La Ventana - Driftwood questions

[LongTimeAustinite]

I think the school boundary lines divide La Ventana between Hays and Dripping Springs. You might want to check into that.

Water is an issue out there. You need to go deep. That will cost you between $25 to $30 a foot turnkey.

[IC_deLight]

Originally Posted by LongTimeAustinite

I think the school boundary lines divide La Ventana between Hays and Dripping Springs. You might want to check into that.

La Ventana is overlaid by 3 school districts:

• Dripping Springs Independent School District (in La Ventana West - Cactus Flower, Nicholas Lane)
• Hays Consolidated Independent School District (the "main subdivision" - La Ventana Parkway, Lone Spur, Trailmaster, Island Oaks, Chalk Bluff, Stable, Ranchers Club Lane, Hidden Canyon Cove, Covered Wagon)
• Wimberley Independent School District (in the Preserve - Covered Bridge, Emerald Point Cove)

Water is an issue out there. You need to go deep. That will cost you between $25 to $30 a foot turnkey.

There are only about 10 lots out of over 450 that can have a well - so "going deep" isn't an option for 98% of the property owners. The property owners that have wells didn't have to "go deep".

Residential wells are not prohibited but the personalities drawn to the HOA will do everything they can to stop other owners from having a well. When they tried to stop a few homeowners, it ultimately cost the HOA (and developer) well over $1 million. The HOA and developer lost and had to pay large attorney fees to the prevailing property owners. However, the board has historically had a short memory and large ego. The result is that the only lots that have an enforceable right to drill wells are those that belonged to parties to the litigation. Kinda funny that board members shot themselves in the foot.

The La Ventana Water Company is the water company that provides water to the subdivision.

Along with the enforceable right to install a well, the owners of such lots also have an enforceable right to install buried propane tanks.

There is actually quite a bit of construction going on in the subdivision.

[hts]

Thanks IC. I thought this was the community divided (supported?) by 3 different school systems. With 3 kids in grade school, that was a deal breaker for me. No bueno.

[IC_deLight]

Originally Posted by hts

Thanks IC. I thought this was the community divided (supported?) by 3 different school systems. With 3 kids in grade school, that was a deal breaker for me. No bueno.

I don't refer to La Ventana as a "community".
It is simply a subdivision.

Out of curiosity, why is it a "deal breaker" regardless of kid status? (No, I am not in real estate sales nor trying to sell or purchase any property)

Was it perhaps that the lot you wanted wasn't in the school district you wanted or maybe that you couldn't find a lot/house you liked in the school district you wanted?

Some folks are really into a particular school district and that is perfectly understandable. Your complaint seems to be that "the whole subdivision isn't in one school district". It's almost like you could care less about which school district - only that all property should be in the same school district?

Not questioning the decision at all, it's just that the explanation seemed to be a non sequitur...

[hts]

Why do you not consider an MPC/subdivision to be a community? Odd...

First of all, I'm partial to DSISD. Second of all, moving to Austin from out of state, we're looking to buy in a community (or subdivision if you prefer) where the entire family can meet new people and easily make friends, and it seems to me that sharing a school system would facilitate that objective.

We've subsequently moved on to looking at other subdivisions within DSISD.

[IC_deLight]

Originally Posted by hts

Why do you not consider an MPC/subdivision to be a community? Odd...

Not really. I don't view people living in a subdivision as an insular tribe and wouldn't want to be classified as being part of such a tribe. I find it odd that people seem to draw lines around a subdivision and call it a "community".

First of all, I'm partial to DSISD.

Understood! I share your partiality. Go Tigers!

Second of all, moving to Austin from out of state, we're looking to buy in a community (or subdivision if you prefer) where the entire family can meet new people and easily make friends, and it seems to me that sharing a school system would facilitate that objective.

Sure. You would also meet families that aren't in the same school district. In addition there are families that home school and families that have their kids in private school - just like in many other subdivisions. There are also organizations such as Dripping Springs Youth Soccer Association, the Dripping Springs Library, and many other places to meet other families with kids.

We've subsequently moved on to looking at other subdivisions within DSISD.

Don't limit your "community" to the subdivision you live in!
The DSISD school district is great and although it is growing by leaps and bounds, the administration seems to be managing it very well.
Hope you find something you like.

[Golden_Spirit]

I'm interested in buying a property or land on La Ventana but I've been hearing about some past issues with water, propane, HOA litigation. Can someone update me on what's going on there? Any other pros and cons? Other 1 acre places I should consider in Dripping/Driftwood/Wimberley area? I have small kids, so definitely looking to build a community. Do they have many kids there? Thank you so much!

[SergeL]

Originally Posted by jlgaustin

We looked in Rim Rock but didn't want to get raped every month by the additional taxes for water.

I think you are misinformed, there are no additional monthly taxes on the water in Rim Rock. You pay what you use, standard WTCPUA rates apply https://www.wtcpua.org/. You will have septic system on site, and propane on the property.

[SergeL]

If you have kids, Rim Rock is a better place, it's assigned to Sycamore Springs Elementary and Middle, and brand new elementary schools getting built nearby, all part of DSISD. Rim Rock has easy access to Austin as well.