A drainage improvement project for Rolling Acres Rail in Fair Oaks Ranch is being canceled due to project cost and impact. City staff said the project exceeds the budget allocation, and the benefit would be a minimal reduction in stormwater inundation. Given these factors, staff recommended not moving forward with the drainage project March 19.

What’s happening? Manager of Engineering Services Lee Muñiz said the allocated budget for the project was $459,600 and consisted of three phases. The project scope included channel improvements and a new culvert to improve stormwater capacity. Muñiz said the cost estimated for the three phases totals around $860,000, including inflation and contingencies.

If the city were to complete the project, no structure would be removed from flooding or overtopping, and the reduction in stormwater inundation would be minimal, leaving no justification for the project given the cost, Muñiz said. With the support of the council to not move forward with the drainage project, Muñiz said the funds could be allocated toward other drainage improvements.

Fair Oaks Ranch is moving forward with the development of a Facilities Master Plan, which will evaluate city-owned properties and buildings to determine future needs for departments. City Council on March 19 authorized nearly $100,000 for the plan to be created. This authorization follows a bid request sent out in December.

The details: City Planner Jessica Relucio said the plan is expected to take around five to six months to complete, and the firm will take tours of city facilities and interview city employees to determine potential city needs.

The document is planned to cover long-term needs, up to 10 or 15 years, evaluating factors such as growth to plan for additional facility space. According to the March 19 agenda, the following facilities will be evaluated:

• City Hall
• Police Department
• Public Works Offices and Maintenance Barn
• Public Works Parts Warehouse
• Public Works Shed
• Fair Oaks Ranch Homeowners' Association building
• Old Police Department building
• Fire Stations No. 2 and No. 3 at 7899 Fair Oaks Parkway and 30955 Meadow Creek Trail
• Elevated Water Storage Tank site

From Bulverde Road in North San Antonio to pedestrian improvements in New Braunfels, check out four upcoming or ongoing transportation projects across the San Antonio metro area.

Upcoming projects

North San Antonio
Bulverde Road Phase 2 project: Part of San Antonio’s 2022-27 bond program, Phase 2 will construct improvements on Bulverde Road from Green Spring Drive to Redland Road. Currently in the design phase, the project will widen the road to 86 feet, expand it to four lanes, add a center turn lane, and add a sidewalk and a shared-use path, as well as drainage improvements and utility adjustments. 

New Braunfels
AAMPO Citywide Pedestrian Improvements, Phase 1: Improvements will be made to sidewalks and shared-use paths at five locations throughout New Braunfels: Oak Run Parkway, Hinman Island Drive, Christus Santa Rosa Hospital Area, Alves Lane and County Line Road, according to agenda documents. On Jan. 26, New Braunfels City Council approved a motion to begin the process to find contractors.

Editor’s note: this story has been updated to show that the restaurant officially opened on March 23.

An Austin-based brewpub is beginning the first stages of expansion in the state with a new location opening in San Antonio.

The big picture: Pinthouse Pizza—located at 5534 N. Loop 1604 W. in northwest San Antonio—officially opened on March 23, according to a news release from the company.

Kyle Detrick, the President of Retail at Pinthouse, said they have been discussing an expansion to San Antonio for some time.

“Opening in San Antonio is a huge milestone for our team and something we’ve dreamed about for years,” he said in the news release.

On the menu: Pinthouse Pizza is known for a wide range of craft beers, pizzas and sandwiches, according to previous reporting from Community Impact.

The local chain has four additional locations in the Austin area, including the company’s brewing facility, according to their website.

• 5534 N. Loop 1604 W., San Antonio