Leander: Smart + Resilient by Jose Latorre

LEANDER: SMART + RESILIENT

2 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

Contents: Demographics (page 8 )

Infrastructure (page 50 )

University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture CRP 386: Sustainable Land Use Planning

Economy (page 20)

Trasportation (page 64)

Housing

Land Use

Environment

Suitability Analysis

(page 28)

(page 38)

Instructor: Dr. Robert Patterson April 2016 Authors: Anna Lake-Smith, Jose Latorre, Farzad Marshhood, Stephen Sharpe

(page 74)

(page 82)

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 3

Introduction

Leanderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s historical roots Leander, with origins extending back to the

GEORGETOWN

1840s, stands upon a solid foundation built on education and rail transportation. Since its earliest days, the town has experienced

TAYLOR

LEANDER HUTTO

fluctuations in its population that initially

CEDAR PARK

peaked at 329 about the time of the found-

ROUND ROCK

ing of its first public school in 1893. Spurring

PFLUGERVILLE

that growth was the opening of the Austin & Northwestern Railroad a decade earlier, an PFLUGERVILLE

event that resulted in the townsfolk moving their homes and businesses one mile east to be closer to the freshly laid tracks. More than

LAKEWAY AUSTIN

a century later, new initiatives in education and rail transportation would again presage a transformation of the entire community.

TOD SIte

MetroRail

Cities (pop. >20,000)

Interstate

Williamson County

Major Roads

Other Counties

4 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

Collectors 1

Miles 3

Map: Jose Latorre Historical marker: http://www.forttumbleweed.net/leander/leanderhistmarkerjpg.jpg Photograph: http://communityimpact.com/wp-content/uploads/import/LCP201203-23-f.jpg

Looking to the Future 2015 comprehensive plan

Only recently has the small town of Leander ceased to be a small town. Along with other places in Central Texas, Leander has experienced tremendous growth over the past two decades. Leander’s phenomenal growth in population – a 388% increase from 6,493 in 1990 to 31,717 in 2015 – is expected to continue, with forecasts calling for Leander to have as many as 100,000 residents by 2030.1 To prepare for its projected future expansion, Leander’s City Council adopted a comprehensive plan in October 2015. That document, titled Destination Leander, outlines several land use goals to accommodate growth through methodical planning while setting high standards for sustainability and suitability. Towards gaining some control its rapid expansion, Leander created a Transit Oriented Development (TOD) District in 2005 that encompasses the northern terminus of the MetroRail Red Line, which directly connects Leander to Austin’s central business district and points in between. The TOD, located in the northeast quadrant of Leander, contains 2,300 acres of mostly undeveloped land, which is being planned for more than 30,000 occupants. Source: City of Leander

Destination Leander Comprehensive Plan Update (May 2015), 3.

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Community Values New Urbanism model

The Destination Leander comprehensive plan identifies several community values that its residents want to guide the planning of their city’s future. Among those values is a more equitable balance between residential growth and non-residential growth. At present, single-family homes represent 92% of the city’s entire housing stock while Leander loses millions of dollars each year in potential revenue due to its dearth of restaurants, grocery stores and purveyors of other commercial goods and services. One effort to help offset that imbalance is the TOD, which is seen as becoming a 24/7 urban destination within a suburban community. Moreover, plans for the TOD are designed to create a centerpiece of Leander’s economy and identity.2 Key to the success of the TOD is the implementation of New Urbanism’s planning principles to render a pedestrian-oriented neighborhood enlivened with a mix of residential, commercial and retail uses. As articulated in Destination Leander: “The TOD is of critical importance to the future of Leander. It is not only an entry and gateway to the community, but it also provides access to the regional economy.” The comprehensive plan recommends several strategies to achieve that goal, including public-private partnerships to expedite desirable development in the TOD.

Destination Leander Comprehensive Plan Final Report

(adopted by Leander City Council on Oct. 15, 2015), 51.

6 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

SWOT Analysis

Focusing on TOD District As a means to help guide Leander toward reaching sustainable and balanced growth, this report analyzes the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) of Leander through the prism of its present use of land within its city limits and its extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). Additionally, this report will highlight aspects of current land use in the TOD and its immediate vicinity. The TOD is mostly undeveloped although a handful of development schemes have been approved, including a 100-acre campus of Austin Community College, a catalyst project expected to drive the construction of a dense mixed-use environment. In 2015, Leanderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s land use was divided largely between vacant/agricultural tracts (60%) and residential areas (33.9%), with commercial accounting for just 2.6% and parkland for only 0.6%. To achieve a more equitable distribution of land use, Leander made significant progress by forging its most recent comprehensive plan. This report is intended to assist its planning efforts through a careful study of its current conditions.

Top photo: http://communityimpact.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/LCP-2015-07-01-1-H.jpg Middle and bottom photos: Destination Leander Comprehensive Plan

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 7

Demographics A smart and resilient Leander will...

8 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

foster an inclusive community where all people feel valued, their differences respected and everyone is entitled to a high quality and standard of living.

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 9

The People of Leander If it were possible to describe the “average” Leander resident, he would be a white man between the ages of 35 and 44. He

Population growth between 2009 and 2013

has completed some college, and makes $76,000 (2013 dollars) each year at his job that’s 30 minutes away by car (he prefers to drive himself rather than carpool). Five or six years ago, she would have been a white woman between the ages of 25 and 34, who also would have completed some college. She makes $74,028 (2013 dollars, and assuming her gender does not affect her income), and travels a little over 30 minutes to work, also in her own car. While illustrative in terms of large shifts, these two “typical” Leander residents cannot tell the entire story. They demonstrate that the population is aging and making more money, but it is missing the increasing inequality, rapid growth of the latino community, and steady incline in high school completion. The following pages will describe these shifts in detail in attempt to complete the picture of

The 2015 population of Leander was

31,717 in 2009, it was

22,358

Leander Flower Mound Frisco Keller Kyle Mansfield Missouri City Round Rock Rockwall -50% Land Area

50%

150%

250%

Population

the “typical” (or not) Leander resident. Since its founding in 1882, Leander’s

Texas, Leander will continue to both feel the

population has skyrocketed. According to

burden and benefit from this new growth.

the 1890 census, the population for all of

Growth adds stress to existing infrastructure

Williamson County was just under 26,000.

systems, but also brings new development

Today, Leander is now home to over 30,000

and investment. The TOD seeks to capitalize

residents. This increase is exceeded only

on these effects and to bolster the entire

by Frisco and Mansfield. As populations

Leander community.

swell in all of Texas, particularly Central

10 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

Land area growth 2009 - Present

More notably than the large increase in population, however is Leanderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impressive double in size over the course of five years, going from 7.5 square miles in 2009 to nearly 23 square miles today (as can be seen in the map to the right).

Leander Land Area Growth 2009 - Present

Major Roads Roads

2009 Boundary Present Boundary Source: City of Leander GIS; those provided by Spring 2016 SLUP class; Social Explorer ACS 2009-2013 Date: April 2016 Author: Anna Lake-Smith Datum: State Plane Texas Central (FIPS) (US Feet), NAD 1983 Left photo: Anna Lake-Smith

Miles 3

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Demographics Age breakdown

primarily working-age Less than 5 5-9 10-14 15-17 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75-84 85 + up 15%

Male

Female

2009 2013 10%

10%

15%

The community of Leander is made up of

As the TOD develops, Leander should look to

vibrant individuals of all ages (see left: the

market the new housing options to millenials,

Bluegrass Festival, an adult class at the

so the city can retain and grow its working-

library, and the state-recognized Leander

age population.

High School band).

There is also a small increase in the senior

A decrease in the 25-34 population can be

population that is to be expected as the

seen between 2009 and 2013, both male

so-called Silver Tsunami hits across America.

and female. This suggests that millenials are

New facilities to house these seniors will need

choosing not to live in Leander. Millenials

to be built, like the one described in the next

represent a key demographic as they move

few pages, so that Leander can become and

into the phases of their lives in which they

stay a more age-diverse city.

may want to buy a house or start a family.

12 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

School-age population 5 - 17

V U 183A

With the rapid growth of the middle-school age population seen in the graph on the left, comes a need for increased capacities of middle schools. This growth and relative decline in younger children could suggest that those families with younger children counted in 2009 are mostly the same families with middle-school-age children in 2013. This could be indicative that families with younger children today are not moving to Leander or are simply having fewer children. If the former is the case, families with young children could represent a key demographic in the development of the TOD.

V U 183A

2013 School Age Population (5-17) as percentage of total population 0% - 5% Source: City of Leander GIS; those provided by Spring 2016 SLUP class; Social Explorer ACS 2009-2013 Date: April 2016 Author: Anna Lake-Smith Datum: State Plane Texas Central (FIPS) (US Feet), NAD 1983 Image above: Leander Quarry splash pad, do512family.com Images left: Leander Bluegrass Festival, statesman.com; Leander Library, leandertx.gov; and Leander High School Band, lhsroar.com

5.1% - 10%

TOD SIte

MetroRail

CoL Limits

Major Roads

CoL ETJ

Roads

Other Jurisdiction

10.1% - 20% 20.1% - 40% 40.1% +

Miles 3

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Working-age population 18 - 64

V U 183A

The working-age population of Leander makes up the largest proportion of the total population, making it an extremely important demographic. These are primarily the people who are looking to rent and buy property, invest in schools and infrastructure, and put money back into the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy. The map at left shows that a large number of working-age adults live southeast of the TOD, indicating that transportation resources should look to focus on connecting that area to the TOD.

V U 183A

2013 Working Age Population (18-64) as percentage of total population 0% - 5% 5.1% - 10%

TOD SIte

MetroRail

CoL Limits

Major Roads

CoL ETJ

Roads

Other Jurisdiction

10.1% - 20% 20.1% - 40% 40.1% + 14 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

Miles 3

Source: City of Leander GIS; those provided by Spring 2016 SLUP class; Social Explorer ACS 2009-2013 Date: April 2016 Author: Anna Lake-Smith Datum: State Plane Texas Central (FIPS) (US Feet), NAD 1983 Image above: fema.gov

Senior population 65+

V U 183A

2013 Senior Population (65+) as percentage of total population 0% - 5% 5.1% - 10%

MetroRail

CoL Limits

Major Roads

CoL ETJ

Roads

Other Jurisdiction

10.1% - 20% Source: City of Leander GIS; those provided by Spring 2016 SLUP class; Social Explorer ACS 2009-2013 Date: April 2016 Author: Anna Lake-Smith Datum: State Plane Texas Central (FIPS) (US Feet), NAD 1983

TOD SIte

20.1% - 40% 40.1% +

Miles 3

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 15

Educational Attainment An educated Community

90%

of Leander residents 25 and over have at least a

high school diploma

of those with Bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degrees,

1/3

studied

science and engineering

Leander is a highly educated city, with only 9% of the population not completing high school (compared to the national average of 14% and state average of 18%). Nearly 1/3 of Leander residents 25 and over have completed a four-year degree. The new campus of Austin Community College going into the TOD demonstrates a high valuation of education in Leander.

16 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

Race + Ethnicity Makeup Hispanic or latino population Growing steadily

City-wide, the overwhelming majority of

V U

the population is white. But between 2009

183A

and 2013, the percentage of the total population who identify as hispanic or latino increased by nearly seven percentage points. Compared to the state-wide increase of only two percentage points, it is clear that the growth of this demographic is significant for the City of Leander. In the red block on the map to the right, the hispanic or latino population represents around half of the total population. It is likely that some of these residents speak only Spanish, so as the TOD develops, designers should translate signage and informational materials.

V U 183A

2013 Hispanic + Latino Population as percent of total population 5.8% - 16.1% Source: City of Leander GIS; those provided by Spring 2016 SLUP class; Social Explorer ACS 2009-2013 Date: April 2016 Author: Anna Lake-Smith Datum: State Plane Texas Central (FIPS) (US Feet), NAD 1983 Lefft Figures: Social Explorer ACS 2010-2014 Left IImage: kxan.com Left data: ACS 2010-2014; towncharts.com

16.2% - 26.4%

TOD SIte

MetroRail

CoL Limits

Major Roads

CoL ETJ

Roads

Other Jurisdiction

26.5% - 36.6% 36.7% - 46.9% 47% - 57.2%

Miles 3

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 17

Income

How much does Leander make?

Median Household Income

V U 183A

In a somewhat crude representation, the above images prove that there is a wide range of income levels in Leander: the top home is currently listed at $80,000, and the bottom at $1.3 million. The map at the left shows the blue block groups making an averge less than $50,000, while the red block groups represent combined household incomes over $100,000. This $50,000 difference hugely impacts the way that people live and the resources they have available to them. It is worth noting that the block groups on the periphery of the City of Leander have been

V U

cut to the city boundary and actually cover

183A

Median Household Income (as reported) $39,531 - $50,298 $50,299 - $61,552

larger area

TOD SIte

MetroRail

CoL Limits

Major Roads

CoL ETJ

Roads

Other Jurisdiction

$61,553 - $80,610 $80,611 - $101,111 $101,112 - $132,777 18 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

Miles 3

Gini Coefficient

How unequal is Leander?

Strengths

Weaknesses

• Large working-age population to stimulate

• Relative lack of racial diversity

local economy

• Increasing inequality

• Highly educated community • There seems to be a fair amount of

2013

economic diversity in Leander as a whole, although it is likely that at the block level, there are pockets of economic disparity

2009

0.30

0.35

0.40

A measure of inequality (0 being perfectly equal and 1 being perfectly unequal), the above Gini coefficients provide an idea of the level of inequality in Leander and comparable cities. Between 2009 and 2013, Leander’s Gini coefficient has increased approximately 3%. It is worth noting that the equation used to calculate the Gini coefficient does not

Threats

Opportunities

• Growing inequaility in nearly all of the

• Large working-age population could

suburban areas comparable to Leander

be draw for new employers to locate in

threatens residents’ ability to stay in their

Leander

communities

• Development in the TOD should be

• As the working-age population ages, more

include capital gains. This exclusion would

resources may be necessary to take care

suggest that a true measure of inequality

of the newly enlarged senior group

would return much higher coefficients. While all of these figures are below the national coefficient of .45, the fact that they’ve increased over the five years is cause for concern. Without intentional actions to decrease inequality, they will only continue to grow.

bilingual (or more) • Make the TOD available to residents of all income levels

• With millenials as a group waiting to have children, many of the people included in the 18-64 group may be approaching this time in their lives. If this is the case, more preschools and elementary schools may be necessary to help ease the burden on existing schools

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 19

Economy A smart and resilient Leander will...

20 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

attract and retain major employers and human capital, while promoting a strong local economy and adapting to new trends in the workforce.

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 21

Economy

balancing big with small does to the economy of a place. Leander has seen a great degree of growth and development in recent year. In turn, growth

Larger workforce 260,000

of population growth alone, but, in fact, work purposely to develop a local economy that strengthens the city’s resiliency to economic change and dependency on neighboring communities.

number of workers

Leander must not be blinded by the beneﬁts

212,775

200,000 180,000 160,000 140,000

8.3% in TX 7.0%

220,000

151,444 2000

retain major employers and human capital, adapting to new trends in the workforce.

Unemployment in City of Leander

249,295

240,000

A resilient and smart Leander will attract and while promoting a strong local economy and

unemployment over time

Total Labor Force in City of Leander

has spurred ﬁscal prosperity and increased investment to support such growth.

We got jobs!

labor force increase over time

2010

2014

7.0% 5.5% in TX

unemployment rate

Resiliency applies to the environment as it

4.0% in TX

1.0%

1.3% 2000

Source: City of Leander Economic Indicators

3.5%

2010

2014

Population growth translates in a larger

Data shows that Leander unemployment

workforce. Leander’s population growth

rates have been considerably lower than

is unquestionable, However, the degree

those of the state of Texas since 2000.

to which it has been able to develop job

This suggests that the workforce residing

opportunities for new residents within the city in Leander holds relatively stable jobs. The is questionable.

information on household income presented in the Demographics section conﬁrm that household income in the city is relatively high, which can be attributed to more stable and high-paying jobs supporting household income. Unfortunately, this data does not reveal any character of jobs within the city since most of the population in Leander commute outside the city to their places of work.

22 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

Educated workers

workforce educational attainment

26%

Coming and going, not staying

Alternative transportation

change in workforce commuting

2005

trends in worker mobility

2014

10.3% of workers carpool to their jobs

with bachelors or more

10%

no HS degree

22%

of workers commute in

of workers live and work in town

75%

of workers commute out

(+16%)

38%

of workers commute in

(+3%)

of workers live and work in town

6.3%

(-19%)

56%

of workers work from home

of workers commute out

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 2014, 5yr

Source: US Census On The Map Database

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 2014, 5yr

Workforce educational attainment reveals

As previously mentioned, the signiﬁcantly

While only about 1.2% of workers employed

that 90% of Leander’s workforce holds at

larger workforce residing in Leander has not

sustainable means of transportation to their

least a high school degree,

translated in signiﬁcantly more residents who

places of work (walk, bike, public transport).

26% of the workforce in Leander hold a

live and work in Leander. Between 2005

New trends in worker mobility and working

and 2014 only 3% more workers lived and

arrangements may begin to shift the single-

attainment. With the establishment of more

worked in Leander (see graphs above).

occupied vehicle travel tendencies of most

professional services ﬁrms in the TOD district

Worker commute data may reveal an

urban areas.

and in the city in general, Leander must seek

increase in local jobs. In fact, the number

As shown above, over 10.3% of workers

to attract population with higher educational

of workers commuting into Leander to their

carpooled to work. Encouraging carpooling

attainment and beneﬁt from an increase in

places of work increased by 16% in the same

is a means to potentially reduce the number

human capital.

period of time. The city must promote eﬀorts

of single-occupied vehicles on the streets

In order to attract human capital, the city

and initiatives to attract this population into

during peak hours.

bachelor’s degree or higher educational

must provide services an amenities that are

considering making Leander their place of

attractive to young professionals and families. work and residence.

On the other hand, trends aﬀecting the ﬂexibility of workplace presence may have a

Once completed, ACC campus will provide a

greater inﬂuence in the future. In 2014, 6.3%

new opportunity for Leander to attract young

of workers in Leander worked from home.

and active population.

There may be many more in the future. Leander must provide amenities and services for this increasing population.

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 23

Economy jobs in space

Jobs in Leander Area number of jobs per employer

The map to the left displays point data representing employers in Leander and surrounding communities by number of jobs. The dimension of each circle represents the magnitude of number of jobs for each employer. The largest employer in the data set is Leander ISD which, for unknown circumstances, is displayed on a single point in the data set. According to this data set, Leander ISD employs more than 5,000 people.

Number of jobs per employer Less than 5 5 to 9 10 to 19 20 to 49 50 to 99

250 to 499 500 to 999

TOD SIte

MetroRail

CoL Limits

Major Roads

CoL ETJ

Roads

Other Jurisdiction

More than 1,000

100 to 249 24 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

Miles 3

Source: City of Leander and Williamson County GIS Database and those provided by Spring 2016 SLUP class Date: April 2016 Author: Jose Latorre Datum: State Plane Texas Central (FIPS) (US Feet), Coordinate System NAD 1983

Job Clusters in Leander

( !

spatial statistical analysis

( !

to identiďŹ es hot and cold spots representing

V U

( !

magnitude of number of jobs. In order not to

( !

alter the validity of results, Leander ISD was

( !

removed from the data set.

( !

high concentration of signiďŹ cant employers

! ( ( ! ( ! ( ! ! ( ( !

( !

The map on the right shows the areas of

( !

outside City of Leander proper. These

( !

( ! ( !

( !

employers concentrate in Cedar Park, away

( !

from Leander and its TOD district. The City

( ! ! (

( !

of Leander must consider its relationship

! ( ( (! (! !

( ! ( !

( !

another area with high density of jobs around

( ! ! (

( ! ( !

the TOD. ( !

( !

( ! ( !

( !

( ! ( !

( !! ( ( !

!! ( ( ( !

! ( ( ( ! ( ! ! ( (! (! ! ( ( ! ! ( ! ! ( ( ! ( ! !! ( ( ! ( ( ! (! ! ( ( !

( !

( ! ! ( ( !

( !

( ( ! ! ( !

( (! (! !! (

( !

( ! ( !

( !

( ! ! ( ! ! ( ( (! ! ( ! ( ! ( ( ! ( ! ( ! ( ! ( ! ( ! ! ( ( ! ( ( ! ! ( ! ! ( ! ! ( ( ( ! ( ! ( ( ! ( ! ( ! ! ( ! ( ! ( ! (! ! ( ! ( ! (( (! ! ( ! ! ( (! ! ( ! ( ( ( ! ! (! ( ! ( ! ( ! ! ( ( ! ( ! ( ! ( ( ! ! ( ! ( ! ( ! ! ( ! (! ( ( ! ! ( (! ! (! ( (! ( ! ! ( ( ! ( ( ! ( ! ( ! ! ( ! ( ! ( ! ( ! ( ! ( ! ( ! ( ! ( ! ( ! ( ! (! ! ( (! (! (! ! ( ! (! ( (! ! ( ! ! ( (! ( ! ( ! ( ( (! (! ! (! (! ( ! ( (! ! ( ! ( ! ( ! ( ! ( ! ( ! ( ! (! ! (! ! (! ( ( ! (! ( ! ( (! ! ( ! ! (! ! (( ! ( ! ( ! ( ( ( ! ( (! ! ( ! ( ! ( ! ( ( ! ! 183A ( ! ! ( ! ( ! (! ! ( ( ! ( ( ! (! ! ( ( ( ! ! ( ! ( ! ! ( (! ( ! (! ! ( (! ( ( ! ( ! (! ( ! ! ( ! ( ! ( !

! ( ( !

( !

Hot Spot Statistical Significance

( ! ( ! ( !

( !

(! ! (

( ! ( !

( ! ( ! ( ! ( !

( ! ! ( (! ! ( ( !

( ! ( ! ( !

( !

( ! ( !

( !

( ! ! (

( !

V U

( !

183A

spatial proximity of employers with high

Park in order to promote the development of

( !

( ! ( !

A hot spot analysis was performed in order

with the businesses and employers in Cedar

( !

( ! ! ( ( ! (! ! ( ! ( ! ( ( !

( (! !

( !

( ! ( !

( !

TOD SIte

MetroRail

( !

( Cold Spot - 99% Confidence !

( Hot Spot - 90% Confidence !

CoL Limits

Major Roads

( Cold Spot - 95% Confidence !

( Hot Spot - 95% Confidence !

CoL ETJ

Roads

( Cold Spot - 90% Confidence !

( Hot Spot - 99% Confidence !

Other Jurisdiction

( Not Significant !

Miles 3

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 25

Economy

job trends and local economy

Major industries

Trending Jobs

where do jobs come from?

62.2% jobs from education sector

Leander ISD

Source: US Census On The Map Database

industries with more jobs 2010-14

CONSTRUCTION IS A MAJOR SOURCE OF JOBS SINCE 2005 (other than education)

sales tax revenues

+12.5%

SALES TAX REVENUE professional, scientific & management

education, health & social services

(avg. annual 2000-14)

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 2014, 5yr

Source:City of Leander Economic Indicators

According to data on the US Census On The

Between 2010 and 2014, the industry with

Sales taxes over the last 14 years have

Map, and as previously mentioned in the job

the greatest positive percentage change

increased at an average rate of 12.5%

geographic distribution maps, Leander ISD,

in total share of jobs within Leander are

annually in Leander. The increase in sales

when considered as one employer within the

professional, scientiďŹ c and management jobs

tax can be associated with the commercial

city limits, concentrates the greatest number

and education, health and social services

transactions and demand from a growing

of jobs in the city.

jobs.

population.

Other than education services, construction,

These types jobs require a highly educated

closely associated to the development boom

workforce which correspond to Leanderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

in the city, constitute the major source of jobs

interest to attract human capital to reside

in the city since 2005.

within the city.

26 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

Source: US Census On The Map Database

Thriving sales

Retail and services gap insufficient commercial supply

Strengths

Weaknesses

• TOD district provides virtual access to

• Signiﬁcant deﬁcit of local retail services.

downtown Austin in a matter of minutes to ﬁrms and its employees.

a proportional amount of workers living

• Center for professional development and workforce training: future ACC campus. • Jobs for highly qualiﬁed workers are on the

$222.5

MILLION

• A larger workforce has not translated into and working within the city. • Major employers concentrate outside city limits, relatively close, in Cedar Park.

rise.

of potential retail sales leakage Source: City of Leander State of the City Report 2015

Despite the constant increase of revenue from sales tax every year in Leander, the city is not equipped with the retail spaces to satisfy its local demand. The State of the City report displays these revenue leakage in more detail. More than $200 million in retail transactions from Leander residents are not

• Relatively stable employment of its

HOTEL DESERT

workforce in comparison to Texas.

Source: ESRI Business Analytics Market Study

Threats

Opportunities

• Increased interest and future dependency

• Balance the landing of large employers in

on large corporate employers who move

the city with strategies and opportunities

into Leander from other areas.

that foster the local economy: small

• Remain a come and go city, with most of

being carried out within city limits. Among the

the workforce coming in or going out to

many deﬁcits of retail and services is the lack

their places of work.

of any major hotel in the city, an opportunity to be explored in proximity to the TOD district and ﬁrms surrounding it. Retail sales leakage is important to the city because it reveals a weak local economy. The city will face one of its greatest challenges as it manages to promote the development of commercial services for its residents. Leander must consider the balance of welcoming foreign ﬁrms into the city and fostering the establishment of local businesses.

businesses, entrepreneurs and innovative ﬁrms. • Promote ACC as a professional training

• Despite having a TOD district, remaining a car-dependent community where workers must drive to TOD in order to commute.

center beneﬁtting both employers and residents. • Attract and retain high-skilled workers and increase residing human capital.

• Failing to provide the retail service demands that can increase ﬁscal beneﬁts

• Stay tuned for trends in workplace such

for the city and create a better sense of

as work-from-home and concentrated

place for residents. A place to live, work,

schedules and provide amenities that

shop, and play.

cater this new and increasing sector of the workforce. • Provide retail services that cater residents of Leander but also beyond the city limits. CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 27

Housing A smart and resilient Leander will...

28 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

provide an array of housing for all of its residents to choose among, at every life stage and income level, and connect those options to nearby points of interest.

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 29

Housing

Overview of Leander’s housing options Leander is a community of single-family homes. This section will show the city’s

Breakdown of Leander’s housing options single family dominates

current housing stock and how recently much of it has been built. The majority of Leander’s single-family-dominated housing stock was built in the 2000s, meaning as fast as Leander came to be a community of almost all detached homes, it can quickly change. The transit-oriented development (TOD) area we are studying can provide the ideal venue for different housing types while other parts of Leander can still be places for continued single-family development. The TOD area has a substanial amount of vacant land. Single-family developments are nearby, with several new developments already on the edge of the TOD area. Leander can look to the TOD to try more dense housing options, attracting residents from different parts of the growing Austin area. This section will also consider household affordability. As affordability becomes an increasingly significant worry in the Austin metro area, its clear Leander is not under the same pressures and the central city of Austin. Rents are higher, but steadier in Leander. The city can also look to its peer cities - similar suburban communities outside Austin, Houston, Dallas, and Fort Worth - for opportunities to be more affordable. Leander has the lowest proportion of households that spend less than 30 percent of their income on housing costs, compared with its peer cities.

30 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

Multifamily Mobile home Single family Single family large lot Vacant Other Total acreage

Acres Percentage 69.5 0.2% 383.6 1.0% 8,379.2 21.6% 3,414.6 8.8% 23,957.7 61.8% 2,589.4 6.7% 38,794.0 100.0%

Source: 2014 ACS, 5-year data

Most of Leander’s used land is dedicated to housing, with about a fifth as much land being for everything else: roads, parks, offices, commercial, and so on. And by far, the single most common use is singlefamily residential. Leander has a great deal of opportunity with more than three-fifths of its land sitting vacant. While much of it will not be recommended to use for more dense residential, some of it can be, especially in the TOD area. A fraction of Leander’s housing acreage is in multifamily. While there are a few multifamily

Source: 2014 ACS, 5-year data

developments in our study area, there is a great deal of vacant land that provides an opportunity for more. The graphic to the

2 percent more are in duplexes, triplexes, or

right shows how little housing in Leander is

fourplexes, offering another opportunity for

in larger (10 units or more) complexes. Only

new housing Leander.

Housing in Leander single family galore

This map shows Leanderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s different types of

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housing. The vast majority is single family,

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with some new subdivisions coming in. A few pockets of multifamily exist and there are areas with mobile homes toward the western edge of the city, but Leanderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current housing is decidedly trending toward detached single-family homes.

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Source: City of Leander GIS and those provided by Spring 2016 SLUP class Date: April 2016 Author: Farzad Mashhood Datum: State Plane Texas Central (FIPS) (US Feet), NAD 1983

Vacant properties

Single-family

Multi-family

Single-family large lot

Mobile homes

TOD SIte

MetroRail

CoL Limits

Major Roads

CoL ETJ

Roads

Other Jurisdiction

Miles 3

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 31

Housing

Overview of Leander’s housing options

Housing age

Overview statistics

mostly built since 2000

64%

of Leander’s housing stock was built since 2000

2010 and later 2000-2009 1990-1999 1980-1989 1970-1979 1960-1969 1959 or earlier

4.6% 58.6% 18.3% 12.0% 3.9% 1.3% 1.4%

breaking down Leander’s housing stats

Value of owner-occupied homes how much is Leander’s housing stock worth $1,000,000 or more

Household population

30,040 1

Group quarters population

$500,000 to $999,999

9,122

$300,000 to $499,999

Occupancy rate

95%

$200,000 to $299,999

Owner occupied household size

3.29

$100,000 to $199,999

Renter occupied household size

3.31

Less than $100,000

Average household size

3.29

Households with 3 or more cars

22%

Occupied Housing units

Source: 2014 ACS, 5-year data

Most of Leander’s population growth has

but the difference is small. Leander is also

been in recent years as the Austin metro

notably car-heavy, with about a fifth of homes

area has grown. As such, most of Leander’s

having 3 cars or more. With a 95% occupany

housing was built since 2000. Post-World-

rate, Leander has a fair number of vacant

War II housing is actually quite rare in Leader,

homes. It’s high enough that Leander does

with less then 3 percent of the housing

not feel like an empty city and low enough

stock being built before 1970. While 2014

that finding new housing is possible. Leander

American Community Survey data found a

is on par with its peer cities in occupancy

single person in group quarters, Leander

rate, as their occupany rates range from

does not institutional housing, such as

93.3% in Kyle to 97.2% Keller.

Source: 2014 ACS, 5-year data

prisons or college dormitories. That means the city is composed of an almost entirely household population. Renter households are slightly larger than owner occupied homes, Photo credit: Lyndy Secrist

32 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

Home ownership rate

Leander compared to peer cities

Comparing Leanderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s urban form with a suburban TOD conventional suburban, Leander

Spring Valley TOD, Richardson

Leander Flower Mound Frisco Keller Kyle Mansfield Missouri City Pflugerville Rockwall Round Rock 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% Source: 2014 ACS, 5-year data

Leanderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s homeownership rate is about the middle of the pack compared with its peer cities. About one of fifth households owns their homes, but the number of renter households is still significant. Additionally, renter-occupied households have increased from 17.5 percent of households in 2009 to 22 percent of households in 2014. This is a nearly 25 percent increase in the proportion of renter-occupied units. As Leander continues to accomodate more of the growth of the Austin metro area, the city should consider how it plans for more renting households. Source: Google Earth

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 33

Housing

In the TOD area, more of the same

Can housing in the TOD be different?

Breakdown of the TOD area’s housing options

multifamily is rare, but coming to the TOD area

single-family still dominates, but residential mixed in with other uses

Multifamily Mobile home Single family Single family large lot Vacant Other Total acreage Source: 2014 ACS, 5-year data

Photo credit: Anna Lake-Smith

Two of Leander’s few multifamily areas are near the TOD area, but much of the housing there is single family. The question for Leander as the community grows is what it’s willing to include in the TOD area? Can it be a space to shift from a single-family dominant housing typology, making room for multifamily that ranges from duplexes to large apartment complexes? A new apartment complex in the TOD area called The Standard, pictured above, has 250 apartments with rents ranging between $900 and $1,300 a month. The leasing office opened in March and our information comes from a brief interview with the complex’s manager.

34 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

Now in the TOD: The Standard Rents range from $900 to $1,300 per month.

250 units No affordable housing

Apartments are 700 to 1,100 square feet in size.

Source: Interview with apartment manager

Acres Percentage 19.5 0.5% 11.5 0.3% 420.3 11.3% 139.9 3.7% 2,548.7 68.3% 593.2 15.9% 3,733.1 100.0%

2,545

new homes coming to subdivisions near the TOD

831

acres area, filling of currently vacant land. Source: 2014 ACS, 5-year data

Housing in the TOD area single family at the fringes

Much like the rest of Leander, single-family

Bryson +/- 1,474

homes tend to dominate in the TOD study area. A big difference is how much of the TOD area is open for new development, offering and opporuntity for change. As the Future Land Use Map shows later in the report, the city has a vision for this area that values more density and mixed-use. But at

Savanna Ranch +/- 116 Lots

present, the TOD area reflects much of the housing we already see in Leander, singlefamily subdivisions, with new ones coming in as well.

Oak Creek +/- 446 Lots

Northside Meadow +/- 58 Lots

Stewart Crossing +/- 223 Lots

Leander Crossing +/- 120

Magnolia Creek +/- 108 Lots

Source: City of Leander GIS and those provided by Spring 2016 SLUP class Date: April 2016 Author: Farzad Mashhood Datum: State Plane Texas Central (FIPS) (US Feet), NAD 1983

TOD SIte

MetroRail

Future subdivisions

Mobile homes

CoL Limits

Major Roads

Vacant properties

Single-family

CoL ETJ

Roads

Multi-family

Single-family large tract

Other Jurisdiction

0.25

0.5

Miles 1

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 35

Affordability

How does Leander compare with its peers, the metro area?

Median value, owner-occupied home

Leander is one of the cheapest compared to its peer cities

Source: 2014 ACS, 5-year data

70s. And compared to the Austin metro

in the Austin metro area, Leander seems to

area, Leander also is less affordable when

be an affordable option. The median value of

considering the city’s median household

an owner-occupied home is $154,500, less

income. In the Austin metro area, the median

than the median of $196,500 for the Austin

homeowners spends 20.4 percent of their

metro area. And compared to its peer cities,

income on housing, while in Leander those

similar suburbs of major Texas cities, Leander homeowners spend more, 21.7 percent, on But factor in income and it’s a different story. We looked at the proportion of household income spent on housing. Spending 30 percent or less on housing is considered a good measure of affordability. Compared to its peer cities, Leander has the lowest proportion of its homeowners, 73 percent, spending less than 30 percent of their income on their home. Most cities, such as nearby Round Rock, are in the upper

36 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

factor in income, and Leander doesn’t seem as affordable

Source: 2014 ACS, 5-year data

For a family looking for a single-family home

is the second-cheapest place.

Households spending less than 30% of income on housing

their housing. What these numbers show is that Leander’s owner-occupied homes are cheaper than comparable areas, the Austin region as a whole and nine peer cities, but Leander residents spend a higher proportion of their income on their home.

Rent costs in Leander

Housing available to low-income households

higher, but steadier than the region

percent available low-, very low-, and extremely-low income households.

Leander’s rents are steadier than the Austin metro area’s.

$1,400

16%

$1,200 $1,000 $800 $600 $400

change in the Austin metro area’s median rent from 2009 to 2014.

$200 $2009 Austin MSA

2014 Leander

change in Leander’s median rent from 2009 to 2014.

Sources: 2009 ACS, 5-year data; 2014 ACS, 5-year data

80 percent of median household income 50 percent of median household income 30 percent of median household income 0%

10%

20% 30% 40% Percentage of housing units

50%

60%

Source: 2014 ACS, 5-year data

Compared to the Austin metro area, rents are higher in Leander. But in the past 5 years, rents have been steady in Leander, increasing by only 2 percent, while they have jumped up much faster in Austin. This suggests that the rental market in Leander is more immune to the rising cost of living in Austin than the metro area as a whole. Looking at housing for low-income households, Leander provides a substantial amount of housing that is affordable to low income households, those making 80 percent of the area’s median. In fact, the majority of Leander’s housing, 57%, is affordable to low-income households. However, looking at very low-income and extremely low-income, those making less than half and 30% of median household

Photo credit: Austin Business Journal

income, Leander’s housing is more limited. CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 37

Environment

A smart and resilient Leander will...

38 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

take into account present and changing environmental factors, such as flood and fire hazards, when determining where to develop.

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 39

Environment

Natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s treasures and traumas As Leander plans its expansion to accommodate a burgeoning population, public officials and private developers must warily approach projects with eyes wide open to natural phenomena common to Central Texas. Perhaps most critical are events that involve water, including safeguards to protect the Edwards Aquifer. The underground reservoir provides thousands of people with their primary source of drinking water. Just as significant are the threats posed by water in the form of flooding from rapidly rising waterways that remain dry for long periods. Downpours can quickly fill languid streambeds and imperil lives and property downstream.

Top: http://www.buryinc.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/EARZ_sign.jpg Bottom: http://geosites.evans.txstate.edu/g4427/S12/GEAA/images/jacobswell.jpg

40 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

Edwards Aquifer

Sensitive rainfall capture zones Leander’s location at the far northeastern

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reaches of the Edwards Aquifer places the

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city over two significant zones of the vast underground reservoir, the recharge zone and the contributing zone. As shown in the map at right, the TOD stands within the contributing zone, which covers about 5,400 square miles, including much of the Texas Hill Country. Also called the drainage area or the catchment area, the land above the contributing zone captures water from periodic rainfall and runoff that flows into streams, which ultimately flows to the recharge zone. Leander’s eastern edge overlays the aquifer’s recharge zone, a 1,250-square mile area where large quantities of water to flow into the aquifer through highly faulted and fractured Edwards limestones outcrop at the land surface. The Edwards Aquifer represents the main source of drinking water for a significant number of residents across Central Texas. The aquifer stretches beneath a string of eight counties (an arc beginning underneath

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Kinney County at its extreme western end and curving east and north to Williamson County at its northern tip, with Uvalde, Medina, Bexar, Comal, Hays, and Travis

Edwards Aquifer

TOD SIte

MetroRail

counties in between). A third zone, the

Contributing Zone

CoL Limits

Major Roads

transition zone, extends several miles to

Recharge Zone

CoL ETJ

Roads

southeast of Leander.

Other Jurisdiction Source: City of Leander and Williamson County GIS Database and those provided by Spring 2016 SLUP class Date: April 2016 Author: Stephen Sharpe Datum: State Plane Texas Central (FIPS) (US Feet), Coordinate System NAD 1983

Miles 3

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 41

42 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

Far left: http://ww3.hdnux.com/photos/36/55/27/8050154/5/920x920.jpg Top right: http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/a88e704fdb9139931857137cda5df540acd2e526/c=172-25-19601361&r=x393&c=520x390/local/-/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2013/10/31/1383268003000-txflood103113-001.jpg Bottom right: http://mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/kut/files/styles/x_large/public/201505/Flood_05_.jpg

TOD’s 100-Year Floodplain 132 buildings within 100’ of floodplain

The map at right indicates the location of 132 buildings lying within a 100 feet of the 100year floodplain within the TOD. Technically speaking, a floodplain is a geographic area subject to flooding and/ or land adjacent to a waterway necessary to contain a flood. Two types of floodplains are: 1) 25-year floodplain, which is an area subject to flooding as a result of a storm that has a 4% chance of occurring in any given year; and 2) 100-year floodplain, which is an area subject to flooding as a result of a storm that has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year. In Williamson County, the location of Leander, owners of property within a floodplain must obtain a permit to elevate their structure higher than the base flood elevation. BFE (base flood elevation) is the computed elevation to which floodwater is expected to rise during the base flood. The relationship between the BFE and a structure’s elevation determines the flood insurance premium, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Flood Plain Sensitive Receptors Buildings within 100 feet of the 100-Year Flood Plain Rivers and Streams Source: City of Leander and Williamson County GIS Database and those provided by Spring 2016 SLUP class Date: April 2016 Author: Stephen Sharpe Datum: State Plane Texas Central (FIPS) (US Feet), Coordinate System NAD 1983

TOD SIte

MetroRail

CoL Limits

Major Roads

CoL ETJ

Roads

Other Jurisdiction

100-Year Flood Plain 0

0.25

0.5

Miles 1

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 43

Vegetation Cover

Native and drought-resistant Climactic conditions and dominant soil

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types in Leander and its surrounding region

183A

have traditionally favored the use of land for growing seasonal crops, such as cotton and feed grains, and pasture land. As shown on the map at left, oaks and live oak, along with mesquite and ashe juniper (better known as mountain cedar), are the primary species in and around Leander. All are drought-resistant and native to Central Texas. Dense growth of some of these trees can provide ample fuel for wildfires during extended droughts. The golden-cheek warbler, an endangered species of migratory songbird, builds its nests in ashe juniper. Among its nesting areas is the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, which lies just west of Leanderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s city limits. The refuge is also a seasonal home to another 244 avian species, including the endangered black-capped vireo.

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183A

Vegetation Cover Oak/Mesquite/Ashe Juniper Live Oak/Ashe Juniper

TOD SIte

MetroRail

CoL Limits

Major Roads

CoL ETJ

Roads

Live Oak/Mesquite/Ashe Juniper 0 44 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

Miles 3

Source: Soil Survey of Williamson County Texas by U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service, issued January 1983.

Soil Types

Suited for rangeland and agriculture Along with water, the soils are the most

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important resource in Leanderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s region

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(Williamson County). Prior to the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s explosion in population, land use primarily yielded to agriculture and rangeland for livestock. In the area of Leander under study, three principal types of soil series comprise the land surface. The soil type Slidell-TopseyBrackett is represented by the broad band of light yellow running through the center of the map at right. Slidell consists of very deep, moderately well drained, and very slowly permeable soils lying in areas nearly level to gently sloping terrain. This type supports crops, such as cotton, corn, and sorghum. Topsey consists of moderately deep, well drained, and moderately permeable soils that form in shaly and marly sediments. Vegetation, such as prairie grasses, associated with this soil type support rangeland. The third type, Brackett, consists of shallow

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but well drained soils above bedrock. This

183A

clay loam mainly supports rangeland. Due to its shallowness, excavation for building construction can be difficult.

Soil Types

MetroRail

Brackett-Purves-Real

Slidell-Topsey-Brackett

CoL Limits

Major Roads

Eckrant-Georgetown-Oakalla

Tinn-Pursley-Gowen

CoL ETJ

Roads

Other Jurisdiction

Eckrant-Rock Outcrop-Brackett Source: Soil Survey of Williamson County Texas by U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service, issued January 1983.

TOD SIte

San Saba-Crawford-Lindy 0

Miles 3

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 45

Contour

Leander and immediate vicinity The soil types discussed on the previous

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pages also are associated with specific

183A

topographic characteristics. In Leander and its vicinity, gently sloping terrain represent the main topographic features. The contour map at left indicates that the area ranges in elevation from 705 feet above sea level to a high of 1,165 feet above sea level.

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Contours

TOD SIte

MetroRail

705 to 795 feet

CoL Limits

Major Roads

800 to 895 feet

CoL ETJ

Roads

900 to 995 feet 1000 to 1095 feet 1100 to 1165 feet 46 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

Miles 3

Source: City of Leander and Williamson County GIS Database and those provided by Spring 2016 SLUP class Date: April 2016 Author: Stephen Sharpe Datum: State Plane Texas Central (FIPS) (US Feet), Coordinate System NAD 1983

Contour

Within the TOD Contours within the TOD are not as extreme as in adjacent areas, with only about a 200foot slope, as shown in the map at right. The topography of the TOD indicates that land development can be accomplished with adequate measures taken for drainage.

Contour

TOD SIte

MetroRail

800 to 895 feet

CoL Limits

Major Roads

900 to 995 feet

CoL ETJ

Roads

1000 to 1095 feet

Miles 3

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 47

Wildfire Threat

Low-to-medium conditions In spite of recent record-breaking drought conditions across Central Texas, the threat of wildfires in Leander are relatively low. The map at left displays the threat potential. Vegetation and soil affect the probability of wildfires, with Leander and its area being fairly safeguarded by its average annual rainfall of just over 34 inches.

Wildfire Threat 1 (low) 2

48 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

MetroRail

CoL Limits

Major Roads

CoL ETJ

Roads

Other Jurisdiction

3 (medium) Fire Stations

TOD SIte

0.25

0.5

Miles 1

Strengths

Weaknesses

• Abundant underground water resources,

• Leander’s location within the Edward’s

although Leander’s main source for

Aquifer contributing zone places

drinking water is Lake Travis.

considerable responsibility on public officials to safeguard this sensitive natural

• The potential for wildfires is low to moderate for Leander, including the TOD district. This condition will remain as long

resource. • With more than 100 buildings currently

as sufficient rainfall continues as the norm

situated within the 100-year floodplain,

for the region.

Leander exposes its property owners to significant monetary loss, as well as

• Agriculture, the traditional source of income for area residents, remains a viable industry, especially as Leander begins to

possible hazards to life. • Thin soils over limestone bedrock, a

develop with new restaurants as potential

geologic feature common to the area, may

clients.

limit construction opportunities.

Threats

Opportunities

• The potential for disastrous flooding

• Its proximity to the Hill Country and

will require constant vigilance by local

area lakes positions Leander as an ideal

authorities to restrict building within

location for people drawn to outdoor

floodplains.

recreation.

• Situated over the Edward’s Aquifer

• Similarly, bird-watching may attract tourists

contributing zone, Leander may face

to the area due to its neighboring Balcones

possible threats of pollution from local

Canyonlands National Wildlife Preserve.

industry.

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 49

Infrastructure

A smart and resilient Leander will...

50 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

manage and coordinate growth with investment on a distributed and diverse infrastructure network that optimizes and integrates social, economic and environmental services without compromising service quality.

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 51

Infrastructure

Water Utility and Demand As evidenced in previous sections, the City of Leander has experienced great population growth in recent years. In turn, population growth tranlates into increased demand on public infrastructure systems. Infrastructure systems serve a variety of functions. Water and electric utilities are part of a cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s infrastructure, just how critical facilities and public services are part of an infrastructure network too. This infrastructure section emphasizes infrastructure as related to water utilities and stormwater management. To plan for a sustainable future, the City of Leander will have to address the needs of incoming population and the challenges posed by a changing climate. The sustainable and resilient future of the City of Leander will depend, to a great extent, on managing and coordinating growth with efficient use of public investments in infrastructure. In order to do so, future infrastructure should avoid standardized hierarchical systems, and rely on distributed and diverse infrastructure networks. Efficient infrastructure is multifunctional: optimizes social, economic and environmental services in integrated projects.

52 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

Follow the money

Growth at a “needed” cost

infrastructure as a share of city budget

69%

infrastructure finance relies on growth Infrastructure Expenses City of Leander FY 2015-16 Budget

22% POLICE INFRASTR. EXPENSES

OTHER NON-INFRASTR. EXPENSES

of city budget allocated to

INFRASTRUCTURE EXPENDITURES Source:City of Leander Budget FY 2015-16.

20% FIRE INFRASTR. EXPENSES

15% PUBLIC WORKS INFRASTR. EXPENSES

12% OTHER INFRASTR. EXPENSES

One stop shop

consolidating development services

+7.5% water utility costumer base growth is needed in order to avoid future utility rate increases

expedited and smarter development assistance service

Source:City of Leander State of the City, 2015. City Budget FY 2015-16.

In FY 2015-2016, the City of Leander’s

As explained in the Land Use and Housing

The City of Leander’s Urban Development

budget included around $18.2 million

section, the development pipeline for the City

and Planning & Development departmets are

in infrastructure-related expenditures.

of Leander has a number of housing projects

now integrated into one operative unit.

Infrastructure-related expenditures are

projected in the next years. Development will

associated with the following city department:

occur in the TOD area and beyond. In the

Consolidating development services will allow

Library, Planning & Development, Public

TOD alone, 620 new multifamily units and

Works, Engineering, Parks & Rec, Police,

over 450,000 sf of new commercial space

Animal Control and Fire.

are under construction.

Infrastructure-related expenditures represent

The debt structure of water utility services

69% of the FY 2015-2016 City of Leander

depends upon the expected population

budget. Operations for Police and Fire

growth in order to prevent rate increases.

departments require the most cost out of all

While population growth will increase the

the City of Leander operations.

tax base and allow for long-term debt

Engineering and Publics Works are not

financing from a water utility perspective,

far behind in operation costs. Their work in relationship to water and stormwater infrastructure, specially given that the City of

the City of Leander to provide expedited development permit and ssistance services. Improving development assistance will facilitate processes and attract developers. An integrated development review and planning department can allow for better informed decision making and elevated standards of compliance of future development with plans and objectives in

there are other associated infrastructure and

place for the future of the city.

services costs that need to be planned for appropriately.

Leander owns and operates its own water utlity service, must consider the sustainable future of the community and environment. CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 53

Infrastructure Water Utility Services

Water Utility Service Areas unified management

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+9.4% expected UTILITY FUND REVENUE INCREASE expected from FY 2014-15

Source:City of Leander Budget FY 2015-16.

The City of Leander operates the city’s water utility services. The city just recently updated its Water and Wastewater Master Plan updated. The fact that water and waste water services are operated by the city provides opportunities for prioritizing sustainability in the development of water an waste water infrastructure. The map on the right shows water utility service areas. The City of Leander’s limits are all covered by the city’s operated utility service. Note how utilitiy services in

183A

neighboring areas are managed by a diverse set of entities. Water Utility Services City of Leander City of Leander Expansion Block House MUD Source: City of Leander and Williamson County GIS Database and those provided by Spring 2016 SLUP class Date: April 2016 Author: Jose Latorre Datum: State Plane Texas Central (FIPS) (US Feet), Coordinate System NAD 1983

54 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

City Of Liberty Hill Chisholm Trail SUD City of Cedar Park City of Georgetown

Aqua Texas Inc City of Round Rock High Gabriel WSC Jalarco Inc Jonestown WSC Timberline Water Company Winstead Darryl and Marjorie

Water Utility Mains

TOD SIte

MetroRail

CoL Limits

Major Roads

CoL ETJ

Roads

Other Jurisdiction

Miles 3

Responsible Consumers per capita water usage

Uncertain Future

projected water shortage and surplus Projected water shortage

180

gallons / person / day

170

City of Cedar Park

160 150 140 130

City of Austin

2040

12,090

120 110 100

acre feet

City of Leander

Source: Lower Colorado River Authority

2070

33,576 acre feet

acre feet = amount of water to cover an acre with one foot depth Source: Texas Water Development Board via Community Impact website and Lake Travis image via KUT

Leander residents consume considerably less

While the City of Leander has funded improvements in water and wastewater infrastructure in

water every day than residents of neighboring

recent years, projections from Texas Water Development Board reveal a water supply deficit

cities. When compared to Cedar Park

for the city.

residents, Leanderites consume 61% less water daily.

Leander’s sole water source is Lake Travis. The drought affecting Texas in recent years has highlighted the dependency of communities to the lake. The picture above depicts the

Water utility per capita usage is related

extent of Lake Travis’ drought in recent years. This dependency will continue to be a risk to

to individual user behavior. At the same

the water supply of Leander and other communities, especially with the unpredictability of a

time, it can be tied to urban form. Denser

changing climate.

residential urban form requires less irrigation for water features. Promoting appropriate user behavior, efficient water fixtures and standards on new development, and placesensitive gardening and urban design will continue to encourage responsible water consumption.

2040 and 2070 projections for water supply surplus or shortage places Leander only behind Round Rock in terms of the greatest need for water in Williamson County. Current and expected growth rates may be affecting these projections, but in any case, they highlight the severity of water demand, compared to supply, in the long-term future. Based on acre foot measure, which is equal to 325,821 gallons of water, Leander’s shortage is estimated at 12,090 acre feet in 2040 and 33,576 acre feet in 2070.

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 55

Infrastructure

Public Safety and Services

Safe, but not like before violent and property crime rates

Exemplary education magnet of families

Access to health services shared regional facilities

2013

safest city in TX

2015

#17

safest city in TX

2015

best school district in Austin Metro Source: Safewise

Source: Niche

The City of Leander constantly appears

The Leander Independent School District is

The closest major hospitals and health

highlighted among the safests cities in the

the 10th fastest-growing school district in

service facilities to Leander are located south,

state of Texas.

Texas. Its area of service goes far beyond

in Cedar Park. Cedar Park Regional Medical

According to Safewise ranking, Leander

Leander’s city limits.

Center is only 10 minutes away by car from

ranks #17 in 2015’s safest cities in the state.

Students in Leander ISD are ranked third-

the TOD site.

Leander’s violent crimes per 1,000 residents

highest in Texas STAAR passage rate. STAAR

Leander should consider evaluating the

is 0.84. Property crime rate per 1,000

is a state-wide test measuring student

level of access of its resident to appropriate

residents is 10.96. The city has fallen from

academic readiness.

medical care and emergency services.

#8 in the ranking since 2013. This drop may invite a revision of public safety as the city continues to grow.

Leander ISD ranks #28 in a best school districts in Texas ranking based on state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, SAT/ACT scores, teacher quality and student and parent reviews. In the Austin Metro area, Leander ISD ranks #4. School system quality is and will remain a priority of families looking to establish residence in Leander. Leander ISD quality is an asset to the city’s future. The future ACC site will only add more educational value to prospective residents.

56 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

Aerial image of Cedar Park Regional Medical Center. Source: Littlejohn Inc.

At-risk service infrastructure critical facilities and future centers The map on the right displays critical infrastructure facilities and future planned development centers in relationship to FEMA’s 100-year flood plain. Schools are included in the map because they can be considered critical facilities when their uses range beyond the education services: they can be emergency shelter structures and community centers if planned appropriately. The relationship of critical facilities to risk areas, such as flood zones must be assessed and addressed to prevent inhabiiltation of facilities during severe weather or emegency events. Only one of the facilities studied falls within 100 ft or inside the 100-year flood plain. The building corresponds to Leander’s public library. Future development and service infrastructure plans must consider flood mitigation and management. 20 out of 50 future centers for development in Leander’s future land use plan fall within 100 ft or inside the 100-year flood plain. All planned centers of development in the TOD district are related to the flood plain. Critical Infrastructure

Green Infrastructure

Existing Schools

Activity Center

Parks and Trails

Future Schools

Community Center

Water Bodies and Storm Detention

Health Services

Neighborhood Center

FEMA 100yr Flood Plain

Police Station

Center w/i Flood Plain

Rivers and streams

Permitted Landfill

TOD SIte

MetroRail

CoL Limits

Major Roads

CoL ETJ

Roads

Other Jurisdiction

Miles 3

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 57

Infrastructure Green Infrastructure

Stormwater Management natural and built infrastructure

The map on the left highights the relationship between stormwater management built infrastructure (pink) and water bodies, rivers and streams in the Leander area. The map also shows vacant parcels (light orange) and previously identified future centers of development with a direct relationship to flood plain areas. Vacant land ovelapping with storm water infrastructure and flooding areas present an opportunity for the city to consider the use of low impact development strategies.

Natural Storm Water Infrastructure

Existing Storm Water Infrastructure

Parks and Trails

Storm Water Detention

Water Bodies

Open Storm Water

FEMA 100yr Flood Plain Rivers and streams

Storm Water Management Potential Sites

MetroRail

CoL Limits

Major Roads

CoL ETJ

Roads

Other Jurisdiction

Vacant Parcels Centers within Flood Plain

58 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

TOD SIte

Miles 3

More than just creeks

relationship with roads and protection

North Brushy Creek as it crosses under Ranch Road 2243. Source: Google Earth, Anna Lake-Smith

Natural water bodies can act as storm water management systems in combination with built infrastructure. Brushy Creek (see picture above and left) traverses the TOD district site. As development in the TOD district continues, Leander must set expectations for the protection of the creek. The city must understand the creek to be more than just a creek. A healthy and well functioning riparian corridor provides alternative storm water infrastructure, in addition to ecological benefits. The relationship of the creek as it traverses the site and the limitations of development around it are as relevant as in the edges. Farm Road 2243 and US 183 cross over the creeks and can limit their ecological function. As the TOD district develops and roads are altered, the relationship with existing ecosystems must be a critical factor in road infrastructure design. The degree of efficiency of natural storm water infrastructure will also depend on the health of these systems. The picture above and right displays litter in an area close to Brushy Creek. Low impact development initiatives must be accompanied by strategies and programs that protect natural systems and promote their well-being.

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 59

Infrastructure Green Infrastructure

Leander Tree Canopy Cover

canopy and storm water management Tree canopy cover provides insight into the health of natural ecosystems in any urban area. Since an argument for green infrastructure as a complimentary storm water infrastructure management system is being made, studying the tree canopy cover in Leander can provide information about areas in need of attention from a low impact development standpoint. A healthy stream or creek will display an appropriate tree canopy cover which constitutes the riparian forest of the body of water. The map on the right highlights the tree canopy cover within City of Leander limits.

51%

tree canopy cover within the City of Leander Tree Canopy Cover Source:GIS Spatial Analysis

60 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

TOD SIte

MetroRail

City of Leander - Tree Canopy Cover

CoL Limits

Major Roads

Outside City of Leander - Tree Canopy Cover

CoL ETJ

Roads

Parks and Trails

Other Jurisdiction

Water Bodies and Storm Detention Areas Rivers and streams

Miles 3

TOD district tree canopy cover

Why are trees infrastructure?

assessing conditions on site

urban heat island effect and storm water management

66%

tree canopy cover within TOD district site

REALLY? Source: Google Earth

Average temperatures or urban areas. Source: EPA

The same analysis done to determine

The Urban Heat Island Effect (UHI) refers to the phenomenon by which higher average

Leanderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tree canopy cover indicates that

temperatures are evidenced in urban areas when compared to rural or less developed areas

the TOD district has a tree canopy cover of

(see graphic above).

66%. The analysis suggests an important canopy presence in the site. However, upon inspection of satellite imagery, it is clear that the data may not represent actual conditions with a high degree of accuracy. Instead of evaluating tree canopy from a birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s-eye perspective only, we suggest a site-by-site analysis in the TOD district be performed to determine existing conditions and actions needed.

The development of the TOD district will increase the amount of imprevious cover and thermal storage surfaces (like concrete or asphalt) which contribute to UHI. Not only that, but increased impervious cover translates to significantly more storm water run-off and peak demand on storm water infrastructure. Promoting the protection and enhancement of Brushy Creek, together with a strong strategy in place for tree canopy cover in the urban design of the TOD site, can mitigate UHI in the TOD area. Additionally, urban trees in combination with low-impact development strategy can mitigate the stress of new development on existing storm water infrastructure.

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 61

Infrastructure

Sustainable infrastructure network

Sustainability Opportunities

assets for a sustainable infrastructure network Green infrastructure in Leander appears to be disconnected. Trails connecting parks are not available and streams and creeks are disrupted by roadways and development. In the TOD district specifically, we identify

Cimarron Golf Course

NEW P ER FO RM

Devine Lake Park

the opportunity to develop the beginning of a sustainable infrastructure network. By combining the strategies and priorities explained previously, the establishment

ATIVE CORRIDOR

of a new performative corridor along Brushy Creek will provide ecological and

Sarita Valley

infrastructure benefits to the city and its inhabitants. The corridor (see map to the left) connects Devine Lake Park with Sarita Valley on a city scale. On a parcel scale, at the TOD district, appropriate planning and development must set precedent to the

Lakewood

future development around the corridor. In the future, connections ot the corridor to other parks and existing ecosystems will increase the resiliency of stromwater infrastructure in Leander while providing ecosystem benefits and attractive amenities to residents.

Potential Sustainable Infrastructure Network

Green Infrastructure

TOD SIte

MetroRail

Major Corridor

Tree Canopy Cover

CoL Limits

Major Roads

Secondary Corridor

Parks and Trails Water Bodies and Storm Detention Areas

CoL ETJ

Roads

Existing Nodes

Other Jurisdiction

Rivers and streams 0 62 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

Miles 3

Strengths

Weaknesses

• Leander integrates development and

• New development and growth has spurred

urban design services.

infrastructure investent by the city.

• Over half of the city’s budget is spent on infrastructure and services.

• Only one source of potable water: Lake Travis.

• The City of Leander owns and operates

• No major medical services within the city

water utility services.

limits.

• Low per capita water consumption.

• Many of the planned centers for development fall within flood-prone areas.

• Exemplary ISD and future education facilities (ACC).

• Low tree canopy cover on TOD site

• One of the safest cities in Texas (#17). • 51% city-wide tree canopy cover.

Threats

Opportunities

• Construction of new infrastructure requires

• Integrated development and urban design

growth in population and consumer

services will provide expedited services

base in order to afford financing without

and better management and promotion of

compromising affordability and city

sustainable palnning initiatives.

finances.

• Leander can promote sustainable water

• Dependency on single source of potable water and a projected water shortage.

supply and management strategies. • Attract new residents due to education

• As growth continues, public safety may be threatened.

facilities and level of service. • Combining built and natural infrastructure

• Development in flood-prone areas may

to manage flooding, using low-impact

allocate facilities in at-risk locations.

develpment strategies, can estimulate

• New development may reduce tree canopy cover if not managed appropriately.

sustainable development in flood-prone areas. • Promote an urban tree canopy strategy on new development: reduce UHI and increase storm water resiliency.

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 63

Trasportation A smart and resilient Leander will...

64 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

expand the current public transportation network so trips can be taken within Leander and to neighboring cities, and increase number of sidewalks and bike lanes to relieve auto-dependence.

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 65

Transportation Options Getting around Leander

Transportation options in Leander are few and far between. The automobile is by far the predominant mode of transportation by residents and visitors alike. Streets prioritize the car, cutting wide swaths through the Leander landscape, with little attention given to bicycles or pedestrians. Some streetscape features have been retrofitted, as illustrated at far right, in which one lane has been designated a shared bike lane, but data show that very few residents use any mode other than the automobile to get to work every day. MetroRailâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Red Line, which opened in 2010, and three CapMetro Express bus lines provide Leander with relatively rapid connections to downtown Austin. Trips taking 55 and 65 minutes, respectively, are perhaps faster than driving during rush hour. But at off-peak times, the drive to downtown Austin is a mere 25 minutes. The development of the TOD will bring a new image of transportation to Leander. Centered on the MetroRail station (where bus lines also pick up and drop off), residents will be able to choose other, more sustainable modes. In the future, shuttles from different parts of Leander to the TOD could further reduce the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dependence on the car.

66 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

Streets and Roads streets built for cars

US 183

Connected and efficient

US 183 SB

Road Network

As can be seen in the images to the left, Leander’s road network is built for the

automobile. Leander’s primary merit is that

H AT

E AV

PKWY

TO NB 18

W BROADE ST

RD 3A LL

TO RD FR SB Y WA

DS B

BLV

LR OL

K PAR

DER RAI

T 3A

RIZ

DER

D DA

AG ID

R TA VIS

SON

N LEA

83 S1

AVE

OK BRO

L PA

I NIC

D GE

243

HIS UTH

O ES

EST SW

O WS

SUN

Y WA

RM 2

EST

24 D2

MAT

EST

FAL

TER WA

VE LA

O HER

MEL

NB 18

9 27

183

TRO

RO HB

BRIEL

A ES

N GA

VIE

W SA

L RIE

increase the city’s connectivity.

ITA

HER

and efficiently. Newly proposed roads will only

O GR

and visitors to get to their destination quickly

WO OD

LSE

north-south and across town allow residents

Transit Network

PKW

it is well connected. Multiple direct routes

I ABR

TOD SIte

Major Roads Roads

Freeway

Major and minor aterials

CoL Limits

MetroRail

Proposed roads

CoL ETJ

CapMetro

Trails

Other Jurisdiction

0.25

0.5

Miles 1

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 67

Auto Dependence Travel to Work Leander

V U

Flower Mound

183A

Frisco Keller Kyle Mansfield Missouri City Rockwall Round Rock 0 min 10 min 20 min 30 min

The above table shows the average time spent commuting to work from Leander and each of its comparable cities. Approximately 94% of Leanderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s working population commutes to work. Of those, 9 out of 10 get in a car, and 8 of them are by themselves! See the map to the left for a further breakdown of where the highest dependencies are for private vehicles. There is a clear over-dependency here: in 2014, 0.75 percent of Leander residents took public transportation to work, and only 0.25 percent of people rode their bikes. Building out the TOD will help to reduce this

V U

dependency by allowing greater access to

183A

the MetroRail and bus lines, and by creating jobs that are accessible by bike or by

Drove to Work (Alone) as a percent of workers 16 and over 55.9% - 65.1% 65.2% - 77.6%

walking.

TOD SIte

MetroRail

CoL Limits

Major Roads

CoL ETJ

Roads

Other Jurisdiction

77.7% - 82.5% 82.6% - 87.6% 87.7% - 98.2% 68 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

Miles 3

TO NB 3A LL

TO S FR RD B

R WD

S RD B

D BLV

Y WA

K PAR

DER

RAI

ER ND

LEA

83 NY

SON

Speed Limits in miles per hour 10 - 25 26 - 35

TOD SIte

MetroRail

CoL Limits

Major Roads

CoL ETJ

Roads

Other Jurisdiction

36 - 50 Source: City of Leander GIS; those provided by Spring 2016 SLUP class. Date: April 2016 Author: Anna Lake-Smith Datum: State Plane Texas Central (FIPS) (US Feet), NAD 1983 Above information: kxan.com

243

W BROADE ST

RD RIZ

R TA VIS

D GE

AVE

EST

every direction.

IPA

IC UN

BRO

potential as it can be easily accessed from

O WS

183, and Mel Mathis Avenue holds a lot of

SUN

bounded by Hero Way, E. South Street,

OLD

for development within the TOD around

3 224

UTH

O ES

EST

This map shows the many possible sites

Y WA

RM 2

HIS

FAL

TER WA

develop, uncontrolled intersections of high-

VE LA

of the installation. As the city continues to

O HER

MAT

accident counts, city officials were all in favor

MEL

RO HB

NB 3A 18

183

9 ME

Due to rising peak-hour congestion and

larger intersections. For example, the square

TRO

Parkway and the 183A Toll Road frontage.

speed roads become increasingly dangerous.

installed at the intersection of San Gabriel

PKWY

In January 2016, a new traffic light was

BRIEL

A ES

VIE

N GA

L RIE

W SA

LS HA

ITA

HER

O GR

D BLV AN EAG WR

US 183

ALD

R ON

Moving quickly through the city

US 183 SB

Speed Limits

51 - 60 61 - 75 New traffic light

0.25

0.5

Miles 1

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, SharpeMiles - 69

MetroRail + Bus

Connecting Leander to Austin

MetroRail red line A typical trip to downtown

Do w nt ow n

Sa lti llo a Pl az

gh la nd M LK ,J r.

Cr es tv ie w

er Kr am

Ho w ar d

ke lin e

Le an d

on the MetroRail takes

both cost

$3.50 each way

minutes

Express buses take

reduced fair is $1.75

In March 2010, the new MetroRail Red Line began operation. The line has 6 diesel/electric trains that make 9 stops between Leander and downtown Austin. The Leander, Lakeline and Howard stations are all park-and- ride, while the remainder can only support drop-off. However, each car can accommodate 8 bikes, and many stations have MetroBike Shelters, allowing riders to either store their bicycles at the station or take them on the train. While 2014 ridership for the line was up 33% from the previous year, the vast majority of Leander residents commutes to work via car, suggesting that most of the rides were taken either as leisure trips or did not originate in Leander. Ridership will only continue to climb as the TOD develops. On weekdays, morning southbound trains leave Leander roughly every half hour, starting at 5:55 am. The last returning train from downtown Austin departs at 6:30 pm. Saturday trains do not go to Leander, and the train does not run at all on Sundays. Those eligible for reduced fares include seniors over the age of 65, passengers with disabilities, and Medicare card holders.

70 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

Rail and Bus Lines

987

From the MetroRail station, riders can also take the 983, 985, and 987 bus lines to

98 3

downtown Austin. Each makes a limited number of stops between Leander and Austinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s central business district. In 2014, the Express bus lines had a combined average

/987

985

weekday ridership of just over 3,000, down 6% from 2013.

CapMetro in Leander Leander MetroRail Station Source: City of Leander GIS; those provided by Spring 2016 SLUP class; Texas.gov Date: April 2016 Author: Anna Lake-Smith Datum: State Plane Texas Central (FIPS) (US Feet), NAD 1983 Above image: bettysellsaustin.com Left images: capmetro.org; bettysellsaustin.com Information: capmetro.org

TOD SIte

Major Roads

CoL Limits

Roads

CoL ETJ Other Jurisdiction

CapMetro bus stops MetroRail tracks CapMetro bus routes

0.25

0.5

Miles 1

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 71

Bike Network

While Leander may not be a biking community yet, there is ample opportunity for recreational biking. At left is a 2006 map of bicycle trails around Williamson County, such as the trail picture above. Trails vary in surface material - some paved, some dirt and cover a vast area of the county.

72 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

Souce: wcchd.org Author: Williamson County and City Health District Printed: 2006 Above image: leandertx.gov Walkscore from walkscore.com

Walking

Not yet, but in the future!

Leander has a walk score of

Strengths

Weaknesses

• MetroRail provides relatively quick and

• Lack of walkability

easy transit from Leander into Austin

• MetroRail makes limited trips in the middle

• Bike lanes, even if they are shared

of the day and on weekends

roadways

• Major thoroughfares are high-speed and

• Intersections under 183 highly walkable

dangerous for biking and walking

and have amenities for bikes and pedestrians, connecting the two sides of the highway

• No public transport within Leander or to other nearby cities, only connections to Austin

Much of Leander lacks sidewalks, although occasionally sidewalks appear on one side of a street. Older, historic parts of town are far more walkable in terms of distance from block to block, but still sidewalks are noticeably absent. In some instances, along the 183A frontage road, for example, there

Threats

Opportunities

• As the Austin region continues to grow,

• In the TOD, make block lengths shorter,

Leander could see patterns of traffic

more comparable to those in the historic

congestion emerge

part of town

• Bad design can quickly make places

• Especially with the new Austin Community

are sidewalks in places that seem to have no

undesirable to walk: designers within the

College campus going in the TOD, many

apparent destination. New development in

TOD should be wary of this

students may prefer to walk to class if they

the TOD is currently isolated, but as it gets built out, connections should be made to major destinations, such as the nearby HEB grocery.

can • New streets present the opportunity to put in complete streets, to both enhance the quality of the experience but also the visual appearance • As more employers locate in Leander, the potential grows for the city to become a bike-transit community

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 73

Land Use

A smart and resilient Leander will...

74 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

diversify its land use portfolio to create a better balance between single-family housing and other uses, as well as look for adjacencies to increase efficiency of resources

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 75

Land use

Looking at Leander’s land use map: Present and future

Land uses in Leander

Land use designates what people can do with their land. This section will look at

a breakdown of ther acreage and percentage of major land uses in Leander

Leander’s present uses, which is primarily single-family residential and unused land, and the community’s vision for its future. The future land use map is a conceptual map that gives an idea of broad use categories without drilling down to the level of individual parcels. And while Leander has seen a great deal of growth in the past decade, most of which has been convential suburban development, the majority of its land is empty. Within the TOD, this vacant land offers the empty canvas upon which we can build the future. The future land use map shows a wide range of land uses in and around the TOD area.

Acres Vacant/agriculture 23121 Recreation 500 Residential (all types) 11903 Large lot residential 3100 Commercial 997 Institutional or Government 784 Unknown 221 Utilities/ROW 69 Total planning area acres 37597

Percent of total 61.5% 1.3% 31.7% 8.2% 2.7% 2.1% 0.6% 0.2% 100.0%

This shows the future Leander’s TOD has many options to include diverse, mixed-use development that includes housing and work. The TOD can be a destination for Leander and the region.

DESTINATION LEANDER COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

LAND USE POLICIES Provide a balanced mix of complementary uses that support a strong and diverse tax base. Encourage a range of housing types at a variety of price points. Focus commercial growth in Activity, Community and Neighborhood Centers.

76 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

Direct highest concentrations of land use intensity and mix within the TOD. Consider both the land use pattern and roadway design in the development and redevelopment

Credit: City of Leander

THE FUTURE LAND USE PLAN The Leander Future Land Use Plan (Map 2) is a conceptual representation of the development

well as other features that define the character of development in connection with the category.

Current land uses

vacant and residential dominates A current land use table gives us a complete

V U

picture of the different uses around Leander.

183A

The vast majority of Leander is vacant or agricultural use, but of the land that is occupied, most is residential. This map shows that much of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commercial and other non-residential uses are toward the center of the city, primarily just south of the TOD district. The vast open space in the TOD is a major opportunity, a blank canvas to develop the future of Leander on.

V U 183A

Source: City of Leander GIS and those provided by Spring 2016 SLUP class Date: April 2016 Author: Farzad Mashhood Datum: State Plane Texas Central (FIPS) (US Feet), NAD 1983

TOD SIte

MetroRail

Recreation

Institutional or Government

CoL Limits

Major Roads

Vacant or Agricultural

Unknown

CoL ETJ

Roads

Residential

Other Jurisdiction

Utilities or Rights-of-Way

Commercial 0

Miles 3

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 77

Future land use map citywide

A future land use map is a conceptual

V U

representation of how a city wants to be

183A

in the future. It does not drill down into the specific land use designations of each parcel but gives the community an idea of the priority areas for different uses. Leanderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future land use acknowledges a primarily residential use in Leander, particularly outside the core are of the city between U.S. 183 and the 183A tollway and in the TOD area. But areas of greater intensity are imagined in the core, primarily in the TOD area, but also in centers around the city. Chapter 3 of the City of Leander Comprehensive Plan offers a deep explaination of the different land uses shown to the left.

V U 183A

Open Space

Transit Supportive Mixed Use

TOD SIte

MetroRail

Mixed Use Corridor

Station Area Mixed Use

CoL Limits

Major Roads

Commercial Corridor

Old Town Mixed Use

CoL ETJ

Roads

Neighborhood Center

Employment Mixed Use

Other Jurisdiction

Community Center

Industrial District

Activity Center

Neighborhood Residential

78 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

Miles 3

Source: City of Leander GIS and those provided by Spring 2016 SLUP class Date: April 2016 Author: Farzad Mashhood Datum: State Plane Texas Central (FIPS) (US Feet), NAD 1983

Future land use map TOD district

Inside the TOD district, Leander has a variety of land uses imagined in the future. In the core of the TOD area, the primary uses are for mixed uses, balancing housing, jobs, and commercial areas to make the area a destination for Leander and the rest of the region taking the MetroRail line. Looking at a half-mile buffer around the TOD area, we found the future land use map plans for an even greater variety of uses just beyond the boundaries of the TOD, including industrial use and an activity center.

Source: City of Leander GIS and those provided by Spring 2016 SLUP class Date: April 2016 Author: Farzad Mashhood Datum: State Plane Texas Central (FIPS) (US Feet), NAD 1983

Neighborhood Residential

Activity Center

TOD SIte

MetroRail

Open Space

Transit Supportive Mixed Use

CoL Limits

Major Roads

Mixed Use Corridor

Station Area Mixed Use

CoL ETJ

Roads

Commercial Corridor

Old Town Mixed Use

Other Jurisdiction

Neighborhood Center

Employment Mixed Use

Community Center

Industrial District

0.25

0.5

Miles 1

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 79

Credit: Anna Lake-Smith 80 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

Strengths

Weaknesses

• Future land use plan includes a wide

• Not much development is in the TOD

range of land uses in and around the TOD

district, especially away from the old town

district.

• TOD is largely undeveloped, free of the

• Current land uses in the TOD largely

traditional car-dependent suburban

reflects the rest of Leander, with residential

residential development.

dominating.

• The community has widespread support

• The transit stop is surrounded by a vast

for the TOD district, particularly as it is

parking lot, making pedestrian access to

adjacent to the historical Old Town.

the stop a challenge.

• City has the TOD Leander Development

• Current development suffers from a lack

Plan completed by CapMetro to market

of connectivity for both pedestrian and car

the TOD area to a variety of experienced

travelers.

developers.

Threats

Opportunities

• Much of the new development coming

• Empty land in the TOD district offers a

to Leander, including the TOD area, is

blank canvas on which to develop the

traditional car-oriented subdivisions.

future of Leander.

• Environmentally sensitive creek, with its

• A wide variety of land uses are planned

100-year floodplain runs through the

in the TOD district and its immediate

middle of the TOD area, which needs to be

surroundings, offering a chance to include

developed around.

a wide mix of uses.

• The TOD district has very little land

• Austin Community College is planning a

presently used as parks and recreation,

new campus the TOD, offering a chance

so without new parks, the area could be

to develop related facilities around it and

a recreation desert potentially failing to

to work with ACC to develop a transit-

attract new residents.

oriented campus that connects to the MetroRail stop.

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 81

Suitability Analysis A smart and resilient Leander will...

82 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

balance the relationship of smart growth around existing infrastructure and services with conservation of environmental areas to promote a sustainable and regenerative urban form.

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 83

Development Suitability Analyisis Input variables

Parks

Education infrastructure

walkability to facilities

walfability to facilities

Education - 1/2 mile buffer Existing schools Existing library Future Schools Future Austin Community College

84 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

(high) walkability

(low)

Parks - 1/4 mile buffer Existing parks Proposed section of park in Brushy creek

(high) walkability

(low)

This variable creates walkability buffers

This variable creates walkability buffers of

of 1/2 mile around existing and future

1/4 mile around existing park facilities. The

education infrastructure facilities. The buffer

buffer is based on Environmental Land Use

is based on Environmental Land Use and

and Community Indicators from Imagine

Community Indicators from Imagine Austin.

Austin. We include a section of Brushy Creek

Facilities include schools K-12, libraries and

in the TOD distric as a park building on the

future facilities, including Austin Community

infrastructure opportunity for a performative

College.

corridor on the site.

Environmental Hazards

Green Infrastructure

safety buffers

Environmental Hazards 183 Tollway - 500ft buffer Other hazards - 750ft buffer Airfields Water treatment plant Landfill Other facilities (EPA)

riparian zone and habitat repair buffers

(high) (low) environmental risk

Green Infrastructure Rivers and Streams: 1640’ buffer (0 score up to 125ft) (high) Wetlands (FWS): 492’ buffer (0 score up to 125ft) encroachment

(low)

This variable creates safety buffers around

This variable creates encroachment buffers

existing environmental hazards. The buffer is

of varying distances around existing rivers

based on California Environmental Protection

strams and wetlands. The buffer is based on

Agency reports.

UN’s FAO guidelines. A score of 0, or non-developeable area, is given to a buffer of 125’ around features in this layer. The 125’ guarantees proper ecological stormwater surge management and flood prevention functions. CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 85

Development Suitability Analyisis Input variables

Wildfire

Terrain

wildfire risk

slopes

Wildfire Risk Texas A&M Forest Service Wildfire Risk Assesment

(high) risk

(low)

Slope Terrain steepness

(high) slopes

(low)

This variable classifies land area according to

This variable classifies terrain slopes in order

its degree of wildfire risk. The classification is

to prevent development from areas with steep

based on Texas A&M Forest Service Wildfire

terrain slopes. Areas with steeper slopes are

Risk Assesment.

more prone to landslides and environmental hazards when subject to development.

86 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

Public Transit Stations

Street Network Connectivity

walkability to stops

density of 4-way intersections

Street Connectivity Densitiy analysis of 4-way intersenctions

(high) (low) intersection density

Transit Stop Stations - 1/4 mile buffer Bus stops MetroRail stop

(high) walkability

(low)

This variable classifies the density of

This variable creates walkability buffers of

4-way street crossings. The existing street

1/4 mile around existing transit stop stations.

infrastructure network is analyzed and areas

The buffer is based on Environmental Land

with greater connectivity are prioritized for

Use and Community Indicators from Imagine

future development.

Austin.

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 87

Development Suitability Analyisis Input variables

ENVIRONMENTAL RESILIANCE

25%

weighting for conservation of habitat and preventing environmental risk

5% 7.5%

Parks

walkability to facilities

Environmental Hazards safety buffers

7.5% Green Infrastructure

riparian zone and habitat repair buffers

2.5% Wildfire

wildfire risk

2.5% Terrain slopes

SMART GROWTH

75%

weighting for development around existing infrastructure and density 88 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

25%

Education infrastructure walfability to facilities

25% Street Network Connectivity density of 4-way intersections

25%

Public Transit Stations walkability to stops

Suitability Score

not suitable to highly suitable The weighting of variables results in the suitability score shown in this page. Variables are categorized into two priorities: environmental resiliance and smart growth. Both priorities are essential to sustainable and regenerative urban development. The image in the bellow is the raster image from which a suitability score of 1 through 5, 1 being areas not suitable for development and 5 being areas highly suitable for development. The image provides a better depiction of the importance of some environmental resiliance variable such as the streams and rivers (the darker sections in the image). The 5-point scale simplifies the more complex hierarchies in the image below; making suitability easier to rean on the map.

Suitability analysis before reclassification into 5-point scale

Development Suitability 1 (not suitable for development) 2 3 4 5 (highly suitable for development)

TOD SIte

MetroRail

CoL Limits

Major Roads

CoL ETJ

Roads

Other Jurisdiction

Miles 3

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 89

Development Suitability Analysis future areas for growth

Where to grow next? areas to consider

Parcels within areas highly suitable for development are highlighted in orange. Darker orange parcels are vacant parcels. All parcels highlighted fall outside of FEMA’s 100-year flood plain. We also consider Leander’s plans for future growth. Centers highlighted in Leander’s future land use map are included in the map. Centers with an orange outline intersect areas highly suitable for development. Under the weighting established, the development and planning efforts from the City of Leander should be concentrated in centers highly suitable for development. More specifically, highly suitable areas within the centers must be prioritized. Within the TOD district, the water treatment plant and Brushy Creek condition the suitability for development. However, the public transit station and future ACC campus increase suitability for development on the site. Brushy Creek’s preservation and enhacement does not have to impose constraints to development. New development can be balanced to promote a sustainable relationship with the creek: providing an amenity to residents, promoting its ecological functions and improving its stormwater infrastructure capacity.

90 - Leander: Smart + Resilient

16.7% of parcels in Leander are highly suitable for development

4.4%

of highly suitable parcels are

VACANT

14/50 centers of future growth are highly suitable for development (28%)

Development Suitability 1 (not suitable for development) 2 3 4 5 (highly suitable for development)

Suitable Parcels for Development Score 5 parcels outside floodplain Vacant score 5 parcels outside floodplain 100yr floodplain (FEMA) Future centers for development

TOD SIte

MetroRail

CoL Limits

Major Roads

CoL ETJ

Roads

Other Jurisdiction

Score 5 Future centers for development 0

Miles 3

CRP 386: Lake-Smith, Latorre, Marshhood, Sharpe - 91