The City of Round Rock’s Planning and Development Services Department has received a 2026 Planning Award from the Central and Southwest Sections of the American Planning Association Texas Chapter for its 2025 Downtown Mixed-Use Zoning Districts and Downtown Mixed-Use Zoning User Guide.

The American Planning Association is a national organization that works to strengthen the planning profession and help communities, their leaders and residents anticipate and navigate change.

Completed entirely in-house by City planners over 18 months, the project advances the vision established by the City’s 2010 Downtown Master Plan, which calls for a “thriving town center featuring a viable mix of residential, commercial, retail, dining, entertainment and public space uses in a walkable and historically sensitive environment to enhance Round Rock’s economy, quality of life, and sense of place.”

The project represents the latest phase of more than 15 years of coordinated planning, public investment and regulatory updates in downtown Round Rock. Since 2010, the City has invested nearly $200 million in downtown infrastructure and public improvements. The updated zoning aligns those investments with opportunities for private development while modernizing the City’s regulations to reflect current market conditions, development trends and community priorities.

The project updates three mixed-use zoning districts originally adopted in 2013 by establishing building typology standards and identifying key corridors for increased density while respecting downtown’s existing character and balancing new development with community amenities. The standards integrate the City’s adopted Historic Design Guidelines with zoning requirements, allowing historic preservation and redevelopment policies to work together. The project also strengthens pedestrian-oriented frontage requirements and better coordinates private development with the City’s investments in streetscapes, trails, civic spaces, infrastructure and other public improvements.

Extensive public engagement helped shape the updated regulations. Before beginning the formal adoption process, City planners conducted surveys, roundtable discussions, open houses, visual preference activities and more than 30 hours of public office hours. These opportunities allowed staff to meet directly with downtown residents, property owners, business owners, developers and other stakeholders. Following the engagement process and public hearings, the updated zoning districts were adopted unanimously by the Round Rock City Council.

City planners also created the Downtown Mixed-Use Zoning User Guide, which translates technical code requirements into clear explanations, graphics and practical examples to help users understand downtown development opportunities and navigate the zoning process.

The award recognizes the project’s technical achievements and the work of City planners to engage the community, explain complex requirements and carry out Round Rock’s long-term vision for downtown. Together, the updated regulations and user guide provide a framework for thoughtful development that respects downtown’s character and supports continued investment.

For more information about downtown mixed-use zoning, visit roundrocktexas.gov/downtownplanning.