San Marcos - Buda - Kyle Edition | November 2024

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San Marcos Buda Kyle Edition VOLUME 15, ISSUE 7 NOV. 15DEC. 16, 2024

County works to reduce inmate outsourcing costs

BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN

Individuals in the public defend- er’s oce, Mental Health Court and Pre-Trial Diversion Program are looking to oset jail outsourcing costs by rehabilitating and diverting inmates awaiting trial, commonly referred to as pretrial inmates. The number of pretrial inmates in Hays County has signicantly decreased from early 2023, accord- ing to a news release. Jail reports from March 2023 show that 25 defendants were awaiting trial for over 1,000 days—but as of mid- September 2024, there was only one defendant awaiting trial. Misdemeanor Division Chief Landon Campbell said the programs mentioned above have created additional resources for “high- needs individuals”—something the county previously lacked. High- need individuals are individuals dealing with mental health disor- ders or illnesses who need intensive care, Campbell said. The MHC—which kicked o in 2022—is a specialized treatment court designed to address the needs of individuals with mental health or intellectual/developmen- tal disorders who are also facing pending legal charges, said Elaine Brown, Hays County Court at Law Judge No. 3.

Managing Attorney Je Hohl (left) and Sta Attorney Kennison Evans with Neighborhood Defender Service work in the public defender’s oce—one of the entities working to reduce inmate outsourcing costs in Hays County.

CONTINUED ON 28

AMIRA VAN LEEUWENCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Also in this issue

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Impacts: Read about how Toys”R”Us has opened a new location at the Tanger Outlets (Page 6)

Environment: Learn about the amount of litter in the San Marcos River following implementation of a single-use beverage container ban (Page 12)

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Recognizing Our Veterans

At the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, we salute our veterans. Our Qualified Veteran Discount Program allows qualified veterans to drive toll-free on select toll roads, including 183A Toll, 290 Toll, the 71 Toll Lane, 45SW, and 183 Toll. If you have a specialty plate and meet eligibility requirements, you can apply for the program today.

Qualified Veteran Discount Program

MORE THAN MILES

Learn more about the program at www.MobilityAuthority.com/veterans

SAN MARCOS - BUDA - KYLE EDITION

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About Community Impact

Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.

Market leaders & metro team

Reporters Brittany Anderson Amanda Cutshall Dacia Garcia Sarah Hernandez Elisabeth Jimenez Anna Maness Haley McLeod Hannah Norton Brooke Sjoberg Ben Thompson Amira Van Leeuwen Gracie Warhurst Chloe Young Graphic Designers Alissa Foss Gloria Gonzalez Melissa Johnson Sabrina Musachia Karoline Pfeil Sam Schaer

Leslie Bradshaw General Manager

Sierra Martin Editor

Minh Nguyen Joseph Veloz Account Executive Adrian Martinez Managing Editor Darcy Sprague Senior Product Manager Haley Grace Quality Desk Editor Adrian Gandara

Travis Baker Publisher

Correction: Volume 15, Issue 6 Arely Esquivel is the pastry chef for La Trokita, a new food truck in Buda.

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BLANCO RIVER

Impacts

5 Ink Couture Tattoos The Texas-based tattoo shop—owned by Kandy Kouture—offers permanent makeup and piercings. Kouture said their artists do realism, watercolor, portraits and traditional tattoos. • Opened Oct. 1 • 312 University Drive, Ste. F, San Marcos • www.inkcouturetattoos.com 6 Toys”R”Us The toy store—operated by Austin-based Go! Retail Group—sells a range of toys and brands including LEGO, Barbie, Hot Wheels, NERF and Paw Patrol. • Opened Nov. 2 • 4015 I-35 frontage road, Ste. 339, San Marcos • www.toysrussm.com

POST RD.

MILL ST.

AQUARENA SPRINGS DR.

17 4

San Marcos

1984

CHEATHAM ST.

WONDER WORLD DR.

E. SAN ANTONIO ST.

SAN MARCOS RIVER

THERMON DR.

Coming soon

123

7 Taco Palenque The restaurant’s projected opening date has been pushed back from this fall to 2025, according to a company representative. The Laredo-based restaurant chain serves tacos, enchiladas, burritos and more. • Opening in the summer of 2025 • 1011 I-35 frontage road, San Marcos • www.tacopalenque.com 8 Books-A-Million The bookstore will be located across from The North Face and offer a range of books, magazines, collectible supplies, gifts and more. • Opening fall 2024 • 3939 I-35 frontage road, Ste. 213, San Marcos • www.booksamillion.com 9 Moncler The French-Italian apparel manufacturer will be located next to Gucci and sell luxury clothing for men and women. • Opening fall 2024 • 3939 I-35 frontage road, Ste. 955A, San Marcos • www.moncler.com/en-us

8 9 10

1979

CENTER POINT RD.

MAP NOT TO SCALE

3 Bayle’s Owners Andrew Ray and Sheldon Catley opened the bar on The Square in honor of Ray’s friend Bayle Bucceri, a former Texas State University student who died in 2022. The lounge-style bar features a photo booth, a powder room and monthly cocktail specials. • Opened late October • 130 E. San Antonio St., San Marcos • Instagram: baylessmtx 4 El Calentano Pollos Asados Al Carbon The Mexican food truck—locally owned by Suhel Esani— serves beef and chicken tostadas, tortas, burritos and tacos. El Calentano also serves flan, pineapple, OREO, chocolate and cherry cake. • Opened in September • 1636 Aquarena Springs Drive, San Marcos • www.elcalentanosmtx.com

Now open

1 3 Kings Barbershop The barbershop, also called 3KB, is owned by Jacob Ferguson and John Cardenas. • Opened Sept. 6 • 210 N. Edward Gary St., Ste. 106, San Marcos • Instagram: 3kb_san_marcos 2 Domino’s This is the third Domino’s location in San Marcos. Domino’s Pizza serves pizza, salads, pasta, wings,

dessert and more. • Opened Sept. 27 • 641 Mill St., Ste. 106, San Marcos • www.dominos.com

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY SARAH HERNANDEZ & AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN

13 Thermon The heating equipment supplier celebrated its 70th business anniversary on Oct. 8. • 100 Thermon Drive, Bldg. 5, San Marcos • www.thermon.com 14 Spec’s Wine, Spirits & Finer Foods November will mark the liquor store’s 10th year of business in San Marcos. • 510 Barnes Drive, San Marcos • www.specsonline.com 15 Cheatham Street Warehouse San Marcos’ iconic live music venue celebrated its 50th anniversary in October with a live music lineup that included Parker McCollum, Randy Rogers and Pat Green. • 119 Cheatham St., San Marcos • www.cheathamstreet.com

Relocations

Now open

10 Burberry The luxury British brand relocated from 3939 I-35 frontage road, Ste. 680 to Ste. 1050 on July 21. Burberry sells trench coats, cashmere scarfs, and men’s and women’s clothing. • Relocated July 21 • 3939 I-35 frontage road, Ste. 1050, San Marcos • https://us.burberry.com 11 Champion Auto Repair Service The auto repair shop relocated from 290 Wonder World Drive, Ste. 105 to 2304 Old Ranch Road 12 in San Marcos after merging with Lester’s Shop. • Relocated in July • 2304 Old Ranch Road 12, San Marcos • 512-396-4505

17 African Eats and Market The small grocer, owned by Lucky Dania, specializes in food items that the African diaspora cannot buy from H-E-B or Walmart. • Opened Oct. 9 • 1330 Aquarena Springs Drive, Ste. 103, San Marcos • 737-335-3132

In the news

Closings

12 Toma Taco The restaurant celebrated its fifth anniversary on Sept. 12. Toma Taco serves Mexican cuisine.

16 Shop Brooklyn Jayne The boutique sold women’s apparel and accessories. • Closed Oct. 4 • 102 Wonder World Drive, Ste. 302, San Marcos

• 179 LBJ Drive, San Marcos • www.tomatacosmtx.com

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Impacts

• Opened Oct. 9 • 1095 FM 1626, Buda • www.thaiq.store

967

45 TOLL

CARPENTER HILL DR.

E. LOOP ST.

2001 6 Siren Beauty and Wellness Owned by Becky Torres, the boutique medical spa offers Botox, facial rejuvenation services and body wellness services. • Opened Oct. 4 • 596 N. Main St., Buda • www.sirenbeautyandwellness.com 7 Aj’s Patio The food truck—owned by Aj Johnson—serves Neapolitan-style pizza with an assortment of toppings. Aj’s Patio also serves salads and sides including pepperoni rolls, garlic breadsticks and cinnamon bites. • Opened Oct. 17 5 Liquidation AUS The auction house, owned by Colton Stephens and Javier Bocanegra, resells various items from major retailers for a fraction of the cost. • Opened Oct. 8 • 120 Precision Dr., Ste. 200A, Buda • www.liquidationsa.com

Buda

1626

PRECISION DR.

2001

WINDY HILL RD.

K O H L E R S C R O S S I N G

150

KYLE CENTRE DR.

10 11

OLD STAGECOACH RD.

N. BURLESON ST.

BLANCO RIVER

Kyle

21 • 750 FM 2001, Buda • Instagram: ajspatio

S. FRONT ST.

MAP NOT TO SCALE

FirstLight Home Care The home care agency offers senior, personal, veteran, dementia, companion and respite care for residents in Hays County and its surrounding areas. • Opened in September • www.firstlighthomecare.com

• Opened Oct. 19 • 2266 Kohlers Crossing, Kyle • www.hteao.com

Now open

1 Panera Bread The fast-casual restaurant serves sandwiches, pizza,

3 Abbott’s Frozen Custard The East Coast-based custard shop serves custard, shakes, sundaes, cones, pies, cakes and more. • Opened Oct. 13

soups and pastries. • Opened Oct. 30

Coming soon

• 5200 S. FM 1626, Kyle • www.panerabread.com

8 Whiskey Ridge The restaurant will serve fresh Gulf Coast seafood and locally sourced meats. Whiskey Ridge will also offer a selection of whiskey and Texas distilled spirits. • Opening in November • 8750 W. RR 150, Bldg 300, Driftwood • www.whiskeyridgetx.com

• 2242 Kohlers Crossing, Kyle • www.abbottscustard.com

2 HTeaO The Kyle location is locally owned by Lisa and Russell Tippin, and Rebecca and Eric Perucca. HTeaO offers a variety of sweet and unsweet iced-tea flavors.

4 Thai Q The food truck is locally owned by Moss Pakhapoca and Mujalin Pakhapoca. Thai Q offers a variety of Thai dishes.

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9 Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken The restaurant will serve Nashville-style hot chicken sandwiches, wings and more. • Opening late 2024 or early 2025 • 920 Kohlers Crossing, Ste. 500, Kyle • www.hangryjoes.com 10 Pro-Care Medical Center The pain and injury clinic offers head-to-toe personal injury care. • Slated to open in early 2025 • 5581 Kyle Centre Drive, Ste. 205, Kyle • www.procaremedcenter.com 11 Cynful Beauty Salon Suites The salon will offer eight different suites for aestheticians and other licensed or certified technicians. • Opening Dec. 1 • 5581 Kyle Centre Dr., Ste. 206, Kyle • Facebook: Cynful Beauty Salon Suites LLC

offers 20 flavors to add to a limeade, classic lemonade or Red Bull drinks. • Relocated Oct. 23 • 108 S. Front St., Kyle • Facebook: The Main Squeeze

Now open

In the news

13 Big Oaks Kennel & Dog Park Co. The business—owned Hardy and Elaine Purvis—is celebrating 25 years of business in November. Big Oaks Kennel & Dog Park Co. offers boarding, training and daycare for dogs. • 500 E. Loop St., Buda • www.bigoakskennel.com

15 Buda Dental Specialty Group The family dentistry—owned by Sarah Behmanesh— offers teeth cleanings, fillings, crowns, dentures, implant restorations and whitenings. • Opened Oct. 7 • 171 Carpenter Hill Drive, Ste. 200, Buda • www.budadentistry.com

Closings

14 Hays City Donuts The donut shop sold donuts, cinnamon rolls and croissants. • Closed Oct. 20 • 106 N. Burleson St., Ste. A, Kyle

Relocations

12 The Main Squeeze The lemonade business relocated from 106 N. Burleson St., Ste. A to 108 S. Front St. in Kyle. The Main Squeeze

SAN MARCOS - BUDA - KYLE EDITION

Government

BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN

Kyle City Council creates design task force for new 105-acre park Kyle City Council created a design task force for a 105-acre undeveloped park called Lake Kensing- ton Nature Park, located at 2400 Dacy Lane, on Oct. 15. The background The park will provide educational and recre- ational opportunities. In its Request for Qualifi- cations, or RFQ, the city sought design proposals that address water conservation, mitigate heat island effects and manage invasive species while enhancing the natural resources, history and ecological balance of the area. The city has budgeted $17 million for the project, which was identified as a priority in the 2025-26 Capital Improvements Projects plan, according to agenda documents.

Property owners file road bond lawsuit Hays County property owners filed a lawsuit in district court against the county’s 2024 road bond Oct. 24—claiming Hays County commissioners “hatched” the pro- posal in secret and violated the Texas Open Meetings Act, according to a news release. In a nutshell Despite its passage in the Nov. 5 election, the lawsuit seeks to stop the county from tak- ing further action on the $440 million bond. The plaintiffs—Les Carnes, Cathy Ramsey, Jim Camp and Gabrielle Moore—are asking commissioners to appoint a bond advisory committee and bring back a proposal for a vote in 2025, the news release states. Communications Manager Natalie Frels said the county cannot comment on pending litigation.

1626

Kyle

The details The task force will provide feedback and guidance throughout the design process and help facilitate the public input process, according to agenda documents. The task force is made up of three council members: Lauralee Harris, Michael Tobias and

Robert Rizo. What’s next?

City staff will be meeting with the task force to discuss the selection of a design firm for the park, City Manager Bryan Langley told Community Impact .

San Marcos adopts Vision SMTX Comprehensive Plan San Marcos City Council adopted its updated Vision SMTX Comprehensive Plan and Preferred Scenario Map on Oct. 15. Some background The plan—which was originally adopted in 2013—establishes the goals and vision for the city’s future over the next 20 years. What else? The Preferred Scenario Map will be used as a tool to determine how and where the city grows. The city of San Marcos is projected to add 42,000- 64,000 new housing units and 51,000 new jobs by 2050, according to the plan website. More information on the new plan can be found at www.visionsmtx.com .

A guide for the future The comprehensive plan is a “visionary policy document” that will guide long-term decisions on:

Housing

Transportation

Economic development

Land use

Environment

SOURCE: CITY OF SAN MARCOS/COMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Government

BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN

San Marcos greenlights incentive agreement for new H-E-B

What the dais is saying

Mayor Jane Hughson said the new location will make the H-E-B located at 641 E. Hopkins St. easier to navigate. Council member Matthew Mendoza—a San Marcos native—said there had always been a food desert on the east side of town and thanked H-E-B and city staff.

an incentive request in August, citing the resolution as having a direct impact on their decision to build another store in San Marcos, according to agenda documents. The city will rebate H-E-B a percentage of annual property and sales tax collections over five years based upon a capital investment of $55.35 million. San Marcos is expected to retain $604,000 in property taxes and $1 million in sales tax collections.

H-E-B will open a third store in San Marcos by winter 2026. On Nov. 6, the San Marcos City Council approved a Chapter 380 development incentive agreement with H-E-B for a 100,000-square-foot grocery store. In efforts to expand its grocery options, the council approved a resolution supporting an incentive agreement for grocery store development in May. H-E-B submitted

San Marcos

Revenue over 5 years to San Marcos, Hays County and San Marcos CISD Entity Total rebate Total sales tax generated Total property tax generated

The break down • 100,000-square-foot grocery store • 10,000-square-foot convenience store,

Net tax collection

San Marcos Hays County

$2.2M

$2.4M $806K

$1.4M $700K $2.4M

$1.6M $1.5M $2.4M

fuel pumps and car wash • 212 full-time employees • 238 part-time employees

San Marcos CISD $0

SOURCE: CITY OF SAN MARCOS/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Government

BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN

Single-use ordinance not seeing desired eects in San Marcos as litter increases

Local leaders in San Marcos are navigating ways to eectively enforce a single-use beverage container ordinance after a 2024 end-of-summer report showed an increase in litter in the San Marcos River. How we got here The ordinance went into eect May 1 and restricts single-use beverage containers in the San Marcos River and within designated parks adjacent to the river, according to previous reporting by Community Impact . The ordinance, which was implemented to mitigate the amount of litter in and around the river, denes a single-use beverage container as “any container used to hold beverages designed to be used once before being thrown away,” and may include containers made of metal, aluminum, cardboard, Styrofoam, plastic or glass. Since then, the parks and recreation depart- ment has focused solely on educating the public through signage and its Reuse at the River out- reach campaign. But most people do not look at those signs, Parks and Recreation Director Jamie Lee Case said. “That’s been a huge frustration and struggle for us this season, as is every season,” Case said during the fth annual River Guardianship Sympo- sium, which was held Sept. 15. No citations for violating the ordinance are being issued within the rst year. A closer look City sta said it is dicult to enforce the single-use container ordinance because of the need to address life-threatening injuries sustained due to intoxication, ghts and heat, according to a Sept. 17 workshop presentation. Assistant City Manager Rodney Gonzales said those incidents are a higher priority, which made it dicult for sta to enforce the ordinance. “When there’s a higher priority, we go to the higher priority,” Gonzales said during the workshop. The impact According to the data presented, there was a signicant increase in litter removal during the 2024 summer season, which was attributed to the increase in in-river litter cleanups conducted by the city’s Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan, or EAHCP, team and volunteers. In 2023, the EAHCP was holding in-river litter

cleanups once a week—now they are doing them twice a week, Case explained. David Zambrano, education and outreach coordinator for The Eyes of the San Marcos River, also began organizing a weekly, Monday morning volunteer cleanup to mitigate the amount of trash seen in and outside the river after busy weekends. The Eyes of the San Marcos River is a local nonprot organization that looks to protect the San Marcos River by promot- ing environmental stewardship. The city also had at least 107 single-use container ordinance violations, 284 Styrofoam violations and 188 glass violations that were accounted for. Since no citations for violating the ordinance are being issued within the rst year of implementation, these violations are just verbal warnings given to rivergoers. The marshal’s department also struggled to maintain stang. Typically, there are 10 full-time city marshals or deputies patrolling city parks. This year, the city lost half of that personnel due to injury or summer active-duty military. By Labor Day, San Marcos only had four full-time marshals, Case said. The city contracted eight police ocers to assist during a few weekends throughout the summer. Case said this was another challenge because not all of those ocers were familiar with San Marcos. In addition to its full-time sta, the city hired nine part-time, seasonal park ambassadors, who educated park users on local regulations/ordi- nances and also assist with litter pickup, according to the presentation. The options Gonzales said sta were discussing managed access through perimeter fencing and entry gates, paid parking or charging a permit fee for picnic areas. The city is also considering hiring additional sta. The managed access could decrease the number of visitors in the city’s riverfront parks, potentially reducing the amount of trash. What the dais is saying The council is considering implementing paid parking, and a portion of the revenue could be used towards additional sta to enforce the ordinance. The dais also said they did not want to charge San Marcos residents for parking. Another viewpoint Virginia Parker, executive director of the San

A volunteer picks up trash in the river as part of The Eyes of the San Marcos River weekly cleanup.

Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan in-river litter removal

2022

2023

2024

200

150

100

May June July Aug.

Sept.

Violations from May through September 2024

107 Single-use container 188 Glass 207 Other 284 Styrofoam 1,200 Alcohol in the park

SOURCE: CITY OF SAN MARCOSCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Marcos River Foundation, said she thought the ordinance was a step in the right direction for reducing litter in the river and that the educa- tional eorts made were important, but that enforcement of the ordinance was “critical” for its success. What’s next? The council directed sta to explore options for fencing and managed access along the city’s riverfront parks, which will come back to council at a future meeting date.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Election

BY SIERRA MARTIN

For more election coverage, go to www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide. Election results breakdown Voters cast their ballots in the Nov. 5 election. Overall, 67.89% of Hays County’s registered voters showed up at the polls. All results are unofficial until canvassed. SOURCE: HAYS COUNTY/ COMMUNITY IMPACT Incumbent Winner Headed to runoff Democrat D Republican R

47.52% Philip Muzzy 52.48% Amanda K. Calvert Hays County district clerk (unexpired term) R D

San Marcos City Council, Place 5

State elections*

26.28% Roland Saucedo 24.26% Griffin Spell 17.04% Atom Von Arndt 32.42% Lorenzo Gonzalez

Texas Senate, District 25 R D Texas House, District 45 R D Texas House, District 73 R D

63.62% Donna Campbell 36.38% Merrie Fox

Hays County sheriff R D

52.69% Anthony Hipolito, Jr. 47.31% Alex Villalobos

64.16% Amanda Rodriguez 35.84% Maraya Dunn San Marcos City Council, Place 6

43.26% Tennyson G. Moreno 56.74% Erin Zwiener

52.82% Morgan Hammer 47.18% Rebecca Minnick Hays County commissioner, precinct 3 R D 44.68% David L. Saenz, Sr. 55.32% Michael Torres Hays County constable, Precinct 2 R D

Austin Community College board of trustees, Place 7

71.52% Carrie Isaac 28.48% Sally Duval

67.15% Sherri Lynn Taylor 32.85% Cole Wilson

49.11% John Messinger 50.89% Maggie Ellis Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals District, Place 2 R D

Austin Community College board of trustees, Place 9

Hays County Proposition A

36.68% Joe Sefton 63.32% Julie Ann Nitsch

55.75% For

44.25% Against

47.46% Tanner Neidhardt 52.54% Alicia Key District judge, 483rd judicial district R D

27.05% Courtney Goza 36.32% Marc McKinney 36.62% Melisa Medina Kyle City Council, District 5

San Marcos CISD Proposition A

58.06% For

41.94% Against

Local elections

*RESULTS PULLED FROM THE TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE WEBSITE.

San Marcos mayor

47.98% Robert E. Updegrove 52.02% Elaine S. Brown Hays County judge, Court-at-Law Number 3 R D

58.98% Jane Hughson 41.02% Juan Miguel Arredondo

Order of election results was pulled from the Hays County website.

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Education

BY BRITTANY ANDERSON & SIERRA MARTIN

HCISD to increase special education teacher stipends

SMCISD approves larger class sizes at 3 elementary campuses Student classroom size limits have been exceeded at three elementary campuses in San Marcos CISD. The board of trustees approved a waiver to request five classroom size waivers for the 2024-25 school year. A closer look According to board policy, class size cannot exceed more than 22 students per teacher in a kindergarten, first, second, third and fourth-grade class. The following elementary classes have exceeded that: • Bowie: Grade 1 • Hernandez: Grade 2 and two Grade 3 classrooms • Rodriguez: Grade 3

As Hays CISD’s special education program continues to face staffing, salary and safety challenges, the board of trustees look to amend the 2024-25 compensation plan to provide higher special education teacher stipends. Trustees approved one of three proposals by Chief Human Resources Officer Christina Courson at the Oct. 28 meeting. How we got here Large class sizes, safety issues and potential Individualized Education Program plan violations were a few concerns raised. There are currently 15 special education teacher vacancies in HCISD. Hays County also consistently has the highest percentage of students receiving special education services compared to the state and neighboring counties, Courson said. What are the options? The board considered three proposals by

Changes to special education stipends include:

Previous payment

New payment

Type of payment

General special education stipends

$1,750 $2,125

Specialized special education stipends

$2,500 $3,750

Retention incentive to be paid Jan. 24

None

$1,500

SOURCE: HAYS CISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Courson and unanimously approved Proposal B, a $795,990 prorated budget amendment. The proposal will allocate funding towards professional development and increase special education stipends. “I think [Proposal B] is a balance, and that it’s a great first step,” trustee Courtney Runkle said during the Oct. 21 meeting.

SAN MARCOS - BUDA - KYLE EDITION

Education

Multiple students across 12 Austin metro school districts have been arrested and charged with felonies for making non- credible school threats since the start of the 2024-25 school year. The threats have impacted attendance rates and student mental health at many campuses. In response, districts are upping security measures, creating student threat awareness campaigns and more. The influx of threats is likely a result of “copycat behaviors” following the Sept. 4 shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia, said Andrew Fernandez, San Marcos CISD chief of communications. Districts grapple with noncredible threat surge

The cost

The impact

On Sept. 24, SMCISD received a non-credible school threat through an anonymous phone call that triggered over 80 police, fire and emergency service personnel to respond. “The media has created a high profile when reporting these threats which leads to an increase,” Fernandez said. In neighboring district Hays CISD, six students have been arrested and charged with various felony offenses for creating threats against campuses so far this year. HCISD Chief Communication Officer Tim Savoy said these threats typically result in a 5-10% drop in attendance for the day. Texas school districts are funded based on average daily attendance. Each total percentage drop in ADA for the school year equates to about $1.5 million in funding loss, Savoy said, which “would make a mark” on the budget if the threats are sustained. Following a non-credible threat at Emile Elementary in Bastrop ISD Sept. 16, the board of trustees requested a low-attendance day state waiver after the district’s attendance rate dropped to 82.3% on Sept. 17. The waiver allows for the instructional day to be excused from ADA funding calculations. Two non-credible threats in Lake Travis ISD also impacted attendance, Superintendent Paul Norton said, noting a significant drop at the affected campuses. The threats also negatively impact the community’s trust with the district, he said. “We have kids that don’t come to school for several days because of a threat that was called in,” Norton said.

Investigating threats puts a weight on a police department’s resources, said Austin ISD Police Chief Wayne Sneed during a school threats press conference Sept. 20. There were over 300 threat investigations in AISD last school year. “One particular case I can remember started at midnight and it did not end until 7 a.m. by the time they tracked down all the leads and figured it out,” Sneed said. In addition to increased emergency response costs, districts are also grappling with how these threats affect the mental health of students, staff and the community. Fernandez said counselor visits have increased in SMCISD, but the impact these threats have extend beyond students. “The thought of sending a child to school and an act of targeted violence occurring is a lot for parents to process,” Fernandez said. While discussions about violence can cre- ate feelings of fear and anxiety for students, addressing it head on can reduce stigma and “promote a culture of safety and support,” said AISD mental health professional Amanda Toohey during the press conference.

Student-made school violence threats in Hays CISD

Mental health tips after a threat

Utilize school counseling support

Express thoughts and feelings to a trusted adult

Immediately report concerning behavior you see or hear

*AS OF OCT. 8

SOURCE: HAYS CISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCE: AMANDA TOOHEY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

Something to know

Looking forward

During the press conference, Travis County District Attorney José Garza said there were at least 30 cases pending in his office relating to school threats. While there were a few adult cases, the majority were juveniles. Garza said the threshold for arresting a student is a legal standard that applies to both adults and juveniles. If there is probable cause to believe they committed a crime, he said, they will be arrested. The juvenile justice system was designed to “rehabilitate young people,” he said, working to not only balance the safety of the community but the long-term impacts of a juvenile’s involvement in the system. “The process moves more quickly than the adult process does, and our judges in the juvenile system have far more discretion than judges do in our adult system,” Garza said. Officials have also asked parents to talk to their children about not making threats as a joke over text or social media.

Districts such as HCISD and Eanes ISD have implemented campaigns— “Threat Regret” and “It’s No Joke,” respectively—to inform students about the affects of making threats against campuses. Other districts such as Pflugerville ISD, which received at least three non-credible threats in September, are also continuing to implement safety measures on its campuses. PfISD officials said Sept. 23 the district is pursuing safety vestibules in front offices, entry-resistant window film and conducting weekly door inspections. All Austin metro districts have also provided anonymous tip lines for students and other community members to report threats seen on social media or heard in person.

When a juvenile makes a threat

A hearing is held for a judge to decide that there’s probable cause a crime was committed.

The risk to the community is assessed.

The judge decides if the juvenile should or should not remain detained.

If detained, the juvenile is entitled to hearings every 10 days.

SOURCE: JOSÉ GARZA, TRAVIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Transportation

BY SIERRA MARTIN & AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN

$11.4M Marketplace Ave. extension breaks ground The first transportation project in Kyle’s 2022 Road Bond Program has finally broken ground. The city held a groundbreaking ceremony Oct. 15 to kick off construction of the extension of Marketplace Avenue, according to a news release. How we got here In November 2022, Kyle voters approved Propo- sition A, which funds eight transportation projects totaling 10.3 miles. The projects will reconstruct and widen existing roads to improve the city’s transportation network, according to the release. The details Construction will be for a 0.6-mile, four-lane road with a raised median and center turn lanes to connect both segments of Marketplace, relieving congestion, according to the release. Mayor Travis Mitchell said this was the first

San Marcos launches traffic monitoring tool The city of San Marcos has announced SMTX Go, a new website to access real-time info on traffic and transportation options. An interactive map allows users to see: • Railroad crossing closures • Real-time bus tracking • Live camera feeds • Waze traffic conditions and incident reports Zooming in “Our aim is to give residents and visitors the tools they need to navigate the city efficiently, whether they are walking, biking, riding a bus or using scooters,” Public Works Director Sabas Avila said in a news release. The new website is live and can be accessed at https://smtxgo.sanmarcostx.gov.

MARKETPLACE AVE.

Kyle

OLD BRIDGE TRL.

MARKETPLACE AVE.

project to begin because it goes entirely through a field. He said the right of way was donated so the city didn’t have to purchase the dirt. Notable quote “Today’s groundbreaking is more than just about infrastructure. It’s about investing in the well-being of our community,” Police Chief Jeff Barnett said. “This roadway, once complete, will connect our residents and our visitors to future vital medical services as well as our ever-grow- ing variety of amazing dining and shopping opportunities.”

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Development

BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN

New retail center coming to San Marcos Ponderosa Land Development Company, a Houston-based real estate developer, is getting ready to break ground on a new retail center in San Marcos. James Chang, a principal at Ponderosa Land Development Company, said they anticipate to break ground on the project in late November or early December. Project details The project, named Shops at Wonder World, will be located at 296 Wonder World Drive. There will be one tenant occupying a single-tenant building on one acre of the property. The developer will also build a 600,000-700,000 square-foot retail center adjacent to the single-tenant structure, Chang said. “We try to bring retailers that like Central Texas and like San Marcos,” he added. What else? Chang said they received approval from the Texas Department of Transportation to build an entrance into the development, making the site more accessible for tenants.

San Marcos

The Orient

The Orient will be located at 117 Meiners St. in San Marcos.

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$4M mixed-use development overlooking UFCU Stadium to break ground in early 2025 in San Marcos

A new mixed-use development called The Ori- ent is anticipated to break ground in early 2025. The design rm on the $4 million project is Webber + Studio, Architects. The Orient, which is owned by Double Feng LLC, will be built on the same site of Japanese-eatery Sakura, Studio Director James Garza said. About the project The Orient will be three stories, consisting of ground oor retail space and a total of nine apartments on the upper two oors. The third level will have a small clubhouse room with an outdoor balcony that will view Texas State University’s football stadium, Garza said in an email to Community Impact .

Notable quote Garza said that The Orient is a small inll project, which is becoming more common throughout urban areas. “We believe that this project will be a great addition to the neighborhood and will be a catalyst for similar future developments in the area,” Garza said. Looking ahead The project is currently going through permit- ting with the city, Garza said. Once the project breaks ground, it is anticipated to be completed by mid-2026.

San Marcos

Shops at Wonder World

Arden at Kohlers Crossing luxury-style apartments begin leasing units in Kyle

The 263-unit, luxury-style apartment com- munity, located at 19500 I-35 in Kyle, celebrated its grand opening on Oct. 10. The project was developed by Dallas-based real estate developer Kalterra Capital Partners LLC. The complex oers studio, and one- and two-bedroom units equipped with stainless steel appliances. Arden at Kohlers Crossing also has a dog spa, tness center, pool and event lawn.

Diving in deeper Arden at Kohlers Crossing is Kalterra’s third completed project in the area, after Arden 231 and McCarty Commons in San Marcos. Development Manager Jordan Snyder said they worked with the city and its planning and zoning department to rezone the 16-acre tract from “general commercial” to “planned development,” allowing developers to add seven retail pads.

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Real estate

BY HANNAH NORTON

Texas needs 306,000 more homes to meet demand, experts say

Zooming in

“[Texas is] issuing more building permits for single-family homes than any other state...One of the big issues that we’ve found is that [people are] perhaps not building the right types of houses, specifically housing for low- and middle-income Texans,” said Will Counihan, who leads the comptroller’s data analysis and transparency department. One-third of Texas households are cost bur- dened, Counihan said, meaning they spend more than 30% of their salary on housing. A Texan who wants to sell their current home and purchase a new one should make about $113,000 to qualify for a mortgage loan, compared to about $70,000 at the beginning of the pan- demic, Knapp said.

highest property tax rate—1.68%—in 2021, according to research from the Tax Foundation. Home prices shot up during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Knapp added, as remote work policies allowed more people to move to Texas. In 2019, the median home price in Texas was $241,358, according to data from the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University. Median home prices peaked around $340,000 in 2022 and dipped to about $335,000 in 2023.

Texas’ population growth has outpaced homebuilding since 2020, resulting in a widespread housing shortage, the state comptroller’s office reported Aug. 27. Up For Growth, a national housing policy organization, reported in 2023 that Texas currently needs about 306,000 more homes to meet demand. High home prices, steep mortgage rates and limited supply are driving some potential homebuyers out of the market, said Clare Knapp, a housing economist for the Austin Board of Realtors. Texas also had the sixth-

Texas home prices, 2020-23

Buying a home in Texas has become more expensive in the years since the COVID-19 pandemic began, according to the Texas Real Estate Research Center.

2020

2021

2022

2023

One more thing

25%

Texas should make it easier to build homes in commercial areas and reduce the minimum lot size for single-family residences, said Nicole Nosek, the founder of Texans for Reasonable Solutions, an organization that aims to solve the housing shortage. In May, city of Austin officials voted to cut the city’s minimum lot size from 5,750 square feet to 1,800 square feet. The change was proposed as a strategy to permit more housing types and smaller homes than have traditionally been allowed in Austin.

20%

15%

10%

$0- $69K

$70K- 99K

$100- $149K

$150K- 199K

$200K- $249K

$250K- $299K

$300K- $399K

$400K- $499K

$500K- $749K

SOURCE: TEXAS REAL ESTATE RESEARCH CENTER/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Real estate

Data compiled by the Four Rivers Association of Realtors shows home sales have increased in San Marcos, Buda and Kyle in September year over year. Residential market data

Number of homes sold

Average home price in the last 6 months

-24.7%

+39.67%

+30.14%

78666 $399,118.67

78640 $357,833.83

September 2023

September 2024

78610 $404,190.67

78666

78640

78610

78640

Median home sales price

78132 35

78666

September

2023

2024

$354,990

$314,415

78666

$366,299

$325,000

78640

Homes sold by price point

$395,000

$379,900

September 2024

78610

$1 million+

$750,000-$999,999

Number of homes under contract

Average days on the market

$500,000-$749,999

-13.2%

+25.1%

+49.4%

-2.3%

-28.72%

+35.71%

195

$300,000-$499,999

<$299,999

MARKET DATA PROVIDED BY FOUR RIVERS ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS 8306256954 WWW.FOURRIVERSREALTORS.COM

78666

78640

78610

78666

78640

78610

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Environment

BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN

HCC secures $23.2M for conservation

Explained

A conservation easement is a legal document that dictates where building can happen. The money purchases the development rights on that land, Miller said “For the landowner—what they have said is— 'I will not sell this to a developer. It will not become condos. It will not become a shopping mall ... and we will not pave over it,’” Miller said. "The pace of development has been so rapid that the Hill Country is losing open space at an incredible rate. That is why I think this grant and this project is so important now, and that is why it requires 27 partners to make it happen, because we don’t have the luxury of a

This is the largest single federal award ever for conservation easement funding in the Texas Hill Country, the news release states. HCC CEO Kathy Miller said preapplications for the grant closed Oct. 11, and they received over 40,000 acres of project proposals, worth over $70 million. “We obviously will not be able to do all of them, but we think it’s [going to] be possible that we may have more than 7,500 acres protected at the end of this,” Miller told Community Impact .

Hill Country Conservancy, or HCC, a local nonprot organization working to preserve natural resources, secured $23.2 million in federal funding for conservation easements Oct. 8. The funds were awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program to the Hill Country Headwaters Conservation Initiative— a coalition of 27 regional partners, working to identify the most strategic properties for conservation, according to a news release.

Hill Country Headwaters Conservation Initiative Target Areas The HCC will utilize the funding to identify strategic properties to conserve in the region outlined below.

slow rollout of conservation," KATHY MILLER, CEO OF HILL COUNTRY CONSERVANCY

Project boundary Major streams Watersheds: a land area that channels rainfall into a body of water.

BRADY CREEK

SAN SABA RIVER

COLORADO RIVER

SAN GABRIEL RIVER

N. LLANO RIVER

What’s next?

LLANO RIVER

PEDERNALES RIVER

Austin

UPPER SAN MARCOS RIVER

S. LLANO RIVER

Each proposed project will be screened using Geographic Information System software and then ranked according to which projects have the highest conservation values. Once completed, the coalition will meet and agree on the projects that will be funded. Awards are anticipated to be announced in November, Miller told Community Impact .

GUADALUPE RIVER

San Marcos New Braunfels

UPPER SAN ANTONIO RIVER

Federal funding: $23.2M

San Antonio

Proposed acres protected: 7,500 acres

SOURCE: HILL COUNTRY CONSERVANCYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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