Round Rock City Council approved an exemption to allow alcohol sales at The District, an upcoming mixed-use development.

In a nutshell: The sitewide variance was requested by developer Mark IV Capital as the property line is within 300 feet of the IDEA Public Schools Round Rock Tech campus, a distance in which city ordinance prohibits the sale of alcohol.

Bob Boone, vice president of development and asset management at Mark IV, said the request would allow both restaurants and retail options in the development to proceed without limitations.

What else?: Boone also provided construction updates on the development. The parking garage for the first residential building is about halfway done, he said, and the first phase of retail is expected to break ground in late September or October.

He said Mark IV is actively leasing the future retail space, which is expected to be completed in fall 2027.

The owners of The Picklr chose not to renew their lease at the Round Rock Crossing retail center, according to a Sept. 4 Facebook post.

The details: Operations were consolidated to the Austin West and Oak Hill locations, per the post.

The business opened in January 2025 and operated in Round Rock for just over a year and a half.

In their own words: "We know this change can be difficult, and we also want you to know we care a great deal about you as a Picklr member," the post reads. "As a loyal Picklr member, you deserve to play at a premier facility. We are confident you will love your experience at the Austin West club, and we are excited about the opportunities this transition creates for all of our members."

• 3021 S. I-35, Ste. 240, Round Rock

Check out the latest transportation project updates across the Austin metro.

Austin Transit Partnership approves lease for new downtown office: The ATP board approved a $13.5 million agreement to lease office space for 48 months at 203 Colorado St.—the agency's current office—as well as space next door at 201 Colorado St. Officials said this will help as the agency anticipates growing as Project Connect plans move forward.

Blakey Lane plan advances with Jessica Place connection: Bastrop is moving ahead with a Blakey Lane extension intended to connect the Sendero and Burleson Crossing shopping areas with businesses to the east. The plan has drawn opposition from Riverside Grove residents over opening a subdivision street called Jessica Place to through traffic.

State invests approximately $1.5B in Austin-area roadway improvements: Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Department of Transportation recently announced a 10-year transportation plan that will invest almost $140 billion in roadway improvements across the state. The funding includes $95 billion for projects across the state and $43 billion for development and routine maintenance.

Last fall, Gov. Greg Abbott deemed Texas "the epicenter of AI development" during an event about Google's data center investments in the state.

Since making that remark, the Republican governor has issued several directives aimed at regulating AI-powered data centers. Meanwhile, state agencies are expanding their use of artificial intelligence in government services.

The overview: At the state level, one of the primary uses of artificial intelligence is to improve government efficiency, said Tony Sauerhoff, who leads the Texas Department of Information Resources.

Down the road, that will likely mean reducing the number of staff members at state agencies, Sauerhoff said, noting that agency leaders are being "intentional" about those changes.

Zooming in: When asked which state agencies will be most impacted by AI in the coming years, Sauerhoff pointed to the Texas Department of Transportation.

TxDOT uses artificial intelligence in a variety of forms, including to analyze transportation infrastructure, determine which construction projects should be prioritized, optimize road safety plans and manage the flow of traffic, according to its AI strategic plan.