Amazon Sets Sights On Round Rock Facility, Has Neighbors Worried

Round Rock TX

05 November, 2021

12:29 PM

Description

ROUND ROCK, TX — Less than a month after Amazon opened its Pflugerville facility, the company looks to set its sights in Round Rock. The news has had families in the Round Rock West Neighborhood concerned after they learned of the possible move. Amazon submitted an application to the city of Round Rock last month to rezone and annex a 193-acre site at 2801 County Road 172 for a warehouse and distribution center. The company has said they intend to begin construction within the next three to five years. A City of Round Rock spokesperson confirmed with KXAN the city and representatives from Amazon had a meeting Monday. She says some city staff were also there to answer questions. Live in Round Rock? Click here to subscribe to our free breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox and mobile devices. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and download our free mobile app on Android or iPhone. Amazon did not comment on the project stating they are "not yet commenting on any specific operations plans in Round Rock." Mike Freeman, vice president of the Greater Round Rock West Neighborhood Association, said it would've been nice if the neighborhood knew about the project sooner so they could have met and asked the company questions. "The Greater Round Rock West Neighborhood Association understands that Amazon has already closed on the property and will be building a distribution facility. We know that they are working closely with the City of Round Rock to build a facility that meets the community standards and will have a positive impact on the area," Freeman said. "We hope and believe that Amazon will be a good neighbor and will work hand in hand with the surrounding neighborhoods and the city to have a facility that has minimal impact both physically and environmentally to the surrounding area." Sara Bustilloz, a spokesperson for the city, said Amazon will voluntarily request annexation which will give Round Rock regulatory oversight via zoning, site planning, traffic analysis and building inspection processes. Without annexing that land, Bustilloz says the city would have no zoning, permitting or building inspection authority over what happens on that property, but only signage review and platting. Right now, the site of interest is located in the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction, where the city has limited legal power. "With the zoning and annexation process, the city is able to apply all of the typical development standards to the project, such as building setbacks, landscaping requirements, tree protection, loading zone screening, lighting restrictions and land use limitations," Bustilloz explained. She added that if the property were developed outside city limits, none of their standards would apply, since counties in Texas don't have legislative authority to apply zoning regulations to a development. If the PUD application isn't approved, the facility could still be built within county jurisdiction. A spokesperson for Williamson County said they do "not comment on any economic development projects or prospects with which we may or may not be working."