The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) will host a public meeting Thursday, Oct. 2, for a permit for a proposed wastewater treatment facility and disposal site that would serve a new residential development 3.5 miles west of the intersection of FM 2722 and SH 46 near New Braunfels.
The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Oak Run Middle School, 415 Oak Run Point, New Braunfels.
Chesmar Homes, LLC and the Guadalupe Blanco River Authority’s (GBRA) proposed permit would authorize the disposal of treated domestic wastewater at a daily average flow not to exceed 460,000 gallons of water per day on 117 acres of public-access land.
The permit area would serve around 1,900 homes and new elementary, middle, and high schools. Click here to see a map of the area.
The permit would not authorize a direct discharge into surface-water streams.
However, the wastewater treatment facility and disposal site would be located in the drainage basin of the Comal River Segment No. 1811 of the Guadalupe River Basin.
The Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance (GEAA), a nonprofit that advocates for the protection and preservation of the Edwards and Trinity aquifers and their springs and watersheds, said many of its 63-member organizations would be adversely affected by the proposed facility and asked TCEQ for a contested-case hearing.
“GEAA’s members have serious concerns regarding the permit application relating to the degradation of the drainage basin of the Comal River, the Edwards Aquifer, and area water wells that will likely occur with the irrigation of treated sewage in the proposed development area,” Executive Director Annalisa Peace and Technical Director Nathan Glavy said in a joint statement issued today.
On its website, Chesmar Homes said it offers a “beautiful collection of single-family homes in New Braunfels, with one- and two-story designs, flex spaces, outdoor living, media rooms, dedicated offices and custom touches.” Home prices start in the high $390s.
The company is owned by Sekisui House, a Japanese company that’s the fifth-largest builder in the United States by units, according to realtor.com.