Travis inching forward in Balcones Canyonlands acquisitions

Travis County Commissioners approved the purchase of the “Karnik tract,” a 30-acre stretch of hill country along Spicewood Springs Road, now part of the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve. Travis County has added 1,200 acres to the preserve this fiscal year. It’s now at 28,426 acres, close to the federal government’s mandate of 30,000 acres by 2016.

 

The county will pay $1,042,000 for the land. Kevin Connally, Senior Environmental Resource Specialist, told In Fact Daily that the bulk of the money comes from one-stop development processing fees assessed by the county.

 

Pct. 3 Commissioner Karen Huber said it wasn’t just residents in her precinct, where the land is located, who would benefit. “Another parcel toward completing the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve is just a win-win for us all,” She said. A permanent sign will be erected thanking the various families for making this portion of the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve possible.

 

The sellers were Dilip J. Karnik, Shubba D. Karnik, Ashok Someshwar, Premchand K. Moorjani and Mohan P. Chandiramani. It was originally listed at $1.5 million but an appraisal required by the State of Texas dictated the lower price.