County reviews proposed conservation properties and hires real estate manager

Remaining $8.4 million 2007 parks bond funds tagged to supplement County’s Regional Habitat Conservation Plan

Hays County Courthouse, San Marcos, TX – The Hays County Commissioners Court announced Tuesday that it has reviewed recommendations made by the County’s Parks and Open Space Advisory Board (POSAB) regarding 15 properties submitted to the County for conservation use and has authorized The Nature Conservancy to act as its real estate advisor for parks bond properties going forward.

While all 15 properties are still under consideration, The Nature Conservancy will use POSAB’s rankings as a guide.

“Because of the complex and sensitive nature of real estate negotiations, The Nature Conservancy will work privately with owners of submitted land whose properties most closely match the goals set forward in acquiring land for conservation use,” Mark Kennedy, legal counsel to the Commissioners Court, said. “The Nature Conservancy is highly experienced in acquiring real estate for conservation purposes and will help maximize the return on the parks bonds approved by voters in 2007.”

The bonds were approved to fund parks, natural areas, open space and related projects, and the preservation of water quality, aquifer recharge areas and wildlife habitat. Guided by the bond language and input from a citizen’s committee, the Commissioners Court has already provided grants to support numerous park projects throughout the County as well as funded other projects, including a partnership in a conservation easement, to support water quality and aquifer recharge values.

In October 2009 the Commissioners Court announced it was seeking properties that fit the intent of the parks bonds for purchase, partnership or conservation easements. The 15 properties submitted range up to nearly 3,300 acres.

The request for proposals sought properties that could preserve endangered species and habitat, protect water quality, allow access to water by the public and provide potential for hike-and-bike trails and other recreational activities. One specific requirement is that the land must contain at least 250 acres of endangered habitat that would address the goals of the Hays County Regional Habitat Conservation Plan (http://www.hayscountyhcp.com/).

Here is the list of projects and the applicants under consideration:

Barton Creek Watershed / Trust for Public Land
Craddock Park/Friends of Craddock Park
Devil’s Backbone Habitat Preserve/Sam Houston Area Council - BSA
Headwaters at Barton Creek/Land Advisors Organization
Hillert Tract/Rick Anderson/Bob Mayo
Jacob’s Well Natural Area Expansion/Wimberley Valley Watershed Association
Lazy Oaks /Lazy Oaks Ranch, LP
Millican Ranch/ Joe Bob Millican
Nance Pasture/Mary Lee Nance
Nicholson Ranch Partners, Ltd./Adkins and Associates, Inc.
Purgatory Creek/Trust for Public Land
Rodgers Ranch/Land Advisors Organization
San Marcos River Watershed/Trust for Public Land
Shannon/Hudson/Roberson-Bob Shannon
Sink Creek Habitat & Water Protection Zone/San Marcos River Foundation For San Marcos Springs