Local vote could redefine land management near JBSA Randolph – KSAT

Report on Schertz, Texas Proposition A and its Implications for Sustainable Development

Introduction: Urban Planning and Community Governance

On November 4, voters in Schertz, Texas, will participate in a special election concerning Proposition A. This proposition addresses building and land use regulations for properties located within the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), specifically in an area within a five-mile radius of Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) Randolph. The vote presents a critical decision point for the community, directly impacting local governance, urban development, and the long-term sustainability of the region in alignment with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Proposition A: Two Pathways for Sustainable Community Development

The primary objective of Proposition A is to ensure that future development does not negatively impact the operational mission of JBSA Randolph, particularly its pilot and flight instructor training programs. This initiative directly supports the creation of safe, resilient, and sustainable communities. Voters residing in the designated ETJ will choose between two distinct options for managing land use.

Option One: Annexation into the City of Schertz

This option involves the formal annexation of the ETJ land into the city’s official boundaries. The implications of this choice are directly linked to fostering inclusive and sustainable urban growth.

• Service Provision and Infrastructure (SDG 11, SDG 3): Annexed areas would receive comprehensive municipal services, including police, fire, and EMS protection. This enhances public safety and well-being, contributing to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by ensuring access to basic services.
• Governance and Regulation (SDG 16): Residents would become subject to city property taxes to fund these services, alongside the full scope of municipal regulations, including zoning controls and code enforcement. This strengthens local institutions and promotes participatory governance, aligning with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

Option Two: Implementation of Land Use Regulations without Annexation

This option would prevent the annexation of the land while imposing specific land use regulations designed to protect the military base’s mission. This approach focuses on targeted planning to achieve sustainable outcomes.

• Sustainable Land-Use Planning (SDG 11, SDG 9): Regulations would be implemented to control development factors that could interfere with flight operations. These include:
  1. Height restrictions on new constructions.
  2. Controls on activities that generate excessive dust.
  3. Regulations on lighting and glare.
  4. Restrictions on land use in areas with high noise levels from aircraft.
• Environmental and Health Protections (SDG 3, SDG 11): By managing dust and noise pollution, this option directly contributes to SDG 3 by safeguarding the health of residents. It also promotes sustainable urban planning under SDG 11 by mitigating the negative environmental impacts of development near critical infrastructure.
• Resilient Infrastructure (SDG 9): The regulations are designed to protect the long-term viability of JBSA Randolph, a critical piece of national infrastructure, ensuring its resilience against incompatible adjacent development.

Broader Context and Alignment with Global Goals

Fostering Economic and Institutional Stability

The proposition reflects a proactive effort in local governance to balance community growth with the preservation of a key economic and institutional asset. JBSA Randolph is a significant contributor to the local economy, and protecting its mission aligns with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). The democratic process of the vote itself exemplifies SDG 16 by empowering local citizens to participate in decisions that shape their community’s future.

A Precedent for Sustainable Urban Management

This initiative is comparable to a similar vote held by the City of San Antonio in 2018 concerning development around Camp Bullis and Camp Stanley. In that instance, voters also chose to implement land use regulations over annexation, demonstrating a regional trend towards adopting targeted planning solutions to ensure sustainable coexistence between civilian communities and military installations. The upcoming vote in Schertz continues this important dialogue on building sustainable, resilient, and inclusive cities.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • The article focuses on managing urban development around the JBSA Randolph military base. The core issue is Proposition A, which deals with building regulations, land use, and potential annexation of an extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) into the City of Schertz. This directly relates to sustainable urban planning and managing the growth of communities to ensure safety and functionality. The proposition aims to control development to prevent negative impacts, such as tall buildings or activities creating dust and glare, which is a key aspect of creating safe and sustainable human settlements.

2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • The article describes a democratic process where local voters decide on governance and regulation for their area. This highlights the importance of effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at the local level. The vote on Proposition A is a mechanism for participatory and representative decision-making, allowing residents to have a say in how their community is governed and developed. The goal of the proposition—to protect the mission of a national security institution (the military base)—also aligns with the broader aim of maintaining peace and security.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Targets under SDG 11

   • Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries. The article is a direct example of this target in action. The vote on Proposition A is a participatory process for the planning and management of a human settlement (the ETJ area). It seeks an integrated solution that considers the needs of the residents, the city, and the military base to ensure sustainable development.
   • Target 11.a: Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning. The article discusses the relationship between the City of Schertz (an urban area) and its ETJ (a peri-urban area). The proposition is a form of regional development planning designed to manage this link, either through annexation or specific land use regulations, to prevent negative impacts from development.

2. Targets under SDG 16

   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. The vote on Proposition A is a process to establish an effective local governance framework for the ETJ. Whether through annexation (bringing the area under full city regulations) or specific land use controls, the outcome will create a new set of rules and institutions to manage development in an accountable manner.
   • Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels. The article emphasizes that local voters will decide the outcome. It states, “voters in Schertz will decide on Proposition A,” and clarifies that “The only people who can vote on the proposition are people who live and vote with an address registered in that area.” This is a clear illustration of a responsive and participatory decision-making process at the local level.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for SDG 11 Targets

   • Implied Indicator for Target 11.3: The proportion of the city that implements a sustainable urban planning and management framework. The outcome of the vote on Proposition A serves as a direct indicator. If passed (in either form), it establishes a new land use plan and regulatory framework for the ETJ area, which can be monitored for its effectiveness in preventing negative impacts on the base. The specific regulations mentioned—”Height restrictions, dust, lighting, glare, there’s some land use restrictions”—are measurable components of this framework.

2. Indicators for SDG 16 Targets

   • Implied Indicator for Target 16.7: The existence of an independent and participatory local decision-making process. The article explicitly describes the election on November 4th as the mechanism for this decision. The voter turnout and the final decision made by the residents of the affected area would be concrete measures of participation. The article’s mention of a similar vote in San Antonio in 2018 suggests this is a repeatable and established process for local governance.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: ksat.com