Post by L Roebuck on Aug 16, 2006 7:46:16 GMT -5
County: Balcones preserve getting pricey
Staff members recommend spending $75 million over four years, before land gets even more expensive.
By Marty Toohey
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
The Balcones Canyonlands Preserve is nearly complete, with almost 28,000 acres of environmentally sensitive western Travis County land purchased by the City of Austin, the county and others.
But acquiring the final 2,679 acres of the preserve needed to satisfy federal requirements will be prohibitively expensive because of soaring land prices, according to a county report that suggests spending about $75 million over the next four years on a final land-buying push.
The city and county have spent about $108 million to date. Where to find the remaining money remains an open question.
"Land always gets more expensive," said Kevin Connally, who oversees the county's role in the preserve. "The long-term funding strategies (of the county) haven't kept pace with the increased cost of the land."
The preserve was authorized in 1996, when the county and city persuaded the US Fish and Wildlife Service to allow development on endangered species habitat in parts of Western Travis County. In exchange, the city and county agreed to buy undeveloped land to protect two endangered bird species, six endangered cave bug species and 27 other rare species.
Full Article
Staff members recommend spending $75 million over four years, before land gets even more expensive.
By Marty Toohey
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
The Balcones Canyonlands Preserve is nearly complete, with almost 28,000 acres of environmentally sensitive western Travis County land purchased by the City of Austin, the county and others.
But acquiring the final 2,679 acres of the preserve needed to satisfy federal requirements will be prohibitively expensive because of soaring land prices, according to a county report that suggests spending about $75 million over the next four years on a final land-buying push.
The city and county have spent about $108 million to date. Where to find the remaining money remains an open question.
"Land always gets more expensive," said Kevin Connally, who oversees the county's role in the preserve. "The long-term funding strategies (of the county) haven't kept pace with the increased cost of the land."
The preserve was authorized in 1996, when the county and city persuaded the US Fish and Wildlife Service to allow development on endangered species habitat in parts of Western Travis County. In exchange, the city and county agreed to buy undeveloped land to protect two endangered bird species, six endangered cave bug species and 27 other rare species.
Full Article