Residents urge Fair Oaks Ranch council to put proposed civic center to a vote

Three residents used the Citizens to Be Heard period at the March 6 Fair Oaks Ranch City Council meeting to urge council members to let residents vote on a proposed civic center and to explore alternative sites.

Sherry St. Clair, who identified herself as a Fair Oaks Ranch resident, told council she believes “the majority of people in this community” would prefer the proposal go to a public vote. St. Clair said social-media outreach she helped organize was “about 95%” in favor of a vote and raised questions about who would pay for construction and long-term operating costs such as security, maintenance, traffic and parking. She said: “I would ask that you please, please consider letting the citizens of Fair Oaks Ranch have a vote on this proposed civic center before you go any further.”

Carol Willoughby, also a longtime resident, told council the city should consider existing event venues—such as the Fair family event center and facilities associated with Cibolo Creek Community Church—before building on the city campus. She suggested the city could acquire land and delay building until the community has greater clarity on use, parking and costs.

Earlier in the public-comment period, Eric Beilstein raised two non-related traffic-safety items and asked council to consider revising rehearing language in TSAC rules (the council later amended that language during the meeting). He also urged the council to evaluate a trial of restricted turn signage or time-limited turn restrictions to ease congestion at a neighborhood intersection.

Council did not take immediate action on the civic-center comments during the meeting. Staff and council members thanked the speakers for providing input; residents may continue to submit comments through the city’s standard communications channels.