TPWD: August 23, 2018 Commission Meeting Agenda

August 22-23, 2018, Commission Meeting Agenda

Work Session

Commission Agenda Items

May 22-24, 2018, Transcripts

Commission Agenda Item No. 9
Presenter: Trey Vick

Action
Disposition of Real Estate – Blanco County
Approximately 3.2 Acres at Blanco State Park
August 24, 2018

I. Executive Summary: Recent deed research and mapping at Blanco State Park has revised the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) understanding of the park’s extent and boundary and revealed the existence of an approximately 3.2-acre tract disconnected from the rest of the park.

II. Discussion: The 101-acre Blanco State Park straddles the Blanco River for more than two miles within the City of Blanco. The park was acquired from local ranchers in the 1930s and is very popular with families because of its safe access to the clear waters of the Blanco River for swimming, tubing, picnicking, or just enjoying a picturesque Hill Country stream for the day. The park is particularly popular for its size, attracting more than 100,000 visitors in Fiscal Year 2016.

TPWD staff has been actively researching title records and mapping the results for the Department’s state parks and wildlife management areas in order to improve understanding of site boundaries and spotting possible boundary issues. During the course of researching Blanco State Park, it was discovered that TPWD does not own a tract it has been managing as part of the park for decades. As a result, a stretch of land owned by TPWD is severed from the rest of the park (upstream) by a quarter mile. This “orphan” tract is approximately 3.2 acres, being roughly 1,100 feet long and approximately 130 feet deep, extending to the centerline of the Blanco River. Staff believes that the tract is not serving the purposes for which it was acquired. Staff recommends that the tract be sold and the sale proceeds be applied to strategic state park land acquisitions.

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

“The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopts the Resolution attached as Exhibit A.”

Attachments – 5

Exhibit A – Resolution
Exhibit B – Location Map
Exhibit C – Vicinity Map
Exhibit D – Site Map
Exhibit E – Map of Subject Tract

Commission Agenda Item No. 9
Exhibit A

A Resolution by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Regarding the
Disposition of Approximately 3.20 Acres of Real Property at Blanco State
Park in Blanco County

Resolution

Whereas, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) owns and operates the 101-acre Blanco State Park for a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities and conservation values, including protection and interpretation of the Texas Hill Country; and,

Whereas, during the course of researching titles and records associated with Blanco State Park, it was discovered that TPWD does not own a tract of land that was believed to be part of the park; and,

Whereas, TPWD staff has determined an approximately 3.2-acre tract of land owned by TPWD is severed from the rest of the park (upstream on the Blanco River) by a quarter mile; and,

Whereas, staff believes that the tract is not serving the purposes for which it was acquired and recommends that the tract be sold and the sale proceeds be applied to strategic state park land acquisitions; and,

Whereas, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (Commission) finds that as required by Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 26, notices of today’s hearing of this matter were published at least once a week for three consecutive weeks in newspapers of general circulation which are published at least six days a week in the communities nearest to the State Park in which such newspapers are published (The Blanco County News in Blanco County), with the last day of publication being not less than one week or more than two weeks before the date of today’s hearing; and,

Whereas, the Commission finds that the 3.2-acre tract of land is not serving the purpose for which it was acquired and continued ownership is no longer consistent with the TPWD mission; and,

Whereas, the Commission finds, in accordance with Section 11.301 of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, that conveyance of the 3.2 acres of land subject to conditions that will minimize the overall impacts of the land transfer on Blanco State Park is in the best interest of TPWD;

Now, therefore, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes the TPWD Executive Director to take all necessary steps to sell the subject 3.2-acre tract of land subject to the purposes and subject to the conditions described herein and in the motion approved in this Resolution.

Adopted and approved this 23rd day of August, 2018.

______________________________________
Ralph H. Duggins, Chairman

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T. Dan Friedkin, Member

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S. Reed Morian, Vice-Chairman

______________________________________
James H. Lee, Member

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Anna B. Galo, Member

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Dick Scott, Member

______________________________________
Bill Jones, Member

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Kelcy L. Warren, Member

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Jeanne W. Latimer, Member

Commission Agenda Item No. 9
Exhibit B

Location Map for Blanco State Park, 45 Miles North of San Antonio, Texas