AUSTIN, Texas — Austin City Council will consider on Sept. 10 a proposal to rezone a 67-acre property in southwest Austin for up to 1,000 multifamily apartment units after postponing a scheduled July vote to allow additional review of the project.
The proposal covers Tract 110, an undeveloped property near the southwest corner of MoPac Expressway and State Highway 45. Developer Stratus Properties seeks to change the site’s zoning from commercial office to allow multifamily housing, retail and neighborhood commercial uses.
Under the zoning established through the 2002 Circle C Development Agreement, the property is entitled for up to 650,000 square feet of commercial office development.
According to the proposal, the development would include a trail system open to Circle C residents for walking and biking. The proposal also states that vehicles would not have access to Dahlgreen Avenue from the development.
KVUE requested comment from Stratus Properties earlier this week but had not received a response before publication.
Some Circle C residents oppose the rezoning, citing concerns about traffic congestion, roadway safety near Kiker Elementary School, emergency access, infrastructure capacity, school impacts and potential effects on the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone.
Residents also object to any new vehicle access from the development onto Dahlgreen Avenue, saying it would increase traffic through the Kiker Elementary School zone.
The Protect Circle C Coalition, a group of neighborhood residents, said it supports development but wants the project to better align with existing infrastructure.
“We’ve always known it was going to happen,” coalition member Lisa Lyons said. “The problem we have is what we consider irresponsible development, and that comes in the form of building 1,000 apartments, across from an elementary school, with an access point that is going to let traffic out through the school zone.”
Resident Nick Keswani said the proposed development could increase traffic near the elementary school.
“To think about adding another thousand units here is going to change the traffic pattern here,” Keswani said. “It also puts our kids, candidly, at risk, because we want them to feel the freedom to ride their bikes to school and not worry about an onslaught of traffic.”
Resident Annaelisa Baker said she expects the property to be developed but hopes the final project includes fewer residential units.
“It’s inevitable that there is going to be development,” Baker said. “So responsible, less people, things that will help the community, rather than intensify the problematic traffic.”
District 8 Council Member Paige Ellis said she has not taken a position on the rezoning request but supports delaying the council vote until Sept. 10 to allow additional review.
“I have still not taken a position on this case,” Ellis said in a statement. “I recognize how vital it is to get this work right, which is why I support postponing this case until at least the Sept. 10, 2026 City Council meeting. The goal with this additional time is to ensure stronger outcomes for all.”
Ellis said residents’ concerns about traffic are valid and that she supports gathering additional traffic impact data before the council votes.
She said she met June 15 with representatives of the Protect Circle C Coalition, city transportation engineers, environmental experts and attorneys to discuss the proposal. Her staff also attended a Stratus town hall meeting on June 18.
Ellis said the project would likely require at least two access points to meet emergency response requirements. She said officials are considering Dahlgreen Avenue and South Bay Lane as possible access points in addition to MoPac Expressway.
“Our neighbors around each of those locations are understandably concerned, as are parents of Kiker Elementary students,” Ellis said. “One reason why I support postponing a vote on this case is to continue our work to see how we might address those concerns and to explore what kind of additional, creative solutions might be available to ensure the highest degree of safety and accessibility for all.”