Council's vote on Singing Hills was not a mistake


As your councilmember, I think it is necessary that I respond to Councilman Shane Reynold's letter to the editor (Bulverde News Sept. 20) regarding the agreement approved by the City Council for the Singing Hills development.

I voted for the project and thereby became one target of the editorial decrying the vote as a mistake taken by three council members and the mayor.

I do not contest that I supported the agreement that the mayor negotiated and I was open and vocal on why I supported this project.

I agree with the mayor because this development has the potential to move the city of Bulverde in the direction that the council intended in their long-term plans. The council enacted tough standards on development in the city limits to control the growth we all see coming our way.

I don't understand how mentioning the wealth of the families or the investors of the project determines whether or not the development should get consideration from our council. Would multiple investors of lower financial means get a better deal from our council?

The answer is no. We do not separate individuals according to their financial stature or use any other “means testing,” but we look at each request on its own merit. I think most members accept all request as coming from fellow citizens and we work to ensure equal treatment. Also, the city's legal counsel has told the council its action would not set a precedent.

The part in the letter that surprised me, besides the vitriolic tone, was the fact that Councilman Reynolds inferred that he was against the project. The minutes from the Sept. 11 council meeting show that Councilman Reynolds was the council member who made a motion to accept the Singing Hills development project.

The difference between his motion and the motion that passed was the amount of sales tax revenues we agreed to share. So in reality, the project was approved by at least four council members, including Councilman Reynolds.

The mayor was diligent during his negotiations with the Singing Hills group, but he was at a disadvantage because only 15 percent of the development will be inside the city limits.

As a result of the mayor's tough stance for the city, he got concessions from member of the development group, including:

1. They accepted our architectural standards on the project;

2. They increased the water-retention pond by approximately 40 percent to ensure the project wouldn't cause problems for current residents in a big rain;

3. The mayor convinced the group to relocate nine pad sites to inside the city limits that were initially outside the city limits so the city could get more revenue from ad velorum and sales taxes;

4. Finally, the city would not be forced to annex the development into the city limits after the end of the sales tax sharing deadline, which is critical because the city cannot collect any sales tax revenues from new annexations.

The construction of an apartment complex and single family housing in this project are encouraged because it is a new area and does not threaten established areas within our city.

I work hard on the council to be straightforward and open to debate. However, sometimes I will change my original position in the face of compelling argument. But I have found hypocrisy to be the enemy of honest debate.

As one of your fellow citizens, I am always appreciative of your support in electing me to council, but I openly place myself at your will in each election.

Kirk Harrison