Georgetown City Council cleared the way for Heirloom—a planned 620-acre mixed-use development—to begin construction following the approval of its public improvement district agreement at an Oct. 27 meeting.

What it means: PIDs work by levying city bonds to fund the upfront cost of infrastructure, which homeowners pay back through a special assessment.

Council members unanimously approved the special assessment ordinance and the Service and Assessment Plan for the Heirloom PID following a public hearing Oct. 27. Officials also authorized the issuance of $20.89 million in city bonds to fund construction, including:

• A 2-mile collector road

• Water and wastewater lines

• Public trails in a future city-owned park

What's next: Logan Kimble, Columnar Investments vice president of land operations, said the approval clears the way for construction to begin on the development. Initial work will focus on building infrastructure including constructing the main commercial loop road and completing the first phases of residential lots.

Completion of the first phase is targeted for May or June of next year, Kimble said.

A new building for Redemption Hill Church is under construction, with plans to open next summer.

The details: Church officials hope to open the new church building in mid-July, Trish Mixer, executive assistant to Senior Pastor Jon Payne, confirmed in an email.

The building, located across the street from East View High School, will have a sanctuary and children's ministry classrooms, as well as spaces for Bible studies, shared meals, meetings and special events. Mixer said outdoor areas are being developed, including a playground, sports courts, a volleyball court and a sports field.

What else: The church currently meets at Tippit Middle School in Georgetown on Sundays at 10 a.m.

“Whether someone has been a Christian for decades, is looking for a church home, or is simply interested in learning more about Christianity, we'd love to welcome them,” Mixer said.

Holly Wilson, an organic gardening instructor and Native Plant Society of Texas teacher with 40 years of experience, shares advice for maintaining a healthy garden in Central Texas. Wilson recommends planting in the fall, from mid-October through the end of November, to allow plants to establish deeper root systems that tolerate drought.

To maintain a healthy and sustainable garden, Wilson advises:

• Considering a plant's mature size, soil, water, sun and shade requirements before purchasing.
• Using integrated pest management and avoiding chemical pesticides.
• Making compost and vermicompost to provide nutrients and fertilizer.
• Mixing compost into the soil before planting, or gently mixing it around the plant afterward to avoid disturbing the root system.
• Using native plants, which support the environment better than non-native or exotic plants.
• Utilizing the Native Plant Society of Texas website database for gardening resources.