Government
BY HANNAH NORTON
Georgetown City Council signed o on new height and density requirements for buildings downtown during a March 26 workshop meeting. After over an hour of debate, council members agreed to modify the maximum heights that were introduced in February as part of the city’s Downtown Master Plan. “I think we have a tremendous responsibility to preserve the look and feel of Georgetown,” said council member Jake French, who rep- resents downtown residents. What happened The proposed regulations state that most buildings in downtown Georgetown may not be taller than the Williamson County Courthouse, which is 57.5 feet tall. Buildings in the downtown area are currently limited to 40 feet. Council members opted to limit new develop- ment in Zone 4—which includes many properties outside the downtown square—to 52 feet. Over 60 Georgetown residents shared com- ments about the plan during the State of the City event March 21. None of them were in favor of buildings taller than 52 feet in Zone 4, urban Council considers new downtown height restrictions
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Georgetown City Council is considering height restrictions on buildings downtown as part of the Downtown Master Plan.
BROOKE SJOBERG COMMUNITY IMPACT
Building up downtown As city o cials look at ways to keep Georgetown's downtown a driving economic force, they are considering adopting the following building heights as part of the Downtown Master Plan.
Currently buildings in the downtown district are limited to 40 feet, which is less than the height of the 57.5-foot Williamson County Courthouse.
Zone 1 The inner half-block of buildings facing the courthouse Max proposed height: 35 feet Zone 2
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The outer half-block of buildings in the nine- block square surrounding the courthouse Max proposed height: 50 feet Zone 3 Transition between historic downtown and residential areas Max proposed height: 35 feet Zone 4 Business areas outside of the nine-block square Max proposed height: 52 feet Zone 5 Properties north of the square that may be allowed additional height due to their value Max proposed height: 64 feet Zone 6 Select properties along the north side of University Avenue Max proposed height: 40 feet
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E. 6TH ST.
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design consultant Chris Geddes said. Council members also recommended:
E.9THST.
• Removing limits on the maximum number of stories for new buildings in Zone 2, which includes properties adjacent to the county courthouse. The maximum proposed height for this zone is 50 feet. Previous proposals limited new development in this area to three stories. • Reclassifying properties south of University Avenue as Zone 3, which has a maximum height of 35 feet. • Limiting development in Zone 5, which includes properties of “exceptional value” in the northern sector of downtown, to 64 feet. Project consultants and city sta released a draft of the Downtown Master Plan for public review during the rst week of April. Council held another workshop to discuss the project April 23. What they’re saying Four council members—French, Amanda Parr, Kevin Pitts and Mike Triggs—voted to limit new
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MAP NOT TO SCALE N
SOURCE: CITY OF GEORGETOWN COMMUNITY IMPACT
development in Zone 4 to 52 feet. Three council members—Ron Garland, Ben Stewart and Shawn Hood—voted to limit development in the area to 57.5 feet. “One of my top priorities is always citizen feedback,” Parr said. “And I think on this one, we have heard loud and clear from what our citizens want here in the city of Georgetown: they’re willing to stretch a little bit; they’re just asking us to not stretch quite so far.”
More details O cials also plan to enhance bicycle and pedestrian access throughout the downtown area; create new public event spaces; improve seating and lighting; and increase parking under the Downtown Master Plan. The plan was rst adopted in 2003. City o - cials updated the plan in 2013 and began working on a second update in October 2022.
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GEORGETOWN EDITION
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