Buda City Council voted to postpone a motion that would allow the Old Black Colony Road reconstruction to use portions of three city parks as right‑of‑way and utility easements. The decision came after a public hearing on Oct. 20, where residents expressed worries about the use of parkland.
Parkland areas under consideration
The proposed alignment would affect a total of about 3.89 acres, broken down as follows:
- 0.42 acres of Whispering Hollow HOA Parkland
- 2.40 acres of Whispering Hollow Park
- 1.07 acres of Summer Pointe Park
Four public notices were issued before the hearing, according to the council agenda, but Whispering Hollow HOA vice president Marc Calderaro said his organization was not notified in advance.
“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 to the concerns, council members approved a motion to postpone the vote and schedule a second reading for the Dec. 1 meeting.
Project background
The Old Black Colony Road project, approved by voters in 2021, will reconstruct the stretch from FM 1626 to Cole Springs Road. Key components include widening the existing two‑lane road, adding sidewalks and cycling accommodations, and improving drainage. The city has allocated $24 million from its bond program for these improvements, including a new traffic signal at FM 1626 that was completed in January.
By shifting the roadway alignment into parkland, the city aims to avoid acquiring right‑of‑way from 12 private property owners south of the parks. The alignment also introduces gentle curves intended to calm traffic, and staff analysis suggests the approach will reduce overall project costs by limiting land acquisition expenses.
Council member perspective
“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 Councilmember LaVonia Horne‑Williams, at‑large position 3.
Horne‑Williams emphasized the city’s responsibility to balance community needs with practical infrastructure solutions.
Next steps
If the revised plans are approved at the Dec. 1 meeting, the project will move to the construction‑bidding phase. Officials hope to break ground in late 2027, with construction expected to take about one year. Updates will be posted on the Buda Bonds website.
Original reporting: Community Impact — Austin — read the source article.
