Market analysis forecasts Pflugerville population explosion over next decade

During a joint worksession between Pflugerville City Council and the Pflugerville Community Development Corp. prior to Tuesday night’s meeting, it was forecast that Pflugerville will have a population of 156,787 by the year 2027. Pflugerville’s population was estimated at 60,345 in 2017, according to the city of Pflugerville Community Profile Report. “There’s a lot of land. It’s an attractive place to live,” said Charles Heimsath, president of Capital Market Research. Capital Market Research was brought on by PCDC to provide an analysis and forecast of the Pflugerville market, including population estimates, housing analysis and a land use breakdown. According to Heimsath, Pflugerville’s growth accounted for more than 7 percent of the overall growth in the Austin-Round Rock metropolitan statistical area. The market analysis forecasts one of the largest sectors of growth to occur with apartment unit construction over the next decade. Per Capital Market Research’s data, only 9.9 percent of Pflugerville residents were renters in 2000, but that has since grown to 23 percent. It is forecasted that 34.4 percent of residents will be renters by 2027. “While you’re still predominantly a community of homeowners, that’s changing,” Heimsath told council. According to Heimsath, 895 apartment units will be delivered by the end of 2018 and he expects a total of 9,157 apartment units in Pflugerville by 2027. Additionally, Heimsath forecasts Pflugerville will bolster its stock of viable office space by 131,000 square feet over the next three years, with 32,000 square feet of office space delivered in 2018. Capital Market Research’s analysis expects 280,000 square feet of office space to be built or under construction by 2027. Little retail growth is expected to occur over the next decade, though Heimsath expressed the most concern over the city’s lack of land allocated for industrial use. “We see an imbalance in the remaining land,” Heimsath said.

Jim Swanzy announces resignation from PCDC

Jim Swanzy, president of the PCDC Board of Directors, submitted his resignation to council Tuesday night. The president cited family obligations as the driving force behind his resignation, though Swanzy offered to stay on and serve as president while the council searches for a new board candidate. “It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve on the PCDC the past three years,” Swanzy said.

Council votes to review Atmos Energy rate increases

The city of Pflugerville will participate alongside other municipalities in the Atmos Texas Municipalities (ATM) coalition to postpone a proposed $46 million system-wide increase to Atmos Energy rates. According to city documents, the average rate increase for a residential customer in ATM cities would be $1.90 per month. The vote postpones any rate of increase for 90 days so the coalition can look at what Atmos is proposing. The coalition of municipalities can potentially propose an alternative increase plan to the Railroad Commission for review. Last year, council approved a $48 million system-wide increase from Atmos Energy, which was lowered from Atmos Energy’s initial rate increase proposal of $57 million, according to city documents. Previously this year, ATM worked with Atmos Energy to pass along savings of approximately 10 percent to customer bills as a result of a reduction in the federal tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent.

City moves forward with historic Colored Addition Subdivision rehabilitation

Efforts to rehabilitate the city’s historic Colored Addition Subdivsion off West Pecan Street took a step forward Tuesday night after Pflugerville City Council approved a contact with an engineering firm to evaluate infrastructure and needs. Pflugerville City Engineer Amy Giannini laid out her own analysis of failing infrastructure within the subdivision to council members. “There’s essentially no drainage structures out here,” Giannini said. The city engineer also laid out concerns with a lack of right-of-way, water and wastewater infrastructure, pavement and a complete lack of fire hydrants in the area. Council member Rudy Metayer relayed that Travis County ESD 2 expressed “concern” about the lack of fire hydrants. “It’s appalling in a lot of ways what is happening out there,” Metayer said. Ultimately, City Council awarded a contract valued at $65,985 to Halff Associates Inc. to perform the needs study for the Colored Addition Subdivision. The scope of the study includes an evaluation of existing street, drainage, water and wastewater infrastructure, collection of pertinent data on land use and franchise utilities, assistance with the public involvement process, recommendations for infrastructure improvements and consideration of potential alternate funding opportunities for improvements.