In Our Community

Development plans for the entrance of Sunset Canyon West

These documents were obtained from public records by a resident. Click here to see the plans filed for development.

Development at the Entrance of Sunset Canyon West

This is a series of emails that appearred in my inbox Friday, March 7. They are re-posted here. The most recent email is at the top, the original at the bottom. For security reasons, I've deleted phone numbers and email addresses. If you see your email or response here and object, let me know. I'll remove your entry.
--Kim Hawk

From: Clay Johnson
Date: March 6, 2008 6:43:43 PM CST

Subject: Re: New construction at the entrance to the neighborhood - UPDATE - MEETING CANCELLED

Sunset Canyon used to be the Jewel of Northern Hays County. The board was in full swing and restrictions used to be enforced, as best as possible. ÝBuilders and neighbors just do anything they wish now, with little regard to restrictions or taste. Just look at the recent setback violations and current projects under construction that have not been approved by SCLA. It is sad to have spent 11 years of my life in Sunset Canyon to watch it deteriorate they way it has.

This is why I moved out of Sunset Canyon and probably will not be able to sell my home for what I have put into it. The association is weak and has zero ability to fight an intrusion that is detrimentalto the community. ÝThe restrictive covenants specifically say it is up to the neighbor or group of neighbors to deal with these issues as they arise. This is why the developer wants to meet with the president in a closed meeting. The association frankly does not have the money to even begin a legal dialogue on any issue. ÝSeveral years ago we tried to reorganize the neighborhood association in an effort to inch toward mandatory membership and increasing HOA dues. The long term plans were to have a budget that would allow the association to be managed by a professional management company. That would have created an roadblock for the city from ever ram-rodding something like this through the approval process.

If you want to see what it will look like just go to Hidden Hills and look at all the crap in the back of all of those buildings. If you want to hear what it will sound like go listen to the volleyball court at the stadium. Imagine your children playing on Hidden Hills where Leonard the clown tests his vehicles after putting a new muffler system on a clients truck or playing behind the eating establishments that serves alcohol to their clients all day. ÝDon't let me forget the fence and deck company who has a dumpster in the county right of way. ÝThis is also where the sketchy subs on and off load there equipment.

My suggestion is plan not to win with a lawyer or the developer but hire a good real estate lawyer and attempt to declare adverse possession on all entrances where neighborhood signs are located and have been for more than a decade. If there is any success it will be to stall all of what the city and the developer are going to do. Whatever the developer tells you do not take it to the bank because once they get approval they can change their plan without any reason what so ever. This is not opinion this is fact. Oh once precedent has been set which it has over and over in Sunset Canyon section 1 through 5 the new standards are in play.

Good Luck
CJ

On Mar 6, 2008, at 10:37 AM, Dave Mayo wrote:

FYI

Below is an unrelated issue regarding the trailer on 290.Ý Because we all pass by it every day, I thought you might want to know.Ý I had asked the city how long it was going to be allowed to sit there.

Another reason I wanted to share this is because it sounds like once a site plan is approved and a project is started, the city does not have ìthe latitudeî to do much. Ý Ý

Dave

[City of Dripping Springs response, below -ed.]

Dave,
The City approved a site development plan for this business, ì290 Mini-storageî about 18 months ago, and the double-wide that is sitting there is a part of this site plan. It is being joined together, and so far as the City is concerned right now, it is a project in progress. We donít have the latitude to approve or deny a project in the ETJ based on appearances or land use as these are zoning functions. Since they have begun the project they are within the time frame of the benchmark for starting a project. Hope this helps.

Jon

Jon P. Thompson
Development Coordinator
City of Dripping Springs
Ý 511 Mercer Drive/PO Box 384
Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Ý
tel: 512.858.4699
fax: 512.858.5646

From:ÝWeekley, Wendi
Sent:ÝThursday, March 06, 2008 8:15 AM

Subject:ÝRE: New construction at the entrance to the neighborhood - UPDATE - MEETING CANCELLED

Hi Lisa,
I would like to know in advance exactly what our President is going to speak about on our behalf. ÝIím sure we all have ideas of what we donít want to see and it seems that the opportunity to negotiate what is in our best interest is slipping away. ÝCan you share with us what our President intends to discuss? ÝIt would be a good idea if we could collectively gather, organize and prioritize our thoughts prior to this meeting. ÝFor example, I can tell you that I personally do NOT want to look at a metal building with bright paint. ÝI donít even want an automotive repair shop at our entrance. ÝIf I had to choose, I would like to see a stone building and landscape that is aesthetic.Ý I also would like our entrance and signage ñ Sunset Canyon West - maintained or upgraded as part of the agreement.Ý I also have concern about road wear on the entrance. ÝI was personally involved with the Headwaters discussions and the developer never shied away from meeting with the Landowners, addressing concerns and making concessions.Ý The fact that this developer is not willing to meet with us does not give me a warm feeling of what is coming our way. I sincerely appreciate you sending out these communications. Ý

Thank you!
Ý

Wendi WeekleyÝ

From:Ýlisa willson
Sent:ÝWednesday, March 05, 2008 8:39 PM
Subject:ÝNew construction at the entrance to the neighborhood - UPDATE - MEETING CANCELLED

This morning I received a call from the developer stating that they had changed their mind about having a meeting this Saturday as proposed.Ý Instead they requested a meeting with the SCLA president.ÝÝ I met with the SCLA board tonight and our president, Weldon Jarrett, will call the developer and meet with him.Ý I will communicate more information on this as it becomes available in the future.

MEETING CANCELLED, MORE TO COME AS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLEÝ Ý

Ý ----- Original Message -----

From:Ýlisa willson
To:ÝLisa Mayo
Sent:ÝWednesday, March 05, 2008 8:02 AM
Subject:ÝNew construction at the entrance to the neighborhood

Dear Sunset Canyon Neighbors,
I haveÝrecently been informed that the lot fronting 290 on N. CanyonwoodÝis planned to be an automotive repair shop.Ý This is the lot where the 'Sunset Canyon West' sign is that has recently been cleared.ÝAdditionally they have receivedÝa verbal agreement to receive a variance on the imperivious cover limits from 35% to 70%Ýand that commercial access to this business isÝto be viaÝN. Canyonwood drive.

IÝlive at 104 Canyonwood, two doors down from where this is planned to be.ÝÝI'm concerned about this in a number of ways.ÝThat the impervious cover limit was changed withoutÝneighborhood input on a lot that is under the neighborhood deed restrictions, that there is planned entrance/exitÝfor this on N. Canyonwood andÝtheÝfirst impression this makes for people coming in to Section V.ÝÝThe negative impact this will have on home values for those of us who live nearby and it's ultimate effect on our ability to even sell our houses is also a valid concern.Ý

With the headwaters development, we got involved andÝmade positive proposals for the lots across the street from my house and we wound up with some very nice houses going in today that have a positive impact on all of our property values. ÝIt's ironic thatÝnow that we have $400-$500K houses being built on those lots, we now face another prospect that needs our involvement to influence a positive outcome.ÝI have talked to Jon Thompson, the development coordinator at city hall this week (copied on this email) and he verified theÝdeal on the zoning and our best bet was to affect the site plan.Ý

I have to believe that it is still not too lateÝto influence a positive outcome butÝonce something is built on that lot, we are going to have to live with it whether we like it or not. We need to get involved if we want to have our voice heard.

I talked to the owner of this property, ÝEdward Taddia, and he agreed to meet with us this Saturday morning at 10:30 AM on the lot and present his site plan for developing this lot.Ý This is our chance to make a difference.

CALL TO ACTION:ÝÝ PLEASE MEET AT THE CORNER LOT AT 10:30AM THIS SATURDAY MORNING (March 8th).Ý EDWARD TADDIA WILL BE THERE TO PRESENT THE SITE PLAN,ÝNOW IS THE TIME TO INFLUENCE A POSITIVE OUTCOME

Thank you,
Corey Willson