Austin, TX
MileStone wants site annexed to Austin amid aquifer concerns
A controversial Texas law meant to loosen city regulations is now at the heart of an unusual pivot as MileStone Community Builders pushes for stricter oversight in Austin.
The shift in approach comes after the Austin-based developer employed a new Texas law to de-annex 498 acres from the tiny city of Hays for its proposed Hays Commons development, at the corner of FM-1626 and SH-45, the Austin Business Journal reported. Now the developer wants the property to be annexed to the city of Austin in an effort to navigate environmental opposition.
The $500 million Hays Commons project would include 700 homes, 75,000 square feet of commercial space and a 160-acre conservation area.
Under Texas’ de-annexation law, MileStone, led by president and CEO Garrett Martin, was able to remove the development site from Hays’ extraterritorial jurisdiction and proceed with the development under less restrictive county regulations.
However, after months of discussions and mounting pressure from residents and environmental stakeholders, the developer is pursuing annexation into Austin, citing the city’s more robust regulatory framework as a better means of addressing environmental concerns, especially those related to the Edwards Aquifer.
The key to annexation is a municipal utility district consent agreement, which would give Austin control over water and wastewater services and regulatory oversight of the project.
“On our side, we get utility service, a water and wastewater agreement out of the arrangement, and on the city side, they get all of the land use regulations, all the environmental protections,” Martin said.
However, environmental advocates are wary. Mike Clifford, technical director for the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, criticized the project’s density and its potential impact on water quality in the aquifer.
“Extending services to Hays Commons would create an unprecedented high-density development over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, encourage development that follows the installation of water and sewer lines, and put residents’ water quality at risk with non-point source pollution,” Clifford said.
While environmental concerns loom large, the development’s annexation proposal will soon be considered by Austin’s Planning Commission, with the City Council poised to make a final decision. If annexation is rejected, MileStone could proceed with the project under county standards, which could be less protective of the environment.
— Andrew Terrell
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AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas’ highway system dropped two spots since 2025, and now ranks at No. 27 in the country for its cost-effectiveness and overall conditions, according to the Reason Foundation’s 2026 Highway Report.
The report assessed pavement conditions, fatalities, deficient bridges, infrastructure costs and congestion levels across the United States. Texas earned the following rankings:
- 33rd in urban interstate pavement conditions
- 21st in rural interstate pavement conditions
- 39th in urban arterial pavement conditions
- 12th in rural arterial pavement conditions
- 3rd in structurally deficient bridges
- 26th in urban fatality rate
- 42nd in rural fatality rate
- 41st in traffic congestion
“More than 42,000 of the nation’s 618,923 highway bridges, nearly 7%, are still structurally deficient. Arizona, Nevada, and Texas reported the lowest percentages of deficient bridges,” the report said.
The full report can be found online.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Small hail peppered the Austin area as strong thunderstorms moved through Saturday.
A few of the storms dropped rain and up to pea-sized hail in San Marcos, Dripping Springs and the Austin metro area.
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued for Williamson County around 8:15 p.m., and then canceled shortly after. However, it was enough for the Two Step Inn music festival in Georgetown to cancel shows for the rest of the evening. Event organizers say the festival will run as planned Sunday.
KXAN’s First Warning Weather team is monitoring the storms. We will update this post as the evening continues.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Society Sons of the American Revolution unveiled a new monument at the Texas State Cemetery on Saturday, dedicated to Texas Revolutionary War soldiers.
“We must educate every generation about why it is that America grew from a tenuous 13 colonies into the most powerful country in the history of the world,” said Governor Abbott. “This monument here is an enduring testament to the heroes who fought for the freedom that is unique to America.”
The monument was dedicated to 69 soldiers who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later settled in Texas, according to a press release.
Among those that were honored, Abbott recognized:
- José Santiago Seguín, grandfather of Texas Revolutionary hero Juan Seguín.
- Peter Sides, who fought in the 2nd Battalion of the North Carolina Regiment of the Colonial Army, and was later killed in the 1813 Battle of Medina, fighting for Mexican independence against Spain.
- Antonio Gil Y’Barbo, the founder of Nacogdoches.
- William Sparks, who fought as a mounted rifleman in the American Revolution and later settled in Texas. He had two sons and two grandsons who fought in the Texas Revolution.
“This year marks the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, which not only gave freedom to the British colonies of North America, but inspired movements for freedom and liberty all over the world,” said TSSAR President Mel Oller. “Texans played a role in the war too, and it’s important to recognize them, and the sacrifices they made for our freedom.”
At the monument unveiling, Abbott was also inducted into the Sons of the American Revolution and received its Silver Good Citizenship Medal.
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