A unanimous vote by Bee Cave City Council got the ball rolling on an 8.5-acre indoor and outdoor sports complex.

On May 22, City Council approved a zoning change necessary for the Hill Country Indoor complex to be built adjacent to The Backyard at Bee Cave music venue. The complex that will house a two-story, 80,490-square-foot building may open by next spring, spokeswoman PJ Todd said.

"We are very, very excited and blessed because we've got a lot of wonderful things that are going to be brought to the community," she said.

Hill Country Indoor will have three indoor basketball courts and two indoor fields that can be used for soccer, lacrosse and flag football. The facility will also have an outdoor baseball field.

Hill Country Indoor will host practices, recreational play and the occasional tournament.

Other plans for the facility include:

• 9,000-square-foot retail store,
• Locker rooms,
• Concession stand,
• Indoor batting cage,
• Fitness room for Pilates, yoga and spinning classes,
• Wi-Fi area, and
• Membership fitness facility.

During the May 22 public hearing on Hill Country Indoor, coaches, real estate agents, parents, a child and a doctor spoke on the benefits they thought the facility would have on the area.

Multiple parents said they drive their children throughout Central Texas for sporting events and it would be nice to have a top-of-the-line sporting facility nearby.

Others spoke on the economic benefit they think the facility would have on the area.

Several parents said families would likely eat or shop at nearby shops and restaurants before or after sporting events at the facility. Dan Myrick, vice president and general counsel of the Shops at the Galleria, said an increase in people to the area would be welcome.

"The more exposure we get, all the better, and we think it's a great project," he said.

Jan Moreland, a Realtor with Moreland Properties, added that she thought Hill Country Indoor would be helpful when trying to convince families to move to the area and buy a house.

An evolving plan

The vision for Hill Country Indoor has evolved since project developers appeared before council in December. At that time, council members expressed reservations about the facility's size and whether it would fit in with its surroundings.

Adding a provision that does not allow a big-box retailer to take over the space if Hill Country Indoor goes out of business was listed by council as a big step for them to approve the project.

Todd said the project developers have worked hard since that meeting to come up with a plan that council could support.

Council members commended project developers Josh McKay, Jeffrey Spillar and Chris Lupton for their work.

"Your entire group has come an amazing way from when you first approached council," he said to McKay.

Council must approve the project's site plan before construction starts.