The Blanco Streetscape Committee held its monthly meeting July 24 at the Byars Building.
The meeting was led by chair Retta Martin and included committee members Patty Haas, Kim Moyer, Robert Holmes and Eric Burkhart. Others who attended included Blanco Mayor Candy Cargill, Streetscape City Liaison Councilman Ryan Moses, Blanco City Administrator Warren Escovy, Streetscape Advisor Kenneth Welch and Sue Ann Pemberton of Mainstreet Architects.
The meeting began with the engagement of a new letter of agreement with Pemberton for the implementation of the design plan for Phase 1. The boundary of this phase includes the east side of Pecan Street from the center line of the street to the face of the buildings, extending from Fourth Street TxDOT improvements to the bridge at Town Creek. The general scope of work includes final design, demolition, regrading and construction of flatwork, to include necessary accessibility modifications, new paving, striping and crosswalks.
Welch discussed the ongoing effort with the city and business owners on Pecan and Third streets to resolve issues of property lines. Representatives from the Streetscape Committee will be engaging with the business owners regarding this issue, to be followed-up by a more detailed meeting with Welch. Escovy addressed the committee, with the conversation covering coordination with TxDOT regarding the design and construction plans and the need to meet with officials from the Pedernales Energy Cooperative regarding the burial of the utility lines in Phase 1. During the first round of planning, which began Jan. 1, 2010, the Streetscape Committee, City of Blanco and property owners showed interest in having PEC bury the utility lines on the business side of the Historic District. PEC representatives walked with the Streetscape Committee members and the Blanco City Public Works Superintendent to develop an estimate of costs. The results were deemed too expensive, so consideration was given to moving the lines to the back of the buildings. The issue has since resurfaced, and a meeting has been scheduled with PEC for Aug. 13 at 2 pm.
The Streetscape Committee will have a Sept. 16 group mixer at Gem of the Hills, which will include representatives from many of the active civic groups in the Blanco community. Please stay tuned for more details and learn more at www.keepblancobeautiful. com.
