Hello Buda! My name is Micah Grau, and I have the honor of serving as Buda’s new city manager. If my name sounds familiar, that is because I have been serving this community since 2017. Prior to becoming city manager, I served Buda as deputy city manager.
Previously, I served the city of Hutto in various roles, eventually becoming Hutto’s assistant city manager. I earned my bachelor’s degree in political science from Texas A&M University and my master’s degree in public Aadministration from Texas State University. I’m a “credentialed manager” through the International City/Council Management Association and serve on the Texas City Management Association board of directors.
My family and I love Buda. We love its small-town charm, community events, schools, Buda Public Library, the parks system, downtown businesses, and all it has to offer.
Our city council and staff are working very hard to serve you and are focusing on a variety of projects.
Development Process and Managing Growth
Buda is reviewing new development applications for both residential and commercial projects. Stream Realty will be breaking ground soon on a nearly 60-acre light-industrial warehouse site located between West Goforth and I-35. The site will include approximately 1 million square feet of commercial space. United Properties is building approximately 850,000 square feet of commercial space known as Buda Midway within the Sunfield development. Both of these sites will add jobs and prosperity to the community.
Several residential projects are coming online. Sunfield, located just outside Buda’s city limits adds hundreds of homes each year. Porch at Du Pre, located along Old Black Colony Road, will start construction of homes in late 2022. The Colony at Cole Springs Road consists of about 500 homes and includes infrastructure improvements on a portion of Old Black Colony Road and Cole Springs Road and a new bridge over Onion Creek connecting Cole Springs Road to FM 2770.
We are making adjustments to keep up with the fast pace of growth. The 2022 budget added two new planning staff and three new engineering staff. We are streamlining the development review process and updating the City’s development codes.
Comprehensive and Downtown Planning
To help guide future growth, the city is working on a new Comprehensive Plan and Downtown Plan. The former is long-range and sets out land uses and 30-year goals for the City. We will inform the public through the City’s website and social media channels and provide information on how you can provide input.
Bond Program Implementation
The voter-approved 2021 bond program includes $73.57 million for transportation improvements and $16.09 million for parks/trail improvements. The Buda Bond Oversight Committee has been working with staff to implement the various projects. Some projects could see construction begin as soon as 2023. Learn more about the bond program at budabonds.com.
Community Outreach and Engagement
As city manager, my focus over the next year is to meet as many of you as possible. When you see me around town, please say, “Hi!” I plan to implement new quarterly town hall meetings in 2023 to provide updates and answer questions. I also am working to build relationships with our great community partners. Feel free to connect with me at [email protected] and at 512-312-0084.
