Leander ISD withdraws Fish and Wildlife permit application, pursues alternate emergency access plan for Vandegrift campus

Leander ISD on Thursday voted to withdraw its application to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for a permit tied to a proposed emergency access road near Vandegrift High School, after staff described permitting delays, endangered-species considerations and property easement issues.

The motion, made by Trustee Sade Fascacun and seconded by Trustee Nikosie Nelson, passed 5–0.

District staff said the permit process had stalled for years because the easement in question is controlled by another public entity and because the environmental review uncovered at times multiple species of concern. Staff said the city that controls the easement had been unwilling to transfer a property interest or to negotiate terms that would clear the way; that left the district with a choice of pursuing condemnation proceedings against another public entity or pursuing alternate access options.

Administration said condemnation would be costly and legally uncertain: even if the district obtained access it might still face denials or conditions from Fish and Wildlife, and litigation could delay any project substantially. Instead, staff reported discussions with first responders and emergency-management partners produced a more cost-effective alternative: an interconnecting roadway between Vandegrift and nearby 4 Points Middle School that first responders have said would meet emergency-access and staging needs.

Miguel (staff), who led coordination with local emergency agencies, told trustees the fire, police and emergency-management agencies have specific evacuation and traffic-flow plans and that the interconnect option would give responders suitable routing and staging alternatives during an emergency.

Trustees asked for continued updates on bond fund allocations associated with the project; administration said it would coordinate next steps and report back. The motion adopted instructs district staff to take action to withdraw the pending Fish and Wildlife permit application and pursue the alternate plan.

Why it matters: the Vandegrift area has been the subject of long-running discussion about emergency access and traffic. Board members said the withdrawal does not eliminate emergency planning but shifts the district to a lower-cost approach coordinated with responders.

Who spoke: Jeremy Trimble and Miguel (staff presenters) and multiple trustees, including Trustee Shadi and Trustee Trish Bodie.

What happens next: district staff will formally withdraw the Fish and Wildlife application, continue coordination with first responders on the interconnect option and reallocate bond-design funds as needed through the Bond Oversight Committee.