Planned Hill Country Galleria renovations include a flattened civic lawn.[/caption]
Upgrades approved for Bee Cave’s Hill Country Galleria
Following a June 14 discussion, Bee Cave City Council approved construction agreements and an amendment June 28 that pave the way for the Hill Country Galleria to undergo a $16 million renovation project.
Council members passed a proposal that includes flattening the civic lawn, removing the two-way street in front of City Hall, providing parallel parking in front of the theater, updating the splash pad and adding covered canopies above the sidewalks.
The mall renovations will begin this summer and work will be performed after stores close in the evening and end by 6 a.m. so the center can remain open, owner and INVESCO architect Daniel Woodruff said.
Rezoning request process changes in West Lake Hills
City Council approved an amendment to the rezoning process June 22 that may cause applicants to take an extra step in the rezoning approval process.
City Administrator Robert Wood said under the new ordinance, if the application receives a recommendation of denial from the zoning and planning commission, the applicant must file a written appeal to the city secretary before City Council can vote on whether to approve the application.
If City Council approves the appeal, the application will be added to a City Council agenda for council members to vote on. If the appeal is denied, the application process is over, and the rezoning request is denied, Wood said.
If the zoning and planning commission’s recommendation for denial is unanimous and the application reaches City Council following the appeal, the rezoning request must be approved with a supermajority vote—or four out of five votes—to pass, he said.
Mayor Linda Anthony said the new step “makes a lot of sense.”
Rollingwood resident Laura Hirschfeld speaks against mosquito spraying June 15.[/caption]
Rollingwood votes down mosquito spraying
After hearing from several people opposed to the idea of a citywide fogging plan to combat mosquitoes, Rollingwood City Council voted June 15 against using a city program to spray for mosquitoes.
Rollingwood does not currently spray around residents’ homes, but city staff does spray around culverts and areas with standing water, Mayor Thom Farrell said.
“I thought it prudent to have a discussion on how we approach doing this given the vast number [of mosquitoes] and ever-increasing viruses the mosquitoes are bringing into our community,” he said.
Council Member Sara Hutson proposed including a flier in residents’ next water bill that lists alternatives to chemical spraying.
Drainage projects move forward in West Lake Hills
West Lake Hills City Council voted June 8 to continue improving the city’s drainage issues, giving consulting firm K. Friese & Associates approval to categorize and rank the 15 most important potential projects and estimate a cost for each.
Additionally, Rollingwood City Council voted June 15 to start on two of Mayor Thom Farrell’s prioritized drainage projects on Hatley Road and Rollingwood Drive.
Bee Cave City Council Meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. 4000 Galleria Parkway 512-767-6600 www.beecavetexas.com
Lakeway City Council Meets the third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. 1102 Lohmans Crossing Road 512-314-7500 www.cityoflakeway.com
Rollingwood City Council Meets the third Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. 403 Nixon Drive • 512-327-1838 www.cityofrollingwood.com
West Lake Hills City Council Meets the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. 911 Westlake Drive • 512-327-3628 www.westlakehills.org
