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Thomas Ranch, a 2,200-acre residential development that is planned for the Spicewood area, has been approved for a preliminary plat by Burnet County.

545 acres of the 2,200-acre development are on the Burnet County side of the Spicewood region, while the rest of the future development is in Travis County.

During the Burnet County Commissioners Court meeting Feb. 14, the commissioners unanimously approved the preliminary plat, according to a press release from Thomas Ranch owners Arete Collective.

A preliminary plat details a map of a proposed subdivision and allows infrastructure to be constructed, according to Travis County.

Thomas Ranch was originally approved for development in 2017 and will be one of the largest residential developments in the area with about 3,300 homes, apartments, restaurants, a hotel, marketplace shops and more, according to plans approved by Travis County. The project is estimated to take two decades to complete and will have a population of 6,000-10,000 people.

“We are extremely grateful to Burnet County for being great partners on our journey to bring new and innovative housing options to the Greater Austin area,” said Rebecca Buchan, chief executive officer and co-founder of Arete Collective. “This plat approval is a milestone moment, demonstrating Arete Collective’s ability to make progress on a project that we acquired in January of 2022. We are committed to bringing a global expertise to collaborations with local leadership and business partners to benefit the local economy and community.”

Joe Rentfro, the managing director for Arete Collective, said they also have to give credit to Ralph Thomas, who Arete Collective bought the property from in January 2022.

Thomas, he said, purchased 17 different parcels of land over 25 years to accumulate the 2,200 acres the ranch sits on today.

“The great part was we didn't just buy 2,200 acres of real estate,” Rentfro said. “We were able to come in and buy a property that had been carefully thought of and developed [for] some land planning.”

Rentfro said the current plan for the development is to also have around 40-plus miles of total trail networks throughout the 2,200 acres.

“Our hope is that almost every front door becomes a footpath to a trailhead of connectivity throughout the rest of the community,” he said.

In terms of next steps, Rentfro said community members can expect to see some construction on the development’s planned golf course in the third quarter of 2023; it will likely be between 2033-2035 that the entire project is finished.

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TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Residents are fighting a development planned in Spicewood, citing concerns about endangered birds in the area, traffic problems and water usage. Travis County commissioners narrowly approved the developer’s preliminary plan with conditions that will require the group to come back before the court with a traffic impact analysis in hand before real work begins.

The more than 1,000-acre former ranch near Lake Travis is slated to become residential housing and a golf course, according to that initial plan. It’s going to be called “Travis Club,” previously known as “Vizcaya.”

A spokesperson for the owners and developers was in court Tuesday asking commissioners to approve the preliminary plan for the property which he said was actually already approved by commissioners once before, almost exactly as is, back in 2008. In 2009, that spokesperson said, one of the financial partners involved in the deal filed for bankruptcy and the development of that property essentially paused. It will be more than 270 single family lots, 220 villas and a golf course.

“It’s a long journey to be here, but we’re here today asking your to reaffirm the preliminary under basically the same rules that it was approved under in 2008,” a spokesperson for the developer said.

It wasn’t until last fall that county staff informed the developers that approval of the preliminary plan had actually expired, the spokesperson said. They’re now navigating county red tape that had previously been cleared.

“It hit us like a ton of bricks,” he said. “They had hoped to be under construction now.”

Meanwhile, residents in the area are concerned about traffic, water usage, construction safety and perhaps most vocally, the Golden-Cheeked Warblers in the area.

According to a release, Blair Wildlife Consulting was asked to do a study of the rare birds near and on that property. It found more than 40 of the birds on that plot.

“Maybe there was no malicious intent, but there was clearing on the property during the Warbler nesting period. I think that is an issue that needs to be addressed. What I’m hearing is that there were no repercussions for that,” a representative for Kent Radford and his family said. Radford lives in that area. “There needs to be additional mitigation required.”

“Mature Ash Junipers are a habitat for the Golden-Cheeked Warbler which has been cited in the area,” a resident of a nearby community also noted in her public comment. She also spoke about traffic concerns and the dangers of construction traffic in the area.

That’s where Commissioner Ann Howard has concerns as well. A traffic impact analysis has not been complete for the property despite the preliminary plan being before commissioners again. There is a backlog in that process on the city’s side, the court revealed. It could take between six and nine months for that TIA to be complete.

“I just think it delays any action that could result in greater transportation safety measures being put in place, when we know that nothing about the development in terms of the number of units, the configuration is likely to change through the TIA process,” Commissioner Brigid Shea countered.

The court voted on the preliminary plan twice. The first time, commissioners failed to approve it, with Howard and Travis County Judge Andy Brown voting against the motion. Commissioner Jeff Travillion opted out of the vote. Three ‘yes’ votes is the magic number.

Commissioners then opted to approve parts of the plan with a condition that forces the developer to come back before court prior to building its first plot. When they do return, they’ll need that TIA. Shea voted against it, but it ultimately passed.

“I don’t think delaying all of this by six-to-nine months particularly addresses that issue,” Shea said. She did ask the developers to take another look at environmental best practices, but said if the development is going to happen, she thinks the delay is unnecessary.

With Texas 71 cutting through Spicewood and growth from Austin edging into the Burnet County community, Emergency Services District No. 9 is making changes to move toward 24-7 protection in the area.

The district recently hired Sam Stacks as part-time fire chief for Spicewood Fire Rescue. Stacks has served as the Spicewood fire marshal for 18 months and has a lengthy firefighting career, including more than two decades with Marble Falls Fire Rescue.

The ESD is also adding five paid part-time firefighters to help the department’s volunteers.

“After an extensive application and interview process, we were delighted to have Sam emerge as the lead candidate for the fire chief position,” said Bruce Mills, ESD No. 9 board president. “He is well known and respected in the community, knows our department, has good rapport with the firefighters along with the qualifications and certifications required for the position.”

As Stacks assumes the chief role, the district is seeking a new fire marshal.

ESD No. 9 encompasses about 50 square miles of southeast Burnet County, which has more than 12,000 residents. The district also includes a stretch of heavily traveled Texas 71.

In 2013, residents approved the creation of the Emergency Services District. One of its first projects was building the EMS station adjacent to Spicewood Elementary School on Spur 191 and contracting with Marble Falls Area EMS to staff the facility.

The ESD contracts with Spicewood Fire Rescue (formerly the Spicewood Volunteer Fire Department-EMS) to provide fire protection and other emergency services. The ESD also helps the department purchase equipment and fund training.

Since the creation of the ESD, board members have focused on improving fire and EMS protection in the area. While volunteers remain a key component of the department, the additional part-time firefighters can cover times when volunteers are not available.

“Like many communities in the Hill Country, Burnet County ESD 9 and Spicewood Fire Rescue (have) the challenge of rapid population growth,” Stacks said. “As call volumes increase, we are finding it necessary to hire part-time firefighters to assist with coverage during the work week hours while still relying on our dedicated team of volunteers for complete coverage during evenings and weekends. We are fortunate to have a strong group of 15 or so firefighters and first responders but are always looking for more people to join the department.”

Karen Bruett, who is the board’s commissioner and former president, pointed out that hiring Stacks didn’t happen overnight. She credited David Bailey, interim fire chief and district administrator, for helping guide all involved during the past 18 months.

“He assisted us through a difficult transition during the COVID-19 pandemic and has prepared the department for the growth and change that is inevitable as the district’s population continues to grow,” she said. “Under his leadership, Sam Stacks was brought on board to serve as the district’s first fire marshal, a job that not only familiarized him with the ESD 9 district but also with the volunteer firefighters and the operations of the department.”

If you are interested in volunteering for Spicewood Fire Rescue or applying for a part-time paid position, contact the department at 830-693-7136 or visit the ESD No. 9 webpage.

SPICEWOOD, Texas — There are a lot of different places that are off the beaten path. Here's one of them that's out west of Austin. It's called "That Joint In Spicewood."

Owner Terry Fagerstrom created the event venue a few years back.

"That's the old post office," said Fagerstrom. "It sits on about four acres of the old Sinclair gas station."

From the second you step into this building from 1897, you can tell it's different.

"This is 12 years of collecting water skis from lake Texoma," Fagerstrom said about the unbelievable amount of water skis that line the ceiling of the patio. "And I don't know how to water ski."

You could call it an abstract assortment.

"I found this '47 Mack truck in Nebraska," said Fagerstrom. "It was a grain truck and I thought it would make a perfect stage."

When asked how he came up with the idea, Fagerstrom said, "I don't know I just see things and go, 'Hmm, that could be reused.'"

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Fagerstrom repurposes strange objects for uses you likely wouldn't expect.

"That's a fuel tank off of an old 18-wheeler ... I'm gonna turn that [old school bus] into like a kid bunkhouse," Fagerstrom said. "Lids to pots and pans and I just find them at thrift stores for $0.59 or whatever."

It's a place for anyone to rent for whatever event they need to host.

"It's out here, it's quiet, it's not Austin, it's beyond weird," he said.

It's even weird inside the town's old post office.

"So, this is the inside, in here is a collection for 47 years of collecting toys I go to garage sales, thrift stores," Fagerstrom said.

"What are you looking for at these garage sales," I asked him.

"I don't know, I go to an antique store and they say, 'What are you looking for,' I say, 'I don't know,'" he said.

PHOTOS: Take a peek inside That Joint in Spicewood

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Hank Cavagnaro

That Joint in Spicewood, located at 7931 CR 404 in Spicewood, isn't your typical event venue. It's "beyond weird." Inside the old post office, you can find just about anything -- and a story.

"That's the sporting wall, and there's a fan club up there," said Fagerstrom, pointing to his fans.

While most of his collection is full of fun memories, some carry a more sentimental meaning.

"I had a motorcycle accident and I had a head-on crash with another motorcycle," he explained. "He lost a little finger and broke an ankle, I lost an arm and a leg. But I'm still breathing today, it's OK, all good. I still have that helmet, it's a good helmet."

It's something he collects that no one else will ever have. At the end of the day, it's a place he says is beyond weird.

"Nothin matches," said Fagerstrom "I don't think it's supposed to."

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SPICEWOOD, Texas — The Spicewood community is looking for answers after a golden retriever named Indy who had been missing from a pet boarding facility was found buried on the pet resort property.

The Burnet County Sheriff's Office said Indy went missing last month while staying at Lucki Dogs Resort in Spicewood.

After learning of his disappearance, Indy's owners started working with a nonprofit out of Austin called Trapping, Rescue and Pet Recovery Services (TRAPRS). They found Indy buried on the pet resort property, after which the sheriff's office said they had an animal control officer report to the scene.

On July 12, Austin Shell, who is the attorney for Cary Morgan, owner of Lucki Dogs Resort, shared that Morgan fired two employees who she believes may be responsible. Shell said that Morgan was not at work that week and never met Indy. Shell said that Morgan was told Indy was missing and that she found out Indy was buried on the property the same day that Indy's family learned. Shell said Morgan is working with sheriff's office as the investigation continues and as they wait for the dog's necropsy to come back.

KVUE also emailed Morgan directly and she told us that she is distraught and her heart hurts for Indy's family. She also says she is looking for truth and answers.

As of July 12, no charges had been filed and Mike Sorenson, captain of support services at the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office, said the resort is allowed to stay open.

Although Google showed that the pet resort was temporarily closed, Shell said that is false and that the pet resort is still open and running. He said they are waiting on a necropsy to be done on Indy, which is an autopsy for dogs.

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“Well again, we still have to get some statements to find out where we are at with the investigation," said Sorenson. "The cause of death is a determining factor we have to utilize to determine the type of charge we are going to be able to file, whether it is cruelty or not. That is the big issue right now. It is hard to give a timeline based off of that. There are still a lot of moving pieces to this puzzle and we are still trying to put everything together."

Sorenson said they have not searched the grounds of the pet resort, but said that could come later on. They did send an officer on July 6 who went inside the pet resort and said it looked clean and that AC units were working in the areas where the dogs stayed.

Despite posts on social media by some community members, the sheriff’s office said they are only aware of the one dog body found on the property.

The Burnet County Sheriff's Office asks anyone with information on Indy's death or "direct information about Lucki Dogs Resort" to contact them.

Meanwhile, the Crespell family is still seeking answers on what happened to their Indy.

They told the Austin American-Statesman that they had left an emergency number with the facility and never heard a word about Indy's disappearance until they called a day before they were set to pick him up. A woman on the phone told the Crespells that Indy and another dog had escaped three days before and they had not been seen since.

The Crespell family then spent days searching the Spicewood and Burnet County areas, putting up flyers. They soon got an anonymous call from a man who said he knew Indy had been buried on the Lucki Dogs property.

With the help of TRAPPRS, they found a corner of tarp protruding from the ground. They pulled it up and found Indy, with a microchip confirming his identity.

KVUE has been in contact with the resort and is still waiting on a statement from them.

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