Court Opinion

ID: 2862968
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-05 23:09:13.157122+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:07:25.067503
License: Public Domain

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

NO. 03-98-00542-CV

City of Austin, Appellant

v.

L.S. Ranch, Ltd.; Circle C Land Corp.; Phoenix Holdings, Ltd.; Eleven Castle Management
Company, Inc.; Ladon/Heilscher, Ltd.; Ladon Corporation, Inc.; James D. Gressett;

Chancellor Resources, Inc.; Slaughter 100, Ltd.; Webb Troup Enterprises,

Inc.; Cal E. Varner; Andrewartha Family Partnership, Ltd.; Weisbart

Cattle Co.; Circle C 72 Subdivision, Ltd., Streetman Homes, Inc.;

Capital Pacific Holdings, L.L.C., Appellees

FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF HAYS COUNTY, 207TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

NO. 97-1048, HONORABLE JACK H. ROBISON, JUDGE PRESIDING

	Appellees L.S. Ranch, Ltd. and Circle C Land Corp. filed a declaratory judgment
action on October 31, 1997, seeking a declaration that their designation, pursuant to section
26.179 of the Texas Water Code, of certain land owned by them as the Bear Water Quality
Protection Zone was valid.  The other appellees intervened, seeking similar declarations with
respect to the Slaughter Water Quality Protection Zone.  The City of Austin opposed the
declaratory judgment actions, arguing that Water Code section 26.179 is unconstitutional or, in
the alternative, that the zones in question were not validly created because appellees failed to
comply with the section's requirements.
	The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the appellees, finding that
section 26.179 is constitutional and that appellees' designations of the Bear and Slaughter Water
Quality Protection Zones were in compliance with the law.  The City of Austin appealed. 
Pursuant to the Texas Supreme Court's decision in FM Properties Operating Company, et al. v.
The City of Austin, No. 98-0685 (June 15, 2000), in which the court struck down Water Code
section 26.179 as an unconstitutional delegation of legislative power to private landowners, we
reverse the judgment of the district court and render judgment in favor of the City of Austin.

 
  
					Jan P. Patterson, Justice
Before Justices Jones, Yeakel and Patterson
Reversed and Rendered
Filed:  June 22, 2000
Do Not Publish

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TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

NO. 03-98-00542-CV

City of Austin, Appellant

v.

L.S. Ranch, Ltd.; Circle C Land Corp.; Phoenix Holdings, Ltd.; Eleven Castle Management
Company, Inc.; Ladon/Heilscher, Ltd.; Ladon Corporation, Inc.; James D. Gressett;

Chancellor Resources, Inc.; Slaughter 100, Ltd.; Webb Troup Enterprises,

Inc.; Cal E. Varner; Andrewartha Family Partnership, Ltd.; Weisbart

Cattle Co.; Circle C 72 Subdivision, Ltd., Streetman Homes, Inc.;

Capital Pacific Holdings, L.L.C., Appellees

FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF HAYS COUNTY, 207TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

NO. 97-1048, HONORABLE JACK H. ROBISON, JUDGE PRESIDING

	Appellees L.S. Ranch, Ltd. and Circle C Land Corp. filed a declaratory judgment
action on October 31, 1997, seeking a declaration that their designation, pursuant to section
26.179 of the Texas Water Code, of certain land owned by them as the Bear Water Quality
Protection Zone was valid.  The other appellees intervened, seeking similar declarations with
respect to the Slaughter Water Quality Protection Zone.  The City of Austin opposed the
declaratory judgment actions, arguing that Water Code section 26.179 is unconstitutional or, in
the alternative, that the zones in question were not validly created because appellees failed to
comply with the section's requirements.
	The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the appellees, finding that
section 26.179 is constitutional and that appellees' designations of the Bear and Slaughter Water
Quality Protection Zones were in compliance with the law.  The City of Austin appealed. 
Pursuant to the Texas Supreme Court's decision in FM Properties Operating Company, et al. v.
The City of Austin, No. 98-0685 (June 15, 2000), in which the court struck down Water Code
section 26.179 as an unconstitutional delegation of legislative power to private landowners, we
reverse the judgment of the district court and render judgment in favor of the City of Austin.

 
  
					Jan P. Patterson, Justice
Before Justices Jones, Yeakel and Patterson
Reversed and Rendered
File