Commission approves development inside Camp Bullis Buffer Zone
July 8, 2009

Despite "fierce" opposition from many citizens and Fort Sam Houston, City planning commissioners approved a large development near Camp Bullis. According to a story in the Express-News, the developer is refusing to show results of its endangered species study to the US Fish & Wildlife Service.

Much has been made of the City’s efforts to regulate development going in near Camp Bullis in a manner consistent with the Army’s needs.  On June 18th, the City Council passed a resolution to accept the Camp Bullis Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) and endorse and support the strategies it recommends.

An empty gesture?

Meanwhile, large developments such as Palmira, which have not complied with the recommendations of the JLUS or comments by the Army, continue to be considered and approved.  We are told by City Planning staff that in August City Council will consider moving forward with ordinances to enforce the recommendations of the JLUS.

No timeline for when these ordinances would be actually be considered for approval was available.  How much of the undeveloped land within the Camp Bullis Buffer Zone will be approved for development in the interim?

At issue in the Palmira tract is the developer’s failure to submit wildlife surveys to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, as specifically recommended by the JLUS.  A 2001 ground estimate by Dr. David Diamond shows portions of this tract to be prime habitat for the Golden Cheeked Warbler; a small part of the tract may also contain karst features that are habitat for endangered cave invertebrates. Approximately 420 new homes are planned for this tract, which is currently bordered by ranches and large acre lots.