Cedar Park - Far Northwest Austin Edition | February 2024

Government

BY HALEY MCLEOD & ZACHARIA WASHINGTON

County against groundwater annex On Jan. 9, Williamson County Commis- sioners voted to not support a petition to annex parts of Williamson County to a neighboring conservation district. The gist The Aquifer Conservation Alliance, a group formed by Williamson County residents, reled a petition Sept. 6 with the Clearwater Underground Water Conserva- tion District in Bell County. The petition, which was previously submitted in March 2023, requests to annex the western half of Williamson County into the CUWCD to manage use of the Trinity Aquifer. However, Williamson County ocials chose not to support the petition, as Bell County would retain a majority of the district board members.

Leander library nixes overdue book nes Patrons at the Leander Public Library will not be charged overdue book nes after council voted to remove the policy Jan. 4. In a nutshell The library was charging a $0.10 per day late fee for any item returned past its due date. Now that the policy was removed, the library will no longer enforce late fees. However, Library Director Peggy Parrish said if an item is not returned, the borrower will be responsible for paying the full cost of the item. The removal of overdue book nes is happening in libraries across the country. Library sta have found that after removing the late fees, patrons are returning outdated items and feeling relieved to start using the library again, city ocials said.

Lakeline Park pedestrian bridge to be designed Design for the pedestrian bridge connecting Lakeline Park to the Brushy Creek Regional Trail is now afoot after Cedar Park City Council unanimously approved the $1.5 million contract Jan. 25. The overview The project includes construction of a new pedestrian bridge over South Bell Boulevard, or US 183, that allows people to safely cross the highway between Lakeline Park and the Twin Lakes Family YMCA campus, according to city documents. Digging in deeper Furthermore, the new bridge will serve as the rst distinct landmark encountered when entering the city of Cedar Park from the south via South Bell Boulevard, Senior Project Manager

Haute Spot to gain up to 14 pickleball courts Cedar Park City Council unanimously approved a special-use permit at its Jan. 25 meeting to allow pickleball and paddleball courts on the Haute Spot’s property. What’s happening? Proposed by Haute Spot owners, the plan includes up to 14 outdoor courts on a 1.83-acre gravel lot currently used for the event venue’s overow parking, Assistant Director of Develop- ment Services Andreina Davila-Quintero said at a Jan. 11 City Council meeting. Co-owner Erik Engh said the courts would be implemented in two phases, with Phase 1 includ- ing the rst nine courts. The courts will likely be operational on the days that events are not happening, Engh said. Further down the line, he said the owners are hoping to add a food truck or juice bar to the space.

BRUSHY CREEK REGIONAL TRAIL

"With the sacrice of the overow [parking lot] to build these courts, what does that do to

183A TOLL

Cedar Park

TWIN LAKES FAMILY YMCA CAMPUS

183

the Haute Spot?" ANNE DUFFY, CEDAR PARK CITY COUNCIL MEMBER

FUTURE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE

LAKELINE PARK

LAKELINE PARK TRAIL

Caleb Stockton said at the Jan. 25 City Council meeting. Also included in the project are trail extensions that will provide key connections to the Lakeline Park and Twin Lakes Park trail systems, which are located on each side of South Bell Boulevard. Looking ahead Ocials said the design process is expected to last 10 months, and construction is anticipated to take roughly 18 months to complete.

A closer look Because the proposed lot is used for overow parking and typically lls up during larger events, council’s main concern is about parking availability on the days that events are taking place. However, Davila-Quintero said the Haute Spot does meet the minimum parking requirements for an event venue use. “The overow parking doesn’t technically need to be there based on the law,” Engh said.

HYMEADOW 12611 Hymeadow (512) 506-8401

NORTH 620 10601 N FM 620 (512) 506-8316

CEDAR PARK 13530 Ronald Reagan Blvd (512) 986-7681

ARBORETUM 10515 N Mopac Expressway (512) 342-6893