Pages

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Salt Lick owner wants to name his new development 'Driftwood' . . . 'I don't think so,' says another Driftwood resident


" . . . there already is a Driftwood [community] and if Roberts wants to do this sales/property tax project he should be able to do so, but he should use a different namesake for his development, e.g., Robertsville or Salt Lick City."


Send your comments and news tips to online.editor@valleyspringcomm.net or click on the "comments" button at the botton of the story


Note: We received this e-mail this morning from an alert Driftwood-area resident and taxpayer.

See the story in the Statesman at this link: http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/10/27/1027driftwood.html

Salt Lick owner Scott Roberts has a referendum on the upcoming ballot to create a taxing district on the 540 acres Roberts owns off FM 1826 and FM 150 that would allow him to collect sales tax to maintain his planned residential and recreational development. If the referendum passes, it would create a new 1.25 percent sales tax — starting with food sold at the Salt Lick — that would be charged in addition to existing sales tax to maintain the development for years to come. Hotel taxes and property taxes on homes in the area also would support the venture.

Slick legal move by Roberts, Patrick Rose, attorneys, et. al who want to call the new community Driftwood. However, there already is a Driftwood [community] and if Roberts wants to do this sales/property tax project he should be able to do so, but he should use a different namesake for his development, e.g., Robertsville or Salt Lick City.

Please see that the referendum undergoes this name change.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

There might be a "Driftwood" community, but there is not a lock on the word "Driftwood". It is not copyrighted, and should Scott's community end up incorporating, it could become the town of "Driftwood". Scott's family having been in the community of Driftwood longer than most, if not all, he has as much right to use the name "Driftwood" as anyone else would, if not more.

Why is it "slick" to use the name "Driftwood"? To me it seems more of a sense of honoring the community "Driftwood". But I guess some people assume that there few years living somewhere and paying taxes gives them some superior right to a particular name.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a plan for some smart growth in this county. Kudos, Mr. Roberts.

Anonymous said...

I believe the exact term "slick legal" is in reference to the sales/property tax separate district scheme.

I agree it is a smart move and will really help Roberts defray his costs.

But what about a school system? Guess he'll just throw all the kids into DSISD?

I supposed he wants to keep the name Driftwood so that he can legally do that, otherwise he could incur the expense of schooling and other issues that DSISD and Hays County taxes pay for.

Anonymous said...

Just what we need, a perpetual traffic jam intersect at FM 150 and FM 1826 [and all down each roadway in both directions].

Can't wait.

Guess that's just progress, ain't it?

Good, creative business scheme though.

Congrats, Scott for coming up with another good plan.

Anonymous said...

Wow! Anyone that wants to develop thier property is talked about in a negative term by this blog. The man is trying to do things right and everyone complains. Where would you be living if the people before you had not divided thier property?

Anonymous said...

Actually the kids (if there are any since the price range of these homes will essentially be for those with money - old rich folks) will be in the Hays Consolidated School District. Nothing to Drippin'.

As for traffic jams, what more or less would it be than what it is now? On a busy day, the number of cars is staggering. Why won't these new friends and citizens of Hays County's growing population not have the right to park on FM 1826?

I have an idea - let's make FM 1826 a toll road! Than these poor folks from the Salt Lick development (and those who want to eat there) would have to pay a toll to get there. HA!

A Question... said...

So, if Roberts gets to name his development 'Driftwood' and then incorporates his little corner of the world, does that mean the rest of us currently living in Driftwood will NOT be Driftwood any more?

Anonymous said...

You suppose Rose Realty of Dripping Springs is the exclusive agent for the new development?

Anonymous said...

I think that if he incorporates and calls it Driftwood, then those living outside of Robert's Driftwood, will be in their ETJ. (Ha-ha)

Sort of like the thousands who "live" in Drippin', but are really just part of the "community". (Double ha-ha)

DonQ said...

Anony #5, Yes, anyone wanting to develop any property in this rapidly growing area is often perceived as evil here. That also applies to any office holder that may aid such a "transgression". It has become a reflexive action to criticize any development at all, by many who post here.

If someone owns a piece of property he/she should be allowed to do anything with it they want, as long as it is a legal enterprise. Mr. Roberts seems to have dotted all his “I”s and crossed all his “T”s but will surely have to jump through more hoops to exercise his rights. Just because you don’t like something, it’s not a valid reason to deprive others of their legal rights. The argument about the name is really grasping at straws.

This Blog does have a liberal slant in its editorial comment but is very receptive to right-leaning contributors. I consider myself a conservative and have always been treated fairly by this Blog. There is always the occasional illiterate nut that goes over-the-top but it is rare.

Anonymous said...

Some of us over the top nuts are actually practicing our composition homework by writing sarcasm and acerbic wit! Trying to skewer the liberal factions with humor, which they are in short supply lately now that they are in power and are finding the reigns of power a little too hot to handle when they can't blame anyone else but themselves (ala, Rose, Ford, et al).

The typical protest of the evil Republicans doesn't hold water when the Republicans / Conservatives aren't in the position to do anything to stop the radical Left's agenda. But it is sure fun to watch them eat their own while they self-destruct from the inside out. What I wouldn't give for more of the good old Blue-Dog Democrats of old, who were good solid staunch conservative allies of anyone of similar stripes, regardless of party. The only thing predominant in the Democrat Party now is the yellow-skunk-stripe variety.

Anonymous said...

The only reason the Salt Lick and Scott Roberts want to take the name of our community of Driftwood and use it for their 500 acre development for the rich is PROFIT. Well, I’m not buying it. The Salt Lick has changed from an asset for our community to a liability.
I am not voting for increased sales tax to pay for this project.
I am not letting them take our name.
I am not taking friends to eat out at the Salt Lick any more.
I am not supporting candidates that fund raise at the Salt Lick
Please join the boycott.

Anonymous said...

Boycotting the Salt Lick and officials who campaign with Robert's support will not work.

Every candidate, Democrat or GOP, strives to get Robert's support because he provides large contributions and he owns a successful local established business.

It won't matter who runs for office because Roberts is smart and "covers all his bases".

For the past decade my family neighbors and friends already have boycotted The Salt Lick and it doesn't matter.

It seems that most of the people who eat there come from Austin. I know many locals who won't eat there any more.

Sorry, but your plan won't work.

Anonymous said...

Bummer. You can't even be successful anymore without people being mad at you. It's not like the Salt Lick became such a great success because they ran over the little guy or sold out to a franchise.

Guess there are some people you just can never please.

Anonymous said...

There also are many people who can't seem to see the realities of ongoing special interest payoffs.

Anonymous said...

Some things never change; those that covet other’s wealth are always around to complain rather than get out there and work for their own. If you are rich and successful, the only thing you can do, and not incur their wrath, is write checks to the po’ folk. Whatever happened to the country that used to celebrate success?