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News-Dispatch Volume XXXVIII No. 27
Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982
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75¢ Thursday, April 12, 2018
Blue Blazes
Dripping Springs woman killed in U.S. 290 wreck BY MOSES LEOS III
PHOTO COURTESY OF BLUE BLAZES
Blue Blazes, a 35-acre tract of land off of U.S. Highway 290, was annexed by the city on Jan. 17, 2017 and will potentially include a hotel, single-family homes and retail and commercial space.
Growth continues in new U.S. 290 development BY EXSAR ARGUELLO Dripping Springs wants to continue its growth model with a mixed-use property that will potentially be the home for new residential and retail facilities. Blue Blazes, a 35acre tract of land off of U.S. Highway 290, was annexed by the city on Jan. 17, 2017 and will potentially include a hotel, single-family homes and retail and commercial space. At the development’s current state, roads and utility lines are paved, giving residents and business owners the opportunity to drive through the property. Scott Deskins, an associate at Stream Realty Partners who is working on the project, said the company is
Blue Blazes, a 35-acre tract of land off of U.S. Highway 290, was annexed by the city on Jan. 17, 2017 and will potentially include a hotel, singlefamily homes and retail and commercial space. currently speaking with prospects interested in developing in the area. The appeal of the property is the ability to develop not only commercial spaces, but housing needs that will be assessed as the project grows, Deskins said. “There is flexibility to develop how we want with the property,” Deskins said. “Dripping Springs is on fire with its growth and it’s a well timed project that will capitalize on these new trends.” The city of Dripping
Springs will require site development plans be submitted to the city for administrative approval before developers can start construction. Once the plans are in, the city will assess the permitting needs of the property, specifically in regards to water and wastewater facilities. If there is a need for 5,000 gallons of irrigation per day or less of water, the city can permit that for the development, said Ginger Faught, deputy city administrator for the City of Dripping
Springs. If there were a need for more than 5,000 gallons of irrigation per day, that permit would have to come from the Texas Department of Environmental Quality (TCEQ). For wastewater, the developers opted to install septic systems, so there is no connection to the city’s wastewater facilities. “The property was annexed by the city and they’ve only developed the internal improvements and utilities,” Faught said.
“This was an agreement made with the city and site development plans will have to be submitted before further development.” A five-acre plot of land on the property will likely accommodate a hotel while the front lots facing Hwy. 290 will see retail businesses, Deskins said. The residential space could include condos or single-family lots, but that is still in preliminary discussion, he said. “We’re extremely excited about what we’re going to be doing here,” Deskins said. “This is something that this market desperately needs and we are looking at what our potential users want to get out of this development.”
Permits could be required for area wedding venue to continue BY EXSAR ARGUELLO More than a year after opening their doors, the owners of a wedding venue located in Dripping Springs’ extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) might be required to submit site development permits as none were found on file. An investigation was launched by the city of Dripping Springs over a month ago before contact was made with Shon and Janie Saliga, owners of the Garden Grove wedding venue, located on RM 967 west of Buda. Kyle Dannhaus, Dripping Springs
“Once staff looks at the property, a decision will be made if Garden Grove will need a site development plan for the wedding venue.” –Ginger Faught, deputy city administrator for the City of Dripping Springs
building code enforcement officer, and city engineer Chad Gilpin were involved with the process. Ginger Faught, Dripping Springs deputy city administrator, said the Saliga’s wedding venue initially didn’t require
permits because it was a home. However, permits might be required after six, single-room casitas were constructed in the back of the property to accommodate wedding guests. “Once staff looks at the property, a decision
Two people were killed, including a woman from Dripping Springs, after their vehicles collided head-on April 4 near the Hays and Travis county line. Carol Ann Larue, 58, of Dripping Springs, was killed in the wreck, according to a Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson. The second victim was identified as Jory D Mayer, 21, of Austin. According to a DPS accident report, the wreck took place around 4:24 p.m. on U.S. Highway 290 roughly six miles west of Austin. A 2009 Nissan Rogue, driven by Mayer, was traveling eastbound on the left lane of U.S. Highway 290 when, for unknown reasons, it drifted into the center turn left lane, according to the report. The Rogue then drifted into the left lane of westbound U.S. 290 and into the path of a 2014 Ford Escape, driven by Larue. The two vehicles crashed head-on, according to the release. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not released any additional details on the crash. DPS continues to investigate the incident.
LAGNIAPPE
Artists Show
will be made if Garden Grove will need a site development plan for the wedding venue,” Faught said. Since the home is located in the Dripping Springs ETJ, the city does not have land use authority and is limited in how it can regulate a business like Garden Grove, she said. The Saligas, who are former IBM executives, built their dream home with the intent of using it as a residential space before the couple decided to transform their home into a wedding venue, hosting around ten
A newly formed alliance of local artists and scupltors is hosting its inaugural show April 21-22 in Dripping Springs. The show will be held at the Studio: 13 sculpture garden on 1300 Creek Road. Artists participating in the alliance include Nina Mihm, known for paintings and collages that blend acrylics and textures; Cammy Jones, whose bright and bold paintings reflect modern expressionism, and Irma Gross, a highly talented artist who works in a wide variety of color with numerous subjects. Hours for the April show are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. The group plans to hold future showings at a variety of venues.
GARDEN GROVE PERMITS, 2
LAGNIAPPE, 2