DMB Development is one step closer to bringing an epic master-planned community to remote locations across Williamson and Bell counties.
The Arizona-based developer aims to build as many as 14,000 homes on 7,000 parcels of land in the Jarrell neighborhood, about 40 miles north of downtown Austin, and said during this year’s Texas Legislature in the Austin Business Journal Approved by the Municipal Utility District Report.
The Texas House of Representatives and Senate passed a bill last month to create Solana Municipal Utility District No. 1. If Gov. Greg Abbott signs off on the levy, it could be used to fund infrastructure like sewer, stormwater and utilities.
Williamson County Commissioners unanimously approved the project in April. There have been rumors of a Walt Disney theme park being involved with the development, and although Williamson County Judge Bill Gravel dismissed those rumors, Disney and the DMB have collaborated on projects in the past.
The development site is part of Solana Ranch, a 9,000-acre cattle and wildlife ranch that stretches 13 miles and has been owned by the Michaux family for approximately 50 years. DMB, whose chief executive is Brent Herrington, is under contract to purchase more than 7,000 acres and terms of the deal are being finalized.
Herrington estimates that the Solana Ranch project will cost about $2 billion. The community is expected to feature a wide range of housing types, sizes and price points. The development is also planned for shopping, dining, offices, entertainment, leisure facilities, schools, houses of worship and an extensive trail network.
Herrington told the media the company aims to have construction completed by the end of 2026. Ultimately, the site will house 40,000 to 50,000 people, which will mark a population boom for the area. Jarrell’s population is just over 2,000 in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Salado, a small town that overlaps with Solana Ranch, has a slightly larger population in 2021.
— Quinn Donoghue
