It is no secret the communities of Round Rock, Pflugerville, and Hutto are growing.

As people continue to search for affordable housing, good schools and, in many cases, a reasonable commute, population growth in each city continues to rise spurring new development.

Evidence of such growth can be found along the Gattis School Road corridor, which runs parallel to SH 45 N. starting at I-35 in Round Rock and ending at SH 130, where Round Rock, Pflugerville and Hutto meet.

Gattis School Road has changed over the years as neighborhoods expanded. It has gone from a two-lane country road lined by horse and cattle farms to a bustling four-lane thoroughfare bordered by businesses, retail strip centers and neighborhoods. There is more to come, according to Brad Wiseman, Round Rock Director of Planning and Development.

Round Rock has two new subdivisions planned for Gattis School Road, in addition to an office condominium complex and retail shops, including a Starbucks store near Red Bud Lane.

Two high schools have been built along its banks in recent years. Crews are currently at Cedar Ridge High School building a new auditorium.

“We’ve seen residential growth occur over many years,” Wiseman said. “We have a major new residential development that is currently under construction by Meritage Homes on the south side of Gattis School by Cedar Ridge. Obviously, Cedar Ridge is a relatively new high school, which is a major development for the area.”

Round Rock

Access to neighborhoods, and businesses that support the lives of those living in them, is driving development along intersecting roads. A new emergency care clinic and automotive shop have opened and a credit union is planned on A.W. Grimes Boulevard, south of Gattis School Road, according to Wiseman.

Outlying areas feeding into Gattis School Road are also seeing growth. Donnell Park Residential Condominiums are under construction off Louis Henna Boulevard and Donnell Drive, and proposed expansion of Kenney Fort Boulevard will create a direct connection between Gattis School Road. and Hwy. 79, with more development  planned along the route.

“Changes seen in the Gattis School Road area are more housing, expanded roadways and a new high school,” Brentley Brinegar, Brinegar Properties owner said. “Each of these factors have caused Gattis School Road to see significant commercial development.”

Projects planned or already under construction include retail, office and office warehouse developments.

Hutto

The construction boom is not limited to Round Rock. Hutto will have its first grocery store with the construction of an H-E-B shopping center on the west side of the Gattis School Road, SH 130 intersection. A number of retail stores will occupy spaces that complement the H-E-B anchor, including a Whataburger. [totalpoll id="189759"]

“We are looking at a large 120,000-square-foot H-E-B Plus grocery store and additional amenities,” said Helen Ramirez, director of development services for the city of Hutto. “Also, you have additional sites available that are just to the north, that would be additional retail there.”

Ramirez also said that property along SH 130 south of Gattis School Road could be for hotels or retail, as it is well-suited for that type of development.

“I think the community is pleased, but I think they would want more,” said Ramirez, noting the public’s desire for a grocery store on in east side of Hutto.

Pflugerville

Pflugerville claims development on the southeast side of the Gattis School Road, SH 130 intersection, where a Five Star ER 24-Hour Emergency Center has gone up and a Gold’s Gym is under construction.

Commercial development is expected to continue as housing developments are planned along SH 130 northbound toward Hutto, and south in Pflugerville.

“That’s really our northern border,” said Emily Barron, planning director for the city of Pflugerville. “We are seeing an enormous amount of pressure east of SH 130 for a lot of residential, and really it’s along the entire [SH]130 corridor. That Gattis School intersection is really our northern gateway. As far as a major commercial district, that development with Gold’s Gym and Five Star ER will probably fill out first.”

Expansion

Road upgrades are also coming to Gattis School Road. Widening and an improved right turn lane are underway at the intersection of Gattis School Road and Mays Street and improvements are proposed near the intersection of Gattis School Road and Red Bud Lane, where widening would allow for more lanes of traffic and greater access to area retailers.

While improvements and growth mean progress to the city, some residents have concerns that changes may negatively affect neighborhoods.

“Everyone knows that growth is happening,” said Jennifer French, a resident of a Round Rock neighborhood near the proposed expansion at the intersection of Gattis School Road and Red Bud Lane. “I as well as many others in our neighborhood, am not opposed to expanding areas and roads to handle and keep up with the growth and the traffic. What I am opposed to is expanding in areas that are really, truly small neighborhood streets with four schools within a few-mile radius.”

Round Rock Director of Transportation Gary Hudder said the proposed project is in the preliminary design phase, that the city will continue to inform the public of any progress and that he anticipates it being years before the stretch of road sees construction.

“We believe that it will improve school safety because of components of the engineering design that will be coming forward,” Hudder said.