HWY 29 BYPASS LETTER
As many of you know, the Williamson County Commissioners are currently reviewing a number of options for creating a major new east-west highway designed to handle the expected increase in traffic as a result of future growth projections for Williamson County. A number of the proposals being considered would essentially create a 'Highway 29 Bypass' to route traffic around Liberty Hill and the existing Highway 29 corridor.
Some of the most controversial of these proposals are referred to as the 'northern bypass options' and would take this new, major bypass highway through or very near the existing neighborhood of Sundance Ranch. The property owners of Sundance Ranch have organized a strong effort to protest this proposal and voice their complaints to the County Commissioners. We strongly support this effort and urge everyone concerned about the future growth of Liberty Hill to also join in this protest.
The following is a letter from the Sundance Rance Property Owners Association to Commissioner Cynthia Long outlining their arguments against this proposal:
"....
Liberty Hill Sundance Ranch POA., Inc.
P.O. Box 10042
Austin, TX 78766
June 27, 2008
Dear Commissioner Long:
This letter is to present the consolidated position of the property owners of Sundance Ranch. There are 276 lots in the Ranch, with approximately five acres tracts. We are very concerned about the potential of a bypass loop around Liberty Hill. More importantly, we are concerned about this route cutting through our properties, or skirting around the edge of our properties. We feel that there are much more viable options to provide suitable future expansion routes, for the obvious increase in traffic density that will surely hit the area within 20 years.
We are a close knit, family oriented community that would be destroyed by having a 400 foot wide right of way with 10 lanes of traffic, either dissecting the Ranch, or running directly along side it. Families moved to the beautiful area of Liberty Hill, specifically to Sundance Ranch, where it is quiet, safe, and spacious. We have a scientific observatory, which can be used to educate the local school children. Sundance Ranch is an equestrian subdivision with riding trails and equestrian events, which promote traits in children such as love of nature, care and respect for animals and high self-esteem. This proposed highway route would negate all this. In addition, there are more appealing routes that are cheaper, have less impact on the environment, less impact on the tax base, and less impact on our families.
Running a widened highway 29 along the current route 29 would wipe out the current businesses. It would continue to put the businesses in limbo for many years as far as developing, buying and selling. This would stop future growth along highway 29 for many years. An alternative would be a narrower right of way, allowing one additional lane in each direction. This would lessen the impact and provide much more capacity for future traffic.
Alternatively, selecting one of the southern routes would have the least impact of all the options currently presented. Agricultural land is obviously cheaper to purchase than occupied residential subdivisions with many homes. At least one of the southern routes is shorter than the northern routes; therefore, it would be cheaper to construct. Since most of the current and future traffic patterns go south toward Austin, it makes sense that a southern route would be shorter for commuters, save fuel, and result in less air emissions.
It would require less property destruction, less environmental impact, and less disruption to the community.
Lastly, how about proposing something like light rail, a park and ride near Liberty Hill, or something more innovative than displacing families, spending a bunch of money, negatively impacting the environment, and hurting local businesses.
From a practical, environmental, traffic flow, and economic point of view, it is obvious that the new road should be south of the current highway 29. Any other route doesn’t make sense. As taxpayers, we rely on our elected officials to make the right decision based on the above facts. Don’t let the over 500 plus voters residing in Sundance Ranch down.
Sincerely,
Darrell Vaughn
President, Sundance Ranch Property Owners Association ..."
For more information about this issue, we encourage you to visit the following Web site: