Austin Community College: There’s 'excitement' for a new Pinnacle campus

DePalma said the advisory committee would like a new Pinnacle campus to be designed with a regional approach that would serve Southwest Austin and Hill Country communities. In terms of academic offerings, Pinnacle could reopen with a focus on local industries including hospitality, winegrowing, agriculture and nursing, he said.

The updated master plan does not yet outline specific designs or a timeline for implementation, and renovating or reconstructing a campus on the Pinnacle site would require a future bond for financing.

Located on top of the Trinity Aquifer, redevelopment of the almost 50-acre property would also require environmental considerations, DePalma said during the Nov. 16 presentation.

“There’s some concern within the committee members and the community of making sure when we redevelop it, we're doing it right,” he said. “We're paying attention to the environmental impact that may take place because of the impervious cover issues and sensitivity around the aquifer as well as [vehicle] traffic.”

Once planning is underway, he said ACC could begin conversations with Dripping Springs ISD—which is located west of the campus—about joining the district in the future.

According to the presentation, the campus master plan lists other goals for ACC’s southern region as well, including establishing an ACC accelerator program and a fire academy in the area. The master plan also lists a goal to establish a health sciences program at ACC’s Hays campus.