By Will Pafford, Staff Writer

Residents of a West Lake Hills neighborhood spoke against a proposed easement that would lie over their paved access ramp to Lake Austin during the West Lake Hills City Council meeting on May 27.

The City Council decided not to accept the proposed easement on the paved ramp on Hull Circle during the meeting, but it did decide to secure the right to purchase the easement in the future for $10.

The discussion began when the owners of the property on which the paved ramp lies, Herb and Pauline Stark, requested the city abandon three easements, two for public utilities and one for drainage, that ran through their property at 15 Hull Circle.

In return, the Starks offered the city a drainage easement on the paved ramp, where water currently flows. 

Terry Irion, who represented the Starks, said the easements contain no public utilities, and the current drainage easement does not function because the natural topography shifts water to run down the paved ramp. 

“It has no purpose or function as a drainage easement,” he said. 

When the city engineer met with the Starks’ engineer at the property, the city engineer recommended the Starks offer the city a drainage easement on the paved access, where the water already flows, in return for abandoning the three easements, Irion said. 

Those three easements restrict the ability to build on the lot, he said.

“We want confirmation that this is a buildable lot,” Irion said. 

The deed for 15 Hull Circle, however, requires the owners to allow residents on Hull Circle to cross the property where the paved ramp lies for access to the lake.

Residents on Hull Circle objected to the proposed easement, claiming it would limit their access to the lake. 

Hull Circle resident Joe Scott Morris said if the city placed an easement on the paved access, it would restrict the access for residents and decrease the ability of residents to maintain the paved ramp. 

“That is a taking,” he said. 

He said the easement on the paved access would diminish the value of other properties on Hull Circle because their private access would be limited. 

About six other residents spoke against the city placing an easement on the paved ramp. 

Mayor Dave Claunch said the city has to have an easement for water drainage, and a future owner of 15 Hull Circle could force the city to purchase an easement where the water flows. 

Claunch suggested an agreement in which the city would have the option to buy the easement on the paved ramp for $10 in the future if the future owner attempts to claim damages from drainage water.  

“It’s an insurance policy to protect the city’s interest that would never need to be executed,” he said. 

David Morris, representing Hull Circle resident Anne Morris, said this decision delays the battle concerning the access and easements. 

“In the future, it will be fought,” he said. 

Irion approved of the agreement.

“It’s to keep the future owner honest,” he said. 

The Council decided to release the original three easements and secure the option to purchase the easement on the paved access for $10.

Councilwoman Cindy Probst also added the option for the Council to set the easement within the setback of the lot.