The Lower Colorado River Authority will discontinue a lease fee contract agreement with a homeowners association on Lake Buchanan in light of a public backlash over an impending hike which would have amounted to thousands of dollars per year. Buchanan Lake Village Land Owners Association (BLVLOA) was among at least three homeowners associations on the waterway informed this year about potential increases in their annual lease fees on slivers of LCRA land in their communities. In a letter dated Sept. 30, a representative for the LCRA informed LOA leadership of the arrangement. “In the spirit of cooperation, and to minimize the financial impact to your community, LCRA has decided to provide you with a 30-day notice to end the lease with the Buchanan Lake Village Land Owners Association,” the letter read. “This action will facilitate free public access to Lake Buchanan for both the BLVLOA community and the public for boating, fishing and general recreation. “Importantly, we understand that BLVLOA is currently in conflict with our lease agreement by imposing a fee on public access to the subject boat ramps,” the correspondence continued. “Please note that now and in the future, we require that the BLVLOA does not restrict public use of LCRA land and the lake.”
The LOA's fee on leasing about 1/3-of-an-acre of land owned by the water regulatory entity was set to increase from $800 to $4,500 per year, starting in October.
Along with Buchanan Lake Village, nearby Greenwood Acres and Floyd Acres were notified of impending lease fee increases.
Greenwood Acres HOA fees was slated to increase from $100 to $3,400; and the Floyd Acres HOA would see a rate hike by 10 times the amount, from $100 to $1,000. Word on whether the LCRA chose to go forward with the increase on nearby HOAs is pending.
In July, LCRA officials postponed their decision pending further review after receiving a rash of the complaints, concerns and push back from residents.
According to BLVLOA president Theo Van Eeten, LCRA's decision may be the best possible solution for the Buchanan Lake Village residents.
“They're not going to charge us anymore and it will be open to the public,” he said. “We will remove the signs that read 'pay $5' for parking or to use the ramp.”
The LOA land lease agreement was set to expire in 2032 with with the caveat that every five years, LCRA had the option to increase the annual fee.
LOA officials had charged a $5 boat launch fee for the public (or $45 annual pass) at two concrete boat ramps, currently unusable due to drought conditions.
“We were giving access to the public anyway,” Van Eeten explained.
The next step for Buchanan Lake Village LOA board members involves a workshop scheduled for Oct. 22 to discuss LCRA's decision.
Discussions will include how to continue with the parking arrangement for boat trailers and other vehicles at the LOA's park which is adjacent to the LCRA property where the boat ramps are located.
“We can still possibly charge people to park in the park because it is in our park,” Van Eeten said.
The board is scheduled on on Dec. 6 to have a regular meeting with its membership when potential action could take place.
“Our board members think this all is great,” he said. “Honestly, I don't think a whole lot is going to change.
“LCRA says they will leave the boat ramps open and everyone can use it.”
LOA officials pay approximately $2,000 per year for trash pickup and security at their park, which was previously extended to the ramp, he said.
“We may not have some revenue from (launch fees),” he said. “We have to talk about do we want to continue that (charging for parking at the LOA park).
“We do want to continue the peace and quiet.”
