ATX-LLH: Impact 10/13/2025

After a second presentation and a number of amendments, the Leander City Council once again voted to reject a special use permit for proposed gaming parlor Ketta’s Social.

What’s happening: Ketta’s Social was to be a sweepstakes-style social club and game room with slot machines and other games located at 107 N. Hwy. 183 in Leander’s Old Town district. The business had previously set an opening date of Sept. 19, but had to postpone indefinitely after council rejected the company’s permitting at its regular meeting Sept. 18. Council made a motion to allow the owners to make adjustments to their proposal and present their case again.

The takeaway: Even with the changes, the council found that the business didn’t fit in with the overall master plan for the Old Town section of Leander. The council voted 5-2 to reject the special use permit.

A Buffalo Wild Wings will be coming to Liberty Hill’s Water Tower Plaza, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

The details: The new location is expected to break ground in late October and to be built out by the end of December, according to TDLR.

The nationwide chain serves a variety of wings, sides, burgers, sandwiches and desserts.

• 14241 W. Hwy. 29, Ste. 305, Liberty Hill

Travis County commissioners approved an additional $21 million in contracts Oct. 7 to expand child care under the newly rebranded Raising Travis County initiative, bringing total funding to $55 million less than a year after voters approved a countywide tax increase for affordable child care.

The big picture: The program aims to increase early childhood, after-school, and nontraditional-hours child care, while covering gaps in state subsidy programs, supporting thousands of local children. The funding is distributed through Workforce Solutions Capital Area, which will manage child care scholarships for families and gap funding for providers. These partnerships are intended to expand capacity quickly and reduce long wait times.

Of note: The initiative represents one of the fastest child care expansions in the nation, according to county staff. Funding is expected to roll out this fall for providers and early next year for families, increasing access to affordable child care across Travis County.

The funding will supports around 4,099 children in various programs across the county.

Williamson County commissioners approved plans to temporarily move employee office space ahead of the opening of a new administrative building, as well as plans for a new Justice Center Complex.

The setup: Some county operations, including all of the offices operating out of the historic courthouse, will move into the new Williamson County Administration Building next year. The 120,000-square-foot facility is located on an 170-acre tract of land near Southwestern Boulevard and SE Inner Loop in Georgetown.

In addition to finding space solutions before the administration building opens, commissioners are also in the site-selection process for a new Justice Center Complex, which will add significant office space for justice employees.

The current situation: County staff have already implemented Phase 1 of interim office space plans. At an Oct. 7 meeting, commissioners approved phases 2-4, which began this month and will roll out in phases until October 2030.

Latest update: Phase 2, planned for October 2025 through May 2026, of the interim office plans will find solutions for a new district court.

Check out the top trending Community Impact stories in the Austin metro from Oct. 6-10.

1. Hwy. 290 extension could improve travel between Travis and Bastrop counties

2. Bridge placed over Lake Creek to connect Round Rock West with downtown area

3. Austin ISD unveils plans to close 13 schools in 2026-27 school year

4. Cedar Park’s Firefly launches $855 million bid for defense tech company

5. Bastrop Automotive to be built on FM 969

6. Samsung employees to move into office building on Taylor campus this November