DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas (KXAN) – Steven Staines has always wanted to move to the Hill Country. 

“I’m from East Texas, which is pretty flat,” he said. “And I’ve always dreamed of the hill country.”

Last June, Staines, his wife, and their kids moved into what felt like the perfect home in Dripping Springs, with expansive views of rolling green hills from all sides of the property.

“Definitely, the location and the fact that we had long-distance views were 100% the main selling point,” he said.

But shortly after they moved in, the view and the soundscape dramatically changed. A large storage facility was erected a few hundred feet away from his house. He said the construction sounds bothered them for months, and now, when he looks to the east of his house, a large storage facility fills the view.  

“We love the location and the house,” Staines said. “But I’m pretty certain we would not have bought this house if something that big was right next to it.”

“The price tag is what it was because you have these gorgeous views,” Staines continued. “Having something that you would normally see on the side of I-35 in a major city – We wouldn’t have purchased this if it was already there. When it comes time to sell, that’s going to be difficult.”

The project next door will eventually become a 10-Federal storage building. KXAN reached out to the company for comment but has not heard back.

Construction has increased in Dripping Springs in recent years as its population has steadily grown. To help guide that growth, city leaders released a comprehensive plan draft in September 2024 that prioritizes community character, infrastructure, connectivity, housing, and economic development.

“I would say that throughout the region, communities are grappling with change,” said Cliff Kaplan, program director for the Hill Country Alliance. The nonprofit advocates for development that protects the natural environment and cultural identity of the Hill Country.

Kaplan said a challenge the Hill County faces is when out-of-town developers unfamiliar with the area bring in projects that may not align with local expectations.

“It’s a struggle for every community in the Hill Country,” he said. “Sometimes the local government gets a real win for their community. And sometimes developments don’t work out the way that the community hopes they would.”