Several Austin-area restaurant concepts are set to expand into Cedar Park and Leander as part of the planned New Hope-Scottsdale Development along the cities’ border, according to new state filings. The mixed-use project will bring three well-known dining brands to the area, with construction expected to begin this fall and finish by mid-2027.

A closer look: Pinthouse Pizza plans a $7.43 million restaurant and brewery facility featuring a 13,640-square-foot space, covered canopy, outdoor beer garden and full site development. Salt Traders Coastal Cooking is slated for an 8,175-square-foot restaurant shell with a $1.72 million buildout. Day Maker Half Day Cafe is also expected to open a second location in the development, with a $1.21 million, 5,300-square-foot restaurant shell planned.

Of note: All three projects are targeted for completion by June 2027 and will be located at 1605 E. New Hope Drive across multiple buildings within the development. Pinthouse currently operates five locations across Central Texas, while Day Maker debuted in South Austin in 2024 from the team behind Jack Allen’s Kitchen and Salt Traders.

The county broke ground May 28 on improvements to Southwest Williamson County Regional Park, including artificial turf upgrades for four fields through a sponsorship with Lonestar Soccer Club.

About the project: The county will replace four fields with FIFA-certified synthetic turf to help reduce impacts from drought and wear, and allow for longer playing time, according to previous Community Impact reporting. Using artificial turf will also eliminate the maintenance costs of natural grass.

Lonestar Soccer Club will fund $6.5 million, and the county will pay the remaining cost, as well as fund the replacement of the eight-lane running track around Field 6, according to a county news release.

Learn more: Because Lonestar Soccer Club is sponsoring the project, the club will receive priority scheduling, discounted usage rates and naming rights for the four fields, as well as take ownership of the maintenance and replacement of turf.

Austinites could vote on several updates to the city's foundational rulebook this fall, two years after an election for some of those changes was canceled.

The details: Austin's city charter establishes basic rules and procedures from elections and administration to planning and taxing. The charter can only be amended every two years through an election.

At City Council's request, charter edits were proposed throughout 2024 and officials eventually called an election over more than a dozen potential changes. However, errors in how the city ordered that election prompted a resident lawsuit and the vote was halted under a court order.

Some of those past amendments and at least two new concepts could once again be placed on ballots this fall. Council will discuss a possible 2026 charter amendment election further this summer.