Real Estate Photographer in Bastrop, TX

Election officials confirmed that only one voter was registered to vote in the almost 600-acre proposed development.

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BASTROP COUNTY, Texas — With Election Day here, every vote matters. However, the fate of a $1.2 billion ballot item in Bastrop County was all in the hands of one person.

Last August, the Elgin City Council approved rezoning 570 acres of Lund Farm's land into a mixed-use development.

The ballot item asked for authorization to build a Municipal Utility District (MUD), approve a property tax imposed on people who will own property in the area and build water, wastewater, roads, parks and recreation facilities that will cost $1.2 billion in a series of five bonds.

Only people who live in the district were eligible to vote on it. And according to the Bastrop County Election Administrator, only one person is registered there.

“That's $1.2 billion of bonds elected by a transient resident,” said John Carlson, who lives across the road from Lund Farm.

Carlson said his family has owned their ranch land for 90 years. According to him, in the 25 years he’s lived on the land, Lund Farm has always been empty farmland.

“The only thing that would qualify as a residence is there's some sort of 'barn-dominium' in that cattle shed complex,” Carlson said.

A few years ago, Carlson said the owners of Lund Farm sold their land to a developer. While Carlson said growth is inevitable, their opinion should matter too.

“Yeah, I'm wildly disappointed and worried. We live out in the country for a reason. I don't want the development next to me," Carlson said. "I don't want people driving ... through my front yard."

Carlson requested a contested case hearing to address certain issues with the district, but said it was denied. He said there has been no public input either because developers filed with the Texas Commission of Environment Quality to turn the land into a MUD.

Last September, Elgin leaders had one public hearing to show what the project would look like. The proposed project could bring 1,800 homes, 650 apartments and commercial space to the mostly rural part east of Austin's metro.

Only people who own property in the district will have to pay the $1.2 billion series of bonds, but Carlson said it still affects other property owners.

“Roads, plural, won't be able to handle anywhere near this kind of traffic,” Carlson said.

Carlson is also concerned developers might take his property through eminent domain.

“I've already gotten one inquiry from the water supply corporation. They want to take up to 100 acres on my side of the road for an easement for water, and this is only a 20-foot wide road," Carlson said. "My house is already close enough to the road."

Throughout the process, Carlson said there have been no signs or notices to let people know a MUD is in the process of being developed.

KVUE reached out to the one person registered to vote in the proposed district, but they did not respond. Bastrop County election records show the person voted for the ballot item.

Emergency crews continued to battle a wildfire Monday afternoon that broke out in Bastrop County, Texas, the day before.

The 400-acre Hudson Fire near Bastrop State Park was estimated to be 30% contained Monday at 1 p.m. CT, according to an update on Facebook from the Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management.

The fire held within bulldozer lines overnight with no issues, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. Most of the fire showed low fire behavior and was only creeping and smoldering, the agency wrote in an update on social media platform X.

No structures were damaged, according to the emergency management office.

In addition to conducting “firing operations and mop-up” on Monday, crews worked to secure containment lines ahead of erratic winds that are expected to accompany a cold front that is forecast to move through the area Monday afternoon.

Additionally, crews sought to take advantage of more favorable weather conditions Monday morning to burn an approximately 5-acre unburned area in the center of the fire footprint. A test fire was planned as a safety precaution.

Throughout the operation, support from aircraft was used to support ground operations, the emergency management office said.

Evacuations and road closures were still in effect along Park Road 1C between Alum Creek and Cottletown Road.

There also were evacuations in effect from State Highway 71 at Alum Creek north to Goiter Trace. A shelter was established for displaced residents at the Smithville Recreation Center at 106 Royston St.

Bastrop County Animal Services established a temporary shelter for dogs, cats and other small animals at Mayfest Park in Bastrop. The Bastrop County Agrilife Extension coordinated help for livestock at the park, as well. Animal owners can call 512-549-5160 with questions.

Public information map of the #HudsonFire in Bastrop County as of Nov. 4, 2024. The fire is an estimated 400 acres and 30% contained. #txfire pic.twitter.com/kzOz0lQx8p

— Incident Information - Texas A&M Forest Service (@AllHazardsTFS) November 4, 2024

In addition to local resources, the Texas Division of Emergency Management at the direction of Gov. Greg Abbott deployed more than 90 first responders and over 60 equipment assets to Bastrop County.

“The State of Texas continues to deploy all available resources to protect Texans in Bastrop County from the Hudson Fire,” Abbott said in a statement. “I thank our brave first responders who were quick to arrive on scene to begin firefighting efforts to save lives and remain working around-the-clock to keep their neighbors safe. The safety and well-being of our fellow Texans is our No. 1 priority as this dangerous wildfire persists.”

Abbott urged Texans to regularly monitor wildfire conditions and heed the guidance of local officials and emergency personnel.

The Hudson Fire began east of downtown Bastrop just before 2 p.m. CT Sunday and quickly spread to 50 acres fueled by high winds, officials said. About 60 homes near the fire were evacuated. Of those, about 20 to 30 were directly threatened.

The wildfire eventually grew to an estimated 400 acres as crews worked into the evening to create and improve containment lines. High humidity was cited as helping to slow the spread of the fire.

A video from the forest service showed aircraft dropping water on the fire as smoke billowed Sunday afternoon. Bastrop County emergency officials said additional aircraft were requested and arrived on scene around 4 p.m. CT.

Bastrop is located about 30 miles southeast of Austin. The population of the city is 9,688, according to 2020 U.S. Census data.

More texas wildfires

BASTROP, Texas — Fire crews in Bastrop County continue battling the Hudson fire near Smithville. So far it’s burned an estimated 400 acres between Bastrop State Park and Buescher State Park.

According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, as of 3:44 p.m. Monday, up to 50 percent of the fire has been contained.

“I love the country and everything, but you get the wildfire danger. It's part of it, I guess,” says nearby neighbor Jeff Brister.

Brister lives off of Old Antioch Road, less than 10 minutes away from Hudson Road, where embers from a structure fire turned into a wildfire Sunday evening.

“We got home from church about 2:30 p.m. yesterday, and were very nervous the rest of the day coming back down and checking it out,” he said.

Brister says the view of the fire from his house was very clear.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE| Hudson Fire burns 400 acres in Bastrop County

“A bunch of heavy smoke saw some flames. I went out and kind of scouted around and I drove down Hudson Road, the name of the fire, and saw some very thick smoke,” he said.

The TAMU Forest Services says initially 60 people were evacuated from the path of the fire. Several areas remain evacuated as of Monday evening.

“Evacuations do remain in place for residents that are in between Alum Creek Road and Cottletown Road along Park Road 1C and Go To Your Trace,” said Keri Hines with the Forest Services.

Hines says no homes have been structurally damaged by the flames. She says one of the biggest factors in determining how soon people can return to their homes is the weather.

“Timeline for return to home is greatly dependent on fire activity today,” she said.

Brister says Monday’s windy gusts brought about an uneasy feeling.

“Every time the wind blows, we get nervous, especially in conditions like this, when it's really dry, hadn't had rain forever,” he said.

Brister says in the two decades he’s lived in his home, there have been a handful of fires in the area. It’s got him and his wife playfully thinking.

“We're like, man, what's going on around here? Maybe we should think about moving or something,” he said.

Hines says fire crews will continue working along the bulldozer lines to increase containment of the fire.

A massive wildfire burning in Bastrop County is believed to have been sparked by a nearby structure fire. Keri Hines, a spokesperson for the Texas A&M Forest Service, confirmed this to Austin's KXAN on Monday morning. The active wildfire is now an estimated 400 acres and about 30 percent contained. Dubbed the Hudson Fire, the blaze was initially reported Sunday afternoon is located between Bastrop State Park and Buescher Park.

The area covers the same site of the historic September 2011 Bastrop Complex fire, which is considered the most destructive wildfire in Texas history. It consumed more than 432,000 acres and 1,600 homes. The forest service said the fire is also burning in the "fire scar" of the 2015 Hidden Pines fire, which burned over 4,582 acres and destroyed 64 homes.

The Hudson Fire has resulted in mandatory residential evacuations for nearby neighborhoods. Its rapid spread was driven by strong south winds and dry vegetation, officials with forest service said. However, overnight humidity levels have aided in keeping the fire under control. "The fire held within dozer lines overnight with no issues," the forest service said on X. "Most of the fire is showing low fire behavior with creeping/smoldering. Crews will conduct fire operations and mop-up today."

In response to the fire, Gov. Greg Abbott deployed more than 90 personnel and 60 assets, including air tankers and fire engines. Officials with the forest service told local news outlets they will be providing updates on the containment of the fire and any structural damages Monday afternoon.

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