NEW BRAUNFELS — More than 40 engineers, architects, planners, regulators and surveyors gathered Aug. 27 at the Headwaters at the Comal in New Braunfels for the latest Hill Country Alliance Developer Roundtable, a program focused on finding ways to balance growth with conservation.
The Aug. 27 gathering was the third session of the 2026 Developer Roundtable series, which was launched earlier this year to bring professionals involved in development together to identify opportunities and challenges associated with conservation- oriented development in the Hill Country.
The region is experiencing rapid growth while facing challenges including land fragmentation, increasing demands on water resources and increasingly extreme patterns of drought, heat and flooding.
The day began with a tour of the nearly completed educational facilities at the Headwaters at the Comal, a New Braunfels Utilities conservation legacy project.
Nancy Pappas, managing director of the Headwaters at the Comal, and Michael Britt, an associate partner with Lake Flato, discussed the property’s buildings, landscape, water systems and parking lot, each of which was designed with an emphasis on protecting and enhancing the site’s natural resources.
The 16-acre property sits above the headwater springs of the Comal River and had served as a storage and equipment yard for New Braunfels Utilities for nearly a century.
Preliminary excavation uncovered archaeological evidence indicating more than 500 generations of human habitation and use at the site. Plans were subsequently modified to preserve those archaeological sites while restoring and revegetating the landscape above them.
John Hart Asher of Blackland Collaborative, the firm responsible for the property’s ecological restoration plan, described the transformation as a “reverse-Joni Mitchell.”
“We pulled up a parking lot, and created a paradise,” Asher said.
The restoration plan was developed using research into the native plant communities that historically dominated the site during its Historic Climax Condition, when the area supported its greatest biodiversity and bison roamed the land.
Native grasses and flowers have deep roots that can slow and absorb rainwater while providing habitat for native pollinators and insects. The landscape also is intended to reconnect visitors with the region’s natural heritage.
Stormwater retention through native plants and landscape design was one of the key themes of the roundtable.
Other presentations focused on night-sky-friendly lighting, green infrastructure, native plant communities and low-impact stormwater management.
Emily Manderson of Blackland Collaborative discussed lighting, green infrastructure and native plant communities, while Matthew Smith of Greenrise Technologies presented low-impact development practices for stormwater retention. Greenrise specializes in stormwater management and compliance across the Southeast.
Andrew Gauld, a designer with Oldner Lighting who has worked on night-sky-friendly lighting projects throughout the region and country, said effective lighting should complement a property rather than draw attention to itself.
“Good lighting, like good design, is not something you should really notice — it's about creating a warm and welcoming feeling,” Gauld said. “Good lighting is better for business. It can save money and attract more customers.”
The roundtable concluded with a case study from Fayette County, where Land Within Reach is developing The Homesteads at Walker Branch, a designated Wildlife Community where land restoration and stewardship are incorporated into the development’s value proposition.
Jacob McLaughlin, head of operations for Land Within Reach, said the property originally was an overgrazed hay production farm.
“Over the past two years, we’ve created grassland and wildlife management plans focused on restoring the land and creating a certified native Texas prairie — from a conservation perspective, we’re bringing huge value and function back to the land,” McLaughlin said.
The developers now are seeking buyers interested in the conservation-centered approach.
“Now we’re looking for buyers who believe in that model and want to be a part of something different,” McLaughlin said.
Katherine Romans, executive director of the Hill Country Alliance, said the response to the roundtable series has demonstrated an interest among development professionals in discussing conservation- focused approaches to growth.
“There is immense power in coming together with the development community to understand how we can better advocate for conservation-centered construction in the Hill Country,” Romans said.
The 2026 Developer Roundtable will conclude in November with a final session at the Campsite at Shield Ranch, a low-impact development and learning space in Travis County.
The roundtable is designed for professionals across the development landscape, including developers, engineers, equity partners and architects. The sessions are hosted at developments that demonstrate approaches to conservation, design and responsible growth.
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