For those who have not had the opportunity to review the Lake Travis View from last week, below is the Lake Travis View article regarding the Covert Dealership and the 50 citizen comments as of today.
Bee Cave residents mobilize against Covert dealership
Sunday, January 13, 2013 | Rachel Rice | 126
Far from backing down, some Bee Cave residents are making noise about the Covert car dealership that is poised to situate itself just outside the city’s borders, but next to Falconhead West.
Though several Bee Cave City councilmembers have made it clear they are not pleased with the dealership’s proximity to the city’s borders, they acknowledge there’s little they can do to prevent it locating in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.
“If they send us a plan consistent with what ordinances allow and is not a safety issue, I don’t think we can do very much at all,” mayor pro Tem Jack McCool said. “… Texas favors landowners, and in the ETJ we can’t get them to comply with anything.”
Homestead resident Candice House said she greatly empathizes with Falconhead West residents.
“How would you like to have a huge car dealership and a three-story garage right by your house?” House said. “I think it’s a terrible thing for the Falconhead West people to have that essentially in their backyard. Not to mention, it’s a huge safety issue for anybody who lives where they travel along [Texas] 71 West.”
House and other residents have voiced their displeasure about the dealership to City Council for many reasons.
“We think it’s a safety issue, and it’s a quality of life issue, with the lights and the noise and the environmental impact,” House said. “It’s a terrible location, and if they wanted to be good stewards, really and truly good citizens, they should consider that.”
Some groups of residents are trying to take matters into their own hands. Ben King, a resident of Falconhead West, is co-heading a resident action committee speaking out against the dealership.
“I’ve reached out and spoken to Kenny Covert personally, so we’ve gone to the top of the partnership there,” King said. “We’ve been very active on their Facebook pages. They’ve been deleting our posts and blocking us. The Coverts are definitely aware we’re out there, and we’re not happy about [the proposed dealership].”
At this point, resident groups are considering action beyond words, King said.
“We’re consulting with a PR firm since that delivers a widespread message — that’s one of the biggest things,” he said. “We’re also investigating legal action.”
King added that a petition to get the dealership away from Bee Cave has several hundred signatures. He said residents have made multiple attempts to sit down and talk with the Coverts, but nothing has come of their requests.
The Coverts declined to make a statement for this article. Councilman Bob Dorsett said that communication between the Coverts and the city has been scant.
“Best I can tell they’re not communicating with homeowners either,” Dorsett said. “I think they’re hoping everyone will just forget about it. Those neighbors are pretty organized; they’ve got committees, and they’re not giving up without a fight.”
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Comments
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Marcus B. says:
January 17, 2013 at 10:07 am
Dear Covert’s,
I urge you to consider what it means to have ‘Corporate Responsibility’. It’s about People, Plant, and Profits. Aiming to just maximize one (Profits) over everything else will leave little to be proud of for the next generations to come. Safety concerns for Hwy 71 traffic by itself should make you pause.
Kim says:
January 17, 2013 at 10:28 am
It is very irresponsible to build a dealership next to a quiet family oriented neighborhood full of kids. It would be major safety hazard for the kids to be outside playing or riding bikes with people test driving cars and trucks on our streets. Please consider doing the right thing for the families of this community and move the dealership to a more appropriate place!
Jim Williams says:
January 17, 2013 at 10:30 am
Besides all the many comments previously stated, which I agree with, I have a very difficult time believing General Motors would permit their good name to be tarnished by a greed driven, non-caring dealership. This total disregard by Covert for public opinion and not addressing major safety and traffic concerns is not promoting GM’s positive business plans and goals but will most likely drive potential customers from purchasing their products. Cadillac is GM’s highest quality product and this non-caring family dealership will have a major adverse effect not only on Cadillac but also on General Motors. I believe in private enterprise, however, when the actions have adverse effects on the public, the community, and on corporate business objectives, these enterprises must be stopped.
Char says:
January 17, 2013 at 10:45 am
Don’t be the business that starts a trend to ruin a neighborhood and a lifestyle that all of us work so hard to keep. one dealership will lead to more and soon we will have the “hill country motor mile”. we know where your dealerships are and can get to them for future purchases – no need for them to be on our front door step. maintain your integrity, be in the business for the good of people not to line your pockets and hurt our investments.
Carol Blackwell says:
January 17, 2013 at 11:41 am
We live in Rough Hollow and are strongly against the Covert car lot! We moved to the Hill Country to enjoy the peace and quiet – not to have a car dealership on Hwy 71 that backs up to neighborhoods. It will de-value everyone’s property, make a huge eyesore and probably kill a few people in traffic accidents.
The Covert family doesn’t seem to be bothered by any of this. I would be embarrassed to call myself a “family business”. This is not how family businesses run!
We don’t want Covert in Bee Cave and will fight with everything we have to stop you!
Coverts: you are buying yourself the worst, free advertising in the world.
We don’t want you here!!!
janet says:
January 17, 2013 at 12:03 pm
I hope Covert listens and takes their business elsewhere – this is not a good location at all. I really don’t want to think about the number of accidents that will occur in that spot – it’s ridiculous to even think of putting it there! I’m also concerned about their customers test driving thru our neighborhood – we don’t need that either. We have lots of pedestrian traffic with cyclists and walkers and children playing. It’s sad because normally I try to support local businesses when I purchase, but not in this case.
Laura Mian says:
January 17, 2013 at 12:08 pm
We built a home in Falconhead West in hopes that this would be a wonderful place to start a family. We value the natural beauty of the greeenbelt we back up to, the stars at night and the quiet tranquility of the neighborhood. I am not excited about a dealership with blaring lights, loud speakers and test drives through our quiet neighborhood. Is is unfair to the families that will be less than 100 feet from the dealership. Their property valued will go down from the visual and auditory nightmare and the property value decline will trickle thought the neighborhood. If they choose to sell their homes before the dealership is built, they will have to disclose that the dealership is going to be built, and who want to buy the home them. If we choose to more if the dealership is built, we will all have to take huge losses on our homes. Covert is a family business, glad they are not part of my family, I guarantee I will never but from a covert.
T Mian says:
January 17, 2013 at 12:09 pm
Covert does not seem to value to beauty of Falconhead West or the Hill Country in general if they are willing to put such an eyesore in the middle of such a beautiful community. This along with safety and traffic concerns you would hope would be enough for Covert to not even consider this location. The new and old generation of the Coverts, however, seem to care about nothing except their bottom line. The Covert name will be synonymous with Greed in the Lake Travis lexicon hence forth. Hopefully they will put some more thought into what they are doing and walk away…
Jack says:
January 17, 2013 at 12:43 pm
I must say that I am completely dismayed with the thought that the Covert family feels that it is a good idea to put a car dealership next to a residential neighborhood. It’s very curious that after being told by the City of Bee Cave that they could not build in the City and were not wanted in the area, Covert found a piece of land to build just outside the City’s reach. There are a number of reasons that this is a colossally bad idea. To begin with, there are a number of significant safety issues. There are no turn lanes, acceleration/deceleration lanes on this section of Highway 71, and the land is situated next to a rise and a curve. The road has been recognized as hazardous by public officials, and while corrective measures are planned, they are still way off from being done. Adding additional car, tractor trailer and fuel trucks to this mix could well be disastrous. In addition, the Central Texas area is experiencing prolonged drought conditions. We are not too far removed from the major wildfires in Spicewood, Steiner Ranch, and Bastrop. Adding a substantial fuel tank, along with an inventory of vehicles with their own fuel could end with unthinkable consequences. With the proposed dealership virtually at the mouth of Falconhead West, it would seem that we are destined to be subjected to countless test drives through the neighborhood. As has been stated numerous times, there are a lot of kids and adults that play, ride their bikes, walk their pets on these streets, which adds to the safety concerns.
Car dealerships tend to be lit-up like a Christmas tree on steroids, and the noise from the intercom and service bays will ruin the quiet natural habitat of the hill country area, and are counter to the dark sky and sound ordinances that have been adopted in surrounding communities. The impact of this proposed dealership on the quality of life and home values throughout the neighborhood (in particular for those homes that abut the land chosen by Covert) will be significant.
The fact that the Coverts chose a location where they would have minimal restrictions, so close to a family neighborhood, and have had little communication with local officials seems to indicate that they are not demonstrating that they are “family oriented, or a good member of the community” as they profess to be.
To the Covert family, please understand we’re not going away and we will do everything we can to fight this. Falconhead West and surrounding communities are asking you to reconsider and move this to a more suitable location. We are not anti-development, we are for responsible development.
Kate S says:
January 17, 2013 at 12:58 pm
We are long term customers of GM, and we are currently in the market for a new car. We will not support a dealership or a manufacturer who has such disregard for the community that they want to sell in.
Joyee says:
January 17, 2013 at 1:15 pm
I can see why the Coverts would want to locate their dealership in Bee Cave – it is right in the heart of the very affluent Lake Travis community. However, I’m surprised Covert and Cadillac would want to place a car dealership across from a high-end neighborhood such as Falcon Head West especially since the Coverts are strong supports of communities and their needs. To build a dealership so near an expensive neighborhood is very inconsiderate and associates a negative thought in one’s mind toward both owners. Though car dealerships are necessary and desired, they rather hurt the property value of high-end neighborhoods as no one wants to live so near car dealerships unless they have no other choice. I hope the Coverts will reconsider and chose a more suitable location.
Thomas Blackwell says:
January 17, 2013 at 1:18 pm
I object to the Covert family plan to build a car dealership right next to an existing residential neighborhood. This roadway already has significant safety concerns as Highway 71 does not have appropriate traffic controls for this type of business. Please talk with Tx DOT, John Hurt, Regional Mgr about the traffic volume and the years of traffic accidents in this area. He has worked diligently to catch up to the growth of the area. But those plans have been based on residential and light commercial use. A Cover car delaership will increase the traffic volume by the tens of thousands on a weekly basis.
In addition, they will bring light and noise pollution with them. If Covert is a family oriented business, they will not move forward over the objections of the community.”
heather says:
January 17, 2013 at 1:21 pm
Covert, please reconsider building a car dealership near the entrance to Falconhead West. Please understand that most of us bought out here to get away from the traffic and congestion. We wanted views and a peaceful safe neighborhood to live and let our kids play. Please think about if you would want a big car dealership at the entrance to your neighborhood and the negative effect you will have on our community. Thank you.
Andrew C. says:
January 17, 2013 at 1:22 pm
As a Falconhead West resident, I am just sick about having a car dealership so close to where my family lives and my children play. As a resident of the Texas Hill Country I am saddened that in the midst of such beauty, there will be a cookie cutter car dealership with a parking lot and 3 story garage full of cars. Not to mention the noise pollution, sound pollution and the deadly traffic accidents that will happen if this business is permitted to open. This is not the place for the Covert dealership.
Anne says:
January 17, 2013 at 1:25 pm
I object to the Covert plan to build a car dealership in Bee Cave. They are exploiting a zoning loophole to build in an inappropriate location. There are significant safety concerns as Highway 71 does not have appropriate traffic controls for this type of business. I am also concerned that our neighborhood will be used to “test drive” vehicles and am worried about the safety of our young children. Thank you
Suzanne says:
January 17, 2013 at 1:26 pm
It’s not just bee cave residents who have issue with this. We live in most NW part of Travis county but travel this stretch of highway four times a day. This will not only aide in our decision to move away from our property for concern over our daughters safety (we have very limited Travis County Sheriff patrols here as it is and I already fear for my daughter’s life everyday as I get run over for trying to go somewhere in the neighborhood of the speed limit. We have a large family that generally buy cars every three years. None will be Covert. This is a promise. We’ve already had 2 near misses that would have certainly killed my six year old daughter. This is irresponsible. I wish the developers of Falconhead West had purchased this land and had some foresight.
Shirley Fuller says:
January 17, 2013 at 1:32 pm
With so many negatives clearly expressed to the Coverts: safety issues, lights, noise, environmental impact greatly affecting quality of life for nearby residents, it’s unconscionable that a business that wants to be good, family friendly stewards and good citizens would even think of putting a dealership in this location.
Richard and Connie Gambatese says:
January 17, 2013 at 1:39 pm
My wife, Connie , and I have lived in Falconhead West for over three years. We chose this location due to its natural surroundings that offered a quiet environment along with wonderful views and an extensive greenbelt.
We now are very dismayed to learn that there are plans for Covert Motors to build a large one and possibly two auto dealerships in a 23 acre parcel of land on highway 71 near the entrance to Falconhead West. This parcel of land is designated an ETJ or Extra Territorial Jurisdiction which means that it is not subject to most of the zoning requirements of the City of Bee Cave.
This parcel of land is certainly not appropriate for an auto dealership. Its in a rural area and not in a commercial area surrounded by other businesses.
The location on highway 71, which is a four lane highway, is quite dangerous as there is no left turn lane and the speed limit is 60 miles per hour. East bound vehicles would have to stop in the passing lane to make a left turn across two west bound lanes of traffic into this proposed dealership. This would create a major hazard for vehicles traveling in both directions. It would be an additional concern for the many commercial vehicles, e.g., car haulers, 18 wheelers that would be driving to the proposed dealership. It would also be a hazard for cars making a left turn east out of the dealership.
The proposed dealership would back up to a number of homes in Falconhead West. The noise and high density lighting would negatively impact their “quality of life” not to mention the property values of these homes as well as other homes in the subdivision.
So, Connie and I hope that the owners of Covert Motors will listen to the concerns of the residents of Falconhead West and other residents in the area and reconsider their intentions to build on this particular parcel. They should choose another location that would be far more appropriate for their business.
Richard and Connie Gambatese
4636 Mont Blanc Drive in Falconhead West
Cami says:
January 17, 2013 at 1:46 pm
As residents of Falconhead West we completely oppose a car dealership in OUR neighborhood. The objections are as follow:
1) Access in and out of the dealership will be extremely dangerous thus diverting the traffic through our nice quiet neighborhood, for truck turnaround, and test driving. Turning left onto HWY 71 is a dangerous proposition.
2) Currently there is no turn lane for a swim center right next to this proposed dealership, and this has caused numerous accidents but at least they are quiet neighbors, no loud speakers, no trucks in and out and no multi level parking garage in our backyard!
3) Air quality impact as well as noise pollution
3) Unsightly building and parking garage right up to the backyard of some of our neighbors
We did not buy in a Hill Country subdivision to be encroached by a car dealership, Covert has taken advantage of a loophole purchasing the property at a bargain, and took no consideration of the impact to the Falconhead West neighborhood and their residents.
We have never seen a car dealership built so close to a neighborhood, they are usually close to freeways and on access roads. We will never consider Covert as a good neighbor and will tell everyone we can about this and hopefully influence them to take their business to other dealerships.
We will fight this with every means available to us. We will continue to make noise and bring to light all the concerns and issues associated with this plan.
Linda W. says:
January 17, 2013 at 1:47 pm
Why would business owners offend the very customers they hope to serve? Wouldn’t the Coverts want to be able to relax in their own back yards? The residents of Falconhead West certainly do. Constructing a car dealership adjacent to this community would impact quality of life with blaring pneumatic power tools, car alarms and loud speakers, as well as light glaring into homes. Are the Coverts willing to deal with daily complaints from their neighbors? A bad neighbor is one that has no consideration for the rest of the community. I ask the Coverts to withdraw their plans and move to a location suited for their dealership(s).
Lisa H. says:
January 17, 2013 at 2:12 pm
Lisa H.
We moved to Falconhead West three years ago. We assessed other neighborhoods and decided on this development due the beauty and quiet nature of the area. Had it been brought to our attention that a large dealership ,regardless of the brand, would be just outside our development we would not have decided on this area. I hope that Covert will take into consideration the negative economic impact building in this are will have on the homeowners in this area if they go through with the current plans. We hope that you will reconsider you decision to build in this area.
Jillian Perkins says:
January 17, 2013 at 2:18 pm
This is the wrong location for a car dealership. The land abuts a residential neighborhood, another residential neighborhood is planned directly across Hwy 71 and it is also the intersection of the school bus depot. I doubt it would be a wise expansion of the Covert business as any increase in local demand can be covered by their existing dealerships. Hwy 71 is not a major highway with access roads like I-35 or Hwy 183 where other dealerships are located. It would be a shame if Covert does not realize that it would be a poor business decision to build at this proposed site.
Jason says:
January 17, 2013 at 2:35 pm
As a family considering a move to Bee Cave we are encouraged to hear how the residents of Falcon Head West are fighting this. This problem seems like something you would find in a place WITHOUT zoning laws. Aren’t the zoning laws supposed to protect owners of real property from this very situation? If the law is not serving its purpose then it should be changed!
Casie Rodriguez says:
January 17, 2013 at 2:38 pm
My family has purchased 2 vehicles from Covert and I am very upset that they are planning on opening a dealership in this location. I object to the Covert plan to build a car dealership right next to an existing residential neighborhood in Bee Cave. They are exploiting a zoning loophole to build in an inappropriate location. There are significant safety concerns as Highway 71 does not have appropriate traffic controls for this type of business. In addition, they will bring light and noise pollution with them. If Covert is a family oriented business, they will not move forward over the objections of the community.
lkatebay says:
January 17, 2013 at 2:44 pm
“I object to the Covert plan to build a car dealership right next to an existing residential neighborhood in Bee Cave. They are exploiting a zoning loophole to build in an inappropriate location. There are significant safety concerns as Highway 71 does not have appropriate traffic controls for this type of business. In addition, they will bring light and noise pollution with them. If Covert is a family oriented business, they will not move forward over the objections of the community.” On another note, when I buy my next car, I will gladly drive down to I35 and visit the dealerships there, since I am used to driving to dealerships that are out of my immediate area.
Ignacio C. says:
January 17, 2013 at 3:40 pm
The safety issue is my main concern about the placement of this dealership. And not only accidents on highway 71, but I also think about all the kids playing outside and riding their bikes. People will drive and test cars in the Falconhead West neighborhood because it is immediately adjacent and provides calm roads to test the cars, and the dealership does not have any control about how potential buyers may drive to test the cars, increasing the likelihood of an accident.
I want a safe environment for all the kids in the Falconhead West neighborhood.
Christy Cook says:
January 17, 2013 at 4:17 pm
For all the reasons listed above, the Covert’s should seriously consider not putting a dealership in the middle of a community that would not purchase vehicles from them. Whenever I walk by the Covert automobiles “displayed” at the Hill Country Galleria, it makes me want to stop shopping there. It’s not only the Covert brand that I dislike anymore. I even don’t want to support those companies that have anything to do with the Coverts. If I was in charge of the Hill Country Galleria, I’d think twice about taking any advertising dollars from them. The Coverts are forever going to tarnish their brand. I think any car company, shopping mall or anyone else publicly doing business with them should consider eliminating their relationship with the Covert’s.
Angie says:
January 17, 2013 at 4:19 pm
I am absolutely opposed to Covert invading the hill country around our serene and idyllic neighborhood. Besides the obvious aesthetic and financial concerns, I am mortified to think of the dangers that lie in wait. I have three young children who I transport in and out of Falconhead West several times a day via the 71 entrance. It is already such an unsafe stretch of road that I avoid it many times!! I cannot imagine the increased congestion and accidents that will inevitably occur as a direct result of this dealership going in. Come on! Think about the children and the people who love them… Stop thinking about money and selling cars!
Sheila Capewell says:
January 17, 2013 at 4:30 pm
I also object to the Covert plan to build a car dealership right next to an existing residential neighborhood in Bee Cave. I am not a resident of Falconhead West but this concerns us all in the Lake Travis area. There are significant safety concerns as Highway 71 does not have appropriate traffic controls for this type of business and accidents are bound to happen. Then there is the issue of light and noise pollution. If indeed Covert is a family oriented business, they will not move forward but will listen to the objections of the community that they hope to serve.”
Valerie says:
January 17, 2013 at 5:21 pm
“I object to the Covert plan to build a car dealership right next to an existing residential neighborhood in Bee Cave. They are exploiting a zoning loophole to build in an inappropriate location. There are significant safety concerns as Highway 71 does not have appropriate traffic controls for this type of business. In addition, they will bring light and noise pollution with them. If Covert is a family oriented business, they will not move forward over the objections of the community.”
Robin H. says:
January 17, 2013 at 6:24 pm
Covert please consider the wishes of the community you have purchased land in. We do not want a business which will create safety issues and decrease the value of the real estate in this area. Please reconsider building your dealership in our backyard! How would you feel about your dealership being in your background?
Jen F says:
January 17, 2013 at 6:34 pm
The proposed Covert dealership in Bee Cave is not wanted or welcome!
The added light, noise and traffic this business would bring to the hill country
is an atrocity! The heavier traffic and unsafe road conditions are the biggest
concern of all!!! There’s already been too many accidents on this stretch of hwy 71.
This is not a family oriented business as they profess in their advertisements.
Lauren S says:
January 17, 2013 at 6:46 pm
Covert is exploiting a zoning loophole to build in a location that is not appropriate for a car dealership. Highway 71 is a very dangerous highway, and a car dealership will make it even more dangerous for the residents of Bee Cave and anyone traveling along this highway. In addition, the light and noise from the dealership will ruin the hill country atmosphere the residents of Bee Cave currently enjoy. Covert needs to find a more appropriate location for their car dealership.
Brad B says:
January 17, 2013 at 7:21 pm
Covert Auto Group/Family:
If a car dealership such as you are attempting to back door in our community is such a great business decision, why aren’t you building it inside your community and your neighborhood development?
Bee Cave City council stated that no dealerships were part of the master plan for this community. They are not singling out Covert as “no” dealerships are welcome in our community. Instead of being a community friendly steward, you find a way to backdoor your plans versus finding a more appropriate and community conscious site.
I’ve heard your commercials and how you are customer focused, community conscious and family friendly… Please feel free to explain to all concerned how your actions are any of the above.
Your forcing your way into a community that clearly does not welcome you, putting a mega dealership on a busy and often dangerous section of 71, that will put your customers and employees at risk, showing zero regard for the Falconhead West and Falconhead neighborhoods that will suffer your test drives, car carriers cutting through the neighborhood, noise pollution, lighting pollution, hazardous waste, water polluted runoff, lack of safety for citizens, the negative list goes on and on…
If I were planning to site a business in a particular area, business 101 states to do it in such a way that you are a welcome addition, so that the business will thrive and be a good community citizen. Not seeing “good community citizen” as any part of this business decision. The Covert Family is moving full steam ahead knowing and clearly NOT caring that they are going to be an unwelcome addition to the hill country community.
It is also hard to imagine how you come up with a perceived profitable business model, to knowingly site your business on a busy and dangerous stretch of highway 71. Guessing you really don’t care that much about your customer or employee safety and well fare as you lead people to believe.
I sincerely hope that someone in the Covert family/organization has some real business and community advocacy sense, and will convince the Covert Auto Group to relocate to a more appropriate community friendly site.
The idea that steam rolling this community is sound and will work to their advantage and bottom line is a fool’s errand at best. The community at large is against this dealership development. Unless the Coverts no longer care for their good family name and legacy in the area, they are making a very serious miscalculation of these communities resolve to stop this horrendous development.
Covert Family – do the right thing, sell that parcel for a profit if you have already purchased it or back out of buying the parcel, so a more appropriate community centered business can grow and add value here in the Hill Country. Plant your flag in an area that will welcome your type of business and salvage your Covert name and reputation.
Connie says:
January 17, 2013 at 7:23 pm
” object to the Covert plan to build a car dealership right next to an existing residential neighborhood in Bee Cave. They are exploiting a zoning loophole to build in an inappropriate location. There are significant safety concerns as Highway 71 does not have appropriate traffic controls for this type of business. In addition, they will bring light and noise pollution with them. If Covert is a family oriented business, they will not move forward over the objections of the community.
Michelle says:
January 17, 2013 at 7:32 pm
What is Covert thinking? You are going to
Build your dealership right next door
to homes in the hill country. !!!!
Lighting, noise and traffic !!
Need to think about what you are doing.
Maybe you should put your new
Dealership in your own backyard.
Melissa Clark says:
January 17, 2013 at 7:55 pm
We moved out to the hill country for the beautiful views, not a concrete car dealership! It makes me sick to think that the reason we moved out here will be replaced with something so unappealing!!!!!! Who would want a car dealership in their back yard, or their neighborhood? I ask you, would you appreciate it if it were your neighborhood? What would your concerns be? Those questions should help make your decision to reconsider your location!
grishw1 says:
January 17, 2013 at 8:09 pm
I am not sure how this was not zoned appropriately to begin with, but a dealership basically in the middle a rural sub division would be a disaster. Many of us paid extra money for hill country views and did not sign up to have a dealership in our backyard.
MaiK says:
January 17, 2013 at 8:46 pm
Dear Mr. Covert, I have never met any of you but your reputation has preceded you. Just because you have a right to do something (open your business) doesn’t mean that you should do it especially at someone else’s expense (Falconhead West neighborhood in particular, Hill Country in general). You may win the legal battle to open your shop but the public can vote with their feet and their pocket books. If you insist on opening your door over our objections, we promise you will not sell one car to the local. Let’s see what it takes to shut down a (lousy) dealership.
Andrew says:
January 17, 2013 at 8:56 pm
We moved to the Hill Country @ Falconhead West for a calm, peaceful , safe place to raise our children. The plans for the dealership directly threaten that. Besides being the wrong area to place the dealership (right next to the entrance to the neighborhood), this will cause both safety and traffic issues as well as damage the property value of the neighborhood. Extremely unhappy they will not even have the courtesy to talk to the neighborhood.
Martha Chapa says:
January 17, 2013 at 10:00 pm
As we looked forward to our retirement years and where we would spend our golden years, we were so blessed to have found Falcon Head West. We were thrilled to have our back yard face the beautiful greenbelt. Never in a million years would we have thought that a car dealership would want to move into my back yard and ruin & pollute my air, my birds and all the wild life that lives there. The thought of Covert Chevrolet using our highway to test drive and put the safety of this small comminity and our chldren at risk is appauling. Where are the morals of this company? Is th dollar sign more important than human life?
Suzane says:
January 17, 2013 at 10:30 pm
I agree with so many of the comments above. And, want to elaborate on my previous post. Not only is that an irresponsible decision to put a dealership in that location, it’s irresponsible to do it ANY where along Hwy 71. In the handful of years we’ve lived out west of Bee Cave, we know of at least 10 fatalities along the stretch of Hwy 71 from Bee Cave to the town of Spicewood. This is a horrible area to put any high-volume business… not just in Bee Cave but further out west, as well.
Sydney says:
January 18, 2013 at 6:52 am
I object to the Covert plan to build a car dealership right next to an existing residential neighborhood in Bee Cave. They are exploiting a zoning loophole to build in an inappropriate location. There are significant safety concerns as Highway 71 does not have appropriate traffic controls for this type of business. In addition, they will bring light and noise pollution with them. If Covert is a family oriented business, they will not move forward over the objections of the community.
Korey says:
January 18, 2013 at 6:57 am
The fact that Covert is being sneaky and trying to force their way in where they know they are not wanted is proof that they are not interested in being the “good neighbors” they claim to be. They met with Bee Cave city council earlier this year and were told VERY clearly that we do not want a car dealership here. So…what did they do with that info?? They went and found a little piece of land right outside the best selling neighborhood in the area and bought it because Bee Cave city council cannot stop them. This land is sandwiched between the neighborhood (which is in the City limits) so it is just a pocket of land that Bee Cave City Council can’t control. This whole thing sounds very shady and shows what kind of business they run. We purchase a lot of cars and I will NEVER buy from Covert if they follow through with this bad decision.
Jason says:
January 18, 2013 at 7:58 am
I am a resident in Falconhead West and although Covert is not planning on building in my back yard, my life will still be affected! Covert approached the City Council requesting to build in Bee Cave and the council told them they did not want them here. Thank you Council for protecting your citizens. So, what did covert do, they stuck on their lawyers on finding land in the ETJ which would give them the ability to build what they want with very limited restrictions! They still are not wanted by over 700 people (based on Likes in Facebook on NoCovertinBeeCave) yet they continue to go forward with their plans to build without even speaking to those residents most affected by their dealership. I’m sure they would not want this in their own backyard! We moved away from the city to live in a relatively small community. We welcome small business and restaurants who want what their community wants…the ability to grow while maintaining the safety and culture of the Hill Country and small community feel. Please do not ruin what I moved out here to enjoy!! Stay where all the business is…on major interstates or toll roads!
Brad says:
January 18, 2013 at 8:11 am
I object to the Covert plan to build a car dealership right next to our Falconhead West neighborhood in Bee Cave, Texas. They are exploiting a zoning loophole to build in an inappropriate location. There are significant safety concerns as Highway 71 does not have appropriate traffic controls for this type of business. In addition, they will bring light and noise pollution with them, which ruins our scenic backyard and will lower our property values. If Covert is a family oriented business, they will not move forward over the objections of the community.”
Janis says:
January 18, 2013 at 9:03 am
I completely object to the Covert’s building a dealership in our neighborhood for all the previous reasons listed. I will also be another person not purchasing any of their vehicles or using any of the service locations if they continue to move forward with their plan.
Kerstin says:
January 18, 2013 at 9:22 am
I strongly oppose the Covert plan to build a car dealership in a residential Bee Cave neighborhood. They will only add to the existing safety issues on Hwy. 71. And furthermore, disrupting an established neighborhood with their lights and noise pollution. There are more appropriate locations, maybe ones that are actually zoned (wouldn’t need to use shady loopholes) should they feel the need to build another dealership.
David M says:
January 18, 2013 at 10:12 am
I object to the Covert plan to build a car dealership right next to an existing residential neighborhood in Bee Cave. They are exploiting a zoning loophole to build in an inappropriate location. There are significant safety concerns as Highway 71 does not have appropriate traffic controls for this type of business. In addition, they will bring light and noise pollution with them. Our entrance and main street will be over run with test drivers and will endanger the kids, cyclists and numereous walkers. If Covert is a family oriented business, they will not move forward over the objections of the community.
Jay I. says:
January 18, 2013 at 10:21 am
With the Coverts’ decision to build a dealership next to our quiet neighborhood they have shown a complete disregard for the safety and quality of life of Bee Cave’s citizens. In response, I will make sure that my two Fords never see a Covert service bay nor will I buy from Covert Ford or any of the Covert GM dealers when it comes time to replace them. WE DON’T WANT YOUR DEALER ANYWHERE NEAR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD!
