Presenter: Corky Kuhlmann

Commission Agenda Item No. 20
Action
Land Acquisition - Jefferson County
62 Foot by 92 Foot Inholding at the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area
August 23, 2007

I. Executive Summary: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) staff is in negotiations with a willing seller for the purchase of a 62 foot by 92-foot tract of land representing an inholding at the headquarters complex of the J.D. Murphree WMA.

II. Discussion: The approximately 62 foot by 92 foot lot is an "in held" piece of property which was not available for purchase to TPWD when the WMA headquarters grounds were expanded in the early 1980's. This small piece of property has changed ownership since the 1980's and the current owners have posted the property for sale.

The lot has been of interest to the Department as a logical addition to the J.D. Murphree WMA headquarters complex. This relatively small lot fronts SH 73 and sits in the fence line of the WMA headquarters grounds. Acquisition of this lot will not only clean up the headquarters grounds boundary, but also will also enable staff to utilize the site in planning for upgrades of utilities and facilities for the WMA. Planned upgrades of existing septic sewer systems using Proposition 8 funding will be simplified by reducing the problems with routing new sewer lines around the site to access available municipal sewer service. The lot will increase the useable area of the headquarters grounds and possibly allow for future development of additional storage facilities, shops, or public use buildings. In addition, any future development of this lot by others will likely be an inconvenience to TPWD and WMA operations.

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

"The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes the Executive Director to take all necessary steps to acquire a 62 foot by 92 foot inholding in Jefferson County as an addition to the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area."

Attachments – 1

  1. Exhibit A – Location Map

Commission Agenda Item No. 20
Exhibit A

Location Map

Location of proposed acquisition site in relation to JD Murphree WMA Headquarters Complex

For help in interpreting this map, please contact Corky Kuhlmann.