TAX PHASE-IN REQUESTS DENIED BY COMMISSIONERS

Mark Whitehead September 9, 2014

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The Washington County Commissioners Court denied both Tax Phase-In requests that were on today’s agenda. They unanimously disapproved the Tax Phase-In for Club Track Holdings for the proposed race track on Wonder Hill Road. The track developer, Charles Von Schmidt, had already notified the commissioners that he was withdrawing the request, but the court felt it was necessary to bring it up for a vote because it had been tabled at the August 19th meeting.

Walt Schoenvogel small — Walt Schoenvogel address the Commissioner Court

Walt Schoenvogel, who owns property adjacent to the proposed race track, said that his attorney has advised him that the Texas Legislature prohibits counties from restricting land use in situations like this. He did say to the residents attending the meeting that they are looking at other avenues to prevent the track from being constructed, but he was not ready to say publicly what those were. Precinct 3 Commissioner Kirk Hanath commended the Wonder Hill residents on quickly organizing and having their opinions heard:

The other Tax Phase-In on the agenda was for Independence Coffee Company’s planned relocation to the old Beaumeir Iron Works building at 321 South Baylor Street near downtown. Clint Colby, Project Manager with the Economic Development Foundation, stated that the City had already approved a Tax Phase-In worth $5000 and the County was being asked for $1800 over a 6 year period. Because the request is for the downtown reinvestment zone, there are no employment or payroll requirements.

The commissioners stated that while it was commendable that Independence Coffee would be turning an unused building into a business and employing 5 people, they could not justify a tax break for the small impact it would have in the local economy. The proposal died for lack of a motion from the commissioners.

In other action, the commissioners did approve the Central Washington County Water Supply Corporation permission to connect to the County Place Northwest Subdivision. The subdivision’s water is currently supplied by a single well operated by the subdivision.