Stuck in a Development Slump, Texas Suburb Shrinks Transit District

After plans to create a transit-oriented, pedestrian-friendly district in the Austin suburb of Leander fizzled due to the recession, the city has cut back minimum height and density requirements in the hopes of attracting more investment.

1 minute read

July 23, 2014, 8:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"After months of discussion and several tense town hall meetings, the Leander City Council voted Thursday evening to shrink the zone requiring high density development around the town’s MetroRail station to a little more than a third of its original size," reports Esther Robards-Forbes.

"The overall size of the 2,300-acre, transit-oriented development district hasn’t changed, but the zone designated for high-density, pedestrian-friendly shopping and housing developments has shrunk from more than 1,300 acres to just 520 acres."

As for the unmet expectations that preceded the city's recent moves, Robards-Forbes reports: "For a decade…much of the land has sat empty...Landowners said that developers and builders, particularly the big box stores that had shown interest, were being scared off by heavy restrictions such as minimum height and density requirements. In the areas closest the station, buildings had to be a minimum of two stories and residential buildings were limited in favor of commercial and retail."

Friday, July 18, 2014 in Austin American-Statesman

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight