Richard Denney commented on No PUD, Not Now, Not Ever'sphoto.
Richard wrote: "My recent letter to the Austin City Council ..Spicewood Springs -- the springs themselves where the Austin Oaks rezoning is proposed -- are at the intersection of MOPAC and Spicewood Springs Road. Here’s some history on that local. Did you know Spicewood Springs is among those listed in the Water Development Board’s report of “Major and Historical Springs of Texas”. Did you know in prehistoric times it was a camping site for Native Americans and most of the archaeological site located there was “destroyed by commercial development”. That would be Austin Oaks. Guess the Austin Oaks developers aren't interested in preserving Austin’s prehistory. See report done for TXDOT, Intensive Archaeological Survey of the MoPac Improvement Project, 2013. Did you know that in 1842 Spicewood Springs was where Indians camped after kidnapping the Simpson children on what was then Austin’s western frontier: Pecan Street. The Simpson girl was killed and scalped at Spicewood Springs. This is part of Austin’s early history recorded in J.W. Wilbarger’s classic, Indian Depredations in Texas, published right here in Austin in 1889. When approached about a historical marker at the springs, Austin Oaks owners weren't interested in having a marker on their property. Guess they aren't interested in preserving Austin’s history. Did you know Spicewood Springs was the location of Esperanza, a log cabin that in 1866 served as the first school for northwest Travis County! The log cabin and historical marker are located on Barton Springs road .. Huh? Oh, yeah, no historical markers or historic buildings for Austin Oaks. And did you know the Texas Historic Tree Coalition requested permission from Austin Oaks owners to access and record a potentially historic tree on their property. Austin Oaks declined access. Guess they aren't interested in Austin’s historic trees. In conclusion, Spicewood Springs is a major Texas spring, and Austin prehistoric and historic resource that deserves better than what it’s received from the current “stewards” of the land. Please take that into consideration as the re-zoning debate progresses."
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