Massive Llano County subdivision hits roadblock with lack of land
Randy Jenniges presented plans for The Colinas Project to Llano County commissioners on Sept. 11. Jenniges represents design firm Short, Elliott, Hendrickson Inc., which is working alongside developer Ron Slimp to create a 1,500-acre master-planned community south of Kingsland for residents 55 and older. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
After two developers pitched a massive master-planned community to the Llano County Commissioners Court on Sept. 11, the pair was sent a cease-and-desist letter requesting they stop representing any sort of claim or potential use of the land in question. This was confirmed by Colinas Development CEO Ron Slimp, who told DailyTrib.com he had received the letter and obliged the request.
“The project has gone dark until such time that the land is closed,” he said.
Slimp and Randy Jenniges, director of land development for Short, Elliott, Hendrickson Inc., presented The Colinas Project to Llano County commissioners during their recent regular meeting. The two admitted the community was early in the development process — so early, in fact, that they do not own the land.
Proposed plans include about 6,000 condos for residents 55 and older, a hospital, a rodeo arena, and a waterpark as well as a large commercial district with hotels, restaurants, and retail space. The land the developers are eyeing is in Llano County’s Precinct 1, just across Lake LBJ from Kingsland.
After receiving a tip that the landowner was unaware of the project, DailyTrib.com reached out to him. Pete Terpstra, who is from the Houston area, said friends in Llano County informed him of the Sept. 11 presentation and it was the first he had heard of the development.
“We haven’t entered into any kind of contract on the property,” Terpstra said. “But it’s not to say that we never will.”
He acknowledged that his son, Mark Terpstra, who sent the cease-and-desist letter, had a discussion with Slimp at one time about possibly selling the land but was unaware of any progress in the dealings and no letters of intent or earnest money had been given.
The Colinas Project was presented to commissioners this early in the process as an act of good faith, according to Slimp, who said he just wanted to give ample notice to the county.
“I’m very hopeful to work together with everybody involved and get everybody’s mutual satisfaction so that we can pursue the project,” he said. “We want to be the neighbor that you all like.”