A major thoroughfare plan is a long-range planning tool used for potential future roadways. The plan does not define the final alignment of roadways, nor does it construct roadways and acquire new property. Instead, the plan aims to identify general alignments and roadway classifications needed to accommodate transportation needs and facilitate mobility and connectivity, according to Guadalupe County's website.
What the court is saying
Guadalupe County Judge Kyle Kutscher said thoroughfare plans are a challenging conversation from start to finish.
“I think we have done a horrible job as a county in facilitating this conversation, working through this plan to get it to a completion that really considers all factors for development and future growth and all the above,” Kutscher said.
Kutscher also said the county is being “inundated” with dense residential development, and that the county does not have the authority to stop or slow it down.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Jacqueline Ott said her vote will depend on what she thinks is best for her constituents.
“I don’t feel pushed in any direction by any of my colleagues or any of the citizens. I will do what I think is the right thing to do,” Ott said. “If I don’t believe that we can get to a solution that is best for the rural citizens in Precinct 1 and the citizens in the urban area of Precinct 1, I don’t have a problem not voting for it.”
Precinct 4 Commissioner Stephen Germann said he needs a thoroughfare plan to dictate development.
“I do not want to take any private people’s land. That is not the intent in Precinct 4 or any other precinct. But I have got to do something to keep private landowners from being forced to give up land because developers are coming in,” Germann said.
What residents are saying
Guadalupe County resident Sherman Schlichting said he and his wife attended a public meeting held by Ott in December, where they learned the proposed plan had been changed to include an extension and expansion of Hoffman Road.
Schlichting said they opposed the change because the road is narrow, and that constructing a parkway would require landowners along the road to give up “significant property.” He also said some homes would be affected since the existing road is so narrow.
Mark Valley, a Precinct 1 and Hoffman Road resident, said the proposed changes to the roadway would cause significant undue harm to county residents.
“Under the Hoffman Road proposal, approximately 35 properties would be subject to eminent domain, with every resident along the road losing some portion of their land due to required roadway widening. In at least seven cases, homes would likely be seized entirely, including multiple generational family homes that cannot be replaced,” Valley said.
Stay tuned
The Commissioners Court will discuss the plan again at an upcoming meeting scheduled for Jan. 24 or Feb. 10. County residents can view the draft of the proposed plan update here.
