H-E-B announced Jan. 16 that the Texas-based grocer no longer plans to establish a second Leander store at the southwest corner of FM 2243 and Ronald Reagan Boulevard.

"After much review, this land does not meet all of our planning needs and expectations for a future H-E-B store," H-E-B spokeswoman Leslie Sweet said in a letter addressed to Ridgmar Landing subdivision residents and nearby neighbors.

In a followup, fellow H-E-B spokeswoman Tamra Jones said multiple factors contributed to the site not being ideal. First and foremost, the space was smaller than ideal, Jones said. H-E-B officials originally said they intended on occupying 65 percent of the site.

Jones said there were also concerns raised about Brushy Creek, which is located behind where the new grocery store was planned. There was also resistance from nearby residents.

"When we really weighed everything out, it was just note the best site for H-E-B," Jones said.

No alternative Leander location has been pinpointed for development, she said.

H-E-B met in October with Ridgmar Landing residents to discuss the possibility of a new store near their subdivision. Ridgmar Landing residents again attended the Nov. 8 Leander Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, during which half of the 24 speakers voiced opposition to the proposed second H-E-B. Store officials said the store would be approximately 65,000–80,000 square feet in size, and construction would not begin for at least a couple years. The commission unanimously approved H-E-B's zoning request.

H-E-B twice delayed final zoning approval from City Council, so the company could continue working with neighbors, according to Leander city officials, before announcing they no longer plan to pursue building an H-E-B store at that same location.