Buda City Council delays vote on Old Black Colony Road parkland changes

The Buda City Council postponed a vote on modifying three park properties to accommodate the Old Black Colony Road project. The decision came at the end of a regular meeting on Oct. 20, shifting the item to a second reading scheduled for Dec. 1. The council approved a motion to delay the final approval after a public hearing raised questions about the process.

The proposed change involves using approximately 3.89 acres of land for right-of-way and public utility easements. The specific parcels include 0.42 acres from Whispering Hollow HOA Parkland, 2.40 acres from Whispering Hollow Park, and 1.07 acres from Summer Pointe Park. City agenda documents state that four public notices were issued before the Oct. 20 hearing.

Marc Calderaro, vice president of the Whispering Hollow HOA, told the council that his organization did not receive direct notification prior to the hearing. Calderaro expressed concern that a lapse in communication might reflect the overall care being taken with the project. In response to his comments, the council voted to pause the process to allow for further review.

Voters in Buda approved the reconstruction of Old Black Colony Road in 2021. The plan spans the segment from FM 1626 to Cole Springs Road and includes widening the existing two-lane roadway, adding sidewalks and cycling accommodations, and improving drainage. The city’s bond allocated $24 million for these improvements. A new traffic signal at the FM 1626 intersection was completed in January.

Staff analysis included in the agenda documents indicates that shifting the roadway alignment into the parkland reduces the number of private property owners affected. The plan minimizes right-of-way acquisition needs for 12 landowners south of the parkland. The slight curves added to the design also serve to promote traffic calming. Staff concluded that the project will cost less because it requires less land acquisition than alternative routes.

LaVonia Horne-Williams, Buda council member for at-large position 3, addressed the balance between public park space and private property during the hearing. She noted that the alternative would involve utilizing private property where residents already live. The project aims to create an improved pedestrian network and drainage management system upon completion.

City officials hope to break ground on the construction in late 2027. The project is expected to take about one year to finish. The process moves into the construction bidding phase after final plans are approved. Updates are tracked on the Buda Bonds website.