Project Elements

The Texas Center for Policy Studies initiated work on Hill Country growth management issues in 1996. The Hill Country is characterized by a wide variety of important plant and wildlife natural habitats, caves, two major aquifers - the Trinity and the Edwards - many springs and creeks, and a diverse cultural heritage. We recognized that some areas of the region were experiencing explosive growth, as people moved out from the metropolitan areas of San Antonio and Austin and moved in from other states. This growth was beginning to put intensive pressure on the region's natural resources-particularly water-and had the potential to adversely affect many aspects of the quality of life in the Hill Country if proper management measures were not put in place.

We first wanted to know, however, how residents of the Hill Country and their local elected officials perceived these issues. This was especially important because some areas of the Hill Country had become polarized by emotional debates over endangered species protection.

We thus began by convening "Roundtables" on various growth related issues, including water resources management and the type of planning tools Hill Country communities might need to cope with increasing population growth. The Roundtables featured presentations from experts, citizens and elected officials. They attracted large and diverse audiences, and many people began to find they had a common vision of what they loved about the Hill Country and what challenges the region was facing. The meetings helped catalyze a broader discussion of Hill Country growth issues and resulted in a network of landowners, elected officials and civic organizations concerned about how to manage growth in a sensible manner. Over the last few years, these activities have also led to several specific growth management policy changes at the local, county and even state level.

Concurrent with these Roundtables, TCPS established a Regional Steering Committee, made up of landowners, business people and local elected officials. The Steering Committee helps to guide the project, identifying key issues of concern in the Hill Country Region and assisting in the development of Roundtable agendas.

The Hill Country Roundtable was founded on two premises: (1) community planning must take place and (2) community residents must be deeply involved in the planning process.

At least annually, the Hill Country Roundtable convenes a regional citizen forum that focuses on a specific issue facing the area and alternative strategies for addressing a recognized problem. The Roundtable also publishes the Hill Country Broadside and other timely brochures and educational materials regarding growth planning and protection of the Hill Country’s valuable natural resources and high quality of life.

In addition, the Texas Center for Policy Studies provides technical assistance to Texans  interested in growth related issues. For instance, TCPS is providing assistance to the Blanco County Citizen Steering Committee. The Committee is a volunteer, non-partisan group of concerned citizens, who conducted a Citizen Survey and Citizen Assembly in March, 2000. As a result of the Citizen Assembly, five working task forces have been established to examine the issuse of Land, Water, Youth, Pathways, and Taxation in Blanco County.  A press release regarding the Survey and the agenda of the Citizen Assembly are available.

If you would like to be added to the mailing list or would like more information, please contact Mary Sanger, Texas Center for Policy Studies, PO Box 2618, Austin, TX 78768 or call 512/474.0811. Or contact one of the Steering Committee members listed below. 

Hill Country Roundtable Steering Committee


Clay Conoly, Bandera 
Marcy E. Holloway, Bee Caves 
Shirley Beck, Blanco 
Pam Hodges, Boerne 
Daniel Ochoa, III, Boerne 
Mayor Bob Barton, Bulverde 
Paul Tybor, Fredericksburg 
Commissioner Jay Millikin, Garden Ridge 
Councilwoman, Susan Peace, Grey Forest 
Larry Allen, Hondo 
J. David Bamberger, Johnson City 
Jeanne West, Kerrville 
Don Henderson, Kerrville 
Sue Wiseman, Leander 
Margaret Trouart, Lytle 
Susan Tracy, Medina 
Commissioner Mike Heiligenstein, Round Rock 
Larry Hoffman, San Antonio 
David Baker, Wimberley 
Frank Austin, Wimberley