New businesses, taller buildings possible in downtown Round Rock following rezoning

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) – The city of Round Rock could be seeing new businesses and taller buildings popping up downtown.

This comes after Round Rock City Council approved rezoning parts of downtown as mixed-use areas at a Thursday meeting. The change allows property owners more flexibility with their land, letting them use it for more than purely commercial or residential purposes.

Rezoning will attract new spots for local dining, entertainment and retail to Round Rock’s downtown, said Brad Dushkin, Round Rock’s Planning and Development Services Director. 

“The overarching goal of all of this was to try and bring more people downtown,” Dushkin said. "When we talk to people out in the community, they want more activities, more things to do here in downtown so that they don't have to go to some of our neighboring cities.” 

New buildings downtown can be built larger following the amendment. Buildings alongside Round Rock Avenue and Mays Street can be eight stories tall, whereas the limit was previously three. Those along Interstate-35 can now rise as high as 12 stories. 

“They could have retail on the ground floor. They can have a few floors of offices as well,” Dushkin said. “Any way that they might want to chop it up, they can do that combination of uses.”

Cory Shaw, an operating partner at the Round Rock bar and coffee shop Purely Provisions, hopes the rule changes will drive more customers to downtown businesses. 

“The benefit is density,” he said. “That gives opportunity to business owners for more customers, but also for new businesses to come in as well.”

But Shaw is not without his concerns; he said along with more shoppers could mean more traffic. Purely Provisions, he said, sees a dip in customers when large events are held downtown, simply because of ensuing crowds making the business inaccessible. 

He pointed out areas close to Main Street and Centennial Park being in desperate need of more parking spaces, something he fears could deter residents from wanting to shop in the downtown area. 

“Parking is always a concern,” Shaw said. “The city already knows about it and is aware of it.”

Though he is optimistic that rezoning will allow for Round Rock’s continued growth, Shaw said he hopes the city can retain its walkability and small-town feel. 

“It's going to be good for current business owners. It's going to be good for future business owners,” Shaw said. “Anybody that comes into the area and wants to elevate business around here, I think it's welcome and needed.”