Residents urge environmental testing near Terra Nova site, citing old Nike missile-base reports

Two Terrell residents urged the city council on Oct. 7 to require environmental testing before development proceeds on the property commonly referred to as Terra Nova, near a former Nike missile base.

Rita Bain, who identified her address as 137 Birdsong Lane, told the council she had shared an EPA packet indicating a 1985 report that noted possible groundwater contamination, abandoned drums and buried vacuum tubes containing radon gas at the former missile site. "Before Terra Nova progresses, if we could, mitigate any potential hazardous issues that are there and clean up that site if it is indeed toxic," Bain said, and she requested a phase 2 environmental assessment.

Matthew Farr, 1620 Griffith Avenue, said he lives directly in front of the former missile silo and described conflicting reports about contamination: some documents list only "organic solvents" while others identify trichloroethylene (TCE). He told council, "I'm asking the city to have a third party inspection done on the environment there with soil and water sampling."

Staff and council did not take formal action on those requests at the meeting. Planning and development business on the agenda continued, including actions related to TIRZ zoning and development negotiations; council scheduled separate hearings and authorized staff negotiations for other items. Several council members and staff acknowledged the environmental concerns as substantive public-comment items and indicated staff would coordinate further information with the appropriate agencies and property owners.

Nut graf: Residents requested the city pause or require further environmental investigation before proceeding with development at the Terra Nova parcel, citing an EPA report and the potential for TCE and radon contamination; no remediation or formal city action was ordered at the meeting.

Background and supporting details: Bain referenced an EPA document (April 1985) that she said noted groundwater contamination by organic solvents, abandoned drums and buried vacuum tubes containing radon. Farr referenced different environmental reports with inconsistent findings, and both speakers asked the city to require or fund third-party soil and groundwater sampling, and to delay development plans near Griffith Road pending the results.

Ending: The council did not adopt any environmental remediation mandate during the meeting; staff agreed to review the materials provided by the residents and coordinate next steps. The Terra Nova proposal remains on the city’s list of development items subject to future hearings and negotiation.