The first resolution was the adoption of an updated parks master plan. The plan includes discussion of existing parks as well as future parks that could be added if the city were to identify further funding through future council action.
Two of the proposed parks in the city’s park plan, Highlands Roadside Park and Highlands Waterfront Overlook, are in Rough Hollow near Rough Hollow Cove. A third proposed park, Butler Park, would be in the Lakeway Highlands development near Rough Hollow Elementary and Crosswind Drive, according to the plan.
Those parks are also the subject of a second agreement, unanimously approved by council resolution, to extend a 24-year-old development agreement for Rough Hollow and Lakeway Highlands through 2025. Both housing developments are under the ultimate direction of Legend Communities.
Council Member Sanjeev Kumar said before the vote that the revised agreement covers many topics and includes the input of multiple city staff and council representatives.
"It was 18 months worth of work," he said.
The extended agreement with Legend Communities requires the developer to work with the city to develop the three parks included in the city’s newly adopted park plan. Estimated completion for the parks is the end of 2022, said Bill Hayes, chief operating officer of Legend Communities.
Other obligations require the developer to adopt water quality protections, such as the use of detention ponds, that meet standards equal to those defined by the Lower Colorado River Authority. Such ponds would be set in place near specific areas of the Lakeway Highlands neighborhood that are not yet fully built out with the intent to protect Lake Travis and the waters of its nearby coves.
Further, the development agreement defines right of way for a possible connection to Flint Rock Road and a commercial area near Bee Creek Road and Highlands Boulevard that includes a high-end storage facility. During the online council meeting, local residents spoke out against having such a business near their community; however, council members and Hayes said the inclusion of the storage facility was the result of negotiation.
“Well, clearly we pursued it because we feel like it’s worthwhile commercially,” Hayes said. “There is a give-and-take here. We give an awful lot, and we are trying to get some sort of benefit on our side.”
In other business, council discussed the possibility of funding the extension of Main Street from Medical Drive to Lohmans Crossing by setting up a public improvement district in the area of the proposed work. The PID would be controlled by the city of Lakeway and would pay for the roadwork by issuing bonds, which would be paid back through special assessments made only to the landowners within the PID.
Lakeway Mayor Sandy Cox said the establishment of the PID would not increase property taxes.
“One of the misconceptions about the PID bond is that this is a tax increase for all the residents in the city, and that is absolutely untrue,” Cox said.
The discussion was for information only, and no action was taken by council.
Finally, council approved an ordinance to call for a May 1 city election to elect a mayor and three council members. Cox and Council Members Doug Howell, Kumar and Gretchen Vance are up for re-election if they choose to run. Gretchen Vance has made such an application. The deadline to file for the election is Feb. 12.
