The Metropolis of Gray Forest will now be capable of contest the wastewater allow for the controversial Guajolote Ranch improvement after the State Workplace of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) reversed an earlier resolution by the state’s environmental company.
A minimum of 80 people and teams had utilized to contest the Texas Fee on Environmental High quality’s (TCEQ) resolution to green-light the wastewater plant that will serve a significant residence improvement within the Texas Hill Nation. However in August, TCEQ opted to listen to opinions from solely three affected events — San Antonio Metropolitan Well being District, the Better Edwards Aquifer Alliance and landowner Ann Toepperwein.
The reversal makes method for the small metropolis of 500 residents, positioned in northwest Bexar County, to oppose the wastewater plant that’s meant to serve 2,900 subdivision on 1,160 acres generally known as the Guajolote Ranch.
The Florida-based developer Lennar Properties first utilized for the allow to construct a wastewater plant for the neighborhood in 2022.
The proposed plant would discharge between 1 and 4 million gallons of handled effluent each day into Helotes Creek. Opponents of the Guajolote Ranch mission are fearful the plant may negatively have an effect on the Edwards Aquifer, which provides water to greater than 2 million individuals in Central Texas, together with in San Antonio.
Residents, environmental teams and native leaders will be capable of problem the mission’s wastewater allow at a listening to scheduled to start on Feb. 18.
A contested case listening to is a authorized continuing much like a civil trial in a state district court docket and is performed by SOAH.
At a preliminary listening to set by SOAH on Thursday, state officers heard from residents and metropolis officers of Gray Forest who voiced their considerations in regards to the water remedy plant and the way it may uniquely have an effect on waterways inside their small city.
“I’m so excited to announce that we do have standing on this case, and it was a concerted effort — all residents, associates of town of Gray Forest and people who care about our pure atmosphere and the water system,” mentioned Gray Forest Mayor Paul Garro, who testified just about.
