RUDAT leaders meet with Boerne staff
by Mark J. Armstrong The Boerne Star
March 18, 2008

Members of the Regional Urban Design Assistance Team spent several days in Boerne last week on their initial visit before plowing head first into the planning process.

Commonly referred to as a RUDAT, the process involves workshops and sessions with the public and community leaders to develop concepts and plans for specific projects. For this RUDAT, the group of architects and designers will be looking at the proposed City Campus on N. Main Street, the downtown central business district and the area along Cibolo Creek.

The RUDAT team leader, James Abell of Abell and Associates of Tempe, Ariz., met with city staff members Friday and brought up what may be the essential question in the RUDAT process.

"Why, at this time and this place, do you want to bring in outsiders to come up with a vision for Boerne," Abell asked.

Chris Turk, director of planning and development for the city, said the decision came out of debate during the planning for the City Campus.

"It was quite obvious that we have a split vision among the council members," Turk said. Staff members also stressed the importance of maintaining downtown Boerne.

"It's unique," said Parks and Recreation Director Linda Cornelius. "It's the taste of America that we're losing all across the country, and that's why it's important that we keep it in Boerne."

Abell also asked questions about the Esperanza development, which will be entirely outside the city limits of Boerne but will very likely have a big impact on the city and city services.

Assistant City Manger Jeff Thompson said that because the developer already had surface water rights, the project would have happened with or without the city's involvement. Because of that, he said the developer was "holding a lot of cards."

Abell said the RUDAT group would return to Boerne in about two months to begin the planning process.