the growth that’s coming, and we’re making sure we do it right.” Taylor’s transformation is being guided by one of the most significant economic catalysts in Texas: Samsung’s new semiconductor campus, a multi-billion-dollar investment that’s redefining opportunity across Central Texas.Yet,Mayor Ariola,the City Council, and the Taylor Economic Development Corporation (TEDC)—led by President and CEO Ben White—are ensuring that growth doesn’t outpace planning. Their approach emphasizes balanced development, infrastructure investment, and community preservation, making Taylor —located in eastern Williamson County—one of the most closely watched cities in the Austin metropolitan area. BUILDING A FOUNDATION FOR SMART GROWTH At City Hall, multiple long-range initiatives are moving forward in lockstep. Taylor is currently updating its Downtown Master Plan, conducting a citywide water and wastewater study, and preparing a new comprehensive plan that accounts for the sweeping impact of Samsung’s arrival. “The previous [comprehensive] plan was approved right before Samsung selected Taylor,”Ariola explains. “It didn’t anticipate that level of growth. The old approach was to grow from the inside out—fill in the open lots first. Now, with Samsung, we have to plan for the ETJ [extraterritorial jurisdiction] and surrounding acreage that’s suddenly viable for nearterm development.” The city’s new affordable housing study—the first phase of that larger comprehensive plan—will define what affordability means specifically for Taylor’s workforce. “We need housing for everyone,” Ariola says. “First-year teachers, first responders, skilled workers, and executives. The mix has to reflect the diversity of the people who are moving here.” The TEDC has taken the lead in funding and coordinating much of the infrastructure planning. “The water and wastewater master plan will give everyone—from staff to developers—a clear view of where future lines are going,” says White.“It’s about giving the city, the business community, and our residents a roadmap for sustainable growth.” STRENGTHENING THE HEART OF TAYLOR While planning for new neighborhoods and industrial zones, Taylor is also investing in the places that define its identity. The Heritage Square 31 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 12 TAYLOR, TX
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