Dear Family and Friends, We are writing to ask for your consideration and help for our home and community. Over the last several years, Boerne has rapidly been changing with an ever increasing move toward commercialization and urbanization. There have been fragmented efforts by citizens both within the city and in the county to either ask for further consideration of or to modify some of these trends. These efforts and problems have included: the rezoning of areas that are near established residential neighborhoods to commercial/high density designations; trying to preserve the architectural integrity and beauty of the historic area; preserving the “old town Boerne” neighborhoods and noise ordinances; small school versus large school questions; the commercialization and lack of strict architectural guidelines along Highway 87 and I10; city water ordinances, county well fees and issues of water conservation and the protection of key watershed areas; the loss of large areas of open green space; increased traffic; and many more such issues. The announcement of a new Thoroughfare Plan and Loop, (a four lane highway tightly ringing Boerne along with several feeder roads), has, in a sense, encircled all of us in the community and drawn us together to deal with these issues of urbanization and growth. This plan is driven by the request of developers who need the access and traffic flow to facilitate their properties. Right now, there are two properties along Highway 46 E that, if annexed into the city, will have a “domino” affect by opening the door to a much larger, 1200 acre development adjoining them. Why is this a concern? The city does not require a plan from the developer in order to annex them, so we have no idea what we will be annexing! We do know the city allows at least 6 houses per acre (versus the county’s restriction of 1 home per 5.78 acres). If you do the simple math of 6 homes per acre times 1200 + acres, and assume 3 persons per household, we potentially will be opening the door for 15,000 to 22,000 more people in that one quadrant of Boerne alone. There is the possibility of additional multi-housing units as well as commercial development within this annexation. This is pristine ranchland and a watershed area. The developers will pay for the cost of the highway in their area, which will “speed up” the completion of this highway around our town. (Contrary to what the City leaders are telling the public- that it won’t happen in our lifetime.) This is only in one quadrant, and does not take into consideration the additional developments, both commercial and residential that are bound to follow if a highway loop is implemented all around Boerne. (The present Master Plan calls for a population growth to at least 41,000 people.) The highway suggested would be two 25 foot lanes with a 14 foot median. Even Highway 46 doesn’t have that! You may wonder what any of this has to do with you! Some of you live in the Boerne city limits and the impact is obvious, it is the end of our unique and scenic town as we know it. Traffic, strip malls, destruction of green spaces, future water resources, schools, taxes for fire department and other services, small town atmosphere- that intangible quality that makes living here so community oriented and the very personality of our town will change. To those of us in the county who shop, work, eat, go to school and conduct business in Boerne, the same issues are ours, and more so, because the proposed loop is designed to run through county property. To those of you who live in San Antonio and the surrounding areas, you will lose an enjoyable shopping and outdoor destination, and more of the beautiful Hill Country that we all enjoy. More importantly, the areas up for development are part of the critical watershed for Cibolo Creek. Cibolo Creek is the only surface creek that feeds directly into the Edwards Aquifer that San Antonio relies on for it’s water. This is a regional problem. Many of you drive out to enjoy the scenery, animal life and rural beauty of the Hill Country- how far will you have to go to expose your children and grandchildren to the rural and scenic history we have taken for granted for so long? On a more personal note, this loop was drawn and proposed without the City leaders even looking at the present homes and families that are already here. We spoke with city officials who informed us that “no one drove out to see what homes were there”. They have openly stated that they do not wish for the Texas Department of Transportation to plan the roads because the “city can do it without having to mess with any environmental studies”. The roads were drawn to simply accommodate the developers and their large tracts of land, without regard to our homes or the impact upon the community at large. This highway will destroy ours and our neighbors homes, it is literally drawn through our yards and houses. We are not even in the present ETJ of Boerne, so we have had no voice or vote in the City government. We first discovered this plan when we read of it in the newspaper. We are asking for your help and participation in various ways, depending on your interest and ability. If you are a city resident, contact the people below and ask them to vote “no ” on annexation of these tracts along Highway 46 E. Tell them you want a new Comprehensive Plan that reflects the desires of the Boerne community. Attend the Boerne Together (Boernetogether.org) meeting on Saturday, February 5 at 3:00 PM at St. Helena’s Episcopal Church at 410 N. Main Street. Plan to attend the city council meeting on Tuesday, February 8 at 7:00 and request the city leaders to vote “no” on any more annexations until a new Comprehensive Plan can be drawn, with public input and smart growth ideas. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel, there are many models for smart growth out there that we can implement to preserve our town and lands. If you are a county resident, do all of the above as well as contacting your County Commissioners and asking them what they can do to represent our concerns. If you are from San Antonio or the surrounding area, please help us by calling or emailing any of the officials below and expressing to them your interest in what is happening in Boerne. Tell them that you are concerned that they have a regional and comprehensive view in their plans, particularly as it relates to water issues. They will listen if they feel that their decisions will have a negative impact on shopping and tourism in Boerne. Tell them you can just as easily drive to DeZavala and shop if that is what Boerne is to become! We, of course, are heartbroken about this turn of events, as we, along with our kids, have invested a great deal of work and love into our home. We have large, very old oaks, deer, owl, quail and wild turkey that also make their homes here! This isn’t just a simple resistance to change, the natural resource loss and water issues are of real and genuine concern. However, we are encouraged by the number of thoughtful, intelligent and caring folks in Boerne who are committed to seeing this ill-conceived growth halted in favor of wiser stewardship plans for our land and our town, for the sake of those who will come after us. Thank you so much for your time and support . Feel free to forward this email to as many people as you feel appropriate. Sincerely, Steve and Paula Cairns Contacts: Mayor Patrick Heath email: _pheath@ci.boerne.tx.us_ (mailto:pheath@ci.boerne.tx.us) City Manager Ron Bowman email: _rbowman@ci.boerne.tx.us_ (mailto:rbowman@ci.boerne.tx.us) Councilmen R.L. Bien, Dan Heckler, John Moring, Darren Smith, Ben Stafford, all can be reached at: _lzartler@ci.boerne.tx.us_ (mailto:lzartler@ci.boerne.tx.us) City Hall : 830-249-9511 Meeting times again: Boerne Together Saturday, February 5 at 3:00 at St. Helena’s Episcopal 410 N. Main St. City Council Meeting with public hearings about annexation: Tuesday, February 8, 7:00 PM