Updated Greenbelt Violation Fees

NOTICE TO RESIDENTS CONCERNING GREENBELT RULES

Belterra Residents - Hays County WCID No. 1 and Hays County WCID No. 2 have recently updated their rules and regulations to address activities in greenbelt and open space areas. Although the existing WCID rules already prohibit the use of these areas for activities that are not recreational in nature, the WCIDs have observed an escalation of unauthorized greenbelt activity over the last year. Residents and their contractors have used greenbelt and open space areas for storage of materials, parking and operation of heavy equipment (excavators, lift trucks, skid steers), disposal of debris and refuse, project staging and access to resident backyards. In some cases, residents have installed landscaping projects and redirected the natural course of drainage in the greenbelt. We have recently encountered increasing administrative difficulty and expense related to repair of damaged facilities and revegetation of disturbed areas.

In addition to clarifying and adding to the existing rules, penalties for violations have been increased to $5,000 per violation, and $1,000 for each subsequent day the violation continues. This is a step taken with a measure of reservation - penalizing neighbors is not one of our objectives. However, the WCIDs are responsible for maintaining the greenbelts and open space areas, and the existing penalties have proven ineffective. In addition to providing recreational and aesthetic benefits to the community, many of the greenbelt and open space areas also include irrigation facilities, engineered grading, buffer areas and facilities that are utilized by the WCIDs in providing utility services to our community in accordance with State laws, TCEQ rules, and permit requirements. Damages to these facilities increase costs for the WCIDs, which are ultimately borne by all residents and customers.

The newly adopted rules and regulations for each WCID are posted on the WCIDs jointly maintained website. We will be enforcing the new rules and penalties immediately. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at help@hayswcid.org.