1. New H-E-B under construction at Wolf Lakes Village in Georgetown (May 2)
Construction started in April on the new 117,000-square-foot H-E-B in Wolf Lakes Village in Georgetown, said Donald McLachlan, one of the proprietors of the development.
The grocery store will include a barbecue restaurant, a car wash and a fuel station. The H-E-B is set to open in spring 2023.
2. Williamson County increases property tax exemptions for homeowners, age 65-plus and disabled residents (May 17)
Williamson County Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of increasing the general homestead property tax exemption as well as the exemptions for homeowners age 65-plus and homeowners with a disability during its May 17 meeting.
The motion, which passed with a vote of 4-0, increases the existing tax exemption for residents age 65 and older as well as residents with a disability to $125,000. The general homestead property exemption was increased to 5% of assessed value or a minimum of $5,000. The increased exemptions will be in effect for the tax year beginning Jan. 1, 2022.
3. Williamson County adjusts Corridor I-2 Study to connect US 183 to Hwy. 29 near Liberty Hill (Jan. 13)
Williamson County has changed the scope of the Corridor I-2 Planning and Right-of-Way Study, which looks at building a connector route from US 183 and Hwy. 29 in northwest Williamson County near Liberty Hill, according to a Jan. 7 media release.
According to the county, the study was “rightsized, meaning it will consider updated alignments and a smaller ROW footprint than originally proposed.”
4. CelLink to build 300,000-square-foot facility at Gateway35 Commerce Center, open in June (Feb. 16)
CelLink, a California-based, next-generation electronics technology company, will construct a 294,297-square-foot, Class A building at the Titan Gateway35 Commerce Center, a master-planned industrial park at I-35 and SH 130, according to a release from the company and a joint announcement from the city of Georgetown and Williamson County.
The new facility is expected to provide electric vehicle manufacturers with next-generation wiring systems needed for electrical systems and battery packs, according to the release.
5. 8 candidates file to run for Georgetown ISD board of trustees (Feb. 21)
Eight candidates will be running for three Georgetown ISD board of trustees seats this May.
Place 1 trustee Scott Stribling and Place 3 trustee Andy Webb chose not to run for re-election, while Place 2 trustee Elizabeth McFarland will seek reelection.
6. 3D-printed homes in Georgetown offer new approach to building communities (Nov. 17)
The construction of a new community is underway in Georgetown’s Wolf Ranch neighborhood, where a fleet of robots are printing 100 homes that developers said are more energy efficient and stronger than traditional houses.
7. Red Poppy Festival to return this April after three-year hiatus (March 21)
After two years of pivoting to an October event due to the pandemic, the Red Poppy Festival, the city of Georgetown’s signature event, will return this year to its normal place on the calendar for the first time since 2019.
8. Williamson County issues fireworks restrictions for July 4 to promote safety (June 24)
Williamson County may be quieter on July 4 this year because of restrictions on the sales of aerial fireworks. The decision is a result of severe drought conditions and a burn ban that went into effect June 21.
9. Houston developer holds ribbon-cutting ceremony at built-to-rent community in Georgetown (July 7)
The Wan Bridge Group, a Houston-based development company, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its first build-to-rent community in Georgetown on June 30.
Georgetown Heights—located at 468 Northwood Drive, Georgetown—features 48 three- to four-bedroom, two-story duplexes ranging from 1,400-2,100 square feet.
10. Williamson County animal shelter issues call to action from community due to critical capacity (Aug. 10)
With 460 animals and counting, the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter is at critical capacity, according to April Peiffer, the WCRAS' community program coordinator.
"I cannot remember the last time [WCRAS was] comfortable," Peiffer said. "We have been over capacitated for weeks now."
Community Impact will continue to cover these stories and more in 2023. Have a tip? Email us at [email protected].
