CITY & COUNTY
News from Leander, Liberty Hill, Travis County & Williamson County
HIGHLIGHTS TRAVIS & WILLIAMSON
City administrator emphasizes need for planning amid growth
Williamson County studying salaries for elected ocials
Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell said the Solana Municipal Utility District No. 1 is being created through the state Legis- lature and will need the approval of state lawmakers. He said the project’s funding sources and DMB Development LLC’s potential aliation with Disney “is really a decision by the developer.” “The family that owns Solana Ranch very much cares about the environment, our water [and] our trees,” Gravell said. “I appreciate the seriousness of the conversation. I can assure you that Disney World is not going to build a theme park at this location. However, it could well be other Disney property.” A municipal utility district, or MUD, is a special political subdivision providing developers with an alternative way to nance infrastructure, such as sewage, water, drainage, roads and other services, through taxes. Gravell said the Solana MUD is a product of annexation laws as state law does not allow cities to add land outside of their extraterritorial jurisdiction.
DISTRICT FEATURES The Solana Municipal Utility District No. 1 will:
Leander City Council will meet May 18 and June 1 at 6 p.m. at 201 N. Brushy St., Leander. 512-528-2743 www.leandertx.gov Liberty Hill City Council will meet May 24 at 6 p.m. at 2801 RM 1869, Liberty Hill. 512-778-5449. www.libertyhilltx.gov Travis County Commissioners Court will meet May 16 and 23 and June 6 at 9 a.m. at 700 Lavaca St., Austin. 512-854-4722 www.traviscountytx.gov Williamson County Commissioners Court will meet May 16 and 23 and June 6 at 9:30 a.m. at 710 S. Main St., Georgetown. 512-943-1100. www.wilco.org MEETINGS WE COVER COUNTIES With local appraisal districts releasing 2023 values in April, the median market value of homes in Travis County went from $612,102 to $612,568, a 0.08% increase year over year. In Williamson County, median home values dropped about 11% from $520,415 to $461,391. Homeowners’ taxable values may still have increased 10% due to a tax code requirement.
Span 7,000 acres in Williamson and Bell counties
BY ZACHARIA WASHINGTON
Other plans underway include a downtown strategic plan designed to preserve its charm; a City Park mini master plan identifying needed improvements; and a city facility plan, which may result in a spring 2024 bond election to fund a public safety facility. Brandenburg said the city is also prioritizing street maintenance and transportation projects as well as water and wastewater improvements. Additionally, the city established a three-year economic development action plan to bring more jobs to the city and grow its tax base, said Mary Poche’, Liberty Hill’s economic devel- opment executive director.
BY GRANT CRAWFORD
Contain about 14,000 homes
LIBERTY HILL City Administrator Paul Brandenburg said the city is in a planning phase as it aims to secure a solid foundation for the future. “If you don’t manage the growth, the growth is going to manage you,” Brandenburg said during an April 27 luncheon hosted by the Liberty Hill Chamber of Commerce. Among the plans in progress is an update to the comprehensive plan, which will be completed by the end of 2023. Brandenburg said this docu- ment—last updated in 2014—will be the driving force for how land use and zoning in the city are done.
WILLIAMSON COUNTY The county’s human resources department will compare the salaries of its elected ocials with others in the state after Commissioners Court approved a salary study April 25 for a possible cost-of-living increase. The salaries to be reviewed include the positions of county judge, county commissioner, county constable, justice of the peace, county treasurer, county tax assessor-collector, district clerk, county clerk, county attorney and county sheri. The court was asked if the public will have a chance to weigh in on any potential pay raises. “I think the decision that we have of setting a salary is a constitutional authority that we’ve been given by the state of Texas,” County Judge Bill Gravell said.
Located at 104 N. Brushy St., in Old Town Leander, the Davis House is the last original two-story home in the district. (Zacharia Washington/Community Impact)
Provide rights of way needed for long-term transportation plans
BY ZACHARIA WASHINGTON City nixes project to renovate Davis House
SOURCE: WILLIAMSON COUNTY COMMUNITY IMPACT
County approves Disney-aliated municipal district
Pearce said he is “greatly disap- pointed in the city of Leander and that the contract didn’t work out,” adding he is unable to provide further comment. Located at 104 N. Brushy St., Leander, the 123-year-old Davis House is the last original two-story house still standing in Old Town, according to the city. In 2006, the city of Leander purchased the property and used Davis House as a planning and development services oce. The city is unaware of any further plans for the Davis House.
LEANDER The historic Davis House will no longer undergo renovations that would have transformed it into a restaurant and brewpub after City Council termi- nated the agreement for the project at its April 20 meeting. Leander ocials said the agree- ment with Austin-based company Ride or Die LLC was terminated because improvements on the property were not made within one year of the eective date of the lease agreement, which was Aug. 28, 2021. Ride or Die LLC Owner David
BY GRANT CRAWFORD
WILLIAMSON COUNTY The creation of a municipal utility district for a residential develop- ment—which could have ties with The Walt Disney Co.—received a stamp of approval from the Williamson County Commission- ers Court on April 11.
“IF YOU DON’T MANAGE THE GROWTH, THE GROWTH IS GOING TO MANAGE YOU.” PAUL BRANDENBURG, LIBERTY HILL CITY ADMINISTRATOR
CEDAR PARK 13530 Ronald Reagan Blvd (512) 986-7681
NORTH 620 10601 N FM 620 (512) 506-8316
HYMEADOW 12611 Hymeadow (512) 506-8401
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