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SAN MARCOS BUDA KYLE EDITION 2022
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HEALTH CARE EDITION
VOLUME 12, ISSUE 2 JUNE 13 JULY 10, 2022
Direct pay for mental health care eclipses insurance payments
GROWING NEED Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Communities in Schools saw an increase of students and families in need of mental health resources and intervention.
Between March-October 2020, mental health-related emergency department visits increased compared to 2019
31% among children ages 12-17
24% among children ages 5-11
BY ERIC WEILBACHER
ACROSS 100 CAMPUSES IN CENTRAL TEXAS, CIS HAS SEEN:
For patients seeking access to men- tal health care and counseling, the burden of getting the cost covered can prove daunting. According to the American Psy- chological Association, 30% of psy- chologists do not accept insurance, requiring the patient to petition their insurance provider to pay them back all or at least a portion of what they paid out of pocket for care. As many independent practitioners do not hire CONTINUED ON 31
Hours of mental health support provided
Students who have received suicide prevention services
According to data from National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1 IN 5 1 IN 6
8,000 10,000 12,000 6,000 4,000 0
270
196
174
youths reported the pandemic had a signi cant negative impact on their mental health.
youth ages 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year.
2019-20 School year
2020-21
2021-22*
*AS OF MAY 2022, NUMBER NOT FINALIZED
According to the American Psychological Association, 30% of psychologists do not accept insurance. The average cost of a any mental health therapy session is $100-$300 , Care Access to
SOURCES: CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS, NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Post-pandemic mental health issues rise in youth BY ZARA FLORES
have any escape from that.” In 2021, about 37% of high school students reported that they experienced poor mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. About 44% reported feeling persistently sad or hopeless, an 8% rise from 2019, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC also reported a 24% increase in mental health-re- lated emergency department visits during 2020 in those 5-11 years old and a 31% increase in those 12-17 years old. In
With the onset of the pandemic more than two years in the rear-view mirror, Anne Esquivel, president and founder of San Antonio-based children’s counseling practice Mind Works, said the lasting e ects of it all are still being felt to this day. “In a functional family, a lot of them just became closer through the pandemic,” Esquivel said. “However, for other families where there’s domestic violence, child abuse, drug and alcohol issues, now those kids didn’t
SOURCE: AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER adding up to thousands over a year.
CONTINUED ON 28
HEALTH CARE EDITION 2022
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THIS ISSUE
ABOUT US
Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched the rst edition of Community Impact Newspaper in 2005 with three full-time employees covering Round Rock and P ugerville, Texas. Now in 2022, CI is still locally owned. We have expanded to include hundreds of employees, our own software platform and printing facility, and over 40 hyperlocal editions across three states with circulation to more than 2.8 million residential mailboxes.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS MONTH
FROM HEATHER: In our annual Health Care Edition, you will nd a front-page story on mental health. Our dining feature this month happens to be one of my favorite lunch spots—The Pita Shop. Next month is our annual Real Estate Edition. If you are interested in advertising information, please reach out to sbkads@communityimpact.com. Heather Demere, GENERAL MANAGER
Community Impact Newspaper teams include general managers, editors, reporters, graphic designers, sales account executives and sales support, all immersed and invested in the communities they serve. Our mission is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our core values are Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.
FROM ERIC: Mental health care needs increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this issue we look at how schools and counselors addressed the increase in need (see Pages 28-29) and also how mental health care is increasingly paid for without insurance (see Page 31). Eric Weilbacher, EDITOR
Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other.
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FROM SENATOR JUDITH ZAFFIRINI AND HER DARLING GRANDSONS, ASHER & GEORGE!
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SAN MARCOS BUDA KYLE EDITION • JUNE 2022
IMPACTS
Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon, relocating or expanding
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ZARA FLORESCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
COURTESY RESTORE
7 San Marcos Window and Pressure Washing , located at 1704 Hunter Road, San Marcos, celebrated 10 years of busi- ness in June. The team o ers a variety of services, such as interior and exterior window cleaning and power washing, as the name suggests, but they also o er gutter cleaning, solar panel cleaning and screen repair services. The team can also decorate homes with Christmas lights. 512-699-7729. www.smtxwash.com 8 Wimberley Glassworks celebrated 30 years of business June 11. Located at 6469 RR 12, San Marcos, the studio specializes in blown glass art, vases, sculptures, indoor and outdoor deco- rative pieces and everyday items such as glassware. The studio also hosts live glass blowing demonstrations and o ers tours of art installations. 512-393-3316. www.wgw.com RENOVATIONS 9 San Marcos o cials announced May 10 that the Pyramid Park/Dog Beach , 201 CM Allen Pkwy., San Marcos, will be closed until July for repair and maintenance work to protect against erosion. The closure will go a third of the width of the river next to the dog beach. Portions of the river adjacent to city park and other amenities will remain open. Dog beach and Rio Vista Falls mainte- nance repairs were set to be completed by May, but challenges delayed both. Work to be done includes deepening the foundation near the water’s edge and
July at 2401 S. I-35, Ste. 205, San Mar- cos. The new outpatient therapy clinic o ers physical therapy treatment and some recovery and reconditioning treat- ment that can help overcome lingering e ects of COVID-19. Pre- and post-surgi- cal rehabilitation, blood- ow restriction therapy, trigger point dry needling and other health services are also o ered. 737-266-0201. www.bswrehab.com 5 A new eatery with an adult environ- ment called Chit House is set to open by the end of June at 208 N. LBJ Drive, San Marcos. Chit House will serve hot dogs, hamburgers and hotlinks. The employees and the customers will have the freedom to use any kind of adult language between each other, with the exception of hate speech. Customers should be prepared for employees to banter with them and are encouraged to lm interactions. www.thechithouse.com ANNIVERSARIES 6 Austin Habitat for Humanity cele- brated 30 years of its donation and retail center, ReStore , in May; one of which is located at 2521 N. I-35, San Marcos. There are now more than 900 ReStores nationwide that serve as nonpro t home improvement stores and donation centers that sell new and used items. All purchases and donations help local families partner with AHH to build safe and a ordable homes. 512-738-8383. www.austinhabitat.org/restore 1984
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NOW OPEN 1 Blow Smoke & Vape opened May 15 at 2041 S. I-35, Ste. 217, San Marcos. The shop specializes in smoking items and accessories such as tobacco, vape and THC products as well as glass pipes and more. 512-667-6425. Facebook: Blow Smoke Shop 2 JAX Burgers, Fries & Shakes opened May 11 at 117 E. Hopkins St., San Marcos. The shop o ers burgers with single, double or triple patties with an assort- ment of available toppings such as crispy onion rings, grilled jalapenos, grilled mushrooms and more. The menu also has chicken options, sides and hand-
spun shakes. 512-216-6284. www.jaxburgers.com
3 On The River Poker Club opened in mid-May at 700 N. LBJ Drive, Ste. 103A, San Marcos. The new social club is for those 18 and older to play no-limit hold ‘em and pot limit Omaha poker. Those interested must purchase a membership, which varies from daily passes to yearly memberships. 512-210-8435. www.otrpoker.com COMING SOON 4 Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation is intended to open by
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COMPILED BY ZARA FLORES
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All Christus Health patients have access to On-Demand Care.
ZARA FLORESCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
FEATURED IMPACT IN THE NEWS Christus Health announced May 18 that it will begin o ering on-demand care, which will allow patients to meet with a Christus health care provider virtually via smartphone, tablet or computer from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. Christus On-Demand Care will help t into the busy lives of patients and allow them to skip the commute and waiting room while still having access to a doctor within minutes, Executive Vice President Paul Generale said. Patients can be seen for ailments such as allergies, rashes, the u and more; if the doctor believes an in-person appointment or additional testing
San Marcos Window and Pressure Washing
San Marcos Dog Beach
is necessary, On-Demand Care can facilitate those needs. Patients of Christus Santa Rosa Hospital, located at 1301 Wonder World Dr., San Marcos, who sign up for virtual appointments through On-Demand Care will be placed in a queue. To schedule an On-Demand Care visit, go to www.christushealth.org/ virtual-medicine.
COURTESY SAN MARCOS WINDOW AND PRESSURE WASHING
ZARA FLORESCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
2022. The degree will work to address a rising need for long-term care within the baby boomer population as nursing home jobs will continue to be in high demand, and it is expected that nursing homes will see an increase in utilization. 512-245-2180. www.txstate.edu CLOSINGS 11 Longhorn Daiquiris , located at 1617 Aquarena Springs Drive, San Mar- cos, announced its closure via Facebook on April 22; However, there will be a new location opening soon in Kyle. The menu features crab legs, shrimp, wings and more. Facebook: Longhorn Daiquiris
installation of a protective layer of rock adjacent to the foundation. Erosion con- trol, use of nontoxic hydraulic uid and relocation of native species will be done to protect the existing ecosystem. 512-393-8130. www.sanmarcostx.gov SCHOOL NOTES 10 The Texas State University System Board of Regents approved a new Master of Science degree in long-term administra- tive care at Texas State University on May 19. The university, located at 601 University Drive, San Marcos, will be the rst in Texas to o er this degree, and instruction will be virtual starting fall
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SAN MARCOS HAYS COUNTY CENTRAL TEXAS
RICK COFER & GEOFFREY PURYEAR CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS
93% OF CASES DISMISSED IN 2021
COFERCONNELLY.COM | 136 E. SAN ANTONIO STREET #107 • SAN MARCOS, TX 78666
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SAN MARCOS BUDA KYLE EDITION • JUNE 2022
IMPACTS
Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon, relocating or expanding
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ZARA FLORES/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
ZARA FLORES/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
2001
3 Rub My Rib food truck opened in March at 403 Rebel Drive, Kyle. The truck was started by Derek Beasley, who has more than 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry. Rub My Rib serves slow-cooked smoked pork ribs, pork belly, brisket, chicken and more. The truck also offers catering services for a variety of events. 512-514-5291. www.rubmyrib.com 4 Dental office Sleek Dental opened May 21 at 21150 I-35, Ste. G, Kyle, next to Poco Loco. The office offers full-service dental care from general dentistry to specialty procedures such as emergency, cosmetic and rehabilitation treatments. The office also offers veneer services, clear aligners and more. 512-256-3500 5 A new location of Tropical Smoothie Cafe opened in late April at 4650 FM 1626, Ste. 100, Kyle. Tropical Smoothie Cafe not only serves a variety of smooth- ies, such as the Super Veggie Avocolada, but it also features an extensive food menu with salads, wraps, sandwiches and more. The new location has a dine-in area and also has a drive-thru. 512-649-5999. www.tropicalsmoothiecafe.com COMING SOON 6 A new location of the Oregon-based chain Black Rock Coffee Bar is set to open in late 2022 or early 2023. The new shop will be located in Kyle Crossing Phase 2, the new mixed-use develop- ment that broke ground in March. Black Rock Coffee was founded in 2008 and has remained mainly on the West Coast with locations in Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho and Arizona. It has expanded to Colorado and Texas as well. 2001 21
The shop sells coffee shop classics, non-caffeinated beverages, blended beverages and energy drinks. www.br.coffee 7 A new location of the sports-themed salon Knockouts is set to open at 18840 S. I-35, Ste. 200, Kyle, in June. The new store joins Factory Mattress, Torchy’s Tacos, P. Terry’s and more in the new 65-acre mixed-use development known as the Dry River District. Knock- outs was founded in 2003 in Addison, and stores have popped up in Colorado, Oklahoma, Missouri, Georgia and more states in the Midwest and on the East Coast. Knockouts offers a variety of services for men, including haircuts, mustache and beard care, waxing, mani- cures, pedicures and more. www.knockouts.com A food truck called Uncle Buda is set to open in the Buda area by the end of June. The truck will offer Japanese comfort food, namely Japanese curry, and other Japanese delicacies. The menu will feature items such as curry udon, chicken karaage as well as mochi ice cream and Japanese drinks. Facebook: Uncle Buda. EXPANSIONS 8 Buda City Council adopted an ordinance May 3 authorizing a specific- use permit for construction to expand on the existing Longhorn Rentals business located at 14701 S. I-35, Buda. Longhorn Rentals provides vehicle rentals from compact cars and SUVs to vans, pickup trucks and box trucks. A 1,000-square- foot addition will be built onto the existing building, and an additional 12,000-square- foot building for screening and parking
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NOW OPEN 1 A new location of locally and fami- ly-owned Factory Mattress opened May 11 at 18840 I-35, Ste. 100, Kyle. The Kyle store is a new build within the Dry River District, a mixed-use development along I-35. The business was founded in 1977 and has now expanded to more than 20 stores across the Austin and San Anto- nio metro areas. Factory Mattress offers mattresses from a variety of brands from
twin to king as well as bases and other bed items. www.factorymattresstexas.com 2 The second location of Hays Co. Outfitters opened May 7 at 305 S. Main St., Ste. 102, Buda, at the Buda Mill & Grain Co. The first location opened in San Marcos in 2012. The shop offers outdoor clothing such as swimwear, hats and more as well as outdoor gear for camping, hiking, fishing and more. 512-295-0662. www.hayscooutfitters.com
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COMPILED BY ZARA FLORES
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PAWS Shelter of Central Texas
Unchartered Adventures
A new Smokey Mo’s TX BBQ will open in October at 4500 S. FM 1626, Ste. 200, Kyle.
COURTESY PAWS SHELTER OF CENTRAL TEXAS
COURTESY UNCHARTERED ADVENTURES
RENDERING COURTESY SMOKEY MO’S TX BBQ
IN THE NEWS 10 A controlled fire got out of hand and burned about $60,000 of inventory at Unchartered Adventures , located at 395 CR 202, Ste. 17B, on May 11. The busi- ness specializes in rage room adventures where guests can smash bottles, comput- ers and other items with sledgehammers. Therefore, a lot of the business’s inventory is “junk” that would otherwise end up in landfills and is stored outside. The fire started on a neighboring side of the prop- erty and spread, though the building itself was not affected. Unchartered Adventures has reopened after a temporary closure. Members of the community can help and drop off breakables such as TVs, wooden furniture, electronics and glass items at the business. 512-537-3113. www.uncharteredadventures.com
rental trucks and other vehicles will be constructed on-site. 512-361-3060. www.longhornrentals.com RENOVATIONS 9 PAWS Shelter of Central Texas , located at 500 E. FM 150, Kyle, closed May 9 for renovations as the shelter nears 36 years of business. Work around the shelter will include a redesign and remodel of the office, a medical room, holding areas and catteries. New gates will be installed on the dog kennels, and the outdoor dog yards will also be redesigned and will have new fencing installed. There will also be plumbing, electrical and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) updates. The facility is expected to reopen mid-June. 512-268-1611. www.pawsshelter.org
FEATURED IMPACT COMING SOON Smokey Mo’s TX BBQ , founded in Cedar Park with 16 locations statewide, is expanding to add 32 locations by 2025, one of which will open in October at 4500 S. FM 1626, Ste. 200, Kyle. The vision for the expansion is to be the best neighborhood barbecue in Texas, President and CEO of Smokey Mo’s Craig Haley said. Kyle was chosen as one of the new locations due to its quick growth and neighborhood feel, Haley added. The new store will be a prototype store, he said, which means an enhanced look, feel and ambiance. The kitchen will have a
speci c layout to ensure that the food is produced better and faster. The new store will have the same menu featuring a variety of smoked meats, sandwiches and family packs, and it will have an outdoor patio. www.smokeymosbbq.com
KOHLERS CROSSING
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1320 US HWY 290, DRIPPING SPRINGS 2 Locations to Serve You 530 S. IH, ROUND ROCK
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SAN MARCOS - BUDA - KYLE EDITION • JUNE 2022
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
TO DO LIST
June, July & August events
COMPILED BY ZARA FLORES
02 GO DISC GOLFING Step into the lush greenery in San Marcos for 18 holes of disc golf at the fth annual Flying Armadillo Disc Golf Club Open. The competition is open to all, members and nonmembers of the club, and will feature lunch, dinner, free beer, reworks in honor of the Fourth of July, live music from Blevins and more. 8:30 a.m. $45 (novice), $60 (amateur), $70 (advanced amateur), $100 (open). Spend the day at Buda Amphitheater & City Park celebrating the fourth of July at the city’s annual Red, White & Buda event. The day will begin with the annual bike parade down Main Street followed by food vendors, live music and other festivities. The night will be capped by a reworks show at 9:15 p.m. 9 a.m. Free. 204 San Antonio St., Buda. 512-523-1081. www.budaamphitheater.com 07 LEARN ABOUT FIRE SAFETY Bring your children to the San 3115 Hilliard Road, San Marcos. 773-266-3990. www.fadgc.com 04 CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE DAY Marcos Public Library for a morning of reading and education. Members of the re department will be there to read to the kids, discuss re safety and give tours of a re truck. 10:30 a.m. Free. 625 E. Hopkins St., San Marcos. 512-393-8200. www.sanmarcostx.gov 30 ROCK OUT TO PUNK Dallas-based band Van Full of Nuns will host the Pop Punk’s Not Dead Festival at Buck’s Backyard celebrating pop punk and emo music. Bowling for Soup and Less Than Jake will headline the festival, along with Van Full of Nuns, to perform original songs and covers from pop punk and emo bands such as Dashboard Confessional, Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, Paramore and more. The festival will also feature beer pong, ra es, merchandise sales and more. 2 p.m. $49 (general admission), $99 (VIP), $299 (rear deck VIP for four), $329 (rear deck VIP for six), $420 (front stage VIP table for six). 1750 FM 1626, Buda. 512-312-9456. www.bucksbackyard.com
JUNE 17 18
CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH SAN MARCOS, BUDA & KYLE
Sister Hazel will perform at Buck's Backyard on June 25. LIVE MUSIC BUCK’S BACKYARD 1750 FM 1626, Buda 512-312-9456 www.bucksbackyard.com JUNE 17 Sister Hazel 22 The Rowdies 25 Damn Quails CHEATHAM ST. WAREHOUSE 119 Cheatham St., San Marcos 512-353-3777 www.cheathamstreet.com JUNE 24 Matt Castillo 26 Cole Ritter & The Night Owls 30 Logan Samford JULY 08 Adam Hood THE MARC 120 E. San Antonio St., San Marcos 512-757-5443 www.themarcsm.com JUNE 18 Midnight Tyrannosaurus 24 Party Favor JULY 01 ARMNHMR 03 Eptic
There will be several Juneteenth celebrations throughout Hays County commemorating the end of slavery in Texas in 1865. Kyle City Council Member Dex Ellison will lead and moderate a panel June 17 at a Dialogue for Peace and Progress session to facilitate open and honest conversations on various topics. 7 p.m., 100 W. Center St., Kyle. The San Marcos Juneteenth Foundation will host its annual charity barbecue cook-o June 17-18, start times vary, at Plaza Park located at 206 N. CM Allen Parkway, San Marcos, with proceeds going to scholarships. The city of Buda will host the Buda Juneteenth Celebration on June 18 at 10 a.m. at the Buda Amphitheater & City Park, 204 San Antonio Road, Buda, featuring live music, food and more. Free (admission). www.juneteenthfoundationinc.org, www.cityo yle.com, www.ci.buda.tx.us
25 BUILD A BEE HOUSE The Kyle Parks and Recreation Department will host a Build A Native Bee House event in honor of National Pollinators Week. Building native bee houses increases pollination and provides shelter and nesting areas for bees. Those interested must register ahead of time through the TeamSideline website. 8 a.m. $3 (through June 17), $5 (after June 17). Krug Activity Center, 101 S. Burleson St., Kyle. 737-213-0233. www.teamsideline.com/sites/kyle/home JULY 01 THROUGH 03, 08 10, 15 16 SING ALONG TO ‘SHREK’ The Central Texas Theatre Academy, in partnership with the city of Buda, will host three weekends of “Shrek the Musical” under the stars at Buda Amphitheater & City Park. Watch the play unfold and sing along with Shrek, Fiona, Donkey and the rest of the fairy tale creatures. 8:30 p.m. Free. 204 San Antonio St., Buda. 512-842-7171. www.centextheatre.org
JUNE 17 GET YOUR PAINT ON Head to Inspired Minds Art Center in downtown Buda for an evening of free- owing painting. Participants can choose up to four colors of acrylic paint and pour them on a canvas using a variety of methods so the paint mixes naturally with the others. Instructors will help guide the paint pouring. The event is BYOB. 6:30 p.m. $45. 121 Main St., Buda. 512-256-0181. www.inspiredminds.art 21 THROUGH AUG. 09 CATCH A FREE FLICK San Marcos Community Services will kick o Movies In Your Park on June 21 with a screening of the Disney lm “Encanto” at Plaza Park. A di erent movie will play each Tuesday through Aug. 9. Other movies to be featured include “Jurassic World,” “Goonies” and “Monsters, Inc.” Guests are encouraged to arrive early to claim their spot. 8 p.m. Free. 206 N. CM Allen Parkway, San Marcos. 512-393-8400. Facebook: SMTX Community Services
Find more or submit San Marcos, Buda and Kyle events at communityimpact.com/event-calendar. Event organizers can submit local events online to be considered for the print edition. Submitting details for consideration does not guarantee publication.
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SAN MARCOS BUDA KYLE EDITION • JUNE 2022
TRANSPORTATION UPDATES The Boring Co. tunnel inches closer to nal approval At a meeting May 17, Kyle City
COMPILED BY ZARA FLORES
UPCOMING PROJECT
ROBERT S. LIGHT BLVD.
Council approved a reimbursement agreement for $75,000 with Union Paci c for preliminary engineering plans for the pedestrian underpass tunnel within The Vybe, the city’s trail network. This item follows the May 3 meet- ing at which City Council approved a professional services agreement with The Boring Co. for the con- struction of the tunnel. Though the agreement is between the city and Union Paci c, the devel- oper of Kyle Crossing Phase 2, Central SouthWest Texas Develop- ment, will be paying the $75,000 as it is funding the entirety of the project. The tunnel was initially planned as a bridge, but the Texas Depart- ment of Transportation deemed it unsafe, City Manager Scott Sellers said. There are also high-voltage electrical lines adjacent to the railroad tracks that the bridge would be built over, adding to the impossi- bility of the bridge.
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Robert S. Light Boulevard repairs Buda City Council signed onto an in- terlocal agreement with Hays County for roadway maintenance and repairs on Robert S. Light Boulevard. The project will be managed by the county and will repave portions of the road. Stabilization and full-depth repairs will also be done throughout. Timeline: January 2023-May 2023 Cost: $1.43 million Funding sources: city of Buda, Hays County
The proposed tunnel would go underneath the railroad behind Kyle Crossing Phase 2. RENDERING COURTESY THE BORING CO.
UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD
The tunnel will be 12 feet in diameter, but the path will be 10 feet wide; the tunnel will also be lit and will have cameras most likely moni- tored by the Kyle Police Department for safety. The Boring Co. will be responsible for the project design, diagnostics, inspections, plans, speci cations, construction review and other tasks to compile the plans that will be presented to Union Paci c. Union Paci c will review the plans but has yet to approve or deny them.
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Should the plans be approved and construction exceeds the $3 million CSWTD pledged for the tunnel, the item will return to council for further consideration.
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ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF MAY 26. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT SBKNEWS COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM. 45 mph as a result of a construction zone. The item will need to come before the council once more before becoming legally enforceable. Timeline: TBD Cost: TBD Funding source: city of Buda Speed limit reduced on RM 967 Buda City Council approved the rst reading of an ordinance to establish a new maximum speed limit along a portion of RM 967. The speed limit will be reduced from 55 mph to
San Marcos leadership celebrates completion of shared river pathway City of San Marcos lead- ership, sta and contrac- tors held a ribbon-cutting ceremony along the river Hughson said. “The San Marcos River shared-use pathway project is the by City Council in 2017, the mayor said, and it broke ground in early 2020. “This 1.7-mile-long trail SAN MARCOS RIVER SHARED PATH
perfect example of what can be achieved when federal, state and local entities work together to accomplish something great for the community.” The Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant path project was approved
May 18 to celebrate the completion of the San Marcos River shared-use pathway project. “On behalf of the whole community, we are happy to see these projects reach completion,” Mayor Jane
not only allows users of all abilities to access our riv- erfront park system, but it also provides connectivity between our visitor center, south freeway, downtown and Texas State University,” Hughson said.
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MIKE & THE MOONPIES PAT GREEN SHAKER HYMNS MARGARITA SALSA FEST SATURDAY AUG 27 BUDA AMPHITHEATER BUDA TX VISITBUDA.COM | BUDAHOLICS.COM
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
DEVELOPMENT UPDATES
COMPILED BY ZARA FLORES & ERIC WEILBACHER
RENDERING COURTESY KINDRED UNCOMMON
ZARA FLORES COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
ZARA FLORES COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
KINDRED UNCOMMON Austin-based builder Kindred Uncommon, formerly known as Cantina, is set to build a new, modern pocket neighborhood tailored for those age 55 and up on 6.5 acres of land across the street from Buda City Hall at 767 Main St., Buda. The purpose of a pocket neighborhood is to encourage residents to interact with their neighbors through centralized common areas and are usually on the smaller scale of single-family residences. The existing 2,500-square-foot home on the property will be converted into a shared space called Great House for the residents with a kitchen, cafe, indoor and outdoor dining, a pool and more. There will be 76 one- and two-bedroom units across the property ranging from 520-1,130 square feet. Groundbreaking is anticipated for this summer, Managing Partner AJ Viola said. “There’s an intention behind this that is so much more than just creating a modern-looking community. We really are trying to create something that we don’t feel like exists, really at all, let alone for older adults: a community that you can move to and feel like it’s going to be a place where you will know other people who live there,” Viola said. Space: 6.5 acres Timeline: June-summer 2023
700 BUNTON LANE The Kyle Planning and Zoning Commission approved the preliminary plan for a 318-acre development north of Waterleaf Park at 700 and 800 Bunton Lane by Rastegar Property Co. on May 10. Representatives from Rastegar brought a presentation on the development to City Council in September, but no action was taken at that time. The developer is based in Austin and has acquired land and existing developments throughout the metro to expand its footprint. The property was purchased in 2019 in two separate acquisitions, according to founder and CEO Ari Rastegar, and has undergone rezoning to prepare for the development plans. More than 1,000 single- and multifamily units are planned throughout. About 60 acres will be reserved for open space integration into The Vybe, a citywide network of trails. Another 12 acres will be reserved for an elementary school. There will also be some mixed- use space and an amenity center. “What we’ve created is what we’re calling ‘futuristic suburbanism,’ that e ectively is what we believe is the future of suburban living in a post-COVID[-19] environment,” Rastegar said. Space: 318 acres Timeline: projected August 2022 start
CORRIDOR SOUTH 35 PROJECT San Marcos City Council voted to rezone almost 65 acres of a 112-acre property near the intersection of Clovis Barker Road and Hwy. 123 from a future development district to a light industrial district. The vacant property is surrounded by warehouses, manufacturing facilities and other vacant properties. “The owners of the property, as you’ll see from the map that was shown earlier, only 65 of the 112 acres are being rezoned. So that way, we can leave the remainder of the property undevelopable as green space,” said Pam Madere of Jackson Walker LLP, speaking on behalf of the McCoy Family Partnership One, the owners of the property. Council members voted to add a restrictive covenant to the rezoning that would prevent waste-related services. That passed 5-2, with Council Members Jude Prather and Shane Scott dissenting. The zoning change passed 6-1, with Baker dissenting. Each item was passed on rst reading and will come before the council a second time. “It’s approximately 600,000 square feet of industrial development with really large kind of open space areas that are preserved—all of that not developed,” Madere said. Space: 600,000 square feet on 112 acres Timeline: fall 2022 start date
SAN MARCOS
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SAN MARCOS BUDA KYLE EDITION • JUNE 2022
EDUCATION BRIEFS
News from Hays CISD, San Marcos CISD & Texas State University
COMPILED BY ZARA FLORES
QUOTE OF NOTE
District decides on early release positions, stipends
Hays CISD Meets June 20, 27 at 5:30 p.m. at the Historic Buda Elementary Campus, 300 San Marcos St., Buda 512-268-2141 • www.hayscisd.net San Marcos CISD Meets June 20 at 6 p.m. at San Marcos High School, 2601 Rattler Road, San Marcos 512-393-6700 • www.smcisd.net MEETINGS WE COVER DISTRICT HIGHLIGHT SAN MARCOS CISD The board of trustees voted May 16 to raise teacher salaries and that of other professional employees by 3% for the upcoming 2022-23 school year along with a 5.26% raise for other hourly sta . The board also approved a $3,000 teacher retention incentive payment. “WE’LL PROBABLY VOTE ‘YES’ ON EVERYTHING, EXCEPT THERE NEEDS TO BE CLARITY. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE TO TO OUR COMMUNITY; AND WE NEED TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE.” ESPERANZA OROSCO, HAYS CISD TRUSTEE, REGARDING POSTPONING A VOTE FOR SOME POSITIONS THE TAXPAYER; WE ARE RESPONSIBLE NUMBER TO KNOW to increase the starting pay for bus drivers to $20 per hour from $17.35 per hour for the upcoming 2022-23 school year. $20 The Hays CISD board of trustees voted May 23
HAYS CISD At a meeting May 23, the Hays CISD board of trustees approved the early release of new jobs and stipends for the 2022-23 school year ahead of the scheduled annual budgeting process set to begin in June. The board approved the addition of color guard teachers, middle school assistant principals, districtwide security monitors and more, while positions such as data program- mer and human resources coordinator were postponed until the budgeting sessions for further discussion. The early release of these positions will make them avail- able sooner than if they were postponed until the budgeting sessions, at which point they would not be made available until late June or early July, according to agenda documents. The “advanced approval,” coupled with the board’s recent decision to approve a 7% cost-of-living adjustment for all employees, are the district’s attempts to address sta ng shortages. Trustee Esperanza Orosco assured the board that the remaining positions that were not approved at the May 23 meeting will be brought back for further discussion.
ON THE DOCKET
While only a handful of the positions were approved for early release, the rest will still be up for consideration at a later date.
APPROVED:
HELD:
2 gifted/talented instructional coaches 3 color guard teachers and 3 $5,000 stipends 6 middle school assistant principals 3 instructional aides 1 security monitor districtwide 1 security monitor districtwide*
1 human resources coordinator 1 safety and security coordinator 1 maintenance and operations receptionist 1 heating, ventilation, air conditioning tech 1 plumber
2 groundskeepers 1 data programmer 1 network engineer
*RECLASSIFICATION FOR SENIOR POSITION WITH UPGRADED PAY
SOURCE: HAYS CISD COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Texas State University joins equity initiative TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY Austin Community College announced April 28 that it was selected to join the Transfer Student Success and Equity Initiative along with Texas State University. The initiative is designed to bring together community colleges and four-year institutions to implement policies and best practices to ensure equitable access. The one-year initia- tive consists of monthly sessions that are designed to support the partner- ship, and a workshop series provides support aimed at “accelerating transfer reform” over the year.
Austin ISD principal selected as new principal of Hays HS HAYS CISD At a meeting May 23, Hays CISD Superintendent Eric Wright announced Kristina Salazar will be taking over as Hays High School principal for the upcoming 2022-23 school year. This comes about a month after Wright announced Hays High School Principal David Pierce was promoted to become the district’s academic o cer. Salazar served as the principal of W. Charles Atkins Early College High School in Austin ISD and
served at various school districts throughout the state. She has worked in edu- cation for more than 20 years, and her roles have progressed
Kristina Salazar
in leadership from instructional coach and department chair to assistant principal, academy director and principal. “As a leader, I aspire to create an educational culture of collabora- tive learning and teamwork. As a Hays CISD community member, I am honored and blessed to be able to serve this distinguished commu- nity in this capacity,” Salazar said.
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
CITY & COUNTY
News from Buda, Kyle, San Marcos & Hays County
San Marcos City Council Meets June 21 and July 5 at 6 p.m. 630 E. Hopkins St., San Marcos. 512-393-8000 www.sanmarcostx.gov Kyle City Council Meets June 21 and July 5 at 7 p.m. 100 W. Center St., Kyle 512-262-1010 • www.cityofkyle.com Buda City Council Meets June 21 at 5:30 p.m. at 405 E. Loop St., Buda 512-312-0084 • www.ci.buda.tx.us Hays County Commissioners Court Meets June 21 and July 5 at 9 a.m. 111 E. San Antonio St., San Marcos 512-393-2205 • www.co.hays.tx.us MEETINGS WE COVER KYLE City Council approved a Chapter 380 performance agreement June 7 with Alliance Industrial Co., an industrial development and investment company, for a project that could be more than 1 million square feet. The project is called Kyle/35 Logistics Park, which will have five logistics facilities ranging from 140,000-475,000 square feet, and site work for it is already underway. CITY HIGHLIGHTS BUDA The city announced May 18 that City Council selected Frost Bank for the general obligation bond issuance of $42.3 million with a true interest rate of 3.65%. The funds will allow the Buda Bond Oversight Committee and WSB to begin organizing projects from the November bond election that focus on transportation, mobility, and parks and recreation projects. SAN MARCOS Leadership for the city held a ribbon cutting May 18 to celebrate the reopening of Rio Vista Falls, a recreation spot along the river. The portion of the river was closed since October and was slated to reopen in March but was delayed as a result of vandalism. “IT WOULD NOT SURPRISE ME IF WE HIT 750 THIS SUMMER.” LON SHELL, HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONER, ON THE RISING JAIL POPULATION IN HAYS COUNTY QUOTE OF NOTE NUMBER TO KNOW is the current homestead exemption in Kyle for residents 65 and older. More could be added through upcoming budget workshop meetings. $30,000
Firm selected for county public defender’s office
BY ZARA FLORES
WHAT IS NEIGHBORHOOD DEFENDER SERVICE INC?
HAYS COUNTY Nine months after the Hays County Com- missioners Court voted to allocate $5 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds to establish a public defender’s office and after nearly an hour of discussion May 24, the dais selected Neighborhood Defender Service Inc. as the firm to create the office that will provide representation to those who cannot afford to retain legal counsel. The push to create a public defender’s office has been an uphill battle for years, especially as court backlogs and jail overcrowding that is costing the county thousands of dollars per day continue to strain the existing criminal justice system, as previously reported by Community Impact Newspaper . Judge Ruben Becerra said that he does not think the office will solve all of the county’s problems, but the burden is on the commissioners to do everything they can to address the issues as best as possible. “Those folks pushing for this have been raked over the
The San Antonio office opened in January to provide public defense representation and other related services through teams of civil attorneys, social workers, investigators and more.
The firm selected to head the new public defender’s office in Hays County has offices in • Harlem, New York • Detroit, Michigan • San Antonio, Texas
Its holistic approach aims to address the underlying issues that land a client in the criminal legal system.
SOURCE: NEIGHBORHOOD DEFENDER SERVICE INC./COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
coals to bring something that is so universal and fundamen- tal to our American way of life: freedom and justice for all,” Becerra said. “We pray about it, we pledge allegiance to it and now we can walk away saying, ‘We did our part.’” Contract negotiations will be brought at a later date.
Council approves services agreement to run bond campaign
La Cima adds more than 1,000 acres
CONTINUING TO GROW Since breaking ground in 2017 on an initial 128 homesites, La Cima has grown to more than 5,180 units.
BY ERIC WEILBACHER
Current
With expansion 2,553 acres 3,848.2 acres
SAN MARCOS City Council unanimously approved the latest proposed addition to the La Cima development May 17—an additional 1,295.2-acre parcel of land that would nearly double La Cima to a total of 3,848.2 acres. Of that new addition, 637 acres are proposed as a conservation or open space area along with 200 acres for a private park, 321 acres of single-fam- ily housing to be no denser than three units per acre and 137 acres for multifamily units, according to public hearing documents. The addition of the park increases the open acreage in the
Acreage
BY ZARA FLORES
KYLE At a meeting May 17, Kyle City Council approved a services agreement with Gap Strategies for $65,000 to help with the campaign for the potential road bond that could be upward of $100 million on the November ballot. “The firm specializes in innovative political consulting and in-depth public involvement with a particular focus on complex issues,” according to the presentation by the firm. The firm will coordinate voter outreach and other tasks to help educate the public.
Open space
2,800 units 4,200 units 792 acres 2,019 acres
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Single-family units
Multifamily units
720 units 980 units
SOURCE: CITY OF SAN MARCOS/ COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
development from 792 acres to 2,019, according to city documents. Multifamily units will increase, and single-family housing units will nearly double.
Council moves forward on film studio agreement
CHAPTER 380 Below outlines the total in grants to Hill Country LLC if all requirements are met and projected tax collections. AFTER A 10-YEAR PERIOD:
BY ERIC WEILBACHER
Council Member Maxfield Baker provided the dissenting vote. The project is located over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone. Assistant City Manager Joe Pantalion said the design provides for 48% impervious cover—lower than the typical 80% rate for commercial
development.
SAN MARCOS City Council voted 6-1 on June 7 to proceed with a Chapter 380 agreement with Hill Country LLC to provide financial incentives to build an 820,000-square-foot film and video production facility at RR 12 and West Center Point Road.
“I don’t think any of my colleagues want to see the environment harmed in any way, shape or form. I think we’re probably not going to get any kind of a better outcome than this as far as 48% of impervious cover,” Council Member Mark Gleason said.
$11.4M in property taxes for the city $4.6M in grants to Hill Country LLC $31.3M in property taxes to San Marcos CISD
SOURCE: CITY OF SAN MARCOS/ COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
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SAN MARCOS - BUDA - KYLE EDITION • JUNE 2022
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