#Objection   #Proposed   #Apartment   #Development   

As a concerned citizen who lives in the Triana neighborhood or one of the surrounding neighborhoods, I am opposed to the development of the Ranch Creek Apartment development on Highway 16 between Bridgepoint Rd and Triana Parkway.

The proposal is for 297 apartments and 4 commercial businesses in front of the Triana neighborhood right off Highway 16.

The area where these apartments are proposed is currently home to heritage oaks, coyotes, bats, salamanders, foxes, bobcats, deer, wild pigs, various bird species including the Golden Cheeked Warbler, and a plethora of other wildlife. To destroy their homes would irreparably destroy the habitat of this area. 

The land in question sits in a flood zone.  Once the land is covered by non-porous concrete, even with retention ponds, it will only flood worse, causing the surrounding homes and Highway 16 to flood in times of severe weather. Some of the homes along Newcroft Place have had problems with their backyards flooding in the past, and the apartment complex will significantly worsen this problem. 

The traffic flow of vehicles in and out of Bridgepoint Rd (the proposed entrance to the apartment complex) will be excessive with 297 apartments and several commercial businesses.  This will cause issues for the storage facility entrance next to Bridgepoint Rd as well as the surrounding neighborhoods.  Additionally, this will cause traffic to back-up onto State Highway 16 (Bandera Rd) where cars frequently drive in excess of 60 mph. The road is short, curved, and not made for the volume of cross-traffic from the apartments. We understand from TXDOT that the u-turn intersection between Bridgepoint Rd and Triana Parkway currently used by residents exiting the Triana neighborhood will be relocated further north on Highway 16.  As there is a curve in the road further north on Highway 16, this has the potential to increase the risk of accidents with more traffic entering the highway from the proposed apartment complex and set of commercial suites. The current Triana Parkway intersection and the u-turn intersection see several accidents per year. 

Additionally, building a strip center and apartments is not in keeping with the country aesthetics that we have all moved out in the country for. We want to protect the country aesthetics that we all love and cherish so much in the Helotes, Grey Forest, and Pipe Creek Areas.  These apartments are detrimental to us all.