Residents press council for contamination checks as city schedules annexation hearing for Terra Nova

Terrell — Multiple residents raised environmental and safety concerns about portions of the Terra Nova development site during public comment at the Sept. 30 Terrell City Council meeting, and planning staff announced a public hearing on voluntary annexation tied to the project.

Rita Bain, a healthcare professional who said she had contacted the Environmental Protection Agency, told the council she was worried about trichloroethylene — a solvent historically used on military equipment — and about water being discharged from silos on privately owned property near the proposed development. “Trichloroethylene was once actually used as an anesthetic a long, long time ago,” Bain said. “If it’s been dumped into the watershed where Terra Nova is going to be…this sincerely needs to be investigated.”

Matthew Fair and Gail Sarat also told council members they had reviewed historical records and site imagery, and described periodic discharges from silo structures on or near the former Nike missile site. Fair said he had been given permission to visit the property and had provided Google Earth images and documents to council staff. Gail Sarat encouraged council members to tour the former site to see conditions firsthand.

Separately, Raylan Smith, a planning staffer, presented the council with a resolution to call a public hearing on a voluntary annexation connected to Terra Nova. Smith said the resolution covers roughly 712 acres — part of an approximately 1,500-acre development area — and that notices and mailings must be published to begin the formal annexation process. The council approved Resolution 2260 to call a public hearing for Oct. 21 and was told additional ordinance readings and zoning actions would follow in October and November.

What was requested and what the city said - Request from residents: Several speakers asked the city to conduct soil and groundwater testing around the former missile-silo area and before approving large-scale residential development, citing health concerns and the site’s history. - Staff response and next steps: Planning staff limited the current council action to calling a public hearing for annexation; staff noted the annexation process and development review will include statutory notices and public hearings. Raylan Smith and other staff said additional items — including zoning and creation of applicable utility districts or development agreements — would come back to council on a schedule tied to the Oct. 21 hearing and a Nov. 4 ordinance-reading date.

Why it matters The annexation and Terra Nova development would extend city services, jurisdiction and law enforcement into the development area and affect long-term municipal costs and infrastructure planning. Residents’ requests for independent environmental testing — and assurances about water and ground conditions before occupancy — raise permitting, health and liability questions that may require coordination with state and federal agencies.

Speakers (selected) - Rita Bain — healthcare professional and resident (public comment on TCE concerns). - Matthew Fair — resident (public comment, references to Google Earth and historical search results). - Gail Sarat — resident (public comment, suggested council site visit). - Raylan Smith — planning staff (presentation of annexation resolution).

Council action The council approved Resolution 2260 to call a public hearing on Oct. 21 to consider the voluntary annexation of approximately 712 acres related to the Terra Nova project and directed staff to proceed with required notices and mailings. No vote to adopt annexation ordinances was taken Sept. 30; subsequent readings and hearings were scheduled in the staff timeline presented to council.