Friends of Henly
With community involvement and informed consent, we seek to actively support planned growth and quality of life in Henly. In Previous years, the threat of being absorbed by our rapidly expanding neighbor, Dripping Springs, was not perceived as an issue. DS has grown so rapidly that the edge of their ETJ (Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction) is now only 1 short mile away at Martin Road. If their ETJ reaches Henly, they will have the ability to do things to our community that no one will like. Your voice can be heard at the ballot box. Your vote counts!
Without moving forward to make our community a city, we have no unified voice in protecting our interests. Literally anyone who wants to can buy land in Henly and use it in any way they want. Most people are respectful of a small neighbourhood and agricultural community like Henly, but there are plenty of examples of developers who pursue their goals with no consideration of their neighbours.
Responsible growth; clean, community-oriented businesses; safe roads and neighbourhoods; dark night skies; clear, clean, flowing streams and water wells; preservation of historical assets; and community events.
More Government Interference and Control, More Taxes, and Unfair Restrictions.
Friends of Henly
Henly, Texas grew up in the 1880's at a rural crossroads between Austin and Johnson City.
It was named for the original owner of the area who acquired land on North Onion Creek in the 1880’s, with the original town site located near his ranch headquarters. For a while, it had a Justice of the Peace, a small medical practice, and a community school. In 1881, M. L. Reed established the first store and post office.
In the mid-1880's Henly was primarily an agricultural area that was recognised for its cotton shipments. Henly flourished from the 1900’s thru WWII - with a school, post office, store, service station, tomato packing business, cotton mill/gin and barbershop.
The Henly Volunteer Fire Department was the hub of activity in the 1980’s-90’s, providing emergency services and community events. They still hold an annual BBQ Fundraising event and interact with the community with events like National Night Out. The Henly Baptist Church congregation was organized in 1914 and, by 1939, had erected the church building at the corner of the Henly Loop and Old Red Ranch Road. The building has undergone expansion and renovation, but the main sanctuary building has been preserved with the original beadboard walls and ceiling. Over the years, all of the windows in the sanctuary have been replaced with memorial stained glass windows.
Friends of Henly
Friends of Henly is a 501c3 non-profit tax-exempt corporation. All donations are eligible for tax exemption with the Internal Revenue Service, as allowed by law. Friends of Henly Board members do not receive monetary compensation.
Community communications, facilitation of town hall meetings, community events, and experts to provide facts when needed.
Your time and expertise are needed for Advisory Council, Specific Tasks, Events, Outreach, and more.
By check – mail to Friends of Henly, 975 Old Red Ranch Road, Dripping Springs, TX 78620. By bank deposit at Security Bank & Trust in Dripping Springs – ask to make a deposit to the Friends of Henly account. By Credit Card or PayPal.
Friends of Henly
Thank you for contacting us! If needed, you will hear back within 48-72 hours.
Use the form below to share your message, question or comment with Friends of Henly.
Friends of Henly
Please Note: The members of the Board of Directors of Friends of Henly receive no compensation for their work.
Friends of Henly is a 501c3 non-profit corporation. The members of our Board of Directors are Jim Kannen - President, and Jason Pinchback - Vice-President. We'll be filling other posts as we ramp up our activities to address incorporation again.
Friends of Henly
A community project to reduce glare, protect Henly's dark skies and improve safety for local firefighters.
When the perimeter lights were first put up at the Henly VFD, their brightness was called to the attention of Cindy Luongo Cassidy with the International Dark-Sky Association by George Milner, a Henly resident. Cindy presented the station with six high quality light hoods to help reduce lateral glare while putting needed light in the firefighters' work area.
Jim Kannen with Friends of Henly and neighbour Dr. Gary Halm installed and adjusted the hoods for best performance. Gone is the glare that shone out over the countryside and into the eyes of firefighters as they pulled into the station.
A huge thank you to Cindy Luongo Cassidy and the International Dark-Sky Association for the generous grant, to George Milner who brought this situation to their attention, and to the Henly Volunteer Fire Department for allowing us to install them.
Friends of Henly
Reference materials collected by Friends of Henly for the community.
What is an ETJ and What Happens There? Dripping Springs ETJ maps, Henly Batch Plant Permit Application, Township research, speed zone procedure, Field of Dreams Lighting Study, proposed Henly City Map, concrete batch plant emissions report, and Incorporation - The Facts.
Friends of Henly
The community has asked lots of questions. Any question that is a concern to residents deserves an answer.
Expansion and development is moving toward Henly. Friends of Henly’s main goal is to preserve as much of our rural land and lifestyles as possible during this inevitable expansion and development.
Yes, incorporation does create another level of government. But this is government held accountable for its actions by the people who reside in Henly.
No. Henly, or any city the size of Henly, has no taxing authority in its ETJ (Extra Territorial Jurisdiction).
Yes there are. We’ve studied several and found that while each has benefits, each also has drawbacks. After much consideration, we feel that incorporation will be the least intrusive, most preserving of our lifestyle, and least burdensome to our residents of all the options.
The plan is for a minimum number of ordinances. The town government in mind will be volunteer operated and as "hands-off" as possible. There is no intention of raising taxes or having ordinances that would dictate what you do on your own land, as long as your activities don't have a negative impact on your neighbors. Lighting control to help preserve our dark central Texas skies will be high on the list of items to address.
Friends of Henly
Questions and answers have been researched to the best of our ability. In many cases, to ensure accuracy, we enlisted the assistance of Municipal Law attorney Alan Bojorquez.
No. The Texas Legislature has made it extremely difficult for small municipalities to annex properties in their ETJ. In the case of Henly, residents in the ETJ would petition the city to be annexed.
Supporters who donate money to help us toward our goals may use that donation as a deduction on their federal tax return to the extent provided for by law.
After studying the Township model of city government used by The Woodlands, Texas, we concluded that the Township alternative would not be a workable solution for Henly.
Those exemptions are regulated by the state. The exemptions cannot be altered unless the land owner changes the use of the land.
Organisations described in section 501(c)(3) are commonly referred to as charitable organisations. The organisation must not be organised or operated for the benefit of private interests.