SEPTEMBER 28, 2022 BUDA’S BRIGHTSIDE HOSTS CAR SHOW
LOBOS SHUTOUT BY THUNDERBIRDS 42-0 PAGE 11
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Vol. 128 • No. 29
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Buda approves term sheet for development agreement BY BRITTANY ANDERSON BUDA — City leaders are nearing a decision on Persimmon, a 775-acre development being proposed by MileStone Community Builders on the Bailey and Armbruster tracts of land off FM 967. After returning from an executive session, the Buda City Council approved a term sheet for the development agreement during the regular council meeting on Sept. 20. The project has gone back and forth between MileStone, city council and the planning and zoning commission, with MileStone hosting information sessions and many in the community voicing their thoughts on the project in between. However, City Manager Micah Grau noted during the meeting that this vote does not approve or deny the project as a whole, just the term sheet that will be used to craft the development agreement, and that the “final language” is still subject to come through negotiations of a final agreement. The term sheet consisted of ten items that council is asking to be implemented into the agreement: • Eminent domain: the agreement will not require the use of the city’s eminent domain (the ability to take private property and convert it into public use). • Transportation: a Garlic Creek Parkway and FM 1626 connector will be constructed, with no more than 325 residential lots permitted and issued before the completion of Phase 1 of the parkway (two lanes). Additionally, the developer will provide a profile for an economy of scale and buildability analysis of a future bridge on Hunt Road and be responsible for its cost, will reserve land for a future SH 45 extension across the site and complete the construction of the 967 roundabout prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy. • Non-residential/
DWI charges dropped for Walt Smith BY MEGAN WEHRING
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
An overview of Persimmon, divided into the Armbruster Tract (left) and Bailey Tract (right). The development is also in different extraterritorial jurisdictions (Buda/Austin) and counties (Hays/Travis). A roundabout off FM 967 is proposed at the entrance, and a road throughout (Garlic Creek Parkway) would lead to an FM 1626 connector. Yellow-colored sections indicate residential space, red sections indicate commercial space and green sections indicate parks/open space. A fire/EMS site and school site are also proposed. commercial lots: a minimum of 60 acres of developable land within the Buda ETJ will be reserved for nonresidential uses (including commercial/public use space) with at least 3.5 acres donated to the city for public uses. • Residential lots: the development will include a mix of residential lot sizes with a minimum of 30% having a width of at least 60 feet and a minimum of 30% having a width of at least 80 feet. No multi-family lots will be allowed, but single-family attached or townhomestyle developments within a condominium regime will be. • Tree mitigation: the
project will fully comply with the city’s tree mitigation requirements, and no permits will be issued on the Armbruster tract until a tree survey is conducted and submitted to the city. The developer will reimburse the city for an arborist to verify the survey’s completion and accuracy. • Parkland dedication: the project will fully meet or exceed the city’s UDC (unified development code) parkland dedication requirements, including the installation of trails along Garlic Creek and other greenbelts. • Prairie build: the building of homes prior to public improvements being
accepted, which will be considered by the council as proposed by city staff. • Annexation: the project will be voluntarily annexed into the city of Buda concurrent with the approval of the planned development (PD) zoning, PID (public improvement district) creation and execution of the agreement and PID finance agreement. • Requirements for Austin ETJ: the developer will continue to support the city of Buda’s request to release the ETJ within the city of Austin; if this occurs, the conditions of the agreement, including
HAYS COUNTY – A DWI charge for a 2021 traffic incident involving Hays County Commissioner Walt Smith was recently dropped. The charge was dropped at Walt Smith a Travis County hearing on Friday, Sept. 16. Smith is now charged with a misdemeanor traffic violation for obstructing a highway passageway and has been sentenced to nine months of community supervision, according to the plea agreement. Smith will also need to pay a $200 fine and court costs, along with using an IID (Ignition Interlock Device) for five months. On April 28, 2021, at approximately 3:11 a.m., Smith had crashed into another vehicle near the 2200 block of Lake Austin Boulevard, according to the arrest affidavit. An Austin Police officer observed that Smith had “bloodshot and glassy eyes” and there was a strong odor of alcohol coming from him. The officer also noticed that Smith was “swaying from time to time and he was wobbling sometimes” along with being very talkative, the arrest affidavit stated. When the officer first saw Smith, he was fine but later said his knee was hurting. “Over the course of my career, I have attended hundreds of legislative hearings and negotiations supporting initiatives and on behalf of my constituents, which sometimes extend late into the night. On April 28, 2021, after leaving the Capitol, I was involved in a minor traffic accident with a local delivery truck. I called 911, spoke with officers upon their arrival, and was taken to the hospital for evaluation of a leg injury,” Smith said in a news statement. Smith stated that on a scale of 0-10 (0 being not at all and 10 being the most intoxicated in his life), he was a 2, according to the arrest affidavit. He also said between 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. that night, he had two cocktails that contained vodka. The following field sobriety tests were administered to determine physical and mental faculties: Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus and one leg stand (Smith refused to take the walk and turn test due to complaint of knee pain.) On the one leg stand portion, the officers marked that Smith swayed and put his foot down, according to the arrest
See BUDA, page 12
See DWI, page 12
Buda native makes Top 25 in nationwide contest BY MEGAN WEHRING
Green Elementary School, Dahlstrom Middle School and Hays High School BUDA – Are mullets but eventually transferred making a comeback? One local resident says yes, to Lehman High School when it opened – he was in as he made it to the top 25 Lehman’s first graduating final round of the 2022 USA class in 2007. He is a member Mullet Championship – a mullet hairstyle competition of the union brotherhood as an electrician and has all in fun to support the charity, Stop Soldier Suicide. chosen to deepen his roots in his hometown and settle “The USA Mullet down in the Shadow Creek Championship is just a neighborhood with his fun way to raise awareness family. and funds to contribute to He has also contributed different charities and to to giving back to his bring some old style back community by volunteering and put a little modernas a head coach at the Hays day swag into it,” Brandon Youth Baseball and Softball Hernandez said. Association. Hernandez is a Buda Hernandez decided to Native who attended Tom grow his hair for a mullet
LOCAL SENIORS MAKE COOKIES FOR FIRST RESPONDERS – PAGE 12
in November 2020. With the help of Two Blessed Barbershop in downtown Buda and the Hair by Love Salon in Kyle, mullet magic was made. “I was inspired by country star Morgan Wallen to grow my hair out,” Hernandez said. “The beginning was a bit harsh, but you get used to it and now I love it. Mullets are definitely making a comeback! I mean, look, they have a competition strictly for this hairstyle for all ages and genders.” To keep up with Hernandez’s journey in the championship and learn more about the history of the mullet hairstyle, please visit https://mulletchamp.com/.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Buda resident Brandon Hernandez is in the top 25 of a national mullet contest.
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