Popular Post Pyreaux Posted February 10 Popular Post Posted February 10 (edited) On January 16, news broke that the Church (via, Property Reserve Inc.) purchased 2,898 acres in the Texas Hill Country (Kyle, Texas). Local environmentalists and residents have protested the sale, fearing "unmanaged sprawl" and potential development into a high-density "Mormon hub" in a sensitive rural area. The historic Nance Ranch along the Blanco River is roughly four miles west of downtown Kyle. The purchase inherited a pre-existing agreement that could allow for up to 9,000 "living unit equivalents", essentially paving the way for a massive residential and commercial master-planned community. Kyle’s water master plan already includes a $37.6 million water line (tentatively set for 2030) specifically designed to serve this acreage. Here is why the current "Mormon Hub" narrative is mix of legitimate environmental concern and illogical alarmism. The "Mormon Hub" Fear Critics fear (or just propagandizing) the area will become a high-density, faith-centric enclave. This is ignoring the Church’s investment history. Property Reserve Inc. typically acts as a "buy and hold" investor. Historically, these investments are about financial diversification, not creating "Zion" in the suburbs, building 9,000 houses and waiting for only members to move in, a membership not already there. The Environmental Concern Makes Sense The protest from the Save Our Springs Alliance is grounded in actual infrastructure math. The land sits on a sensitive aquifer recharge zone. High-density "sprawl" here could jeopardize the regional water supply. Protesters argue the city bypassed public review (a 2020 lawsuit is still making its way through courts). I guess, they want to stop the precedent where the city and a massive institutional buyer can lock in development for 45 years without voter input. The irony of the situation is that many residents are protesting a religious organization for doing exactly what private equity firms have been doing in Texas for years. So, I think by framing it as a "Mormon Hub," critics can gain more media traction, but the real threat isn't us, it’s the pre-approved density that was legal long before the Church even wrote the check. Links Hoodline: Mormon Church Shakes Up 2,900 Acres Near Kyle’s Blanco River About the protest - Chron.com: LDS Church buys 3,000 acres in Texas Hill Country, drawing protests The legal fight - Save Our Springs Alliance: Knight v. City of Kyle (Recharge Zone Protection) Edited February 10 by Pyreaux 5
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