Potential legislation requiring larger cities to wholesale water and wastewater to smaller municipalities upon request could be one of the last keys unlocking a proposed 530-acre mixed-use development bridging the Hays and Travis County lines. 

But opponents of House Bill 2959, authored by State Rep. Jason Isaac (R-Dripping Springs), fear the move could not only place burden on existing municipal utility rate payers, but goes against Austin’s plan to avoid development in the Barton Springs...