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The 2017 Bee Cave City Council, from left, is: Mayor Pro Tem Bill Goodwin, Council Member Marie Lowman, Mayor Caroline Murphy, Council Member Kara King, Council Member Monty Parker and Council Member Tom Matzen.[/caption]
Bee Cave
Big decisions made in 2016
- Comprehensive master plan Our Bee Cave 2037 created City Council approved an updated comprehensive master plan that determines community goals; provides guidance for projected growth; and directs public policy in terms of transportation, utilities, land use, parks, hike and bike trails, open space, recreation and housing. The plan envisions how Bee Cave may look in the year 2037, the 50th anniversary of its incorporation as a municipality.
- Annexation continued The city annexed approximately 147 acres of land into its corporate limits. As the majority of the newly annexed land is undeveloped, development will be guided by the Future Land Use Map, which is part of the comprehensive master plan.
- Additional land purchased The city closed on the purchase of approximately 22 acres of undeveloped land located between Bee Cave Parkway and West Hwy. 71, across from the Ladera subdivision and next to the Hill Country Indoor sports complex currently under construction. The city has no immediate plans for how this land will be used; however, public ownership of this land will allow future city leaders the flexibility to provide more open space and/or future city services as the area’s population continues to grow.
Top issues for 2017
- Area traffic congestion The city will continue to work with the Texas Department of Transportation, Travis County Precinct 3 Commissioner Gerald Daugherty and Lakeway’s elected officials to improve traffic flow along RR 620. Road improvements under review include adding turn lanes at critical intersections, requiring developers to design internal pedestrian and vehicular connections to adjacent properties, and requiring developers to add deceleration lanes along major highways and thoroughfares to allow cars to safely slow down and turn into a driveway.
- Hotel tax funds usage City leaders will determine how best to use the funds being collected by its hotel occupancy tax. The Sonesta Hotel has been generating significant hotel occupancy tax dollars that can be used by the city to promote tourism and the arts.
A question for Caroline Murphy, mayor
Will the city of Bee Cave be able to maintain its Hill Country feel along Hamilton Pool Road with the anticipated growth in the region?
The primary focus of this character area will be to maintain the rural character of the roadway and its surrounding uses; protect views on Hamilton Pool Road; and upgrade the right of way with landscape improvements, access-management techniques, and bicycle/pedestrian connectivity and safety improvements. Preferred uses for the corridor include special destination or tourism-type uses, local farm or food-related markets or stands, and neighborhood-serving businesses. New development should minimize building footprints, conserve existing tree canopy and vegetation, and be set back from the roadway with appropriate landscaping.
