Haas & Haynie, Castle Hill Start Massive Lake Travis Community

A large master-planned community is underway on Lake Travis, west of Austin.

California-based Haas & Haynie and local firm Castle Hill Partners are leading the 1,000-acre development, called Travis Club, the Austin Business Journal reported. The site sits between the Thurman Bend Estates and Briarcliff communities, near Spicewood.

Travis County commissioners recently approved the project’s first phase, which calls for 53 single-family homes and 68 “villa” units on nearly 340 acres. The developers hope to complete the first phase by mid-2025.

At full build, Travis Club could have as many as 497 homes. There will be an 18-hole golf course designed by Beau Welling that’s expected to open in fall 2025, along with a practice facility. The community will have a marina, and residents can access more than 10,000 feet of shoreline, the outlet said.

The site is owned under an LLC called HH-CH-B Blue Lake. The eight parcels, totalling over 1,500 acres, are valued at about $51 million, according to the Travis Central Appraisal District.

The project has received pushback from local residents who are worried about its potential impact on the environment, traffic and safety. Only one entrance is planned, which could result in bottlenecks that create hazardous driving conditions, according to real estate attorney Christian Del Castillo, who’s representing a local couple who live nearby. It’s also a breeding ground for the golden cheeked-warbler.

Travis County commissioners were reluctant to approve the first phase given residents’ concerns. However, officials wouldn’t have been able to reject the project even if they wanted to because of a state law.

“The unfortunate or fortunate thing is — however you want to look at it — the county does not have zoning powers,” Precinct 4 Commissioner Margaret Gomez told the outlet. “When a project is meeting all laws, we are required to approve them. Basically, if we don’t approve them, we get sued. To tell you the truth, I don’t like to use public money for lawsuits. Our staff has looked at those issues. It is a very difficult situation to be in, but that is where we are.”

—Quinn Donoghue