ARANSAS PASS, Texas — The City of Aransas Pass said Conn Brown Harbor used to be a major hub for shrimping, but once the shrimping industry began to die off they left environmental hazards that Aransas Pass has to clean up.
According to the City Manager Gary Edwards, Conn Brown Harbor is the last piece of public land in the Coastal Bend that is not developed. Developers are continually knocking at the city's door saying they are ready to build.
"Residential and retail, but it can't be done until the environmental issues created by the shrimping industry many years ago are resolved," Edwards said.
Regulations back in the 30's, 40's, and 50's weren't as strict as they are today. When shrimpers used to fill up their boats with fuel there wasn't as much concern about how that fuel impacted the environment.
"And that began seeping into the soil, so we began digging it out, replacing it with good soil, and much of that has been accomplished already. Again, waiting for test results to come back," Edwards said.
The General Land Office and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality put a lean on the property until the City gets the land up to code. As soon as the environmental study is approved, the City will start working with developers immediately.