Last Tuesday, Taylor’s previously approved plan for the future was addressed since the formula didn’t anticipate the Samsung variable.
On Feb. 15, Taylor’s municipal government hosted a virtual meeting regarding the Envision Taylor Comprehensive Plan. The discussion focused on how a new Samsung Austin Semiconductor plant in southwest Taylor will change parts of the plan, particularly infrastructure and land use.
Although aspects of the plan will be amended, the comprehensive plan will not need to be overhauled. Lionheart Places has been the city’s consultant firm on the plan.
“Samsung coming really doesn’t change the foundation of the plan,” said Abigail Gillfillan, Lionheart Places planner, “so those big ideas that are presented at the beginning, those are consistent.”
The Envision Taylor Comprehensive Plan is the newest version of the city’s primary policy document for the city in regard to development, transportation, utilities and other capital improvements. The document guides the municipality with a vision, goals, objectives and actions deemed necessary to direct the city’s long-range growth and development.
After a series of workshops with the City Council, city staff and the public stretching back to 2020, the comprehensive plan was approved Nov. 18, 2021. However, five days later, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that the Samsung plant was coming to Taylor.
“Samsung is expected to break ground in 2022 and be operational by 2024. It’s a $17 billion investment. Two thousand high tech job and thousands of alluded jobs are expected as a result,” said Gillfillan. “Taylor is located approximate to Samsung’s current manufacturing site in Austin. There’s this local semiconductor ecosystem. There’s infrastructure stability, available land, local government support and there’s sort of community development opportunities.”
The company plans to build a six million square-foot facility. On Jan. 13, Taylor approved ordinances to annex and zone 1,268.23 acres of land, located at the former intersection of county roads 401 and 404.
“There are several planned roads and realignments in order to support the Samsung facility in this area and those will impact the transportation plan that is part of the Envision Taylor comprehensive plan,” said Gillfillan, “so that’s one of the things that will be updated as part of this process is to account for those new roads and realignment of some of the other roads.”
The use of Taylor land – commercial, residential, etc. – is another big part of the comprehensive plan. In regard to the land surrounding Samsung, the company has some preferences.
“They would like there be additional land area outside of the land they own that is reserved for other industrial type land uses that would be compatible to them,” said Tom Yantis, Taylor director of development services. “Their recommendation to the city is consider that as we think about amending the land use plan to make sure there are some additional lands outside of their property that would be able to be landing places for other similar businesses or support services that would provide service or support to the Samsung facility.”
Infrastructure will also be affected by the new area of development.
“This is an area that did not have access to water or wastewater service in the past, so this is new service,” said Gillfillan.
Growth sectors – what parts of Taylor will grow in the future – are being analyzed. However, the previously approved plan already used aggressive projection methodology to determine Taylor’s overall growth.
“The Envision Taylor Comprehensive Plan projects that Taylor goes from 16,200 in 2020 to about 39,500 in 2040,” said Gillfillan, “so that is a large population increase.
More was discussed and presented during last Tuesday’s meeting. To see a recording and view the presentation, visit https://taylor.kon
