Ahead of Friday’s Liberty Fest celebrations, the Leander City Council convened for its regular meeting July 2 to discuss items relating to development, roadways and the city’s budget. Here are three takeaways from that meeting.
Hero Way construction near Harmony Science Academy
The Leander City Council approved an interlocal agreement with Williamson County for $329,352.63 in roadway improvements along Hero Way near Harmony Science Academy.
While the city placed a temporary traffic signal that operates during school hours, the two-lane road leading to Harmony Science Academy continues to experience congestion during school hours. City documents indicate that the city and county have identified this area “as a significant traffic and safety concern.”
The approved project will install part of the future roadway, along with temporary pavement, to create turn bays toward the school. This temporary traffic pattern, which is intended to shift school traffic away from Hero Way, will include a new temporary signal and is scheduled to be completed before the 2026-27 school year begins.
Once the Hero Way Phase 1A Roadway Expansion Project expands Hero Way to three lanes in each direction, the temporary and existing pavement will be demolished. This transition is expected to occur in 2028, according to Gina Ellison, executive director of public works for Leander.
Ellison said the county is already constructing a later phase of the Hero Way expansion project ahead of schedule to improve access to Harmony Science Academy.
Under the approved agreement, Leander will pay to use the county’s design engineer and on-site contractor, with 75% of the $329,352.63 bill being paid once the agreement is finalized. The city will pay the remaining costs once the extended driveway connection to the school is completed.
The project’s design is budgeted to just under $70,000 while construction costs amount to about $260,000, according to city documents.
Harmony Science Academy previously paid a fee of $340,750 in place of a Traffic Impact Analysis. Additionally, the current temporary traffic signal was purchased using fees paid by the school.
Life Time zoning
The City Council also approved a planned unit development for a proposed Life Time facility at 11675 Hero Way West. The council voted to approve the item as part of the consent agenda after the first reading of the ordinance change was approved during the last City Council meeting June 18.
As previously reported by Community Impact, the upscale gym chain plans to build a 100,000-square-foot fitness center which will include a 45,000-square-foot pool deck.
Through the approved planned unit development, the Life Time facility can operate from 4 a.m. to midnight. Additionally, the gym can play amplified sound from the pool deck between 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
During the last June 18 City Council meeting, local resident and historian Kathy Howell spoke during the public hearing to request that the project include a rock wall between the proposed gym and neighboring Bagdad Cemetery.
Natalie Nye, a representative from Life Time, said the gym chain has spoken with the cemetery and is open to exploring a buffer between the two sites.
City budget
The City Council also approve a budget adjustment of a little under $4 million in response to revenues that were higher than anticipated.
Otis Williams, chief financial officer for Leander, said the additional revenue came from an increase in sales and franchise tax revenues.
Three city accounts saw revenues higher than projected:
- The general fund has over $1 million in revenues above initial projections and $1.2 million in unspent balances from non-departmental accounts.
- The city’s golf fund has surpassed initial revenue projections for this fiscal year by $24,000, while $40,000 remain available from unspent balances.
- The city’s utility fund has over $56,000 in unspent balances from non-departmental accounts.
The budget amendment will allocate $282,981 toward recurring costs while the remaining $3.7 million will be allocated toward one-time costs for capital expenditures, vehicle replacements, contracts and services.
Items funded by this budget adjustment include a grant application to improve safety at the rail crossing of Crystal Falls Parkway and US 183, improvements to fire stations and replacing the HVAC system at the police headquarters.
