EDIE ZUVANICH Special to the Press
Taylor’s first new development to incorporate homes with employment opportunities under the new zoning rules may soon become a reality. Taylor City Council approved the rezoning of approximately 113 acres known as Silicon Vistas Planned Development from single family residential to Employment Center – Planned Development in its Dec. 14 consent agenda.
The Employment Center – Planned Development designation is part of the new Land Development Code adopted by the city Nov. 9. Assistant City Manager Tom Yantis explained the new zoning designations at the Oct. 12 council meeting.
“EC, employment center (designation allows) us to get all of those companies from Korea that want to come here. It allows us to customize the development standards for large format employment uses,” Yantis said.
He told Council that work on the new LDC and the city’s comprehensive plan was begun in 2020, “because we knew in 2020 even before (Samsung Austin Semiconductor), that we were on a trajectory for growth.”
Samsung Austin Semiconductor is a local subsidiary of South Korean-based Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
Silicon Vistas Planned Development will provide high-density residential opportunities conveniently close to the Samsung facility currently being built. All homes in the subdivision will be within 1.7 miles of the plant, according to the site’s master plan. However, as an Employment Center – Planned Development, residents may also find employment opportunities closer to home. The land use is intended to create walkable neighborhoods with built-in job availability.
“This is in the regional employment center designation, which are areas that are intended to attract major employment land uses. It is also intended to be a mixed use district,” Yantis said. “That requires, as the first step in the development process, that an employment center plan be prepared for the property. We’re in the process right now of approving the plan.”
The land in question straddles Justin Lane south of County Road 398 and west of the Taylor Municipal Airport. The site plan calls for the eastern portion of the property to be set aside for large, light industrial facilities along both sides of Justin Lane. Land to the west will be developed as high-density, mixed use housing and commercial properties. The residential area will be separated from the industrial area by a Mustang Creek tributary flood plain.
According to Williamson County property tax records, the acreage was purchased by Silicon Vistas 113 Holdings LLC in July, 2023. The land was sold by RNJ Bohls Family Enterprises LLC, and the County has the property value listed as $2,615,962.
Because the land has been under agricultural exemption, the city’s portion of 2023 property taxes for the holding comes to just over $400. Without the agricultural exemption, the city’s portion of 2023 taxes would have been more than $16,000. As development starts and the property value rises without the agricultural exemption, the city may realize financial benefits from the development with the 2024 tax assessments.
