Council hears voluntary annexation and employment‑center plan for 52‑acre Davis tract; employment plan later withdrawn

The Taylor City Council on May 22 held public hearings and introduced items related to a proposed voluntary annexation and an associated employment‑center neighborhood plan (referred to in staff materials as the Fortera mixed‑use plan) for roughly 52 acres near 650 County Road 403 in Taylor’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.

Planning staff (Mister Dunlop) told the council the property—identified in staff materials as the Davis tract—is adjacent to existing industrial employers and is composed of steep terrain and a creek corridor. The applicant is proposing a plan that staff described as primarily residential in character with single‑family P3 and some P4 build‑to‑rent product types at lower densities, integrated civic space along the floodplain, a boulevard connector aligned with the city thoroughfare plan and a small area of flex commercial uses.

Staff noted the plan includes conservative detention and floodplain amenity areas intended to avoid adverse hydrologic impacts once detailed hydraulic modeling is complete. The illustrative plan shown to council included parks and an amenitized detention area, and staff said it was designed to align with a previously approved neighborhood plan for the Davis tract.

Planning Commission recommended approval of the employment‑center plan by a 9‑0 vote. However, staff stated later in the meeting that the applicant had withdrawn items 9 and 10 (the employment center plan and a related zoning case) because of outstanding neighborhood concerns and to allow time for revisions; staff said the annexation and the employment plan had been postponed together at an earlier meeting and were returned to council concurrently at the applicant’s request.

The city attorney read an ordinance to annex the territory into the city. Staff said the annexation application is voluntary and asked that the council consider the annexation and the employment plan together; when the applicant withdrew the employment‑center plan (items 9 and 10) staff said they would re‑notify surrounding property owners and return the employment plan to a future meeting once revised.

No members of the public spoke during the hearings on the annexation or the Fortera employment‑center plan. Council and staff noted the plans were previously postponed from the April 24 meeting and would be re‑noticed when revised materials are ready.

Why it matters: the annexation and neighborhood plan would bring approximately 52 acres under city jurisdiction and guide development along a corridor that provides a future connector to U.S. 79. The plan’s approach to residential densities, floodplain civic space and roadway connections will shape future development patterns and infrastructure requirements.

Next steps: staff indicated the applicant will revise the employment plan and staff will re‑notify adjacent property owners; the employment‑center plan will return to planning commission and then back to council for further action once the applicant resubmits.