Yesterday, City Council postponed acting on a request by VIA Metro that would clear the way for a “transit park” to be built on sensitive recharge zone land. VIA’s request should be denied.

Site of proposed VIA Metro transit park
Site of proposed VIA Metro transit park

Why Council would even consider approving a dirty, high impervious cover facility like this over the aquifer is puzzling. Hmm…according to the Express-News:

The council’s decision also freezes a proposal to extend Marshall Road, which is key to a developer’s plans to create a high-end retail, residential and business area on an adjacent 58 acres….The site is owned by Dan Parman’s 281/150 Stone Oak Developers Ltd. and is under contract by Darren Casey Interests, said Bill Kaufman, Casey’s attorney….Kaufman has said his client proposed the deal to help spark the extension of Marshall Road.

Puzzle solved.

Equally disturbing, the land is currently limited to 15% impervious cover, and the rezoning would bump that to a dangerous 65%. Along with that 65% will come the inevitable tree destruction.

To sum up:

  • Industrial-strength vehicles bearing large quantities of gasoline, oil, brake dust, and miscellaneous dirt, plus
  • Sensitive, highly-permeable recharge zone land, plus
  • Replacement of heavily-forested natural areas with asphalt paving, plus
  • Highway expansion over aquifer along with associated truck, car, and bus traffic paving the way for additional intense commercial development

equals…a bad deal.