Cedar Park Poised for Future Growth

CEDAR PARK, TX -- Cedar Park officials recently approved the rezoning of much municipal land currently zoned residential to accommodate office and retail space, in keeping with a stated goal of city leaders to promote more commercial development in the burgeoning community.

At its Dec. 3 meeting, the city’s Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously approved several zoning changes—some to fit ether future retail or office space—from its current configuration. The moves came a week before Mayor Matt Powell publicly stated an ongoing effort to develop more commercial space in the once-sleepy town located nearly 16 miles southeast of Austin.

“Office [development] is something we’ve struggled with,” Powell said at the Dec. 9 Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce luncheon, as reported by Community Impact newspaper. “There have been some smaller, one-story offices that have gone up, and goodness knows that’s been essential to what we’re doing here. But we’ve been really wanting to get into more multi-story office,” he told the gathering.

His words were met by action the prior week of his remarks. At the regular council meeting, council members passed ordinances allowing for the zoning changes—from either residential or local commercial—on the heels of unanimous endorsement by P&Z officials. Several tracts were approved for rezoning to achieve Powell’s stated goal, including:

• A pair of .361-acre swath at the northwest corner of West New Hope Drive and Bois D Arc Lane from low density residential to local offie/retail/commercial zoning.

• Another 5.21-acre site at the northwest corner of West New Hope Drive and North Lakeline Boulevard from local office/retail commercial to regional office/retail/commercial.

• Approximately 2.70 acres located east of West Parmer Lane and north of Ranch Trails from general office to general retail.

“We need a daytime population,” Powell said at the chamber gathering, reported Community Impact, in referencing the need for a bustling hub other than visitors to local restaurants for the dinner rush. “Nighttime population around here is awesome at this point. Daytime population, we’re still getting there.”

In his remarks, Powell also pointed at the city’s purchase of 215 acres—a quarry with lake views—in August from the city of Austin. The site was purchased toward an eye for future expansion, he noted. And this past November, voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot proposition for roughly $63 million in bonds for transportation projects.

For area concert-goers and sports fans, the city is perhaps best known for its Cedar Park Center, a live entertainment venue completed in 2009. Country singer George Strait opened the venue as the first artist to perform there, and it’s since been the home of several athletic teams—including the Austin Spurs, a minor-league affiliate of the San Antonio Spurs basketball franchise.

To be sure, the city that now counts more than 60,000 residents—up from 26,000 in 2000—is poised for expansion. Passage of various bond referendums reflects the brisk growth in its population, with voters approving a $96.7 million bond package that includes $7.55 million to expand and renovate police headquarters and build a fifth fire station and $20.5 million for a new library, in addition to $63 million for road projects.