Massive East Austin Annexation Proposed

Austin city staff brought a proposal to the City Council on May 21 to annex roughly 2,614 acres in eastern Travis County, a tract known as Dog’s Head that sits between the Colorado River, U.S. Highway 183 and State Highway 130. The land is outside Austin’s current city limits but inside its extraterritorial jurisdiction, and the owner has requested full-purpose annexation, according to city agenda documents. (services.austintexas.gov) The annexation item was paired with a 45-year development agreement that would set land-use rules, service obligations and conditions tied to future infrastructure financing. (services.austintexas.gov) City records describe the site as a former sand-and-gravel mining area under reclamation and say it is now largely undeveloped. (austintexas.gov) ### Where is Dog’s Head, and how big is the proposed annexation? The proposed annexation covers about 2,614 acres — a little more than 4 square miles — in eastern Travis County, according to Austin Planning staff and council backup materials. City documents place the tract between the Colorado River, U.S. 183 and State Highway 130, adjacent to Council Districts 1, 2 and 3. KVUE reported the land lies just north of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and is about twice the size of downtown Austin by area. Austin’s annexation page says the property is currently in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction and contiguous to Austin’s full-purpose boundary. (services.austintexas.gov) The city also says annexing the parcel would not expand Austin’s ETJ boundary. ### Who owns the land, and why is the city considering annexation now? City documents name Dog’s Head Land JV, Ltd. as the landowner entering the agreement with Austin. KVUE identified the property owner as Austin-based Endeavor Real Estate Group, the developer behind projects including the Domain and Southpark Meadows. (services.austintexas.gov) The May 21 agenda language says the owner requested voluntary annexation under a section of Texas law that allows municipalities to annex land when the owner asks for it. Austin Planning staff said the tract is a former mining site with very little infrastructure, and the city manager’s office said the agreement was negotiated to guide long-term redevelopment of the property. (austintexas.gov) ### What would the 45-year agreement actually do? The 45-year development agreement would establish allowable land uses, trail and open-space requirements, site-development standards and environmental rules for a mixed-use project, according to the council posting. (services.austintexas.gov) The agreement also includes provisions for income-restricted housing, delays some temporary right-of-way fees and sets expectations for a future tax increment reinvestment zone, or TIRZ, and a local government corporation to manage it. City staff said the annexation ordinance would also start work on a regulating plan for the property and an amendment to the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan to accommodate regional mobility improvements tied to the project. (services.austintexas.gov) Upon annexation, the land would receive interim zoning under city code until a regulating plan is adopted. ### What has the city said about housing, parks and tax revenue? KVUE reported the development package would include 20% affordable housing, hundreds of acres of parks and trails, and a financing structure intended to support new infrastructure. The station also reported city leaders said the project could generate $3.5 billion in property taxes over 30 years. (services.austintexas.gov) The city’s own agenda materials say the agreement includes income-restricted housing, trail and open-space requirements, and possible use of a TIRZ to fund future infrastructure on the property. (services.austintexas.gov) In the development agreement backup, Austin and the landowner said they anticipated the site could become a mixed-use district that enhances mobility, housing and public space. ### What are the legal and procedural steps in front of the council? Austin Planning staff said state law requires the city to publish notice and hold a public hearing before the council can adopt a full-purpose annexation ordinance. A draft ordinance in the backup materials says that hearing was scheduled for May 21 at Austin City Hall and by videoconference. (kvue.com) The same ordinance would authorize the city manager to execute a service agreement with the owner if the council approves annexation. The May 21 council agenda listed both the development agreement and the annexation ordinance for consideration at that day’s regular meeting. (services.austintexas.gov) The annexation item also directs staff to begin a regulating plan and mobility-plan amendment, making those steps the next formal pieces of the city process if council members vote to proceed. (austintexas.gov) (services.austintexas.gov)