By Moses Leos III

As an influx of growth continues to trickle south from Austin, Buda continues to manage its rapidly shifting population numbers.

According to a city press release, Buda saw a 77.9 percent increase in population from 2010 to 2015.

The information, which was gathered from a March 2016 report by the Texas State Data Center, showed the city had an estimated population of 12,979.

Buda Planning Director Chance Sparks said the city’s rapid growth presents “unique challenges” to the city.

“We must appropriately manage the growth while simultaneously seeking to provide and preserve the quality of life for Buda citizens,” Sparks said in a statement. 

Sparks said voters’ recent approval of the $55 million bond would go toward helping improve existing, in-place infrastructure.

“The growth presents an opportunity for us to apply new standards designed to implement the Comprehensive Plan developed by the community,” Sparks said.

Buda Mayor Todd Ruge said the increase wasn’t “unexpected,” but that it’s something the region as a whole is dealing with.

“I think the fact we’ve seen it coming, we’ve planned for it appropriately,” Ruge said.

While such things as increased traffic might become an issue, Ruge said the city’s infrastructure improvements as part of the bond could provide relief.

“Infrastructure-wise, we’re well set for the growth that’s coming,” Ruge said. “Some tweaks in the bonds will address those.”

Ann Miller, executive director of the Buda Economic Development Corporation, said the city’s population growth could be attributed to business growth in the community.

She said more businesses are attracted to the community as it provides a customer and employee base.

“Over the next few years, I anticipate the southern portion of the Austin metro to continue to grow substantially as there are still large undeveloped tracts of land in this portion of the 35 corridor,” Miller said in a release.

Ruge said he anticipates growth to continue near the intersection of FM 1626 and FM 2770. He said the city is going through the annexation process to bring the corners of the intersection into the city limits.

In addition, Ruge said the area near the Sunfield Municipal Utility District (MUD) might also experience growth soon.

While growth is ongoing, Ruge said keeping the balance of maintaining the city’s “small town feel” is a juggling act for the council.

“There’s no doubt we’re going to grow, but there’s no reason to not keep our identity and small town feel,” Ruge said.

One aspect, Ruge said, stems from the council’s decision to preserve heritage trees along Main Street. The trees were scheduled to be cut down as part of the Main Street widening project.

He said the current council has the ability to “say no to people.”

“It’s easy for any council to say, ‘forget about the heritage trees, we need to widen this road now,’” Ruge said. “I think our town thinks things in a different way. It is outside of the box.”

But the discussion of housing, especially workforce housing, could return to Buda in the future. Ruge said workforce housing is “important when trying to attract a start up or a major corporation that wants to relocate.”

“We’re lacking in workforce housing,” Ruge said. Buda, according to Ruge, is conducting a study on the feasibility of workforce housing.

But with many residential developments building out, Ruge said a push for commercial development may be on the horizon.

“Housing is going to continue, but the city is in a good position to bring more commercial (development),” Ruge said.

Buda’s growth by the numbers

77.9% – population increase in Buda from 2010 to 2015 

12,979 – estimated population in Buda as of Jan. 1, 2015

11,461 – estimated population in Buda on July 1, 2014 

7,295 – Buda’s population according to the 2010 census 

398 – single family unit permits issued by Buda in 2015 

302 – multi-family unit permits issued by Buda in 2015 

70 – year to date single family permits issued so far in 2016