Waller County residents press court for transparency, town hall on proposed "Texas Land" theme park

John Erwin, representing a group he said they formed called Citizens in Defense of Waller County, told the commissioners court on June 11 that residents were blindsided by a state bill tied to a proposed Texas Land USA theme park and demanded more transparency from local officials and their state representative.

Erwin outlined a timeline he said began in April when Representative Stan Kitsman filed legislation affecting the project and said notice of the bill did not reach much of Waller County. He said residents later learned the developer had asked Kitsman to remove the bill from the legislative calendar. Erwin said the group had collected more than 1,100 petition signatures and had launched a website and social accounts to share information. "We created our group. It's called Citizens in Defense of Waller County," he told the court.

Why it matters: Erwin and other speakers said the proposal could bring large traffic volumes, strain local emergency services, raise property-tax assessments if land is rezoned, and create environmental risks to groundwater and nearby creeks. They also described the legal power that an improvement district could have, including taxing authority and the ability to create a police force, and said those powers merited closer public scrutiny.

Erwin said land near State Highway 3346 and 1887 had been bought by an entity listed in county records as Tango Lima Bravo Oscar LLC, with Hugh Edward McGee identified in records as a registered agent; he also named the project's founder as Lizzie McGee and referenced press profiles and a TexasLandUSA.com website. He urged the court to review any nondisclosure agreements the county had signed and to refuse to sign NDAs that would prevent the public from learning about projects that affect citizens.

Speakers and specific concerns included:

- Traffic and access: Erwin said ingress points through Hempstead and Brookshire include tight curves and railroad crossings he called inadequate for large visitor volumes. He told the court, "She has no access into the county to speak of for hordes of people."

- Water and wastewater: Erwin raised groundwater concerns, noting local irrigation wells and a nearby nursery that already draws heavily on aquifers. He said a theme park would require substantial water use and onsite wastewater treatment, and he asked where effluent would be discharged, noting nearby Clear Creek and downstream neighborhoods.

- Public safety and EMS capacity: Residents warned a park would increase accidents and emergency calls in areas where hospitals and emergency services are distant. Erwin said EMS resources were already strained.

- Environmental and nuisance issues: Speakers raised air-quality and chemical handling concerns tied to rides, generators and landscaping, and warned of litter and debris from large crowds.

- Economic viability and local amenities: Erwin cited a statistic that "31% of all theme parks fail," and questioned the need for another history-themed attraction when regional historic sites and museums already exist. He framed the group's stance as defending Waller County's rural heritage while acknowledging growth.

Requests to the court: Erwin asked the commissioners to:

- Review and tighten county procedures around nondisclosure agreements so citizens can receive information about projects affecting public welfare. - Consider hosting a town-hall meeting with Lizzie McGee and county officials so residents could hear directly from the project's lead and ask questions in public. - Explore the county's legal and regulatory options, including whether county review of state agency permits (for example, from TCEQ or TxDOT) could be strengthened during county permitting reviews.

Public-comment context: Denise Maddox, identified in public comment as the Waller County Democratic Party chairwoman, also referenced the proposed theme-park conversation and separately urged a public investigation after a man identified only as Hubbard died at the Waller County jail. Maddox said, "The jails are legally obligated to ensure the safety and the care of those in their custody," and called on county authorities to examine the circumstances and make findings public.

Court response and next steps: The county judge thanked the speakers and said the court would accept the presentation as provided. He encouraged continuing civic engagement and noted limits on county authority compared with cities and the state. Erwin said the group's materials and the petition would be posted to the group's website and social channels.

Ending: The citizens group asked the court to use its procedural controls — notably over NDAs and local review steps — to give residents more information and to arrange a neutral public meeting with the project's representatives. Commissioners did not take formal action on the topic during the meeting; it was presented as a citizen item.