New Braunfels Edition | June 2023

CITY & COUNTY

News from New Braunfels & Comal County

COMPILED BY SIERRA MARTIN

QUOTE OF NOTE

Multifamily development near airport postponed

New Braunfels City Council will meet June 26 at 6 p.m. at 550 Landa St., New Braunfels MEETINGS WE COVER 830-221-4000. www.newbraunfels.gov Comal County Commissioners Court will meet June 15, 22 and 29 at 8:30 a.m. at 100 Main Plaza, New Braunfels 830-221-1100. www.co.comal.tx.us NUMBER TO KNOW Is the percentage of registered voters in Comal County that turned out for the New Braunfels May 6 elections. 10.24% HIGHLIGHTS COMAL COUNTY Residents can now review a draft of the county’s Hazard Mitigation Action Plan, which is required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and focused on reducing the risk to life and property that may be caused by naturally occurring events, including storms and oods. The draft can be found on the Comal County Emergency Management webpage at www.co.comal.tx.us/EOC.htm. COMAL COUNTY As of May 1, the Comal County Tax Oce in New Braunfels can process passport applications. NEW BRAUNFELS The former Comal County Senior Citizens’ Center, located at 655 Landa St., was unanimously approved by City Council upon rst reading to be rezoned as a light industrial district May 22. The Crisis Center of Comal County is the owner and is seeking to build its new facility at the location. “IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR; I WOULDN’T TRADE THE LAST 38 MONTHS FOR ANYTHING. I HOPE I LEFT JUST A LITTLE BIT OF A MARK THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE EVERYONE, … FROM MY FAMILY TO THE CITY FAMILY AND FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE.” RUSTY BROCKMAN, FORMER NEW BRAUNFELS MAYOR

NEW BRAUNFELS A rezoning request to build a multifamily devel- opment on 92.4 acres was halted due to concerns of its proximity to the New Braunfels National Airport. The proposed development at 1280 Saengerhalle Road and 1682 Saur Lane includes 360 midrise multifam- ily housing units and 860 low-rise multifamily housing units, according to documents presented to City Council on May 8. The overview: The developer was requesting the land—zoned for agricultural use—be rezoned to R-3L and R-3H districts. R-3L districts allow for multifamily development at no more than 12 units per acre. R-3H districts allow for multifamily residences at no more than 24 units per acre. “Sta suggests consideration of

alternative districts ... that allow more exibility for uses, including commercial development,” New Braunfels Planning Manager Matthew Simmont said. The big picture: Residential develop- ment near an airport is almost always an incompatible land use, according to city ocials. Multiple residents in the area spoke in opposition due to road conditions and trac concerns. The action taken : Applicant James Ingalls requested the item be post- poned for the land owners to speak with airport ocials. “We have not been discussing the airport much at all,” Ingalls said. “We did receive some emails this afternoon where that was more of an elevated concern.”

BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD The proposed development would have been made up of 1,220 units in total on 92.4 acres.

1101

SAENGERHALLE RD.

NEW BRAUNFELS NATIONAL AIRPORT

758

SOURCE: CITY OF NEW BRAUNFELS COMMUNITY IMPACT

Bond election approved by New Braunfels voters NEW BRAUNFELS Residents voted to approve three bond propositions totaling just over $140 million worth of projects May 6, including road improvements and a new park and a library, with no projected impact on the local tax rate. The propositions are: • Proposition A: transportation projects throughout the city ($99.33 million) • Proposition B: Mission Hill Park ($12.15 million) • Proposition C: library facilities ($28.56 million) • Propositions A, B and C reached 71.22%, 56.87% and 55.28% approval, respectively. Visit communityimpact.com/voter-guide to see results from all local elections.

Neil Linnartz, (center) was sworn in as mayor May 22.

Mary Ann Labowski (center) is the new District 5 council member.

ERIC WEILBACHERCOMMUNITY IMPACT

New mayor and council member begin tenure following election NEW BRAUNFELS City Council has two new faces on the dais after being sworn in May 22. Mayor-elect Neal Linnartz was sworn into oce after he secured the win with 55.98% of the vote in the May 6 election. “I do want to thank my family for being here tonight,” Linnartz said. “So thank you so much for coming out to be with me.” Mary Ann Labowski was also sworn in to be council member of District 5 after obtaining 79.92% of the vote. “I just want to thank everybody for coming tonight and for your support,” Labowski said. “And I look forward to serving New Braunfels and being your voice.” The city also recognized the public service rendered by Rusty Brockman as the former mayor of New Braunfels from May 2020 to May 2023. Former Council Member Jason Hurta was also recognized for his service as District 5 council member from May 2020 to May 2023. “This has been a very humbling position to serve in. ... It has been fantastic,” Hurta said. “Just beginning with someone’s vision and seeing it realized and everything that they go through to get to the end of it has been just interesting and just very thought provoking.”

Mission Hill Park will be the rst public park west of Loop 337 and was approved through Proposition B.

RENDERING COURTESY CITY OF NEW BRAUNFELS

NEW BRAUNFELS EDITION • JUNE 2023