Presenter: Scott Boruff

Commission Agenda Item No. 15
Action
Land Transfer – Hidalgo County
World Birding Center
April 2006

I. Executive Summary: Staff will be recommending that the Commission authorize acceptance of the unoccupied areas within an 18.5-acre tract of the property owned by the City of Weslaco as part of the City of Weslaco's match for the Estero Llano Grande site of the World Birding Center in Weslaco.

II. Discussion: By Agreements dated August 17, 1999, May 15, 2000, and October 23, 2003, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the City of Weslaco agreed to each contribute to the development of the Estero Llano Grande site of the World Birding Center in Weslaco. TPWD agreed to accept certain property as part of Weslaco's match for the site. Approximately 18.5 acres of property that Weslaco proposed to offer as the match has been used in recent years as a mobile home park. TPWD and the City of Weslaco understood that TPWD was not willing to accept any property on which individuals resided. However, there are several areas within 18.5-acre site that are unoccupied. Staff anticipates that additional areas within the 18.5-acre site will later become unoccupied. TPWD staff would like to pursue the transfer of current and future unoccupied areas from the City of Weslaco to TPWD.

III. Recommendation: The staff recommends the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motion:

"The Executive Director is authorized to take all steps necessary to acquire the unoccupied portions of the 18.5-acre site as part of the City of Weslaco's match for the development of the Estero Llano Grande site of the World Birding Center."

Attachments - 1

  1. Exhibit A - Map of Property

Commission Agenda Item No. 15
Exhibit A

Locator Map

This image is a schematic of trailer park lots being aquired on a small portion of Weslaco World Birding Center

For help in interpreting this map, please contact Jack Bauer.