Development to include houses, apartments, retail, parkland
Developers for a 100-acre tract east of Taylor received initial approval early this week for a mixed-use development that would include retail and commercial aspects along with apartments and single-family housing.
The Turner Spring project is developed by Insite Development and marketed by Taylor-based Top Notch Properties. The land is owned by Billy Turner Jr. and has been since 2000, according to Williamson County Appraisal District records. The land has frontage with County Road 398 and lies north of the sprawling Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. semiconductor foundry construction site and neighbors the Megatel subdivision Documents on file with the city show representatives for Turner first approached the city by letter of intent to develop Dec. 1 last year. Detailed plans for the project were submitted in late June.
A draft of a zoning change ordinance required for the property to accommodate the new uses indicates that the Taylor City Council could be asked to give its approval as early as July 25. The Taylor Planning and Zoning Commission, at its July 9 meeting, recommended the city accept the plans.
Drawings of the neighborhood show tree-lined boulevards and streets with a large park on the east side of the development, which is largely in the flood plain. Apartment units intermix with single-family home lots on the west side of the property near Lorax Lane. More single-family development.
The developers filed for approval as an Employment Center, which means it would serve the comprehensive plan of the city to have areas that provide support services or housing for people coming to the city for jobs at Samsung or its suppliers.
The proposal calls for 253 single- family houses from mansions to townhouses. The apartment blocks would have 449 units of varying sizes. About 24,000 square feet has been allotted for retail space.
“This plan is also consistent with the intent of creating walkable and connected neighborhoods that allow people to live in proximity to jobs and amenities,” according to city staff communications with the P&Z Commission.
City planners also say development address the so-called “missing middle” in the housing market needed to sustain affordable housing.
