Developers of a new master-planned neighborhood, Parten Ranch, hope to add up to 575 new homes in the $400,000-$800,000 range. Houses by builders Highland Homes, Taylor Morrison and Village Builders will be available on 65-, 75- and 85-foot lots, according to the Parten Ranch website. The neighborhood will have miles of hiking and bike trails.

The 532-acre neighborhood sits within the Dripping Springs school district, about 9 miles southeast Dripping Springs' most southeastern city limits and about 3 miles from the Austin's most southwestern city limits. The neighborhood is in the city of Dripping Springs extraterritorial jurisdiction, or ETJ, which is a designated buffer area just outside of the city limits, according to documents presented at the city’s planning and zoning commission meeting Aug. 10.

The ETJ enables Dripping Springs to impose some regulations in areas near the city where development can affect quality of life within the city. Developers have agreed to leave a minimum of 80% of the land uncovered by roads, houses and other surfaces that would block infiltration of water into the ground.

Residents of ETJs do not pay property taxes to their adjacent cities, according to a report by the Texas Municipal League, a nonprofit that offers legal services. West Travis County PUA will provide water service; Springhollow MUD will provide wastewater service; and Hays County MUD 5 will provide water treatment, according to planning and zoning commission documents.