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Special Edition: 2014 Year End Review/ 2015 Look Ahead
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It's hard to believe the first month of the year is over! Last year, our Town accomplished many things to help prepare for growth headed our way. We would like to reflect on those accomplishments since ending 2014 and share our objectives for the year ahead. We hope you enjoy this snapshot of our community's highlights, achievements and goals!
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Last year we finished the $10.2
million Phase 1 of Westlake Academy improvements just in time for the opening of School
Year 2014-15. Improvements included a new secondary building, multi-purpose building and field house, along with new technology for all including each student receiving an iPad mini and new SMART boards for classrooms!
With new buildings came growth as enrollment climbed to nearly 800 students, up from 680. Our 53 graduates fared well, with the Class of 2014 earning a whopping $4.3 in scholarships/grants! Westlake Academy athletes also enjoyed major milestones and celebrated
state championships in golf, baseball, track, soccer, and volleyball. Click here to see great photos of those champions on Westlake Academy's Facebook page.
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F.M. 1938 is looking nice, and last year much was accomplished toward finishing the F.M. 1938
Streetscape Plan. You have likely noticed the newly built shade structures
along F.M.1938, designed for joggers, walkers and anyone enjoying part of the
Westlake trail system. With our Texas heat, we think people will really
appreciate them.
These shade structures, and water fountains, are part of our F.M. 1938 Streetscape Plan, the purpose of which is to
reinforce our Town's pastoral character with beautiful, drought tolerant
landscaping, signature gateways and pedestrian friendly amenities. F.M. 1938 is our north/south
corridor and this streetscape plan is intended to beautify that corridor. This
$1.2 million streetscape project began five years ago and, along with the shade
structures and water fountains, includes trail connections, lighting at intersections, and entry monuments.
The west side of F.M. 1938 is in the finishing stages. The Granada side (east) is
still under construction. To view the F.M. 1938 Streetscape Plan, click here.
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Speaking of Granada...Wow! Great headway was made in 2014 with streets poured and the wall around the development just about finished. As mentioned above, trail system improvements will be soon be made on the Granada side (east) of F.M. 1938. All of the lots have been sold for the first phase of this development (and most under-contract with homeowners) which will feature a two-phase total of 84 single-family luxury homes in a beautiful neighborhood that covers 84 acres. More information can be found here.
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After many meetings and much work during 2014, the Town of Westlake reached a major milestone last month at a Town Council meeting that paved the way for the construction of Entrada, our first mixed use development to be located east of FM 1938/Davis Boulevard, between Solana Boulevard and Texas 114.
As a result of those meetings, Town Council unanimously approved the issuance of $26 million in Public Improvement District bonds, which will fund the majority of Entrada’s infrastructure construction. What this means for Westlake residents and businesses is that growth is paying for growth. Our taxpayers are not obligated or responsible for the repayment of these bonds, but rather the developer, and those that develop property within the Entrada development, will pay for these bonds through their annual assessments. More information about Entrada can be found here.
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Several meetings, including more than a dozen Steering Committee meetings, three public input workshops and joint Town Council/P&Z meetings were held last year for discussions about our Comprehensive Plan update. We appreciate those who participated and came out to give input and learn more about this important document that will serve as a guide for our Town as we grow.
A joint Planning & Zoning Commission/Town Council workshop was held in December to discuss the Comp Plan Steering Committee's proposed recommendations and discuss future growth. Last month, a public hearing was held during the P&Z meeting, followed by the Commission's recommendation of approval (with added clarifications) of the proposed Comp Plan update. On Monday Feb.23, this item will be on the agenda during the Town Council meeting, which will include a public hearing.
Westlake's expected population in the year 2036 is 6,900, with a daytime population of 142,000. A majority of the discussion during these meetings centered on thoroughfares. Other elements are land use, open space/parks/trails,Town design, emergency facilities/Town Hall, water conservation, housing, and economic development. More information can be found here or on our homepage.
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Water Storage & Conservation
To help prepare for future growth, Westlake's newest water storage tank was completed in June. The tank holds 1 million gallons of water!! The Town's first ground storage tank was built in the year 2000 and holds 635,000 gallons of water. The tanks are located off of 377 near the Keller/Westlake border.
To help conserve water, a pilot program was put in place last fall for new digital, wireless water meters that will allow you to check usage not just by the month, or week, but by the hour. The pilot program was a success and the new meters will soon be installed. Click here to see the story that aired in August on CBS.
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Financial awards continued last year as the Town received several including the GFOA's Distinguished Budget Presentation Award! Westlake has received this award every year since 2007, when Town staff began submitting its annual budget to the awards program.
This prestigious award joins a list of other financial honors including the esteemed 2014 Gold Leadership Circle Award, and two awards for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting.
Westlake’s Finance Department also earned the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). This is also the seventh year in a row to garner this achievement! To learn more about our Finance Department, click here.
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On the last day of the year, our fire department suffered a loss of their own due to a fire in their living quarters. During a Town Council Emergency Meeting last month, $200,000 was approved for expenditures related to that loss. Firefighters have since been able to return on-site to Westlake and are staying in a fifth wheel RV until replacement accommodations can be built. Land for a permanent fire station is currently being explored.
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The Town officially launched our first two social media sites last year! If you enjoy social media and to keep informed about all things Westlake, like our Facebook page here or follow us on Twitter here.
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Westlake was featured in more than 30 news stories last year! From events over at Westlake Academy to news about Entrada, Solana and other developments, our Town took the spotlight. "Read all about it" by clicking here.
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For 2015 we will continue making progress toward our goals while keeping Westlake's mission statement of being "a unique community, blending preservation of our natural environment and viewscapes, while serving our residents and businesses with superior municipal and academic services that are accessible, efficient, cost-effective, and transparent." Here are just a few of our 2015 goals we look forward to accomplishing: - Completion of Pubilc Hearings and Comprehensive Plan approval process
- Once Comp Plan is approved, work to complete revision and actions required to bring ordinances and policies in line with the new plan.
- Work with developers and builders to continue steady progress in Granada, Entrada, and housing starts in our other developments
- Continue economic development work and partner with Entrada and new Solana owners as we strive for retail growth in Westlake
- Installation of new water meters and also of weather siren system
- Continue focus on staff development at both municipal and academic locations
- Complete plans and location search for more permanent options of fire station.
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Town of Westlake 3 Village Circle, Suite 202 Westlake, TX 76262 (817) 430-0941
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