CITY OF FREDERICKSBURG

Organization must now raise $4.1 million to build facility at Lady Bird park

The Fredericksburg City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a construction and licensing agreement for the Friends of Fredericksburg Nature Center (FFNC) to build a nature center building at Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park that will cost $4.1 million.

The agreement will allow the FFNC five years to raise funds for and construct the nature center.

“Once the construction is completed, the city will take over maintenance and operations,” according to city documents. “The current estimate for annual maintenance costs is between $135,000 and $150,000. This would include one full-time facility manager and one part-time education coordinator.”

Lonnie Childs, the president of the FFNC, gave an overview of the events leading up to the agreement and showed the council the architectural plans from SKT Architects of the future nature center.

FFNC has been working toward building a nature center since 2022 and in May 2023 the council passed a resolution supporting the concept.

Brandon Weinheimer, of SKT Architects, said the 6,821-squarefoot building has a meeting space, indoor classroom, pavilion, exhibit space, kitchen, children’s natural playground, gardens, exterior seating, ecotourism center, office and storage space and bathrooms.

STR permit renewals denied

The Fredericksburg City Council, on Tuesday, denied two property owners’ appeals to renew short-term rental permits that had expired.

Both owners mistakenly thought their management companies would maintain their STR renewals with the city.

Ben Edgerton, who owns a three-bedroom home on 705 Franklin that his family moved out of and turned into an STR, asked the city to renew his permit for his property due to it being a stranded property.

The council was split on its decision to approve Edgerton’s appeal.

Council Member Tony Klein made a motion to deny the appeal and the motioned died for lack of a second.

When Council Member Randy Briley made a motion to approve Edgerton’s appeal, Council Member Emily Kirchner abstained from voting, and the vote was split two in favor and two against, which meant it failed and his appeal was denied.

The second STR denial was a unanimous vote. Christy Crook, of Denver, Colorado, who owns 705 E. Highway St. property that a management company maintains for her, also mistakenly thought the company would handle the renewal of permits. The permit expired and hotel occupancy taxes were not paid for 2022 and 2023. Crook paid all back taxes and penalties.

Council members saw no grounds for renewing the STR permit.

Fort Martin Scott

The council also unanimously approved an operating agreement with the Texas Historical Commission related to managing and maintaining the Fort Martin Scott site.

In March, Chris Elliott with the THC submitted the state organization’s five-year proposal on management and programming.

Part of the agreement with the state agency is the city’s allocation of $40,000 in HOT funds for programming, while the state would fund infrastructure improvements from its $300 million trust.

Elliot said he wants the state to open the 14-acre property which is a designated historical site, to the public on June 1.

The council also:

• Unanimously approved a street closure request for the Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival on Oct. 25-26, and OK’d the April 2, City Council minutes.

• Unanimously approved a conditional use permit request by Kaleb Dale of Hill Country Church to allow for religious assembly for property located on 1406 Cross St. due to the growth in the congregation.

• Unanimously approved appointment of Council Member Kirchner as Mayor Pro Tem for a one-year term.

• Appointed council members as liaisons to: FredericksburgISD —Kirchner; County and Commissioners Court and Market Square Redevelopment Commission — Tony Klein; County Airport and Economic Development Commission — Bobby Watson; Convention and Visitor Bureau and Fredericksburg Chamber — Randy Briley.

• Anna Hudson, director of the City Development Services, announced the promotions of Jan Musgrove to Planner 1 and Tyler Baethge to short-term rental specialist. She said her department is fully staffed.