Lake Travis - Westlake Edition | December 2025

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Lake Travis Westlake Edition VOLUME 16, ISSUE 11 DEC. 20, 2025JAN. 27, 2026

2025 Senior Living Guide

Lakeway makes progress on $22M parks bond projects

INSIDE

Lakeway City Park is the largest city bond project, estimated to cost about $10.6 million. (Ty Cox/Community Impact)

Also in this issue

Impacts: See the latest on Pickleball Grove’s upcoming Spicewood location (Page 6)

Government: Find out more about challenges facing local police coordination in Eanes ISD (Page 11)

Business: Check out 23 businesses and organizations celebrating milestone anniversaries (Page 24)

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Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced and may not reflect actual property conditions.

LAKE TRAVIS - WESTLAKE EDITION

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About Community Impact

Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.

Market leaders & metro team

Reporters Brittany Anderson Brian Davis Katlynn Fox Dacia Garcia Manuel Holguin Jr. Haley McLeod Hannah Norton Daniel Schwalm Brooke Sjoberg Ben Thompson Joel Valley Gracie Warhurst Sienna Wight Chloe Young Graphic Designers Abbey Eckhardt Alissa Foss Abigail Jones Sabrina Musachia

Taylor Stover General Manager tstover@ communityimpact.com

Minh Nguyen Joseph Veloz Managing Editor Darcy Sprague Product Manager Gloria Amareth Quality Desk Editor Adrian Gandara Austin Market President Travis Baker

Grace Dickens Editor gdickens@ communityimpact.com

Jacqueline Harris Account Executive jharris@ communityimpact.com

16225 Impact Way, Ste. 1 Pflugerville, TX 78660 • 512-989-6808 CI Careers

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Press releases

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Over 25 years practicing Family Law in Travis, Williamson and Hays Counties

512-487-7994 | hello@herlihy-law.com | scottherlihylaw.com | 407 Bee Caves Road, Suite 611 Austin, Texas 78746

LAKE TRAVIS - WESTLAKE EDITION

Impacts

620

LAKE TRAVIS

4 BB Living Sweetwater Crossing The community held its grand opening this fall, offering three- and four-bedroom townhomes for rent with private patios, an attached two-car garage and a fenced- in yard. • Opened Sept. 27 • 5712 Proud Bear Pass, Bee Cave • www.bbliving.com 5 Loraloma The Thomas Ranch development in Spicewood recently opened its private 18-hole golf course, open to Thomas Ranch residents. The par-72 championship golf course stretches across 120 acres. • Opened Oct. 27 • 500 Paleface Ranch Road, Spicewood • www.loralomaclub.com

BEE CREEK RD.

620

2222

IOWA ST.

620

2222

Lakeway

PALEFACE RANCH RD.

LOHMANS SPUR

EMMA LONG PARK

BOB WIRE RD.

COMMONS FORD RANCH

WILD CHERRY DR.

N. CUERNAVACA DR.

REIMERS- PEACOCK RD.

BEE CAVES RD.

6 ServiceMaster Restoration by Blakely Service

CAPROCK SUMMIT DR.

BARTON CREEK HABITAT PRESERVE

360

Bee Cave

Owned locally by Eric and Jenna Blakely, the business offers disaster restoration services for water damage, mold remediation, fire or smoke restoration and more. • Opened this fall • 15008 Iowa St., Austin • www.servicemasterrestore.com/ servicemaster-by-blakely 7 Waterloo Audiology Founded by Kelli House and Sara Burge, the hearing center helps patients with a range of services, including hearing aids, hearing protection and tinnitus treatment. • Opened in November • 7415 Southwest Parkway, Bldg. 6, Ste. 400, Austin • www.waterlooaudiology.com MOPAC 8 Texas Hand Wash The family-owned facility offers hand-performed automotive cleaning and detailing services, including exterior hand washes, full interior and exterior cleaning and services such as paint correction, scratch removal, engine bay cleaning and more. • Opened in September • 1110 N. RM 620, Ste. A, Lakeway • www.texashandwash.com

MOPAC

360

BARTON CREEK BLVD.

7 W. WILLIAM CANNON DR.

Rollingwood

MAP NOT TO SCALE

Your Family . Our Team . Good Health . Same trusted care, serving our community since 1985 — With five locations throughout the greater Austin area, we make healthcare accessible to ensure every patient is treated like family. We are proud to serve the community with: for piano, voice, guitar, ukulele, violin, drums, oboe and more. The business offers four comprehensive music lesson programs for all ages and abilities. • Opened Nov. 16 71 Your Family . Our Team . Good Health . Same trusted care, serving our community since 1985 — With five locations throughout the greater Austin area, we make healthcare accessible to ensure every patient is treated like family. We are proud to serve the community with: 3 Concierge Health of Austin The new private practice from family physician Dr. Emmanuel Lee is now open in Rollingwood, offering direct physician access 24/7, comprehensive care, proactive health management and more. • Opened in November • 3001 Bee Caves Road, Ste. 210, Rollingwood • www.conciergehealthaustin.com • 3502 Wild Cherry Drive, Austin • www.musicologie.com/lakeway

Now open

1 Éscolatica Floral Atelier & Ancestral Wisdom

Following the closure of Fount of Floral, new shop Éscolatica opened in December. Owned by Annié Colón-Whorton, the fresh flower shop will offer floral arrangements and giftable items. • Opened in December • 2800 Barton Creek Blvd., Ste. 103, Austin • Instagram: escolatica_blooms 2 Musicologie Owned by Jeff and Kelli Franco, instruction is available

Your Family . Our Team . Good Health . Same trusted care, serving our community since 1985 — With five locations throughout the greater Austin area, we make healthcare accessible to ensure every patient is treated like family. We are proud to serve the community with: • Online Scheduling • Saturday Clinic • Virtual Visits • Online Scheduling • Saturday Clinic • Virtual Visits Your Family . Our Team . Good Health . Same trusted care, serving our community since 1985 — With five locations throughout the greater Austin area, we make healthcare accessible to ensure every patient is treated like family. We are proud to serve the community with: • Preventive Health Care • Weight Loss Programs • Same Day Availability Schedule Your Next Appointment! pfpdocs.com | • Online Scheduling • Saturday Clinic • Virtual Visits

• Preventive Health Care • Weight Loss Programs • Same Day Availability

Schedule Your Next Appointment! pfpdocs.com | Schedule Your Next Appointment! pfpdocs.com |

• Online Scheduling • Saturday Clinic • Virtual Visits

• Preventive Health Care • Weight Loss Programs • Same Day Availability

Schedu

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

Coming soon

Now open

Coming soon

9 Cielo Behavioral Health Cielo Behavior Health provides Applied Behavior Analysis, which aims to help individuals build communication, social and life skills. The practice plans to open an Early Skills Center focused on play-based learning and structured routines to build foundational skills. • Opening in January • 3698 RM 620, Ste. 115, Bee Cave • www.cielobehavior.com 10 Staybridge Suites The groundbreaking for an upcoming Staybridge Suites location was hosted Dec. 4. The hotel will feature 100 rooms with standard IHG amenities, including guest laundry facilities, outdoor grilling stations, a fitness center, a pool and meeting facilities. • Opening fall 2026 • 7710 N. RM 620, Austin • www.ihg.com

13 Grateful Custard The food truck serves ice cream made from Texas- raised and locally pasteurized buffalo milk, swirled with fresh fruit and baked confections. Menu items include create-your-own Swirls and Specialty Swirls such as Key Lime Dream, which features vanilla ice cream and fresh key lime pie. • Opened in August • 17499 Hamilton Pool Road, Austin • www.gratefulcustard.com

16 Pickleball Grove The facility will feature eight indoor pickleball courts, four of which are built for tournament championship games; three indoor padel courts; and four outdoor pickleball courts, business representative Sajag Patel said. • Opening in July • 5411 Reimers-Peacock Road, Spicewood • www.thepickleballgrove.com

Relocations

11 La Cabaña Mexican Grill Owners Chip and Linda Holt announced a temporary closing this fall and are in the process of moving to a nearby location that will be announced soon. Offering Tex-Mex dishes, queso, beer and margaritas, the restaurant has served the Spicewood community for more than 25 years. • Closed Nov. 30

14 Travis Club The development broke ground on its first homesites in November, according to a news release. The 1,500-acre development has sold 140 homesites so far, with its first homesites expected to be move-in ready by 2027. • 4900 Bee Creek Road, Ste. 204, Spicewood • www.travisclubaustin.com

Northwest and Southwest Austin will remain open. • Closing Dec. 28 • 2300 Lohmans Spur, Ste. 140, Lakeway • www.chairking.com

• 21103 W. Hwy. 71, Spicewood • www.lacabanaspicewood.com

In the news

Worth the trip

12 The Sistine Chapel Experience A digital recreation of The Sistine Chapel opened Dec. 5 in Barton Creek Square. Spanning nearly 25,000 square feet, the experience allows visitors to step inside a recreation of paintings from Michelangelo, such as The Creation of Adam, The Last Judgement and more.

Smashed N’ Sauced The restaurant sells smash burgers made from premium-grade beef and covered in one of the business’s signature sauces. • Opened Nov. 7 • 12129 N. RM 620, Ste. 448, Austin • www.smashednsauced.com

Closings

15 Chair King Backyard Store Located in the Lohman’s Crossing Shopping Center, the store sells outdoor furniture such as tables, chairs, umbrellas, fire pits, shelves and rugs. Locations in

• 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., Austin • www.sistinechapelexperience.com

LAKE TRAVIS - WESTLAKE EDITION

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Transportation

BY GRACE DICKENS

Ongoing projects

LAKE TRAVIS

620

COURTYARD DR.

2222

620

Lakeway

CEDAR ST.

360

BEE CREEK RD.

EMMA LONG PARK

FLINT ROCK RD.

4 Loop 360 Westlake Drive/ Cedar Street

COMMONS FORD RANCH

WILD CHERRY DR.

Rollingwood Project: removing traffic signals from mainlanes and creating an underpass beneath A Westlake Drive/ B Cedar Street; adding shared-use paths Update: bridge over Cedar Street is in progress • Timeline: Cedar Street bridge expected to open Dec. 21; project completion estimated mid-2026 • Cost: $72.1 million • Funding source: Texas Department of Transportation, city of Austin 2016 Mobility Bond

Bee Cave

HAMILTON POOL RD.

BEE CAVE PKWY.

MAP NOT TO SCALE

• Cost: $692,449 • Funding source: city of Lakeway

Ongoing projects

interchange; addition of shared-use paths and sidewalks Update: excavation is ongoing of the west cliffs adjacent to southbound lanes • Timeline: construction expected to begin mid-2026, completion TBD • Cost: $68.39 million • Funding source: TxDOT, city of Austin 2016 Mobility Bond 3 Flint Rock Road/Wild Cherry Drive light Project: installation of a new light at the intersection of Wild Cherry Drive and Flint Rock Road Update: work currently underway, delays at Wild Cherry Drive/Flint Rock Road intersection possible • Timeline: completion anticipated early 2026

1 Hwy. 71 Safety Improvement Project Project: implementing medians on Hwy. 71 from Bee Creek Road to Bee Cave Parkway Update: finalizing construction of the medians and closing out the project • Timeline: completion expected early 2026 • Cost: $2.8 million • Funding source: federal funding 2 Loop 360 Courtyard Drive/RM 2222 Project: A removing traffic signals from mainlanes and constructing an underpass at Courtyard Drive; B reconfiguring RM 2222 to include a diverging diamond

Completed projects

5 Bee Cave Parkway/RM 620 turn lane Project: adding a dedicated right-turn lane from Bee Cave Parkway to RM 620; creation of a dedicated through-lane for traffic heading west on Bee Cave Parkway; median improvements Update: completed Nov. 3 • Timeline: Oct. 2024-Nov. 2025 • Cost: $2.2 million • Funding source: The Morgan Group

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LAKE TRAVIS - WESTLAKE EDITION

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material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or without notice. All measurements and square footages are approximate. Exact dimensions can be obtained by retaining the services of an architect or engineer. This is not intended to solicit property d. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage. Compass is a licensed real estate broker. Equal Housing Opportunity.

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All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. All measurements and square footages are approximate. Exact dimensions can be obtained by retaining the services of an architect or engineer. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage. Compass is a licensed real estate broker. Equal Housing Opportunity. Neighborhood Market Repor ts ational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. All dimensions can be obtained by retaining the services of an architect or engineer. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, real estate brokerage. Compass is a licensed real estate broker. Equal Housing Opportunity. ational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. All dimensions can be obtained by retaining the services of an architect or engineer. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, real estate brokerage. Compass is a licensed real estate broker. Equal Housing Opportunity. mpiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. All ng the services of an architect or engineer. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, censed real estate broker. Equal Housing Opportunity.

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is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. All er. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, Opportunity.

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8507 CHALK KNOLL DR

ct to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. All not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal,

Government

BY GRACE DICKENS

When video of a former Eanes ISD student brandishing a firearm on campus eventually turned into a multiagency vehicle pursuit Sept. 4, EISD Chief of Police Matthew Greer described the communication situation as “difficult.” With several responding agencies all operating on different radio channels, focus wasn’t just on stopping the perpetrator; officers also had to worry about flipping through radio channels to let the car next to them know the situation, Greer said. “We were going back and forth between Lakeway, notifying our dispatcher what we were doing, and then Travis County to get help from West Lake Hills and Rollingwood,” Greer said. “West Lake Hills was involved in the pursuit with us, so they weren’t able to hear any of this information because they were on a different channel.” Days later on Sept. 10, another incident occurred; this time, an active shooter situation in Zilker Park. The district was not directly notified of the incident by responding agencies in Austin; instead, the district found out from a parent who was concerned about a group of EISD cross-country runners along the nearby Town Lake, Greer said. “Although it wasn’t happening in our district, it affected a lot of our students because it was so close,” Greer said. In both cases, Greer said EISD faced a similar problem: cross-agency coordination in dispatch services. Following the situations in September, officials in EISD and the city of Rollingwood are calling for better local police dispatch coordination. Police dispatch concerns rise for Eanes ISD

The issue

Eanes ISD boundaries

Travis County Sheriff's Office (within EISD) West Lake Hills Police Department Rollingwood Police Department Austin Police Department David sector Austin Police Department Braker sector

Within EISD boundaries, there are five police jurisdictions: West Lake Hills, Rollingwood, Travis County Sheriff’s Office and two Austin Police Department sectors. In practice, this means dis- patchers must monitor several separate channels to understand what’s happening in the district. Additionally, when it comes to dispatch ser- vices, the jurisdictions within EISD are dispatched by three separate agencies. Police services for West Lake Hills and Rolling- wood are dispatched by the Travis County Sher- iff’s Office, or TSCO. Austin Police Department is dispatched out of the city of Austin-owned Combined Transportation, Emergency, and Communications Center, or CTECC, with each sector having its own channel. Meanwhile, Eanes ISD is dispatched out of Lakeway—a move made after TSCO was unable to provide services, Greer said. Although TSCO provides dispatch services to a variety of smaller surrounding entities, in 2023, the agency was flooded with new requests from other school districts creating their own police forces, a Nov. 10 statement from TSCO states. “All of the ISDs in which TCSO formerly had [school resource officers] requested dispatch services for the new police departments they created. Consider how much additional radio traffic is generated when you apply that level of increase to all the other ISDs in our jurisdiction,” the statement said. The city of Rollingwood was also not directly

183

360

COLORADO RIVER

MOPAC

BEE CAVES RD.

290

NOTE: THIS MAP ONLY SHOWS JURISDICTION BOUNDARIES WITHIN EISD AND IS NOT COMPREHENSIVE. SOURCES: CITIES OF AUSTIN, ROLLINGWOOD AND WEST LAKE HILLS, EANES ISD, TRAVIS COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

notified of the Sept. 10 incident, Mayor Gavin Massingill said. Only some of Rollingwood’s resi- dents received “shelter in place” warnings; of the warnings they did get, the messaging from APD and Austin ISD was conflicting, Massingill said. The city of Rollingwood has been in commu- nication with city of Austin officials to work out issues experienced in the communication process, Massingill said.

Next steps

west radio channel out of Lakeway Police Department, Greer said, which would allow TSCO dispatch to communicate directly with Lakeway dispatch and reduce delays between agencies in the area. “The door isn’t closed on this, but we have to work together to figure out the funding, and overcome technical obstacles like additional radio channels and other operability requirements that make dispatching for additional agencies impossible for TCSO at this time,” TSCO Sheriff Sally Hernandez said in a statement. CTECC officials did not respond to requests for comment, as of press time.

Moving forward, Greer said he would like to have a meeting with all local stakeholders to discuss solutions. “Ultimately the safest solution is to have agencies within the same geographic area on the same channel,” Greer said in an email. “If that isn’t possible, then dispatchers should be collocated to promote immediate information sharing. Unfortunately the issue is complicated, and implementing a solution may be difficult.” One potential solution floated by Lakeway Chief of Police Glen Koen at a regional school safety event was housing TSCO’s

EISD number of calls

2024-25

+66.7%

2025-26*

SOURCE: CITY OF LAKEWAY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

*AS OF OCT. 29

LAKE TRAVIS - WESTLAKE EDITION

Government

BY BEN THOMPSON

Scores of Lake Austin properties move to disannex from city

Scores of properties along Lake Austin are leav- ing the city’s full jurisdiction under a new state law, following years of complaints over lacking public services and taxation by Austin in that area. The tracts have been subject to jurisdictional questions stretching back to the late 1800s when some land along the shoreline was rst added into city limits. Over the past hundred-plus years, properties have been added, removed and added back to Austin’s tax rolls while residents faced public safety and infrastructure service issues. Owners sued over a 2019 City Council vote to resume taxing hundreds of waterway-adjacent properties, litigation that remains in progress. And under Senate Bill 1844, passed this spring, they’re now able to petition for disannexation from the city. Residents testifying at a March legislative hearing reported public safety problems ranging from lengthy 911 response times to confusion over which agencies should be involved. They also said they’ve been forced to install their own infrastructure systems after the city declined to extend wastewater service to the far West Austin lots, citing high costs. Chris Johns, a property disputes attorney representing many of the petitioning Lake Austin residents, said this year’s outcome follows years of frustrations with the city over service issues and the disputed annexation process. Zooming in Dozens of property owners pursued removal from Austin under SB 1844 this year. More than 150 petitions were approved by council in Novem- ber and December.

Senate Bill 1844 disannexation petitions: 150+ properties*

2222

360

RIVER HILLS RD.

WESTLAKE DR.

Austin

*AS OF DEC. 11

Johns said working with city sta on the petitions has been a relatively smooth process so far, although a few tracts seeking to disannex were contested by Austin. He said those, and many more properties, could be handled in future petitions. One more thing The new state law doesn’t end residents’ lawsuit against the city over the 2019 taxing vote, which Johns said has yet to be decided on the merits. Further review may also still be needed to address the millions of dollars in property taxes paid under Austin’s “illegitimate” jurisdiction claims along the western waterway, he said.

Disannexation details

• Average just over 1 acre and $1.87 million in city taxable value • Total over 155 acres and $288.5 million in city taxable value Properties up for disannexation approval this fall:

SOURCES: CITY OF AUSTIN, TRAVIS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICTCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Residents may not be eligible for reimbursement from the past several years when service issues were raised under an SB 1844 provision barring tax and fee repayments after disannexation.

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Government

BY GRACE DICKENS & BEN THOMPSON

City, Austin reghters reach tentative deal The city and Austin Fireghters Association have once again reached a tentative agreement for a four- year labor deal. This comes weeks after approval of a previous version was temporarily put on hold due to concerns over a separate union-backed ballot measure. In a nutshell More than two months after the conclusion of labor negotiations between the city and AFA, which represents most Austin reghters, talks were restarted to clarify some outstanding issues raised after the initial draft agreement was announced in September. Two days of bargaining Dec. 4-5 resulted in a new tentative deal between both sides that went for nal approval by AFA’s membership and City Council. The original contract framework provided for reghter pay increases over the coming years

Rollingwood swears in council members Following the Nov. 4 election, Rolling- wood City Council welcomed two returning council members and one new council member at its Nov. 17 meeting. The details Returning council members Brook Brown and Phil McDuee were joined by newcomer Kevin Schell, taking the place of outgoing council member Alec Robinson. Schell previously served on the city’s Board of Adjustment. All three of the sworn-in candidates ran unopposed. A resolution was also passed honoring Robinson at the meeting, who was elected to council in 2021. “It’s been an amazing honor to be able to serve the community the past four years,” Robinson said.

A four-year contract agreement reached in December concluded months of negotiations.

BEN THOMPSONCOMMUNITY IMPACT

as well as changes to recruitment and promotion processes aimed at growing and maintaining the Austin Fire Department force. The deal also set up a new stang format to reduce reghters’ weekly hours once implemented. What’s next Council plans to vote on the agreement Dec. 18, after press time, following anticipated approval by AFA members.

LAKE TRAVIS WESTLAKE EDITION

Lakeway makes progress on $22M parks bond projects From the cover

Parks bond projects

The overview

Not started

1 Lakeway Swim Center

2 Live Oak Tennis Courts

equipment at Butler Rough Hollow Park. Dunaway’s proposal for Lakeway City Park also includes at least one public meeting with community members once Dunaway has done some work on the design for additional input— something City Manager Joseph Molis said the city wants to deliver on. For the Butler Rough Hollow Park project, Dunaway held multiple open houses for feedback, and Molis said he wants that process to set the foundation for Lakeway City Park. “There may be some choices that council has to make as far as what stays or what gets modified,” Molis said. “We will certainly engage with the community as far as what their priorities are, so that gives [City Council] the information they need to make those calls.” Dunaway expects the design and engineering phase to take about a year and a half, according to representatives.

In the year and a half since 68% of Lakeway voters approved a $22 million bond to fund park projects, the city has taken several steps toward making those plans a reality. The bond consists of four projects at existing parks or amenities and one new park in the Rough Hollow area: • Lakeway City Park: $10.65 million • Lakeway Swim Center Park: $6.02 million

Ongoing

3 Lakeway City Park

4 Butler Rough Hollow Park

5 Lakeway Activity Center Completed

• Live Oak Tennis Courts: $2.72 million • Butler Rough Hollow Park: $2.1 million • Lakeway Activity Center: $508,771

LAKEHURST RD.

HURST CREEK RD.

LAKEWAY DR.

Work was completed on the Lakeway Activity Center’s playground, the smallest project of the five, in September. More recently, city officials made strides on plans for Lakeway City Park and Butler Rough Hollow Park at the Nov. 17 City Council meeting, approving a $1.02 million design services contract with engineering firm Dunaway and $430,738 for playground

LAKEWAY BLVD.

TOMICHI TRL.

620

LOHMANS CROSSING RD.

HIGHLANDS BLVD.

SERENE HILLS DR.

BEE CREEK RD.

SOURCE: CITY OF LAKEWAY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

In case you missed it

A closer look

Lakeway City Park conceptual plans include a new beginner skills bike park, boardwalk trail, overlook platforms, pickleball courts, an improved skate park and more. Timing for the community engagement process was not available at press time.

The newly-completed Lakeway Activity Center play structure project includes nat- ural features for a variety of ages, enhanced landscapes, picnic areas and more. It has drawn between 50-100 people a day, Lakeway’s Director of Parks and Recreation Andra Bennett said. “Good to know we hit the right chord with the community,” Bennett said. Design plans for Butler Rough Hollow Park were also approved in July, and the city hopes to have the bid package finalized in December or January, Bennett said. The park will include an amphitheater, a mountain bike course, a basketball area and a multisports field. Construction is expected to be completed in one phase around spring 2027.

The final design for Butler Rough Hollow Park was scaled down from original conceptual plans due to cost, with community conversations helping drive those decisions, according to previous Community Impact reporting.

Conceptual Lakeway City Park plan

Dunaway created conceptual plans for Lakeway City Park ahead of the 2024 election. Design plans will be finalized in the coming months based on resident feedback, cost and other factors.

Existing structures 1 Playground 2 Picnic pavilion 3 Pickleball courts 4 Restroom Existing structures getting upgrades 5 Dog park 6 Pickleball court

New trail

Existing trail getting upgrades

(possible location)

12 4

Butler Rough Hollow Park amenities

7 Playground 8 Sand volleyball courts New structures 9 Basketball court 10 Bike park 11 Community garden 12 Picnic pavilion 13 Skate park 14 Overlook platforms 15 Kayak launch 16 Restroom

Multisports field

Amphitheater

Mountain bike course

Ninja course

Basketball area

Playground area

SOURCE: CITY OF LAKEWAY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCES: CITY OF LAKEWAY, DUNAWAY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY GRACE DICKENS

The impact

What happens next?

portion of the overall tax rate used to pay off debt—increased 3.47% due to natural variations, resulting in slightly higher principal and interest, according to the city. Despite the increase, officials said the bond’s tax impact has stayed the same.

A specific tax increase was not approved by voters in the 2024 proposition, but the item did allow the city to levy a tax to pay off the debt. For fiscal year 2025-26, the city’s overall tax rate was raised by 6.16%. The city’s debt rate—a

The city hopes to finalize bid documents for Butler Rough Hollow Park in early 2026 and may select a contractor as early as March, Bennett said. For Lakeway City Park, the city expects the design process to take around a year and a half. The city plans to get the Lakeway City Park design underway before starting on the Lakeway Swim Center, followed by the Live Oak Tennis Courts project. The parks are what draw people to Lakeway, Bennett said, and the bond projects will help that continue. “In the last few years, we’ve become really dense with families with young kids, but they’re looking for community connections that are more than just going to an event,” Bennett said. “Lakeway is an amazing place to provide that.” Project timeline • May 2024: Bond passes • Sept. 2025: Lakeway Activity Center playground completed • Nov. 2025: Design firm chosen for Lakeway City Park • Spring 2026: Contractor chosen for Butler Rough Hollow park • Spring 2027: Butler Rough Hollow Park completed • Early 2028: Lakeway City Park completed • TBD: Lakeway Swim Center completed • TBD: Live Oak Tennis Courts completed

Lakeway property tax rates

2024-25

2025-26

Change

Average taxable property value

$838,642

$845,983

+0.88%

Total tax rate per $100 valuation

$0.159800

$0.169640

+6.16%

Tax rate portion for debt payment

$0.050800

$0.052565

+3.47%

Estimated annual tax impact of bond*

Total taxes

$1,340

$ 1,435

+$95

SOURCE: CITY OF LAKEWAY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

*ESTIMATED BASED ON AVERAGE TAXABLE VALUE.

Also of note

marina currently there. Molis said he does not anticipate the redevelop- ment of Hurst Harbor Marina to impact plans for Lakeway City Park at this time. Further down the road, plans are brewing for another nearby park. Earlier this year, Travis County officials held community engagement meetings to gather feedback on proposed improvements to Pace Bend Park. Conceptual plans include additions such as group campsites, an amphitheater, a new habitat observation platform and better beachside ameni- ties. The plan will go before county commissioners in early 2026 for approval.

In October, Lakeway City Council approved the rezoning of Hurst Harbor Marina, located across from Lakeway City Park. The new six-story develop- ment known as The Creek at Hurst Harbor is slated to feature 146 condo units alongside restaurant and retail space. Of the at least 50 comments submitted to the city prior to the decision, one major concern shared by residents at the time was the impact of the development on the neighboring park, both from an environmental and visual standpoint. Developer and Lakeway resident Rip Miller said the newer development is an upgrade from the

SOURCE: CITY OF LAKEWAY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

LAKE TRAVIS - WESTLAKE EDITION

Education

BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

After a monthslong search, the Eanes ISD board of trustees named Kirk Koennecke as the lone nalist in its superintendent search during a special meeting Nov. 18. Per a district news release, Koennecke has 30 years of education experience, having served as a teacher, coach, advisor, union representative, assistant principal, athletic director and principal. He also has ten years of superintendent experience in Ohio school districts. “The one thing that really stood out is that he puts students rst,” trustee Catherine Walker said. “His decisions, his heart, Eanes ISD lone superintendent nalist named

Lake Travis High School No. 2 faces delays Lake Travis ISD’s second high school could open later than its anticipated August 2028 date due to a delay in a site permit issuance. What you need to know The board approved a maximum price of $46.3 million for the rst phase of the project in September, but Travis County did not approve permitting until Nov. 19. Chief Financial Ocer Pam Sanchez said ocials expect to have the permit “in hand” and site clearance in December. While the goal remains to open the school in 2028, the delay could put construction two to three months behind schedule. “We have basically lost any cushion that existed in this process,” Superintendent Curtis Null said. “We have three years here of weather that could get in our way, or supply chain issues that could

Leander ISD considers sta adjustments The Leander ISD board of trustees are continuing long-range planning discussions in light of budget concerns. The gist Potential new guidelines could adjust LISD’s stang ratios based on enrollment. Campuses with 400 to 499 students would be under a low-enrollment Phase 1 threshold which would adjust librarians, receptionists and registrar sta to part-time. Campuses with up to 399 students would be under a low-enrollment Phase 2 threshold, which would adjust the same sta as above including assistant principals, counselors and instructional coaches. Further long-range planning was slated for Dec. 11 and Dec. 17 meetings, after press time.

Looking ahead

How we got here Eanes ISD’s search for a new superintendent began this summer. June former Superintendent Je Arnett announces resignation July Tom Trigg named interim superintendent August JG Consulting selected to assist in search September board adopts a superintendent leadership prole October 35 candidates apply November top candidates are interviewed

Dec. 3-Jan. 12: name and color selection suggestion form opens Jan. 21: entries presented to the board Feb. 18: approval of name and colors requested from the board TBD: students zoned for High School No. 2 select mascot Looking ahead The LTISD community can help shape the identity of the new campus by selecting its name and school colors.

Following a 21-day waiting period per state law, the board ocially hired Koennecke during its Dec. 9 meeting. Koennecke’s contract will begin Jan. 1 and run through Dec. 2030. “This is such an amazing community,” Koennecke said. “This is the dream for me professionally.”

“I am deeply honored and humbled the board of trustees has selected me to lead the nest public schools in Texas.”

SOURCE: LAKE TRAVIS ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

pop up.” Once completed, the 150-acre site will have a 1,500-student campus capacity and include a performing arts center, competition gym, auditorium, practice elds and competition elds with a stadium. Development of Reimers Road leading up to the new school site is still underway, Sanchez said. Road work began in June and is expected to be complete in September 2026.

SOURCE: EANES ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

KIRK KOENNECKE, SUPERINTENDENT FINALIST

his head, his energy, is going to be about our students.”

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Community Senior Living Guide

BY BRITTANY ANDERSON & GRACE DICKENS

2025

Cost: starting at $5,281 monthly Total units: 167 independent-living units, 103 assisted- living or specialty care units Insurance accepted : accepts Medicare for short-term rehab stays, long-term care insurance for memory care and assisted-living Amenities: dining venues, library, fitness center, pool, salon, walking trails, underground parking

Types of communities

Austin

Independent-living communities cater to older adults with limited care needs. Most include amenities, such as fitness programs, housekeeping and communal meals. Assisted-living communities specialize in providing care and supervision. These facilities frequently offer a full range of amenities as well as limited medical assistance. Memory care facilities specialize in providing care to seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia and other cognitive issues. Staff members are trained to help residents manage these diseases. Hospice care is intended to relieve symptoms and suffering associated with a terminal illness in those who have been given six months or less to live. The patient must choose to forgo further curative treatment. Nursing home/skilled nursing facilities provide care to those with illnesses or mental conditions requiring full- time monitoring and medical care. This list is not comprehensive.

• 2500 Barton Creek Blvd., Austin • www.querenciabartoncreek.com

The Reserve at Lake Austin Type: assisted-living, memory care, independent-living Cost: starting at $6,000 monthly Total units: 120 Insurance accepted : accepts long term care insurance Amenities: theater, pool, salon, lobby bar, art center, fireside lounge • 6401 RM 2222, Austin • www.reservelakeaustin.com Silverleaf Eldercare at Bee Cave Type: assisted-living, memory care Cost: $7,000-$7,900 monthly, plus levels of care Total units: 32 Insurance accepted : no Amenities: three homemade, chef-cooked meals; housekeeping; laundry; medication management

Brookdale Westlake Hills Type: assisted-living, independent-living, skilled nursing Cost: starting at $6,005 Total units: 269 Insurance accepted : accepts Medicare for skilled nursing Amenities: pool, theater, library, fitness center, general store, salon • 1034 Liberty Park Drive, Austin • www.brookdale.com

Austin

Longhorn Village Type: independent-living, assisted-living, memory care, hospice care, skilled nursing Cost: starting at $4,586 monthly Total units: 262 Insurance accepted : yes Amenities: fitness center, indoor pool, theater, salon, hiking trails, dog park • 12501 Longhorn Parkway, Austin • www.longhornvillage.com Querencia at Barton Creek Type: assisted-living, memory care, independent-living, skilled nursing

• 11825 Bee Caves Road, Austin • www.silverleafeldercare.com

• 14058 Bee Cave Parkway, Bldg. A, Bee Cave • https://locations.frontiermgmt.com/ the-auberge-at-bee-cave

Bee Cave

Auberge at Bee Cave Type: memory care Cost: starting at $6,500 monthly Total units: 82 Insurance accepted : yes Amenities: courtyard, movie theater, four bistros, remodeled rooms

CONTINUED ON 21

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LAKE TRAVIS - WESTLAKE EDITION

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