Leander home count expected to double, mayor says in city address

Mayor Chris Fielder presented his State of the City address during the Jan. 22 Leander Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Fielder estimated there are 10,000 homes in Leander right now and roughly another 10,000 currently in some form of development.

Such growth should help the city boost its population to 50,000 by 2018–19, he said, up from approximately 31,000 to start 2013.

“Bottom line—we're growing, we're healthy, and we're excited about what's to come the next couple years,” Fielder told the 200-person crowd.

Statistics support Fielder's growth claim. Leander's sales tax base grew 8 percent last year, as opposed to 3.89 percent throughout Williamson County, he said. The city also issued more building permits in 2012, with commercial permits up 60 percent and residential building up 68 percent compared with 2011.

Among other plans he listed for 2013, Fielder said residents should expect more activity between the Lowe's and Kohl's stores in the Gateway at Leander shopping center on US 183. There is also expected to be increased marketing efforts to bring more attention to the city's transit-oriented district near the Capital Metro Park & Ride.