Residents raise property-line, traffic, flood and wildlife concerns over proposed Ironwood MUD 5

Several Bastrop-area residents and adjacent property owners told the City Council on May 20 they oppose or want a pause on the proposed Ironwood Municipal Utility District 5 (MUD 5), which planners have described as a development that could range up to roughly 1,300 homes on approximately 289 acres.

At the Planning and Zoning Commission hearing the commission recommended forwarding the MUD application to the council with a condition that “all property line issues be resolved” before final approval. At the council meeting, Garland Stillwell (executive administrative assistant, Hallcat Trust) told the council that a fence line dispute and a potential adverse-possession claim have been raised by adjacent owner Patricia Jacobs and could change the footprint shown on site plans.

Patricia Jacobs, who said she lives at 510 Highway 304 and owns the parcel immediately next to the proposed MUD, told the council she and another neighbor have fences and entrances that have existed “well over 40 years.” Jacobs reported the developer has not contacted her or the neighbor to resolve the boundary issue and warned that the MUD’s proposed property line currently extends over fence lines and county right-of-way shown on the site plan. Jacobs cited statutes and past acts in the record when describing a claim of adverse possession.

Other speakers pressed for environmental and infrastructure studies before the council acts. Patty Moore said the state approval process could take up to two years and urged the council to “pause” approval until impact studies are completed, specifically requesting a water impact study and raising the Migratory Bird Treaty Act as a federal review concern. Linda Garcia, a nearby resident, said the developer’s plan to place up to 1,300 houses on a reduced acreage (after removing land designated for parks and other uses) would significantly increase impervious cover along State Highway 304 and could heighten flood risk in Casino Ranch, recalling flooding during Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

Why it matters: the MUD would create a sizable new residential and commercial footprint in a partly unincorporated area and may trigger changes to traffic, stormwater, habitat and county–city service arrangements. Planning and Zoning forwarded the application with a condition to resolve property-line disputes; the council will consider the MUD on a later agenda date and must weigh the P&Z condition, any required state approvals for a MUD, and public comments.

Discussion vs. decision: at this meeting the council heard public comment and was informed P&Z recommended approval with conditions; council did not take final action on MUD 5. Several speakers asked the council to require and review additional studies — water, stormwater/flooding, traffic, and environmental (migratory birds) — before any final approval.