Aug 12, 2006 - County to lease land for development on South Padre Island

Natural dunes may be in way of development

BY EMMA PEREZ-TREVIÑO The Brownsville Herald

Gene Washburn, a retired engineer with the U.S. Corps of Engineers, doubts that the Laguna Madre Enhancement Group would be able to build hotels or a casino on 27 acres that it is leasing from Cameron County at South Padre Island without violating state law.

Cameron County Judge Gilberto Hinojosa, an attorney by trade, said Friday that he does not’t know if developers can build or not.

“If not, that’s their problem,” Hinojosa said of developers’ plans.

Despite the uncertainly, Hinojosa and commissioners Pete Benavides, John Wood and Edna Tamayo recently voted to lease 27 acres, down from 160 acres originally leased in 2005 to the development group. Commissioner David Garza voted against the pro-proposal absent a written amendment to the 50-year lease agreement.

Amid opposition from a grassroots organization fearing the loss of public lands for public use, the court this month voted to lease only 27 acres. The acreage is adjacent to the Schlitterbahn Water Park.

The proposed development at South Padre Island are by businessman and former public official Doyle Wells with Austin developer-oper Barry Worthington Keenan, also known as the man behind the 1963 kidnapping of Frank Sinatra Jr. Wells was not immediately available for comment.

Washburn, however, recently cautioned both Commissioners Court and state officials that the 27 acres house two rows of natural dunes stretching at least 200 yards at a height that could withstand at least a Category 3 hurricane and perhaps a Category 4.

Destruction of the dunes, to make way for the proposed development, would leave several businesses without protection from hurricanes. In addition, Washburn maintains that Schilitterbahn was not able to develop the tract of land in question precisely for that reason.

Sam Webb, deputy commissioner with coastal resources at the Texas General land office recently wrote to Washburn, noting that no one has requested any beachfront construction or dune protection permits associated with private development at Isla Blanca Park.

“The dune system seaward of the Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort was avoided as part of the mitigation sequence when the park was constructed. Any construction in the area will need to be consistent with the Open Beaches Act and Dune Protection Act,” Webb wrote to Washburn.

Hinojosa said that part of the agreement with the developers is that they need to work out any issues with the pertinent regulatory-tory agencies.

“From day one, I questioned if you can build a hotel there (and) if they can get those permits,” Hinojosa said. “They think they can. From my perspective, that is going to be their responsibility.”