1. Pflugerville in talks with El Arroyo developer
The city of Pflugerville will negotiate an agreement with two developers for a project to bring more family-friendly services near the city’s ongoing Downtown East project.
About the project
City Council approved the selection of Cozumel Development Company and NAR Ventures for the development of a 1.05-acre site commonly referred to as the Gin Tract.
According to city documents, possible uses for the area include a new restaurant, retail or family entertainment. The group of developers is known for its El Arroyo restaurants, which Cozumel is expanding the number of locations of within Central Texas, and Pflugerville is expected to be the first location north of Austin.
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2. Travis County renews public health crisis declaration amid rising local opioid overdoses
While Texas has reported its lowest number of opioid overdoses since 2020, Travis County is experiencing a continued rise in overdoses and deaths, prompting local authorities to extend the public health crisis declaration on opioid use until 2026.
The action taken
On Nov. 12, Travis County commissioners renewed the 2022 declaration of a public health crisis, allocating $100,000 for naloxone—medicine that treats a narcotic overdose in an emergency—purchases in the new year and an additional $300,000 for future overdose prevention programs.
By the numbers
County staff told commissioners the area continues to see overdose surges, like the most recent surge in April, with 79 overdoses and nine suspected overdose deaths. The opioid overdose trends have not "plateaued” yet, said Laura Peveto, a division director at Travis County Health and Human Services.
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3. Pflugerville commercial building permits see record high in fiscal year 2024
Last fiscal year, the city of Pflugerville saw the highest number of commercial building permits in recent time, according to the Planning and Development Services department. The trend was reported alongside an update on major development projects as the city heads into the new fiscal year.
The gist
Building Official Robert Polanco presented a recap of Pflugerville’s permitting and development projects at a City Council meeting Oct. 22. The record number of commercial permits as well as an increase in site development applications reflect workforce development efforts by the city, Mayor Victor Gonzales said.
By the numbers
There were 480 commercial building permits issued in Pflugerville in FY 2023-24, Polanco said. The figure is up four since FY 2022-23, and is 447 more permits than were issued in FY 2015-16, the earliest year included.
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4. Williamson County commissioners allocate funding for nonprofit projects
Two Williamson County nonprofits will receive additional funding after county officials approved an American Rescue Plan Act update Oct. 29.
The federal act provides emergency funding for various government bodies, according to a White House fact sheet. At the county meeting, commissioners updated how to spend Williamson County's ARPA dollars.
Two-minute impact
Commissioners approved allocating ARPA funds to Hope Alliance and the Yellow House Foundation, which are currently located in Round Rock and Cedar Park, respectively.
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