Tear down Chapel by the Sea on South Padre Island?

Yeah, I know this story doesn’t emanate from Hidalgo County, but I’m guessing more than a few of us have attended a wedding at South Padre’s famed Chapel by the Sea. If not, you missed seeing one of the truly beautiful churches around, looking out on the gulf as you sit in a pew.

As far as churches go, this is one you won’t forget.

Instead of cherishing it for the landmark it is, a draw even for tourists down for the weekend, provided they sobered up from Saturday night, a place for the bereaved, the county is going to rip up the current 100-year land contract it has with the chapel, boot the church, and develop the land. Money, money, money, money, money; and forgive me for thinking that anyone in county government is going to make anything off this land deal. That would be cynical of me, not to mention illegal. We have none of that going on down here in south Texas.

Break the 100-year lease?

If you do an online search for “Cameron County and Chapel by the Sea,” you’ll see some local news stories pop up, social media posts, and a story that looks like it was rolling along until the county got a backlash.

The church’s pastor, Dave Boughter, got an email from Cameron County dated June 27 in which he was told that the 100-year lease that Chapel of the Sea had with the county had been ruled “voidable” by the legal department.

So pack up your hymnals and move; and, oh, by the way, the pastor and his wife have until the end of this year to vacate the property. (Source: MyRGV.com.)

In 1979, the county/church lease was signed, with the understanding that on the property, a non-denominational church would be built, open to anyone who chose to attend.

The city of South Padre, incorporated in 1973, didn’t include the land on the south side by the jetties. Cameron County did, and it was the county commission at the time, 1979, that entered into the 100-year lease.

That was then, this is now, and apparently, the current county commissioners court wants to use the chapel land (1.14 acres) for development.

Never enough money. Build, build, build.

If the commissioners court could pave over the sand, they’d probably do that as well, and then wonder why the tourists had stopped coming.

What a deal, though, right? After more than 40 years of hosting Sunday services, in sight of sand dunes, palm trees, and gulf waters, as well as weddings that couples will cherish forever, unless they’ve gotten divorced by now, the Cameron County Commissioners Court wants to rip up the 100-year lease, presumably tear down the church, and use it to build some development. Not enough concrete already on the isle. Need some more high rises.

The current commissioners court is comprised of: Eddie Treviño, Jr., county judge; and county commissioners Sofia Benavides, Joey Lopez, David A. Garza, and Gus Ruis.

The county administrator is Pete Sepulveda, Pharr’s city manager from back in the day.

All of their emails can be found online: Sofia Benavides - mailto:sofia.benavides@ co.cameron.tx.us Joey Lopez-mailto:joey.lopez@co.cameron.tx.us David A. Garza-dagarza@co.cameron. tx.us Gus Ruiz- N/A.

Write them if you’re so inclined. Let them know what you think of their decision to void a valid lease by finding some legal loophole to climb through.

The Backlash

It looks like Cameron County is now trying to walk back its decision to rip up the contract, which was approved by the commission last month.

A public backlash often has that effect.

One post on social media reads: “Future site of the next County supported car wash.” Or this one: “Save this historical landmark.”

Another: “Some things in this life should be appreciated, enjoyed, and kept alive.” Not when there’s money to be made. What’s more important?

A week after the news was made public the first week of July, it now looks like Cameron County is saying that the email sent to the pastor was all one big mistake. (Source: MyRGV.com.)

Here’s a quote from Cameron County Administrator Pete Sepulveda: “I think that was just a miscommunication. I don’t think that was the intention of the court. Now, what the legal department is trying to do is try and see how we can move forward, allowing the church to continue operating, but that may potentially require a new agreement or an amended agreement.”

Word salad, amigo. So the commissioners court didn’t know what it was voting on in June when it voted to break the 100-year lease? Send an email to the church to vacate?

Just a “miscommunication?” Sorry, but I’m not buying it. If that’s so, then why did the eviction notice sent via email to the pastor (the county couldn’t even schedule a meeting in person), signed by legal, state that the lease was “against public policy and should never have been approved.”

Now, based on what I know of the way some politicians work, not all, but many, is that they are now trying to figure out a remedy. Getting reelected still matters. Just have to find a way to still get the 1.14 acres of prime beach property, but somehow deflect the backlash and maybe give Chapel by the Sea another piece of property on South Padre Island.

“There’s a quarter acre on the bayside, next to the car wash.”