Environmentalists push tight limits to build in floodplains — and developers aren’t happy about it
Environmentalists say the Shops at Babcock, a commercial development under construction on San Antonio’s Northwest Side, could lead to flooding downstream. The site sits between two creeks and their tributaries.A proposal by an environmental organization to sharply limit construction in floodplains in San Antonio has cleared an initial hurdle at the city Planning Commission — and developers are not happy about it.
Currently, developers can build in floodplains in San Antonio with the proper permits. They also can avoid adding drainage controls to a project if they secure approval from city staff and pay an annual fee based on the type of development and how large an area would be covered with impervious material such as asphalt.The Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance said it is pushing for tighter floodplain regulation because extreme storms are growing in frequency.
The project, on the south side of Loop 1604 just west of the University of Texas at San Antonio’s main campus, sits partly in a floodplain, according to San Antonio River Authority maps. The site is in the Leon Creek Watershed, which is one of the most flood-prone areas in the city. The alliance challenged those claims and said although flood controls could increase the cost of a project, the expense would be small compared to the damage caused by a major flood.
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