Buda is one step closer to having a 500,000-square-foot US Foodservice headquarters and distribution center, though opponents of the facility, unmoved by their defeat at the Third Court of Appeals last month, have said they will apply for a re-hearing with the court. The city is allowing the developer – 2428 Partners, LP – to submit a traffic impact analysis (TIA) under the city’s guidelines for non-residential developments.

There’s a chill in the wintery air and more than just a bit of excitement, too, as the 23rd Annual Sights and Sounds of Christmas gets ready to open today at 5:30 p.m.

A state appeals court last week turned back Buda citizens who hoped to vote down a land use change, saying a city council decision clearing the way for US Foodservice to locate in the eastern extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) is not subject to referendum.

A pair of Buda residents is suing the city for refusing to allow residents to vote on a city council decision that greases the skids for US Foodservice to locate east of town.

A group wishing to keep a US Foodservice facility out of Buda is giving the city council one more meeting to allow a referendum on the matter. Otherwise, Budadfirst is threatening to sue.

BudaFirst.org submitted a petition at Buda City Hall Wednesday, hoping a land use change enabling US Foodservice to locate a regional headquarters east of the city can be put to a public vote.

Buda residents are fighting to keep a US Foodservice regional headquarters and distribution facility out of the Sunfield MUD east of town. The facility could eventually employ around 400 people.