Adler drafts SH45 SW letter

Mayor Steve Adler has drafted a letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department, asking it to weigh in on the potential environmental impact of building SH45 Southwest “now rather than later.” In a posting on the City Council message board, Adler’s chief of staff, John Michael Cortez, explained that he intended to send the letter today, and asked for input from Council members. The letter, which is available for viewing on the message board, is much like the one former County Judge Sam Biscoe sent out last year. In his letter, Adler writes, “Austin’s City Council must understand the costs of this project, both direct and indirect, which potentially jeopardize significant public investments in BCCP (Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan) land and may impact the BCCP permit itself.” At the time of publication, only two other Council members had responded online. Council Member Don Zimmerman said he had concerns, and asked that the letter be forwarded to the Open Space, Environment and Sustainability Committee for further review. (Zimmerman is a member of that committee.) Council Member Leslie Pool, who was recently appointed to the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Committee Planning Organization Coordinating Committee, expressed her support for the letter.