Development plans for a 113-acre tract between SH 130 and Chris Kelly Boulevard in Hutto will combine residential options, a greenbelt, retail spaces and industrial showrooms within a single multipurpose location.
Two-minute impact
In a presentation to City Council Nov. 2, Fidelis developers introduced plans for a mixed-use development—to be known as Huggins Crossing—that would require a three-party agreement between developers, the city and Municipal Utilities District 22.
Developers anticipate 800-1000 jobs will be created and the development is expected to generate an estimated $9.8 million in property and sales tax revenue.
Plans for the development include:
- 600 multi-family residential units
- Expanding existing brushy creek trailways
- Greenbelt and water features
- 60,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space
- Grocery store
- Hotel or Medical facility
- 3 logistics buildings totaling 700,000 square feet - large, hall-like spaces often used for storage, order-picking or distributing goods
What we know
The property includes land both within Hutto's city limits and extra-territorial jurisdiction.
“It's a tricky site,” Fidelis representative Kevin O’Neil said. “What we're proposing is that there'll be a tri-party agreement between Fidelis, the city of Hutto and MUD 22. ...In concept, [the city] would deliver retail water to us and probably retail wastewater.”
As the city would be responsible for supplying utility services to the site, the negotiation would involve restructuring the tax distribution between the MUD and the city to fairly compensate for services rendered.
Place 3 Council member Randal Clark said he would want to ensure the tax agreements with MUD 22 would be lasting and the increased tax rate percentages distributed to the city could remain the same in future years.
Place 2 Council member Dan Thornton voiced concerns regarding the city’s capacity for water supply.
“We are up against it as far as getting enough water to serve the people we have and the growth we know is coming—the same on the wastewater side. The expansion projects we have are extremely expensive,” Thornton said.
Thornton said the city already has difficulties supplying water and wastewater services to current residents of Hutto, especially in light of the city’s recent call for Stage 2 water conservation efforts.
Traffic was another concern from City Council, calling for developers to consider strategies to alleviate traffic congestion as they move forward in the design plans.
Developers agreed to examine these concerns as they continued their planning process.
Looking ahead
If negotiations move forward, developers anticipate beginning Phase 1, industrial construction, in late 2025, and Phase 2, construction of residential and retail segments, in 2026-27.
“Our message is we've got a great concept. We’re the creative developer and you're a terrific and growing community. We want to be a part of it,” O’Neil said. “We think it's a unique site and a unique community with a path for growth.”
