The Lockhart City Council discussed a zoning change, housing for seniors, the sidewalk improvement project and an ordinance approving revised council district boundaries and heard an update on the Downtown Revitalization Project.

Downtown Revitalization Project: The 60% Design Drawings have been submitted. The 100% Design Drawings will be completed in June following additional consultations with TxDOT, Caldwell County and consideration of the arborist’s report. The permitting phase of the project will run from June through September, bidding will take place from September through December, and construction is slated to begin in December 2023 and run through December 2025. 

Housing for Seniors: JES Development Company, Inc. is proposing 30 senior housing units in Lockhart. A request was made for the city to consider a resolution of support for the development to be submitted to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs as evidence of local support to increase chances of receiving tax credits. The development will be restricted to senior residents and located adjacent to Maple Park Senior Village, a senior apartment complex developed previously by JES Holdings at 1925 Clearfork Street in Lockhart. Council approved the resolution.

Racial Profiling Report: Lockhart City Council passed a motion acknowledging receipt of the 2022 Racial Profiling Report prepared by the Lockhart Police Department. Texas law requires police agencies to gather and report certain statistical data related to traffic contact reporting. The law requires police to document how many motor vehicle stops resulted in a warning, citation or arrest and track the number of searches that occurred and whether the search was with consent or the result of probably cause. The law also requires officers receive training about racial profiling/bias based policing and that the department provide information about how to file a complaint of this nature against a police officer. The report shows the Lockhart PD has complied with those requirements. 

Sidewalk Improvements Project: City Council approved awarding a bid to 304 Construction, LLC of Cedar Creek, Texas in the amount of $199,600 for the construction of the 2023 Sidewalk Improvements Project. The Sidewalk Improvements Project consists of approximately 3,250 linear feet of sidewalks/ramps of various widths in various locations throughout the city. 

Visionary Fiber Technologies: Council approved the second amendment of a Chapter 380 economic development agreement between the City of Lockhart and Visionary Fiber Technologies, Inc. VFT approached the City for incentives for an expansion of operations including a new 6,800 SF office located on the corner of SH 20 and E. MLK Industrial Blvd. The additional office space to the company's headquarters will free up space in the main building to build additional lab and manufacturing space. The new and reconfigured space allows for more jobs to be created to facilitate the growth of the company in the future.

District Boundaries: Council approved the revision of city council district after the annexation of three properties. The Red Oak Seawillow property, covering 89.775 acres and the former southwest development agreement  properties that cover 197 acres south of State Park Road will become part of District 4 and and the Austin Davis property, located east of Lay Road near the intersection with FM 1322, becomes part of District 1.

Rezoning: Council approved a Zoning Change from AO Agricultural – Open Space District to RMD Residential Medium Density District on 92.52 acres located on the east side of Lay Road approximately 530 feet east of FM 1322. The applicant requested the zoning change in order to develop a single-family residential neighborhood that could contain up to 380 residences.

City Manager’s Report

Comprehensive Plan Update: City of Lockhart Planning received five proposals from consulting firms in response to the recent request for qualifications (RFQ) for Comprehensive Planning Services issued in January. Staff will select finalists for interviews in early March. Upon selection of a consultant by city council, the comprehensive planning process should begin in early summer and last approximately 18 months. 

Joint Council/Planning Zoning Committee: This committee will have their first meeting at 6:30 p.m. February 27 at the library. The purpose of this committee is to prioritize recommendations of the planning department that were made as the result of joint meetings that were had with planning and zoning commission. The committee will identify issues to send to the planning commission for review and consideration.

Streets: Street resurfacing projects are underway. Work has been ongoing Live Oak Street (from Guadalupe to Cibolo) and Center Street (from Cibolo to Main) during the past week. Next week, attention will turn to North Medina Street (from Bois D’Arc to Peach). Other streets slated for resurfacing in this cycle include Red River Street (from Willow to Ash), Persimmon Street (from Neches to Sabine) and Willow Street (from Pecos to North Blanco).

Titan Development: Titan Development issued a press release this week announcing that construction had begun on Building 1 at Lockhart 130 Industrial Park. The 167,794-square-foot-facility is the first of four buildings planned for the industrial park. The release also announced that Factory Builder Stores will lease the building to support its distribution operation of more than 40 premium brand appliances and a range of manufactured cabinets.

Upcoming Events: KidFish will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 18 at Lockhart City Park. The Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event is set for Saturday, April 1.

Future Agenda Items: Items that are upcoming on the agenda for the March 7 city council meeting include:

• Consulting agreement for Parks and Recreation General Planning Services
• Recommendation from the Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) Advisory Board for 2023 allocations
• Annual Review of the Emergency Outdoor Siren Activation Policy