[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6460770,"mediaKeyId","5827684-a4c450a2cccc81613a8e752c1ddb015a","parentId",5827684,"title","Comal County approves change orders totaling roughly $244,000 for ARPA-funded mental health observation unit","audioSeconds",316,"startMs",4962000,"endMs",5278000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5827684-a4c450a2cccc81613a8e752c1ddb015a&start=4962&end=5278","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5827684-a4c450a2cccc81613a8e752c1ddb015a/thumbnail_4962000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6460770/Comal-County/Texas/Comal-County-approves-change-orders-totaling-roughly-244000-for-ARPA-funded-mental-health-observation-unit","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6460770-d4b632381a67b173c095bbeab223e946/orig.mp4?Expires=1770480997&Signature=SqNCsq1GRfqUVpI00quoHC~aXYe93caR7hmW8OL-W7vzIaSHv57JlqsdtYJ3TXV-MNjDIOr3oSc1GiwQ9s3UogdXYedLjBT2q88-NpperNf0CR1Jj9IC5R~psD153Xvh5CWeR~LCbXzDk5iZXQZ3ciO4z56eRuhRRO8ppy8P0geFmEiPWVqX~Frlc5LFeoHeYr2gtvplD-XmDCVVtNnxPqAvOZ-bfqD2FLi5H05Muwyzqs9gz9eWSKNwpmxw9pW0hwahcxsnk8jha9g-bPaIUePrB2T12pIsBGzNnIOdVVKt0cIxRfQgJAjTaL7ufyz~eY0crzTLnmD2zjUr7TXDpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Comal County Texas","date","2025-09-25T08:29:00Z","article","Comal County Commissioners Court on Thursday approved two change orders from the Trevino Group for the county’s Mental Health Observation Unit, an American Rescue Plan Act-funded construction project that county staff said experienced permitting delays tied to floodplain redesign and foundation changes.

County administrator JD Davila presented the two change orders. He said the contractor provided detailed timesheets and backup, and staff recommended approval. Change order 1 covered general conditions and project management time billed while drawings and permits were under review; staff reported an amount of $101,983 and recommended acceptance after review of time sheets and backup.

Change order 2 addressed construction impacts the county said resulted from the city’s floodplain determination, including raising the building by three feet and a redesign of the foundation and related site work. Davila summarized the change order as an amount read into the record by staff (the transcript of the meeting contains differing number reads); court discussion identified the change-order figure as being in the low-to-mid six-figure range. The court approved both change orders and authorized the county administrator to execute them.

Davila told the court the notice to proceed had been issued after contract award in August 2024 and that permit work delayed full mobilization; he said the project remains on schedule to meet ARPA spending deadlines, and that piers were being drilled and foundation work underway. Commissioners voted to approve both change orders; the transcript records motions moved by Commissioner Leacock and seconded by Commissioner Webb and indicates the motions carried by voice vote.

County staff said they will continue to administer the contract and provide updates; no separate appropriation vote or change to the project completion date was recorded during the meeting beyond the change-order approvals.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Comal County Texas - Commissioners Court","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners approved two change orders for the Trevino Group on the Comal County Mental Health Observation Unit project; staff said delays were tied to floodplain-driven design changes and permit timing and that the project remains on track for ARPA deadlines.","taxTitle","Comal County, Texas","taxId",2699,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6460775,"Comal County signs Chapter 381 incentive form to support LEFCO site consideration in New Braunfels",128,3112000,3240000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5827684-a4c450a2cccc81613a8e752c1ddb015a&start=3112&end=3240","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5827684-a4c450a2cccc81613a8e752c1ddb015a/thumbnail_3112000.jpg","/articles/6460775/Comal-County/Texas/Comal-County-signs-Chapter-381-incentive-form-to-support-LEFCO-site-consideration-in-New-Braunfels","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6460775-2eb963431ad2c86d0ce9e4bb4642d10b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770480997&Signature=nf-3vt~yp4x73cnGY7csGrLGIu~K8pQZwyDCH7GabkC7Ofjv7Jj6dx1XAHXgwbtCzDG9Wdv5CewnX8SdgxLuKGzXjrzl5rnUrcCjHJVwj6DBNeEoGeCh66gRd77rWnYlq9ScBYX-KQ4TXqLqfd7GTRaYYCfl6Ad7fMpTZzPakn3CA~n5bAzcjGqS2Ub7uLrflROFBdtx934n5wkCyf9AHGLUiblhqsYtAMewWhx-U64vjfql9kZ6PVFyCMJu7mgBWE-yIPbVb1zcFwox5G9sQQWcKjH6Vl4j6bRykBFEfVsN4d3Ri-usA2fWNH0BT2-A-MZVs2KL-gLS-OKQyXCE-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Comal County Commissioners Court on Thursday approved a Chapter 381 economic development incentive agreement intended to help attract LEFCO (referred to in court as LEFCO/LEHI USA Inc.) to a prospective site in New Braunfels.

The agreement was presented by an authorized company representative and recommended by staff. Commissioner Webb moved to approve the contract and Commissioner Leacock seconded; the court approved the action by voice vote.

County officials said the agreement is intended to support the company’s decision-making; the representative said LEFCO makes compressed natural gas (CNG) tanks and blow-molded plastic components for transportation and recreational vehicles. Commissioners discussed anticipated local benefits: the company described a potential employment impact of about 150 jobs at an average pay of roughly $62,000 per year.

County staff and the company indicated the project is part of a multi-party recruitment that includes the New Braunfels Economic Development Corporation and the governor’s office enterprise fund. The company representative stressed the incentive agreement simply supports the business case and that a final decision on location had not been made.

The action authorizes the county judge to execute the Chapter 381 agreement. County officials did not provide a fiscal cost to the county on the public record during the meeting; partners present said further due diligence and final decisions would follow if the company selects the site.","County approved a Chapter 381 economic development incentive agreement to support LEFCO’s potential New Braunfels location; county and city economic development partners and the governor’s office enterprise fund are listed as partners.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6460779,"Comal County approves Pearl Song Unit 1 plat amid residents’ water and floodplain concerns",2636,1253000,3889000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5827684-a4c450a2cccc81613a8e752c1ddb015a&start=1253&end=3889","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5827684-a4c450a2cccc81613a8e752c1ddb015a/thumbnail_1253000.jpg","/articles/6460779/Comal-County/Texas/Comal-County-approves-Pearl-Song-Unit-1-plat-amid-residents-water-and-floodplain-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6460779-a6ff42a762f36648154a3e6916303e9a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770480997&Signature=hIVIsFrBOmoQJUh48WQN933EdsfKXNV49UfAx86E1XTyCSxC61aOBtWUhAuhhc3Ua17CrNDlYWwY1Rc5GQI0yF3Miu9sPjxrrWDNUBK7RmNk6ewiNlbz8cREBhJjBUqZxwGzTesHdz~cU4tRKUOgCr~21TRt70osBYTcKmV07vTQpIPIIZCD6H2RJe8i25v9g8uz39xr4lUSGe0zMKTd-2v7qsYRcIKuZD99vnGQ0s9q8vZMKi5209BCa1276qEjb30lQ4Y~VO5QEH~rgcdchmB6ETroinPY9klejCLF1KIyHYGOmF0CfYD27eh-pTbhjgu2h5IxD5pH101~glbjAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Comal County Commissioners Court on Thursday approved the final plat for Pearl Song Unit 1, a large subdivision near State Highway 46, despite repeated public objections about groundwater, wastewater infrastructure and floodplain risk.

The approval, made by a motion from Commissioner Hogg and seconded by Commissioner Leacock, cleared the developer to record Unit 1 and proceed with the permitted road and drainage work. County staff said the application met the county’s administrative and technical review requirements and that statutory review timelines limited the court’s ability to delay final action.

Residents and neighborhood representatives urged the court to postpone or deny the plat. Dolores Patterson, who said she has lived in Comal County Estates for 31 years, told commissioners: “The density of this project is completely inconsistent with surrounding neighborhoods and far too high for an area that cannot sustain the growth at this level.” She and other speakers cited nearby wells going dry, two years of water restrictions affecting parts of Rockwell Ranch, and the absence of final permits for the proposed wastewater treatment plant.

Attorney Lauren Ice, representing neighbors adjacent to the proposed development, asked the court to deny or postpone the plat because the applicant requested variances from county code and did not submit documentation showing undue hardship required to justify those variances. “They have not provided the information to determine whether people’s groundwater wells are going to be impacted,” Ice told the court, adding the application lacked a required groundwater or water-availability report and a traffic analysis called for by county code.

County engineer David Vollbrecht reviewed the administrative timeline and engineering approvals for the plat and recommended approval. Vollbrecht said the county received the application and completed its administrative review and technical review within the statutory timeframes established by the 2023 state legislation. He noted that Texas Water Company had a water-availability report on file tied to a prior service agreement, that GBRA (Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority) signed off for public sewer service in portions of the development, and that the project includes road improvements and a planned signal and turn lanes on State Highway 46.

Vollbrecht explained the specific variances the developer requested: 30-foot streets in a 50‑foot right-of-way (the city of New Braunfels uses 50-foot rights-of-way for curb-and-gutter streets), a reduced building setback of 20 feet in some lots, and plans for some on-site sewage facilities (OSSF) on lots smaller than one acre. He said the county’s long-standing 60-foot right-of-way standard dates to a more rural design with roadside ditches, and that 50-foot rights-of-way are common for urban-style curb-and-gutter streets.

Opponents said the project’s high density — the master plan referenced up to 1,900 homes across phases — and the proposed wastewater treatment plant’s location in or near floodplain areas raise environmental and safety concerns. Angela Allen, representing Mission Hills Ranch neighborhood interests, said excavations already appear to have changed drainage patterns: “We have homes now that are being flooded and neighborhoods that are being — it takes a lot of hours and a lot of service, so I thank y’all for that. But I also ask you to use your discretion.”

Commissioners discussed the limited authority counties have to regulate density under state law and the statutory deadlines for plat approvals. The court was told that if a county fails to act within certain statutory periods, the plat may be approved administratively. Commissioners acknowledged constituents’ concerns and several said the county should update subdivision regulations to reflect more urban development patterns.

After discussion the court voted to approve the final plat. The motion carried by voice vote; the record does not list a roll-call tally for this item.

The county record shows remaining external approvals and conditions tied to the overall master plan. Neighbors raised outstanding items they said remained unresolved at the time of the vote: a certificate of convenience and necessity (CCN) from the Public Utility Commission for Texas Water Company, a TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) permit for the wastewater treatment plant, and a county-required water-availability/groundwater impact analysis. County staff said the developer provided required engineering approvals, service agreements and state-level water reports on file from prior submissions but that some state permits and local approvals were still pending or in process.","Commissioners approved the final plat for the Pearl Song (Pearlstone) Unit 1 subdivision after a lengthy public comment period raising water availability, wastewater permitting and floodplain concerns; county staff said review timelines and engineering approvals support the action.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Comal County approves change orders totaling roughly $244,000 for ARPA-funded mental health observation unit

Comal County signs Chapter 381 incentive form to support LEFCO site consideration in New Braunfels

Comal County approves Pearl Song Unit 1 plat amid residents’ water and floodplain concerns