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Candidates wrap up last major forum
By Chris Roark, Staff Writer
Candidates running for places on the Flower Mound Town Council concluded the final round of debates before early voting Saturday in the annual Flower Mound Campaign Forum.
Candidates Steve Lyda and Steve Dixon, who are running for Place 1, as well as Bob Butler, Mike Wallace and Claudio Forest (Place 3) and Angie Cox, Rick Cleland and Tom Hayden (Place 5) answered pre-written questions and questions from the audience.
Early voting began Monday and runs through Friday. Election Day is May 9.
Do you approve or disapprove of the River Walk at Central Park and why?
Lyda: “I approve of the hospital coming to town. But, I’m skeptical of a couple of things about the River Walk. I’m skeptical that the developer is coming back to us asking for money while, at the same time, he’s trying to sue us simply for protecting our gas ordinance. There’s also no plan or promise for retail.”
Dixon: “I approve of the project, but even if I didn’t, the developer has entitlements. What people don’t realize is that the developer could have put apartment complexes on there, about 3,000 units. This project is going to be wonderful for Flower Mound. The town council will have control over the quality, scope and design on each phase, and we’ll continue to have high expectations.”
Butler: “I’m not a fan of the project. I don’t think it fits the scope of Flower Mound. It makes us look like Plano, Frisco or Southlake. We have the Shops at Highland Village, we have Southlake we’re surrounded by these things. Do we need another monstrosity like this?”
Wallace: “I’m absolutely in favor of the River Walk. This is much better for Flower Mound than what was already approved for the PD (planned development). It will be a wonderful attraction for people outside of town, as well as a place for our residents to come to and enjoy a quality of life. It’s not about money, it’s about quality of life.”
Forest: “I’m in favor of it. I think that having a hospital in town is a big win. Bringing in the retail, if it can be done properly by bringing in high-quality tenants, will be great for the town. The architecture if the town can have some input, it can be a great thing.”
Cox: “I support the River Walk. Members of town council touted it as being the heart of the community, and I truly believe that. The hospital is going to bring the medical buildings. The townhomes are going to bring the retail. It feeds off itself to bring quality development to our town.”
Cleland: “The River Walk shows promise of being the crown jewel of Flower Mound. There are no guarantees but death and taxes, but if you look at the forces behind it, this is a Cole McDowell project. He’s a quality builder/developer, he’s the person behind Parker Square.”
Hayden: “I’m on board and am very enthusiastic about the River Walk. But, what concerns me is if what has been presented to our town actually comes to fruition. I have in my hand the contract from the developer. In the contract, it says the developer will endeavor to bring quality retail into Flower Mound. Endeavor doesn’t mean “has to” or that it’s certain. We have to stay on top of this. What I worry about is that we could have a hospital and 2,000 apartments, and that is not acceptable.”
Should the town slow the development or actively try to attract quality development?
Cox: “Most definitely pursue economic development. We have some great areas, whether it’s in Lakeside or out near Hwy. 377, we have a great opportunity to expand our quality development.”
Cleland: “I’m in favor of attracting quality development. I can think of at least three restaurants that I’d like to see come to Flower Mound. However, I don’t want to turn Flower Mound into restaurant row.”
Hayden: “We need to build a strong medical community around the hospital, and we need to bring jobs to Flower Mound. We also need to find a major corporate development to relocate to southern Flower Mound. Because of our proximity to D/FW Airport, that is the perfect location for a corporate headquarters.”
Lyda: “I support bringing quality, sustainable developments to town where people will shop at. This keeps people in Flower Mound so they’ll spend their tax dollars here. Keep in mind, we have to keep up with SMARTGrowth and our master plan. That has to be our guide.”
Dixon: “We should definitely actively pursue quality development. The town does a good job on economic development, going out to conventions and trying to draw in high quality businesses. But, we should also be focusing on some of the names that we know that we want. It’s been battered around the last couple of years that the Central Markets and the Market Streets they’re still interested. They want to come here. So those are the outfits that we can bring here.”
Butler: “The key word is quality. I agree that southern Flower Mound would be a great place to bring in a big company. I love the hospital, and that’s the kind of quality we need to bring to town. I’m not a fan of the River Walk. I think it’s a bunch of shops that we can find anywhere. Quality is a big issue for me. I don’t want to bring someone here just for the sake of bringing someone here.”
Wallace: “I absolutely believe we should pursue quality development and not slow it down. I don’t think it’s ever a good time to slow down growth. I think we should continue to attract commercial development and specialty retail, which will bring higher tax revenues, balance our tax base and bring better jobs and more jobs to Flower Mound.”
Forest: “I don’t know very many people who make Flower Mound a destination, but I know people who make Southlake a destination. We can be smart and attract the quality development and anchors that people actually want to shop at into the River Walk and other locations. We would be doing this town a great favor. It would make it a destination for everyone else.”
How can you ensure the residents of Flower Mound that you would represent us and not special interest groups?
Lyda: “My business isn’t here, I have no contacts with developers. It seems like there are a lot of candidates who have contacts with developers and are in with, what you would call, the developer special interest crowd. There is a certain gentleman who owns the River Walk and Parker Square who is also suing the town. And there are only certain candidates’ signs that are on that property. But, I don’t have a special interest.”
Dixon: “I am not involved in any special interest groups in town. If someone on council can vote on an issue and benefit financially, they’re in violation of the law, and they could face jail time. So how can you be sure that someone isn’t going to be in the back pockets of special interest groups? Because more than likely, they don’t want to go to jail.”
Butler: “I’m not on any boards or commissions, and I don’t know any developers in Flower Mound. The only special interest I have is the people of Flower Mound.”
Wallace: “I absolutely have no conflict of interest. I sell nothing since I’m an IT (informations technology) guy. So there’s nothing padding my wallet but my employer. As far as developers, you can look at my history on the planning and zoning commission for the last four years to see how I’ve voted. Nobody owns my vote. All of my campaign contributions have come from individuals. They have not come from any PACs (Political Action Committees), businesses, groups that aren’t PACs but might should be. They’ve been individual contributions only.”
Forest: “There’s no such thing as being bought if you have integrity. There’s no reason as to why I would want to be favorable to anyone. If whatever comes before council doesn’t make sense for the general good of the public, there’s no reason to vote yes.”
Cox: “I’m running my own campaign, and I represent Angie Cox. I don’t represent any groups. I listen to the citizens and then make an executive decision.”
Cleland: “My only special interest is my wife of 35 years.”
Hayden: “I’ve called numerous people where you see signs in specific areas, asking, Can I please put a sign on your property?’ And the comments have been, I’m sorry, but we have exclusive arrangements with those candidates.’ It concerns me that the developer has exclusive arrangements with certain candidates about signs. But, I have nothing personal to gain. My business is outside of here, and all the candidate money I have put into the election has been my own money.”
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