TAYLOR, Texas — Plans for a massive housing and industrial development in Taylor are moving forward. At a July 11 meeting, the Taylor City Council approved the next step for developer Megatel to build 1,000 homes and an industrial park near U.S. 79 and Lorax Road.
"It's just in line of that comprehensive plan, creating higher density spaces, more walkable spaces, more variety, where you can live, work and play within the same neighborhood," Taylor Director of Communications Daniel Seguin said.
This comes at the city continues to grow. The multibillion-dollar Samsung semiconductor manufacturing facility is also being built there.
Bar manager Samantha Olivo said it has helped her business, Randy’s Ice House.
“Our business has doubled, if not tripled, just from the growth outside,” Olivo said.
Olivo said she does expect the growth and newer developments to continue to help restaurant sales. But she does have some concerns.
“Kind of worried because we have small-town feel," she said. "Are we still going to have that after this or not?”
Over the next five years, the city expects the population to grow another 8%, from just over 16,000 to over 19,000 people.
The Megatel project still has go through a number of steps, including environmental studies, before construction can get underway.
Boomtown is KVUE's series covering the explosive growth in Central Texas. For more Boomtown stories, head to KVUE.com/Boomtown.