Reprinted with permission from the author, Lyle Nelson.
Comments of former Mayor Lyle Nelson to the Planning & Zoning Commission on February 17, 2025.

Mr. Chairman and Commissioners, thank you for your volunteerism and work. And thanks to the public for your interest.

My comments are not on the technical points of the City’s Land Development Codes but on the process of amending and adopting various requirements. I am for positive development but more importantly, I am pro Bastrop and its citizens.

As you are aware, it is imperative that we, as a community, optimize the opportunities to engage, inform and educate those who are impacted by our collective decisions.

When the current Land Development Codes were adopted in 2019, a portion of the authorizing resolution was that development be “conducted in a fiscally sustainable and environmentally responsible manner that honors the City’s rich heritage and unique ecological makeup.” It was designed to ensure clarity and consistency so as to mitigate any detrimental impact on our citizens. It was also intended to be a living document that should be reviewed and modified on a routine basis due to changing dynamics and citizen input. From April of 2019 through September of 2019, a period of six (6) months, there were at least, six (6) opportunities for citizen review and input, specifically to address possible amendments. This number does not include the many regularly scheduled Council and P&Z meetings.

Now, some six (6) years later, notices go out with alerts such as “WHETHER YOU MAY LOSE YOUR RIGHT TO CONTINUE USING YOUR PROPERTY FOR ITS CURRENT USE’ AND PROTECTING BASTROP”! These alerts state that it is in response to concerns from citizens. When and in what form were these concerns expressed. How many citizens expressed concerns and to whom? How many developers expressed concerns and to whom? These alerts inform our citizens that there will be only four (4) opportunities in a matter of Twenty-three (23) days to be informed, educated and provide input in a public setting. That seems such a limited amount of time for a regular citizen to digest and comment on the changes and their impact. This is especially concerning with a municipal election looming and the Legislature in session.

Again, I am not here to address the technical aspects but, as a citizen, I am concerned with the urgency being suggested for the residents of Bastrop to absorb such a vast amount of information and react with their concerns. Thank you.