Location
Barton Creek PUD
Topics
Description
On June 7, 1990, the Austin City Council held a hearing to review the proposed Barton Creek Planned Unit Development (PUD), regarding an application by the firm Freeport-McMoRan to develop a 4000-acre tract along Barton Creek. The hearing ran for 12 hours, and drew testimony from over 1000 citizens who opposed the project by roughly a 30:1 margin, largely on environmental grounds, particularly the threat to Barton Springs. At 5:19 A.M., the Council voted unanimously to reject the PUD proposal. Momentum from the Council vote crystalized formation of the non-profit Save Our Springs Alliance, and led to passage of the City’s Save Our Springs ordinance, imposing water quality rules and development limits in the Barton watershed.
Location Notes
Since much of the impetus for blocking the proposed Barton Creek PUD was based on hopes to protect Barton Springs Pool from contamination, it seems fitting that a marker be placed at the Pool's entrance.