Western Travis and northern Hays Counties are exploding with growth.  Some of the growth in terms of numbers of people is due to the fact that this is prime Central Texas Hill Country real estate.  People used to purchase acreage, build a home and enjoy the quiet country lifestyle.  That is changing dramatically.  Developers have purchased large tracts of land for new subdivisions.  Subdivisions that are well under way include Belterra and Highpointe in Hays County.  Belterra is large subdivision off HWY 290 between Oak Hill and Dripping Springs.  When it is built out it will contain about 2,000 homes.  Highpointe is a Pulte development  just south of Belterra.  Other subdivisions being developed near Dripping Springs include Scenic Greens and Headwaters at Barton Creek.

In western Travis County the subdivision of West Cypress Hills has been under development for several years.  There was a lot of controversy surrounding West Cypress Hills as the initial development had runoff clouding and polluting Lick Creek.  That is precisely why many people want development in this very scenic area slowed down and done more carefully.  The creeks that flow through the Hill Country are generally very clear.  Some contain amazing places like Blue Hole and Hamilton Pool.  People in the area are also concerned about the Pedernales River, which runs through both counties on its way into Lake Travis.  Another major subdivision planned for western Travis County is the Lazy Sweetwater 9.  This is an area of around 1,000 acres on the western side of HWY 71 where Bee Creek Rd. intersects the highway.  Areas along Hamilton Pool Road are also seeing significant growth.

Growth estimates for the area are staggering.  The LCRA, which manages all of the Central Texas Highland Lakes, completed a water pipeline that will help areas along Hamilton Pool to be developed.  Water is one of the main factors that held up development over the years.  One subdivision, Deer Creek Ranch, off Hamilton Pool Rd. developed its own water supply via a community well.  Deer Creek had a major issue with its water this summer and people in the area had to find other sources for a while.  A friend of mine who lives in the subdivision told me that she had to keep a dozen 5 gallon bottles of water on hand because she couldn't trust the Deer Creek water supply in terms of both quantity and quality.

As water is brought to more area, development will follow.  As development plans are made, water will go in to support it.  The LCRA estimates that by the year 2035 there will be an additional 45,000 households in northern Hays and western Travis Counties.  There are plans on building water treatment plants and water lines all through the area depending on development in the area.  See a draft of the LCRA map showing proposed plants and lines.

Part of the reason western Travis County is growing so rapidly is the development in the City of Bee Cave.  Bee Cave is home to the Shops at the Galleria, which contains about 500,000 square feet of retail space.  Under construction now is the Hill Country Galleria Mall.  With so much more available in terms of shopping and services, people will flock to the new subdivisions.  The Transportation Department estimates traffic along Hwy 71 through Bee Cave to go from over 12,000 vehicles/day in 1997 to over 60,000 vehicles/day in 2030.  I'd say that represents pretty serious growth.

Update, spring of 2010.  Growth has been stifled out Hwy 71.  With the collapse of the tinancial market a year ago and builders halting profuction in areas, the growth we all expected to see out Hwy 71 isn't happening.  The Sweetwater development is dead for now.  The only area really moving is Rough Hollow, one of Lakeway's newer communities.

The other thing of significance that is keepign more development from happening is a lack of water.  The LCRA will no longer provide water to the west unless developers pay for it.