Brittany Kelley
KYLE — Mayor Yvonne Flores-Cale and council member Michael Tobias spoke to a crowd Monday, Sept. 28, about the growth the city of Kyle is experiencing at the State of the City, hosted by the Kyle Area Chamber of Commerce.
“Kyle’s never been able to stand still. We grow; we build; we argue a little and we build some more,” said Flores-Cale. “This year, we started talking about some difficult questions: Can we afford it? Do we need it? What will it cost us later? And most importantly, does it make Kyle better? Those questions have taken some conservations at city hall. They’ve changed some priorities and yes, they’ve made a few meetings a little longer, but what they’ve also helped us to do is to get a clear picture about where we’re going.”
The population in the city has nearly doubled, said Tobias, as it’s grown from 39,000 in 2016 to 71,000 in 2026. This is exactly why the city has aimed to focus on road improvements, especially following the passing of the 2022 Road Bond, he said.
These roads not only foster connectivity, but the economy, as every aspect of city infrastructure affects both small and large businesses. This is why the goal of city staff has been to improve the roads and drive plans not only for the residents, but also to boost the local economy, Tobias continued.
Roads like Bunton Creek, Center Street, Kohlers Crossing, Kyle Parkway, the Lehman Road extension, Marketplace Avenue and Old Stagecoach are integral to the city’s growth. If these roads are improved, investors can come in with retailers that can expand the quality of life within the city, he explained.
Langley, a road off of FM 150, also had a geotechnical survey completed in July, with a presentation slated for December about design construction.
However, Flores-Cale stated new developments cannot continue without the appropriate water infrastructure, which includes wells, tanks, hydrants, service connections and hundreds of miles of mainlines. Kyle currently has several water and wastewater projects ongoing that will provide the resources to support this infrastructure, though council and staff made sure to take a realistic approach, she said.
She then posed a question: What if residents didn’t have to leave the city limits to do their daily shopping or outings; what if they could stay within the city? The plan to make that a reality is several new developments within the city, one of which is Kyle Park.
Developed by NewQuest, the 101-acre development off of Bebee Road will include retailers, such as Boot Barn, Barnes & Noble, TJ Maxx, Homegoods, Burlington, Dick’s Sporting Goods and more. It will also bring more than 300 jobs, said Tobias.
“The goal throughout the Park is not simply just development. We want to create places where people can actually go and want to spend time,” said Flores-Cale. "These are developments that hopefully will enhance our city, so we no longer have to go to the surrounding areas, like San Marcos or South Austin, to do our shopping or to do our daily living.”
Other developments are also slated to come back to council for further direction.
Residents can’t contribute to the economy if they’re struggling, which is why it was important to try to create affordability, said the mayor, as the adopted tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year is 8.3% less than 2026’s tax rate. Additionally, there was no increase in water or wastewater rates.
Next, Tobias noted several upcoming projects coming to fruition: the Adell Hurst Senior Community Center, located at 1500 Dacy Lane, is expected to open in December; the all-wheels skatepark in downtown Kyle will open in the fall; and the city is making plans to invest $1.8 million into the Kyle Vista Park by Science Hall Elementary School and Chapa Middle School.
On the topic of parks, Tobias announced that Lucas Massie from the city of Austin will be joining Kyle as the new Parks and Recreation director in the fall. Massie has experience from handling events, such as Austin City Limits, and holds a master’s in sports and recreation management. Tobias shared that Massie will create new concept designs for more activities within the city.
“At the end of the day, roads, water and continued economic developments are our goal. Those priorities are connected. The roads will move people. The water supplies will allow homes and businesses to be built and the economic development is going to create opportunity for our residents. The work belongs to all of us because the future that we are building will be shared throughout all of Kyle,” concluded the mayor.
