City Opposes Concrete Plant

CITY BEAT

The crowd that packed City Hall was restless.

They had patiently waited 45 minutes past the time that the Dripping Springs City Council was scheduled to convene on Aug. 21. When the council members finally emerged from their workshop to begin the public meeting, Mayor Todd Purcell wasted no time in reading out loud a Special City Council Resolution document, which they had prepared, expressing concerns regarding the public health, safety, and welfare implications of a concrete batch plant proposed by Lauren Concrete, Inc. The crowd erupted into a standing ovation. The resolution was passed and approved.

The proposed batch plant is to be located at 4901 West Highway 290. This location is in the Dripping Springs extraterritorial jurisdiction, near the Los Lagos subdivision and surrounding ranches.

Resolution NO. 2018-R24, regarding the city’s opposition to the proposed plant, urges a thorough review of related permit applications by Texas Commission on Environmental Control (TCEC) and Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District (HTGCD), and expresses strong concern that the plant would be incompatible with the surrounds, and consistency of the city’s Comprehensive Plan, as well as future annexation plans. This includes air quality health and safety, substantial use of aquifer water in a community dependent on wells, noise, nuisance of operation in traffic, suitability of streets for wear and tear of concrete truck convoys, light pollution, and in general, the quality of life in Dripping Springs for both humans and wildlife.

It was signed by the mayor, and fully executed.

Los Lagos resident Janet Culver stated that neighbors first heard of this projected plan for a batch plant on social media, about three weeks before the City Hall meeting. After contacting TCEQ, Texas Dept. of Transportation, and HTGCD, she discovered neighbors had only 30 days to process and address certain issues. She immediately instituted a petition, and began seeking help through city, county, and state representatives. The petition garnered over 1,000 signatures in little time.

“We expressed grave concerns to the mayor and city council regarding Lauren Concrete’s batch plant. Our concerns were heard, and the City Council truly deserved our standing ovation,” said Culver. “However, our work is not done.” Culver hopes that citizens will go to the hearings to help “Save Drip” and keep the community “amazing.”

After presenting the resolution, Mayor Purcell said, “We don’t have the authority to stop this,” as he urged the crowd to attend Hays County public hearings in regard to the plant, in the future. The mayor also asked the public to arrange for a point person to keep the city council informed. Appreciative of the grateful response from the attendees, he then recommended that folks return to the comfort of their homes. The Hall cleared.

There was no representative from Lauren Concrete present for comment at the City Hall meeting. They applied to TCEQ for an Air Quality Permit which would authorize construction of the Concrete Batch Plant. TCEQ has planned a public hearing on Monday September 10, at 6:30 p.m., at Dripping Springs High School Cafeteria. To submit a formal comment visit: https://www.tceq.texas.gov; under Commissioner’s Corner, click on “View Pending Matters and File Documents.” The application number for the concrete plant is Permit Number 152632.

HTGCD has been requested by the City to schedule a hearing, as well.