During a press conference held June 1st 2010, the Copperas Cove Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) announced that the land exchange with Fort Hood is complete.
The approximately 125-acre property is situated on the south side of Highway 190, at the southeast entry of Copperas Cove, near Walmart. In exchange, Fort Hood received nearly 110 acres of land located at Clear Creek and Ammo Road along Mohawk Drive at West Fort Hood. Acquiring this piece of land assists Fort Hood in the future encroachment adjacent to Robert Gray Army Airfield.
Copperas Cove has now completed three land exchanges with our neighbor, Fort Hood. The first was done by the Copperas Cove Industrial Foundation in 1988, which provided nearly 100 acres for Walmart and other retail development. The second was completed in 2003, which increased Copperas Cove’s viable commercial property inventory by almost 110 acres on the east end of the community and created what is now called the Copperas Cove Industrial Park. This latest land exchange gives Copperas Cove approximately 125 acres of property that the Copperas Cove EDC will control.
“Having control of this property allows us to control our own destiny,” said Polo Enriquez, CCEDC Executive Director. “We can determine our future — bring in desired retail and attract primary jobs to create an economy that will enhance the quality of life we enjoy here.”
“Viable, commercial property is what has been needed in Copperas Cove in order for it to rise to the potential we all know it can achieve,” said Dan Yancey, Chairman, CCEDC Board of Directors. “New development will also increase sales and property tax receipts, offsetting the residential property owner’s tax burden in Copperas Cove.”
Bill Parry, Executive Director of the Heart of Texas Defense Alliance (HOTDA), said “The Heart of Texas Defense Alliance is pleased to have assisted Fort Hood, and the City of Copperas Cove and the Copperas Cove Economic Development Corporation in the final steps of facilitating this land exchange. The rationale for a standing organization like HOTDA is to find opportunities that benefit Fort Hood’s capabilities that are in the interests of the Central Texas region. This land exchange sets the conditions for preventing encroachment of Robert Gray Army Airfield — one of Fort Hood’s most significant capabilities, relieving traffic congestion on U.S. 190, and improving the Central Texas “quality of place” by providing additional retailers and economic development in Copperas Cove. This project is clearly a “win-win” for the Central Texas Region and we are glad to have been a part of making this agreement a reality.”
Fred Chavez, treasurer of the CCEDC Board of Directors said, “We sincerely appreciate the hard work of the staff of the Fort Hood Department of Public Works and especially John Burrow. It’s been a pleasure working with them to secure the land Fort Hood desires for an encroachment buffer for Robert Gray Army Airfield.”
Fort Hood has always been a great supporter of Copperas Cove and Central Texas. This latest land exchange began in February 2005 and the following month, Fort Hood provided a list of properties that were judged to be beneficial to the Army. In January 2007, Copperas Cove received confirmation of concept approval from the Department of the Army and purchased the West Fort Hood property to exchange with Fort Hood. In February 2008, the land exchange was authorized under the 2008 Defense Appropriations Bill and in December 2008, the environmental site assessment was complete. Then the process of Department of the Army approval began, finishing with the exchange of deeds in May 2010.
“The list of people that assisted us with this land exchange with Fort Hood is very long,” said Yancey. “We approached the great folks at Fort Hood, who had an interest in creating a buffer around the airfield. One of the properties identified was owned by our neighbor, Donlie McMullin, who worked with us to secure an option on the land with an open-ended closing deadline to accommodate the time needed for the land exchange to be complete. Retired General Paul Funk, former commander at Fort Hood, provided critical guidance and expertise during this process. During this time, we realized we needed to realign the eastern portion of the Reliever Route to accommodate potential acquisition of the new property. TxDOT was gracious enough to do that for us... and then we asked them to realign it where it meets the southern portion of the route to maximize the highest, best use of the property and they did it again. Yet another partner in this effort is Bill Parry and the Heart of Texas Defense Alliance. He worked behind the scenes to help move the project along. Also working on our behalf was Congressman Carter and his staff. This massive effort required a lot of partners and we’re grateful to all of them.”
Project Milestones
- February 2005 Copperas Cove Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) contacts Fort Hood to discuss possibility of land exchange
- March 2005 Fort Hood provides list of properties they’d like to acquire
- November 2005 CCEDC secures option on West Fort Hood property for exchange
- December 2005 Land Exchange authorized by local Fort Hood authorities; forwarded to regional officials in San Antonio to begin Department of the Army approval process
- January 2007 Copperas Cove receives written confirmation of concept approval from Department of the Army
- February 2007 CCEDC approves purchase of West Fort Hood property
- July 2007 CCEDC contracts with Fort Worth Corps of Engineers to provide environmental, survey and appraisal services
- February 2008 Congress approves 2008 defense authorization bill, containing language permitting Fort Hood to convey up to 200 acres of land on the east end of Copperas Cove “for the purpose of permitting the City to improve arterial transportation routes in the community.”
- December 2008 Environmental site assessment complete, with no issues to impede the exchange of property between Copperas Cove and Fort Hood
Department of the Army approval process:
1. IMCOM-West, San Antonio, Texas
2. IMA (Installation Management Agency) Headquarters, Virginia
3. ACSIM - Assistant Chief of Staff Installations and Management
4. Corps of Engineers Headquarters
5. Southwest Division, Dallas
6. Corps of Engineers Headquarters - Fort Worth
7. Secretary of the Army
8. Corps of Engineers Headquarters - Fort Worth - April 2010 Department of the Army signs deed to transfer land to Copperas Cove
- May 2010 Land Exchange Complete
Date: June 1, 2010
Contacts: Monica Hull, Marketing Director, Copperas Cove EDC - tel 254-547-7874, ext. 2
Dan Yancey, Chairman, CCEDC Board of Directors – tel 254-554-4334