Council will decide Thursday whether to allow a major Northwest Side subdivision and wastewater plant that opponents say could impact the Edwards Aquifer.
SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio City Council is expected to vote Thursday on the future of the proposed Guajolote Ranch subdivision on the far northwest side near Scenic Loop and Babcock Road.
The development would span more than 1,100 acres and could include roughly 3,000 homes, along with a wastewater treatment plant that opponents say could threaten the Edwards Aquifer, a major drinking water source for the region.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality granted developer Lennar Homes a wastewater permit following a hearing in October. Supporters say the project would bring much-needed housing growth, while critics argue it could increase pollution in nearby waterways.
Environmental advocates with the Helotes Creek Alliance have filed a lawsuit against the TCEQ, seeking to reverse the permit approval. The lawsuit, filed January 21 in Austin, aims to slow the project’s progress.
Council’s vote will focus on whether to create a new municipal utility district, which would allow the developer to partner with its own utility providers to operate the wastewater system.
Opponents warn the development could send more than one million gallons of treated wastewater per day into Helotes Creek, potentially impacting the aquifer that serves an estimated 2.5 million people.
The issue was discussed during a special council meeting last month, where several local leaders and some council members expressed concerns about the permit.
City Council is scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. Thursday, with a vote expected shortly afterward.
This is a developing story.