panels will be set back from the property boundaries. There will be two fences with a gravel road in between, the fencing will be 20 feet back from boundaries, and the panels will be 50-70 feet inside. The fence and panels will be screened from view by berms and plantings of trees and shrubs around the property.
When asked about lighting, Mehta said, “We don’t work at night and only need lights for security.” RRE is considering new type of lighting that mitigates the brightness reaching neighboring properties.
At the previous BPCCA meeting, some attendees thought that the solar farm was not the worst project that could be put on this property. It is a large parcel that was owned by out-of-state owners, and some neighboring property owners were concerned that it was being considered for high-density housing or an Austin landfill.
Some adjoining property owners at the September meeting disagreed with the above analysis and are unalterably opposed to the solar farm. Some neighbors were considering having their own environmental study done.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
New book on "the unfinished history" of the I-69 part of the Trans-Texas Corridor
Thanks to Martha Estes for letting us know about a newly released book that sounds very interesting. Matt Dellinger’s “Interstate 69: The Unfinished History of the Last Great American Highway” deals with the TTC-69 part of the Trans-Texas Corridor.
Publishers Weekly says that this book about “the controversial I-69 highway . . . makes for colorful, quirky reading.” As was true about the now-dead TTC-35, TTC-69 also will run from Canada to Mexico and is a NAFTA highway. Whereas TTC-35 was slated to run through Central Texas, TTC-69 is planned to go through East Texas through the Houston area and on to the Rio Grande. Dellinger discusses the many options in play, including “the controversial practice of allowing foreign companies to lease roads long-term and charge escalating tolls.”
In the Statesman, Ben Wear says, “Dellinger details the back-room origins of the now-dead Trans-Texas Corridor. . . . And the book makes indelible characters out of key players in that issue.”
Dellinger is on a national tour and will be at Austin’s Book People, 603 N. Lamar, on Friday, October 1, at 7 p.m. for reading, discussion, and signing.
Publishers Weekly says that this book about “the controversial I-69 highway . . . makes for colorful, quirky reading.” As was true about the now-dead TTC-35, TTC-69 also will run from Canada to Mexico and is a NAFTA highway. Whereas TTC-35 was slated to run through Central Texas, TTC-69 is planned to go through East Texas through the Houston area and on to the Rio Grande. Dellinger discusses the many options in play, including “the controversial practice of allowing foreign companies to lease roads long-term and charge escalating tolls.”
In the Statesman, Ben Wear says, “Dellinger details the back-room origins of the now-dead Trans-Texas Corridor. . . . And the book makes indelible characters out of key players in that issue.”
Dellinger is on a national tour and will be at Austin’s Book People, 603 N. Lamar, on Friday, October 1, at 7 p.m. for reading, discussion, and signing.
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