Presenter: Corky Kuhlmann

Commission Agenda Item No. 17
Action
Land Sale – Uvalde County
Garner State Park
(Proposed Sale of 1.27 Acres
to Adjacent Landowner)
May 2006

I. Executive Summary: A land sale reserving a Conservation Easement to an adjacent landowner at Garner State Park is proposed for consideration by the Commission.

II. Discussion: The 2,029 acre Garner State Park (Park) is located 30 miles north of Uvalde in Uvalde County along the Frio River. The Park has approximately 3 miles of Frio River riverfront and remains one of the most popular parks in the Texas Parks and Wildlife system with an FY05 visitor count of over 250,000, providing recreational opportunities including camping, hiking, nature study, picnicking, canoeing, fishing, hunting, dancing and all types of water activities in the Frio River.

A request has been made by an adjacent landowner to purchase a 1.27-acre tract of the park (see exhibit A). The tract is surrounded on two sides by the requesting landowner, one side by a County Road, with one side being contiguous to the Park. The tract is not used by the Park, and if sold will have a conservation easement reserved by TPWD. The adjacent landowners will also donate a conservation easement on his existing property (approximately 5 acres) to TPWD that includes approximately 500 feet of the east side of the Frio River. The Property is bound by the Park to the center of the river along its western boundary and also adjacent to the Park along its northern boundary. The Conservation Easement will prevent an incompatible land use along the 500 foot reach of riverfront that is adjacent to the park.

III. Recommendation: The staff recommends the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motion:

"The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission finds that ownership of 1.27 acres at Garner State Park is no longer in the best interest of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and authorizes the Executive Director to take all necessary steps to sell 1.27 acres of Garner State Park to an adjacent landowner, reserving a Conservation Easement on the same property and accepting the donation of a Conservation Easement on the adjacent buyer/landowner's property."

Attachments - 2

  1. Exhibit A – Location Map
  2. Exhibit B – Fiscal Note (available upon request; contact Carole Hemby at 512-389-4804)

Commission Agenda Item No. 17
Exhibit A

Location Map

This image is a representation of where the proposed sale property lies in relation to Garner State Park

For help in interpreting this map, please contact Jack Bauer.