Kendall County approves three conservation easements using Prop A funds after public comment

Kendall County Commissioners Court on Tuesday approved the Prop A committee’s recommendation to purchase conservation easements on three properties, voting 4–0 to move forward with purchase agreements and related transaction terms.

The court opened a public hearing before taking action. Maxie Zinsmeister, a property owner, urged support for landowners navigating what she described as an arduous and expensive conservation easement process, saying she had already spent roughly $20,000 on the effort and that county procedures and recording fees can be burdensome for owners. ‘‘These people need to be commended for what they’re doing,’’ Zinsmeister said while also urging the county to consider changes that would ease up‑front costs for lower‑income landowners.

Rusty, chair of the Prop A committee, told the court the panel recommended three purchases: a partial conservation easement on 24 Fritzgrocer Road (Zinsmeister) consisting of 52.878 acres at $1,000 per acre (payment $52,878 plus transaction costs not to exceed $75,000), and additions to existing easements for two Drought family parcels (23 FM 474 and 19 FM 474 in Boerne), each at 43.723 acres with payments of $43,723 and no transaction costs. Rusty explained the conservation value and watershed and dark‑sky initiative designations supporting the Zinsmeister recommendation and said the Drought parcels were an administrative addition following estate settlement.

Judge Shane Salarzic moved to accept the committee recommendation and amended the motion after general counsel requested inclusion of the exact figures; the judge’s amended motion (including the amounts above) was seconded and the court voted 4–0 to approve the purchases.

Why it matters: The purchases use Proposition A bond funds to preserve open space and protect watershed values; commissioners emphasized that applications are evaluated under bond criteria and that the program is intended to preserve land ‘‘acre by acre’’ as development pressure grows. Several commissioners also encouraged residents to review the bond language before drawing conclusions about who is eligible for Prop A funding.

Next steps: County staff will proceed with transaction work consistent with the committee’s terms and with the recording and closing requirements Rusty described; the court did not set additional conditions beyond the committee’s recommendations.