‘Wedding capital of Texas’ adding another venue, despite controversy
By Shelby Nickells
Dripping Springs, Texas — Dripping Springs, trademarked the Wedding Capital of Texas, is in discussions with a new wedding venue that is creating controversy among the citizens.
“Commercial structures should be in an area with commercial structures. You shouldn’t plunk one down dead set in the middle of a residential neighborhood,” said Cristian Granucci, a resident of the neighborhood Goldenwood.
On, Feb. 20, Dripping Springs City Council reviewed the plans, staff report and a presentation on the Mark Black wedding venue. The floor was then open for community members to voice their opinions.
“It’s a two-way street folks and it takes all of us to come together and work together,” Mayor Todd Purcell said.
Among these members was Friendship Alliance, a nonprofit organization that helps to preserve the environment of the Texas Hill Country as well as its residents.
“It’s called “Friendship” because we are friends with the environment and the neighbors,” said Carlos Torres-Verdin, UT professor and president of Friendship Alliance. “That means that we foster and promote development consistent with the environment and also consistent with the neighborhoods.”
Mark Black develops real estate which is why he decided to open a wedding venue in Dripping Springs. In the same way that his family brought the popular Terry Black’s barbecue to Austin; he is bringing a new wedding venue to Dripping Springs.
“I wanted to build something and build something nice where everyone could go and enjoy it and it would be a really different experience from what we have,” Black said. “I’m really looking forward to it, letting people experience the most important day of their lives at our place.”
Dripping Springs is known for its weddings. There are about 38 wedding venues in a 17-mile radius according to Sherie Parks, the executive director of Dripping Springs Chamber of Commerce.
“Whenever I saw that there were that many [wedding venues], that’s what made me go to the chamber board and say we need to trademark this,” Parks said.
Public Fire Hazard
The Mark Black wedding venue, Black Ranch, is located at 130 W. Concord Circle. It is next to the neighborhoods of Goldenwood, Goldenwood West and Radiance.
“I am a captain of the Los Angeles City Fire Department. I commute back and forth. I moved to Texas for a reason, for the freedoms that it offers,” Granucci said. “The health and safety of this neighborhood, of these neighborhoods are in peril and there are significant issues that are at hand.”
Hays County has limited fire resources, out of the six stations only two are fully operating at all times. Which is why the venue being developed on a two-lane road could potentially be a public safety hazard. The venue will add an extra 600 people to that area.
“Bastrop was your California style fire,” Granucci said. “All the forces of alignment were there: fuel moisture, humidity, terrain and significant wind. One thousand six hundred and seventy three homes burned to the ground and burned for 36 days. Mark my words this will happen again.”
Impacts to the Environment
Black Ranch sits directly on top of the Edwards Aquifer, a groundwater system that two million people use in Central Texas, is considered environmentally sensitive land. Because of this, Black is only legally allowed to develop 10 percent of the property, according to Friendship Alliance.
“They have to redesign a way to redirect the storm water by doing better filters with filtration systems,” Torres-Verdin said. “They have to do it in such a way that they do not promote pollution.”
When Black starts construction on the property, trees will be removed and the soil will be disturbed by the buildings and the parking lots.
“The design and engineering of the wedding venue did not account properly for the volume of water that will come as a result of peak events of rain,” Torres-Verdin said. “As a consequence of that sediment, it’s going to run off the pavement and eventually make it into the Edwards Aquifer.”
A Neutral Mayor
Despite the concerns, many citizens of Dripping Springs believe there are positive impacts with being the Wedding Capital of Texas. It brings in tourism, revenue for the city and new businesses.
“I love it,” said Pauline Dalli, resident of Highpointe of Dripping Springs. “Having something that we are so specialized for. Weddings are dreamy…perhaps they will build some good hotels and bring in some good restaurants to accommodate.”
The Dripping Springs City Council will be voting on whether to pass the permit for the venue on March 13.
“We do work for y’all whether you live inside the city or outside the city,” Mayor Purcell said. “We are supposed to be responsible to y’all. Y’all have been here and we have a newcomer, but we don’t shut those people out, we haven’t.”
Shelby Nickells is a third-year journalism major at the University of Texas at Austin. Follow her on Twitter @nickellsandimes
