Brackenridge Park 'Chop' Vote Back to HDRC

A revised Brackenridge Park bond-funded redevelopment project that would remove roughly 50 trees in its first phase (about 20 to now be moved, rather than cut down, fingers-crossed) comes back to San Antonio’s Historic and Design Review Commission at 5pm Wednesday, April 19. The project was approved by the Texas Historical Commission last week. (HDRC meeting opens at 3pm but has set this item to be “time certain” for “no sooner than” 5pm.

Architectural rendering below is part of a packet from swa, an architectural and urban design firm based in San Antonio, showing some of the trees to be removed at the Lambert Beach area. San Antonio’s Parks and Public Works departments first brought the tree-removal request forward more than a year ago—only back then it was explicitly tied to a desired end goal of eliminating a migratory bird rookery at this location. (See original project language, including desire “to prevent rookeries from developing and causing unhealthy environments” here.)

Project opponents—many insisting on the historic, cultural, religious, and ecological value of the trees beyond the wall needing repair in the San Antonio River headwaters—have put forward an alternative proposal to restore the river walls they say eliminates the need to remove the trees. While the trees have enjoyed an extended public conversation that has reduced the number of to be removed, there has yet to be a single public hearing about the ongoing violence being directed at the birds.

To watch and listen to this meeting, visit www.sanantonio.gov/DSD/Boards/MeetingVideos. To call to listen to audio only, in English or Spanish, call 210-206-LIVE (5483).

Members of the public can comment on items on the agenda, consistent with procedural rules governing HDRC meetings and state law. Public comments may be provided as follows:

1.    Leave a voice message a maximum of two minutes by dialing 210-206-HDRC(4372) by 12 noon on the day of the meeting. Voicemail messages will be played during the meeting. Please include your full name, home or work address, the item number and item address of the request.

2.    Submit written comments to HistoricDesignReviewCommission@sanantonio.gov by 12 noon on the day of the meeting. Please include your full name, home or work address, the item number and item address of the request. Written comments will be part of the official written record only.

3. Attend the in-person hearing and sign-up to speak before the meeting begins at 3 PM. Each member of the public will have two minutes to speak unless otherwise directed by the Chair.

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