HELOTES, TEXAS – DECEMBER 11th: The Helotes City Council is poised to offer Balous Miller zoning for building a Wal-Mart Supercenter or other bigbox store at the intersection of Scenic Loop and Bandera Road. Part of a backroom deal between the city and Mr. Miller is that Mr. Miller would settle his suit with the city if they rezone his property to support a bigbox store. Miller originally sued the city for vested rights after the city annexed the property in 2005. That suit has been tied up until now.

Despite unanimous recommendations against approval of zoning for a Big Box store last month by the Helotes Planning and Zoning Commission, the Helotes City Council and Mayor are rushing to make a deal with Mr. Miller to bring a bigbox store back to Scenic Loop.

As before, we oppose the construction of a Wal-Mart at the corner of Scenic Loop and Bandera in Helotes because of the significant impact such a development will have on the quality of life in our town. Traffic gridlock, soaring crime, pollution of our water supply, and flooding of Oldtown Helotes will result from this deal.

The Wal-Mart fight divided this city more than 4 years ago and led to the unseating of one Mayor and council. Now this new council is intent on pushing for the kind of development that will bring crime and lead to traffic snarls and sprawl.

We remain determined to do everything possible to dissuade big box developers from building on Scenic Loop Road.

Where: Helotes City Hall

When: Thursday, December 11^th, 7 PM.

Media Contacts:

Jon Allan, Former Mayor of Helotes

Ron Green, Helotes Heritage Association