By Tim Fleischer and Royce Wiggin

While Sanctuary developers have withdrawn their request for the rezoning of three acres within the Historic District, sentiment expressed during public hearings continues to be mostly opposed to the annexation and zoning of the Sanctuary development.

Cathy Carlson asked  aldermen “to come down off of the dais and listen to the voters. Paradise is lost.”

H.T. Crow said that he felt the developer had “pulled the wool over the board’s eyes.” If the board continued forward with annexation of the development, he promised, “I guess I will do my best to see that nobody on this board will ever hold office.”

Sheryl Russell, who along with her husband Rod Russell owns Baines House B&B, expressed concerns about the impact of Sanctuary on the drainage issues along Royal Street. She said that the additional development will increase the danger to pedestrians on Royal Street, which she described as “straight and dark with no walkways.”

Hans Fields said that he is concerned that “the only things that is going to be built” is the entertainment venue. “Do you have a plot plan?” he asked.

Fields also stated that the Salado Historical Society was “100 percent against rezoning any property that is in the Historic District.”

Maurice Striegler, who lives in Salado Oaks, said that Sanctuary developers “want to make a feeder road through our subdivision.” He added that he lived on a cul-de-sac subdivision, but the plans for Sanctuary will turn Salado Oaks Dr. into a collector street for the 1,800 residents of Sanctuary.

“They are turning the place into Disneyland. Where are people going to park? Where are all these cars going to go?” he questioned.

Others, including Judy Fields, expressed concern about the impact of dramatic growth on the schools. “Our school taxes will be raised for more space,” she said, adding that the board did not consider the “impact on the current roads.”

James Kelley said that the Sanctuary was right behind his house and that he was concerned about the plans for multi-family housing so close to a quiet, estate-lot neighborhood.

King Copeland said that the bond election passed because “all the village wanted the much-needed sewer system.” However, he added, that the Aldermen “turned that vote primarily to servicing the Sanctuary.”

He said that the issues of secret meetings, eminent domain, rezoning and tax breaks all landed on “Billie Hanks’ side” rather than on the side of the Village.

The board took no action on the annexation of the three properties comprising the Sanctuary Development:

a.31.745 +/-acres generally located at the northeast corner of FM 2268 and I-35 frontage road.

b.196.945 +/-acres generally located at the corner of Salado Oaks Drive and FM 2268, and the 700 block of Royal Street Drive, just east of Rose Way Circle.

c.58.132 +/-acres generally located at the southeast corner of FM 2268 and 1-35 frontage road.

The Board of Aldermen also conducted the second public hearing on the annexation request for Hidden Glen Subdivision -Senior Living: 18.71 acres out of 20.017 acres in the Young Williams Survey, Abstract No. 861, Tract 1, Bell County, Texas, located at 251 Mary Lane locally known as Hidden Glen Senior Living.

The board will vote in February on the annexation of the properties, as well as the proposed zoning of the properties to Planned Development.

At their Nov. 19 meeting, aldermen approved a series of agreements with Sanctuary developers, including a Donation Agreement for six acres of land and a Water Quality Permit No. WQ0014898001; a  Wastewater Service Agreement for the funding and constructing of improvements to the Village’s wastewater collection, pumping, treatment, and disposal system, and the terms and conditions for retail wastewater services to the proposed 297 acre development and a Development Agreement between the Village of Salado and Sanctuary Development Company, LLC. for the terms and conditions of economic development incentives related to the proposed 297 acre development to be constructed by Sanctuary Development Co.

The land donation and donation of the water permit are being kept in escrow until the property is annexed and zoned by the Village. Aldermen are expected to vote on the annexation and zoning of the development at their Feb. 11 special meeting. The meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. at the Municipal Building, 301 N. Stagecoach Rd. It is open to the public.