Buda's downtown master plan aims to revitalize district

The city of Buda is beginning a process city officials hope will revitalize its downtown district.

On Nov. 19, Buda City Council authorized City Manager Kenneth Williams to execute a contract with consulting firm Halff Associates, which will work with the city in the development of a downtown master plan.

The creation of such a plan was prompted by the city's comprehensive plan, which was adopted in late 2011, Buda City Planning Director Chance Sparks said.

"A major recommendation that came out of the comprehensive plan was to do a master plan for downtown that looks at how to make the downtown area a place with more vitality and more life to it, both from a residential perspective as well as businesses," Sparks said.

Among the components of the master plan will be physical changes such as signage, walking areas and parking; regulatory changes; marketing strategies; operational changes; and measures of success.

The first phase of the planning process will entail gathering input from public stakeholders in the downtown areas to formulate the ideas that will drive the revitalization efforts.

Sparks said the planning phase will consist of focus groups, town hall meetings and the forming of an informal advisory committee.