The city may modify portions of three park properties—totaling approximately 3.89 acres—in Buda to provide the right-of-way, or ROW, and public utility easements needed for the Old Black Colony Road Project.
Buda City Council held a public hearing during a regular meeting on Oct. 20 to discuss the proposed change in parkland use.
Zooming in
The land includes:
0.42 acres of Whispering Hollow HOA Parkland
2.40 acres of Whispering Hollow Park
1.07 acres of Summer Pointe Park
The city issued four public notices leading up to the public hearing, stating the proposed change, according to agenda documents.
Marc Calderaro, Whispering Hollow HOA vice president, said the organization he represents was not notified before the hearing.
“I do want to make sure that sort of lapsed notice is not the sort of care that is going into this project in general,” Calderaro said.
In response, council approved a motion to postpone the vote and hear a second reading of the item at the Dec. 1 meeting.
Project details
The reconstruction and improvement of Old Black Colony Road from FM 1626 to Cole Springs Road was approved by voters in 2021, and includes:
Widening the existing 2-lane roadway
Adding sidewalks and cycling accommodations
Improving drainage along the roadway
The city's bond allocated $24 million for roadway improvements, including the cost of installing a new traffic signal at the intersection of FM 1626 and Old Black Colony Road, which was completed in January.
A closer look
The roadway alignment shift into the parkland minimizes or avoids ROW acquisition needs for 12 property owners south of the parkland and adds slight curves to promote traffic calming, according to agenda documents. Staff analysis also concludes that the project will cost less because it requires less land acquisition.
"I understand that there's concern and that citizens are worried about the parkland component, some of that property being utilized as right-of-way and for public utilities, but the alternative is someone's private property where they've already got homes on it, and they're living in that space," said LaVonia Horne-Williams, Buda council member for at-large position 3. "And what we have to do as a city is balance those types of things."
Once completed, the project will include an improved pedestrian network and drainage management system, according to agenda documents.
What’s next?
After final plans are approved, the project will move into the construction bidding phase before construction begins. City officials hope to break ground in late 2027, and the project is expected to take about one year to complete.
Updates on the project are available on the Buda Bonds website.
