On April 25, the city's economic development department unveiled a new incentive program designed to encourage project proposals from developers.
In a nutshell
In May 2022, Rollingwood City Council adopted the city's first Comprehensive Plan—a long-term planning tool to help cities define future development goals.
The Comprehensive Plan includes recommendations to reimagine parts of the main commercial corridor on Bee Caves Road between MoPac and Rollingwood Drive, based on resident surveys and market research.
According to the plan, 69% of Rollingwood land is currently dedicated to residential developments, followed by 14% to office spaces and only 8% to retail.
Rollingwood Community Development Corporation President Colin Harvey said creating more retail and dining options along the corridor would generate vital sales tax revenue for the city's growth.
"Twenty to 30 years ago, Rollingwood and the value of that area was very different than it is today. ... There's far more density in terms of people traveling through that corridor," Harvey said.Harvey said the south side of Bee Caves Road has had no problem attracting large retailers, such as the Trader Joe's-anchored Shops at Mira Vista center, but the north side of the road has struggled to keep up.
The RCDC's incentive deals will not be limited to the north side of Bee Caves Road, however, and the offerings will be tailored to each individual project's needs, Harvey said.
"We really need to engage with developers and investors directly, like they don't really even know who we are, that we exist, or what we're trying to do," Harvey said.
The details
Other goals in the comprehensive plan include improving drainage, walkability and neighborhood access along the corridor.
According to the plan, residents oppose increasing building heights along the corridor, and Harvey said new buildings will likely be limited to three stories or less.
What's next
In the coming months, the council will take action on rezoning parts of the corridor from "office" zones to "commercial," to allow for a broader range of uses that include retail.
Harvey said no strict redevelopment timeline is set yet, but changes are likely within the next five to 10 years.
