Sorting out the details
The goal of the Downtown Master Plan is to shape the future of the area through strategic investments focused on “enhancing the livability, vibrancy, and attractiveness” of the city’s downtown, according to city documents.
The roughly 97-page document outlines the purpose of the plan, the importance of Liberty Hill’s downtown, the vision and framework for the area, special concepts and features, a list of projects with associated costs and action items for the implementation of the projects.
Some of the special concepts listed in the document include:
- Main Street and Myrtle Lane are identified as “key streets” because of their potential to serve as “hubs for downtown activity.”
- Creating the new Church Street and Stubblefield Districts. Church Street would concentrate on health and wellness, while Stubblefield focuses on shops and eateries.
- Transforming Myrtle Lane into a pedestrian connection between the two new districts.
- Increasing parking opportunities, such as repurposing the vacant lot at Stubblefield Lane and Myrtle Lane for temporary parking to provide additional relief.
- Constructing a downtown shared-use path.
- Implementing gateways and wayfinding signage.
“This is a living, breathing document, and I do think that we should look at it every year—update it, make changes,” she said during the meeting. “So it’s not set in stone, but they’re good, solid guidelines.”
According to the document, a few ongoing and short-term projects outlined in the plan include:
- Developing a Downtown Streetscape Master Plan.
- Adding permanent specialty lighting downtown.
- Installing decorative street lamps or banners along the primary streets leading into downtown.
- Designing streetscapes and pathways to prioritize pedestrian movement, which is currently underway
- Installing a kiosk map at public parking lots to help visitors with navigation.
- Engaging local artists to create murals or sculptures that reflect the identity and culture of Liberty Hill’s downtown.
City leaders began making strides towards a Downtown Master Plan last year, when council approved a $125,000 contract with engineering consulting firm Halff Associates at a May 24 2023 meeting to prepare the document.
Officials said the plan is intended to complement and overlap with the LHTX 2040 Comprehensive Plan, which was approved last year in October.
While the comprehensive plan is an overarching plan intended for the entire city, officials wanted to hone in on the downtown area.
Last year in September, the Liberty Hill Economic Development Corp. purchased 1.51 acres of land in the heart of downtown, which acts as a “beacon, moving everything in the direction of revitalizing the downtown area,” former Director of Economic Development Mary Poche' said in a previous interview with Community Impact.
Going forward
Council member Diane Williams asked about next steps and when the community can see the plan being implemented.
“We can do lots of plans, it’s the implementation,” she said. “It’s really nice. I like it, but I am concerned that we need to make sure all our offices are working together under one view.”
Amsler said the very next step would be for council to approve a new downtown coordinator position in the 2024-25 fiscal year budget, who would be responsible for the implementation of the master plan. She said the action items listed in the plan would happen as funds become available.
