After three years of a downtown development ordinance to keep buildings to three stories or less, the city of Round Rock is considering changes to its building code.

Planning and Development Director Brad Wiseman said the city is considering updating the code to allow buildings to be built to heights of four, six and eight stories in southwest downtown.

“This really springs from a proposed project we had about six months ago,” Wiseman said. “It went away, but it was a project seeking some additional height beyond the currently allowed three stories in the downtown area.”

Wiseman said this project sparked conversations among city staff, who are now proposing changes based on the different characteristics of specific areas of downtown.

In the area adjacent to the historic two-story district, for example, Wiseman said no changes will be made. In areas closer to I-35, however, building height restrictions are proposed to be loosened to allow for taller structures.

The tallest building in the area, the Wells Fargo building adjacent to I-35, is already at an acceptable 12 stories because of its commercial zoning.

Wiseman said any areas in the city that are zoned commercially and have frontage onto I-35 or SH 45 N are able to build to the same height.

The city development director said he hopes enabling greater heights would potentially make the city more attractive to types of business that have not considered locating in Round Rock before.

“It certainly encourages different types of projects,” he said.

Wiseman also said allowing this greater height restriction could open more opportunities for developers in which to use their land. He said taller buildings permit greater density within a smaller area and room for more parking.

The building restriction code change was read for the first time at the March 23 City Council meeting. At earliest, the code change will be revisited and voted on at the first meeting in April.