Provence is located just outside of Bee Cave’s city limits at 16314 Hamilton Pool Road and is currently under construction by Masonwood Development. Phase 1 will encompass 673 homes within 350 acres and should be completed by 2030, according to marketing manager Samantha Meredith.
After more than an hour in a privately held executive session, the WTCPUA voted to delay the settlement agreement until its Dec. 17 meeting. The vote passed 4-1 with President Scott Roberts as the sole opposer.
The suspended litigation involves four separate litigants, two of which represent the developers of Provence, Masonwood Development, and two of which involve John and Sandra Hatchett, the landowners of the site.
Clint Garza, a member of the WTCPUA and the Bee Cave city manager, told Community Impact Newspaper that details of that settlement agreement have not been released to the public, but those in opposition said the litigation under review encompasses the possible extension of 1,137 water taps, or LUEs—the living-unit equivalent that is used to measure water service.
Those contesting the tap expansion said the developers of the master-planned community would be the main beneficiary of the water taps under debate.
Phase 1 of the development is approved for 700 LUEs and protesters, including the resident group Hamilton Pool Road Matters, said the impending extension would pose environmental and traffic risks to their somewhat rural community.
“This water line would be a gift to Provence, and this gift would be at the expense of the property rights and property values and all of the existing landowners and residents who are also customers,” resident Christy Muse said during the meeting’s public comment session.
Notably, Provence falls outside of the WTCPUA’s area of service, referred to as the Certificate of Convenience and Necessity.
Consequently, the WTCPUA is not required to provide service to the site, as highlighted by resident Richard Scadden, who also serves as president of the Southwestern Travis County Groundwater Conservation District.
In light of the delay, the WTCPUA will revisit the discussion during its Dec. 17 board meeting, which will take place at City Hall.
