By Christine Bolaños

Wednesday, 28 December 2011

ROUND ROCK — Round Rock residents who voiced opposition to a gas station being built on a vacant lot near a spring-fed creek now have the option of purchasing the property from the landowner at a reduced price.

Tonkawa Springs homeowners had expressed concerns about potential traffic congestion and environmental damage that could occur if a Wag-A-Bag gas station was built on a 2.04-acre property across FM 3406 just a few yards away from the creek and single-family homes.

Nick McIntyre, president of the Tonkawa Springs Homeowners Association, said that landowner Jerry Bradley’s representative suggested Bradley would accept a smaller offer from residents than what was offered by Wag-A-Bag.

“At this point, a group of individuals are either negotiating or making an offer to possibly purchase the land. We are obviously in favor of them [residents purchasing the land],” McIntyre said, adding that homeowners are against any type of commercial development on the lot.

Until this recent development, things had not looked so promising for Tonkawa residents.

Despite strong protest from homeowners, the Round Rock Planning and Zoning commissioners unanimously approved rezoning the land from single-family to commercial on Nov. 9.

However, the Round Rock City Council ended up tabling the matter at its Dec. 15 meeting. Council approval is needed for any rezoning change approved by planning and zoning.

Round Rock Planning Director Peter Wysocki said Wag-A-Bag representative Russ Boles requested that the vote be postponed.

“It was scheduled to go to City Council for approval but word had gotten to Wag-A-Bag and Bradley that people in Tonkawa Springs were interested in purchasing the property,” Boles said. “So the buyer and seller said, ‘let’s take a break,’ and give those persons the opportunity to purchase the property.”

He said Bradley and Wag-A-Bag have given those interested time to come forward with an offer.

“It is my assumption that if persons from the neighborhood come forward and buy it, they would hold it so it wouldn’t be developed commercially but that would be up to them, ” Boles said.

He said that, though the property has not been sold yet to Wag-A-Bag, there is a contract pending and requested the application remain available for future consideration by the City Council.

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