City hopes to control dune permits
BY PHIL REYNOLDS SOUTH JETTY REPORTER

City council members are cautiously optimistic about statements that Port Aransas might continue to operate its own dune permit program, exempt from a proposed Nueces County amendment that would move building construction 350 feet back from the vegetation line.

County commissioners sent the proposed amendment to the Texas General Land Office (GLO) late last year. If the GLO certifies the amendment, habitable buildings – homes, businesses, and the like – could no longer be built 200 feet from the vegetation line as they can be now.

Under state law, the county operates the dune permit program. The GLO can only refuse to certify a dune ordinance if it conflicts with state law. Since 1994, the county and Port Aransas have had an interlocal agreement that allows the city to operate its own dune permit program.

Last month, Commissioner Chuck Cazalas – whose Precinct 4 includes Port Aransas and Mustang and Padre islands – told the South Jetty that the county had never intended to extend the 350-foot amendment into Port Aransas, and that the interlocal agreement would continue.

None of the three other commissioners has returned phone calls seeking comment on their positions on the matter. Peggy Banales is commissioner of Precinct 1, which is the Annaville area; Betty Jean Longoria is Precinct 2 commissioner in western Nueces County; and Oscar Ortiz has Precinct 4, with Robstown, Driscoll and Bluntzer.

Newly-elected County Judge Loyd Neal has said he hasn't had time to study the matter and form an opinion, but Neal is thought to be sympathetic GOOD

The city has sent the GLO a letter outlining its position on the amendment. The public comment period on the proposal closed Dec. 10.

“The county now seems inclined not to include Port Aransas in the 350- foot limit,” City Manager Michael Kovacs told the council at its Dec. 21 meeting.

“I kind of see a pattern of coherent thought that we should rest on our laurels,” Councilman Keith McMullin commented.

Jim Urban, Port Aransas city engineer and a property developer himself, told the council, “I think what's going to happen is that the county's trying to find a way to say we're not going after Port Aransas, even though they really were.”

Urban said he doubted the GLO would refuse to certify the Nueces County proposal, which would give the county the strictest dune protection laws in Texas.

“There may or may not be people over there (at the county courthouse) you do or don't like, but for the long haul the people we need making our decisions are the people in this room,” he said.

The GLO is not expected to have a response to the Nueces County proposal until February, according to Jim Suydam, a GLO spokesman.