City to consider school day care
HUTTO — Hutto Independent School District is asking the city for a specific use permit to open a daycare facility within their new elementary school. The school, recently named Lee Martinez Elementary School, is hoping to include a 15,000-square-foot facility for up to 105 children ages four and under. The daycare would be specifically for the use of Hutto ISD staff children only.
“District leaders with the backing of Hutto ISD’s Board of Trustees, will include a Little Hippos Daycare Center as part of the overall campus project to provide early childhood learning opportunities for more than 100 enrollees,” according to a statement from the district.
The school will open in fall 2025 and is expected to have 800 students enrolled. It shares a campus with the Hutto ISD Ninth Grade Center, and their staff will have access to the daycare facility as well.
The daycare deviates from the city’s Unified Development Code requirements, which states day cares in this area must be no more than 2,500 square feet and be for residents of the neighborhood development only, among other criteria. The ISD is proposing a 15,000-square-foot facility for the children of Hutto ISD staff.
City staff was in favor of allowing the SUP, stating that since the center would be housed inside the school and the enrollment would be to a limited population, they felt it was in keeping with the intent of the SUP. The Planning and Zoning Commission also agreed with the usage.
The Hutto City Council is scheduled to consider the SUP at its March 7 meeting.
Last days to vote Best of Hutto
Hutto community members are urged to play favorites for the Best of Hutto awards. From breakfast tacos to beauty salons, residents can vote in dozens of categories during the fourth annual award ceremony. Voting ends March 2, and winners will be announced March 4.
Categories include best food, service providers, entertainment, things to do and retailers, with a new category covering services for kids.
Community members are allowed one vote per day. The voting form can be accessed at facebook.com/ihutto.
Best of Hutto awards are not affiliated with the city, but are a product of iHutto, a non-profit company that raises money for local organizations, creates volunteer opportunities and is an advertising hub for small business owners.
Parks board discusses projects
The Parks Advisory Board met Feb. 14 to discuss progress on park improvement projects, which were included in the 2024 fiscal year budget. The fiscal year begins Oct. 1, so the budget year will be half way through at the end of March.
Projects discussed (with budgeted amounts) include:
• Veterans Memorial $125,000
• Field Lighting $275,000
• Hutto Lake Park Dock Replacement $50,000
• Replace Fencing at Fritz Tennis Courts $45,000
• Security Cameras at multiple parks $40,000
• ZapStand (AED) at Mager Fields $22,500
• Brushy Creek Amphitheater Improvements $175,000
• Trail Extension at Adam Orgain Park $75,000
• Trail Expansion from Cross Creek to Creekside $60,000
• Trail Lighting $275,000
• Pickleball Courts $165,000
• Adam Orgain Restroom $165,000
The board also discussed the potential for a Fritz Park bottle filler, a drinking fountain at Hutto Lake and Mager Field, parking lot and fire lane re-striping at Adam Orgain Park and light poles around the Hutto community.
