Leander City Council is set to meet June 18. Here are three stories to keep an eye out for:

Leander Planning and Zoning Commission approves in-home daycare capacity up to 6 children, rejects expanded proposal: After the Leander Planning and Zoning Commission approved an increase in the number of children allowed at in-home daycares in residential neighborhoods from five to six May 28, Leander City Council will consider finalizing any changes to the ordinance.

Leander officials greenlight zoning change for proposed Life Time gym: The Leander Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously voted May 14 to approve a new planned unit development for the gym chain Life Time on two parcels totaling 14 acres along Hero Way West. Now, the proposed zoning change moves to the Leander City Council.

Fiscal year 2025-26 Capital Improvement Program: After a presentation on the fiscal year 2025-26 Capital Improvement Program plan May 21, the Leander City Council will consider whether to approve the FY 2025-26 CIP projects approved for funding in the FY 2025-26 annual budget.

Black Rock Coffee Bar opened May 30 in Leander near the three-corner line with Liberty Hill and Georgetown, a company spokesperson said.

What’s on the menu: The shop sells coffee, energy drinks, tea and other beverages. It also sells breakfast foods like pastries and egg bites all day.

One more thing: The new Black Rock Coffee Bar location is the ninth in the Austin area and 50th in Texas, according to the company’s website.

• 8481 W. Hwy. 29, Ste. 100, Leander

The new Orr Family Sky Trail and Avery Family Pavilion opened to the public June 13 at the Twin Lakes Family YMCA in Cedar Park. YMCA officials offered a preview of the new developments at a ribbon-cutting ceremony June 12.

The overview: The Orr Family Sky Trail features zip lines, ropes courses, elevated walkways and multilevel climbing structures for both children and adults.

The neighboring Avery Family Pavilion is an 8,000-square-foot meeting place that YMCA officials envision as a space for everything from professional conferences to birthday parties to weddings. The pavilion features garage-door-like windows that can be opened to provide fresh air or closed for a climate-controlled environment. The pavilion also features a scenic overlook of the lake.

What you need to know: Tickets are required for the sky trail and can be purchased online. Daily tickets are $28.99 for the main Sky Trail course, or $9.99 for small children on the Sky Tykes course. Monthly memberships are also available, according to the website.

Check out six ongoing transportation project updates across the Austin metro.

Rockride Lane
Project: This work will upgrade Rockride Lane in Georgetown to a two-lane collector roadway with a continuous center left-turn lane and a 10-foot-wide shared-use path along one side from SE Inner Loop to Sam Houston Avenue.
Update: As of February, the contractor had completed work on the west side of the road and began working on the east side. 

• Timeline: 2022-26

• Cost: $12 million

• Funding source: city of Georgetown

William Cannon Bridge
Project: The William Cannon Bridge over I-35 will be blocked off with lane reductions on the main lanes and frontage roads in both directions for the second weekend in a row as part of the I-35 Capital Express South Project. Once completed, the project will feature two high-occupancy-vehicle lanes and a southbound bypass lane. 
Update: The bridge will be blocked off from June 19 at 10 p.m. through June 22 at 5 a.m. 

• Timeline: 2022-28 (total project)

• Cost: $548 million (total project)

• Funding source: Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, TxDOT

In 2023, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 2127, a sweeping regulatory measure designed to prevent cities and counties from adopting local ordinances that conflict with various sections of state law. Three years later, there is confusion about what local governments can and cannot do under the law.

The background: At the time, some legislators and other proponents of the bill said it would ensure consistency among Texas cities, citing ordinances passed by “liberal blue cities” that they said made it hard to run a business. Opponents of HB 2127, including some local leaders, said the law would prevent cities from addressing residents’ needs while undermining local worker safety provisions and nondiscrimination ordinances.

What's happening: During a June 4 hearing, the law’s critics said it has had a “chilling effect” on some local actions, while those who support the law expressed concerns that cities have not removed ordinances that are preempted by the state.

Ahead of the 2027 state legislative session, lawmakers are considering whether changes are needed to clarify or better enforce the law.