Flower Mound Leader > News
Council discusses Lakeside DFW, budget
By Chris Roark, croark@starlocalnews.com
Lakeside DFW officials were hoping their project would take a giant leap forward Tuesday night during a Flower Mound Town Council work session.
Instead it took a modest step in that direction.
Council members and representatives from the proposed $1 billion, 150-acre mixed-use project met for the first time since the May 12 election brought in two new council members.
Progress in the project, which would be located near the southern end of FM 2499 and off the shores of Grapevine Lake, had slowed in previous weeks because of issues the town staff had with several components of the project.
Tuesday, the Lakeside DFW team brought forward seven items the two sides have disagreed on in hopes of resolving them that night.
But the council decided the first step is to have a series of meetings to discuss in detail the items of contention.
Staff members reminded the council that a “go team” was created to examine and discuss the details of the River Walk at Central Park project a few years ago and to work with the developer. A similar team was proposed for this project, which would include two council members, the planning and zoning chairman, staff members and a consultant. The mixed-use ordinance calls for the town to work with a consultant with mixed-use experience. The consultant is paid for by developer fees.
“I think the catalyst we need to get us out of the mud is a consultant to work with our go team, or some variation of the go team,” said councilman Steve Dixon.
Town manager Harlan Jefferson said the staff can have the go team set up by next week and can establish a dollar amount available for the consultant by the second council meeting in June.
Among the disagreements between the staff and the developers is how detailed the concept plan should be. The staff would like various components to be specific, while developers want the flexibility to provide approximate figures in the initial stages of the process while still following the general requirements of the town’s mixed-use ordinance.
There are also disagreements over a tree survey and environmental, water and wastewater studies and how specific or approximate they should be.
“If the staff requires it, then there must be a reason behind it,” said Mayor Tom Hayden. “So we just need more explanation for it and then get to a resolution.”
The project is set to include restaurants, retail, boutiques, entertainment venues, a mix of residential options and hotels.
Also Tuesday, the council got its first look at the town’s proposed budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year.
Among the highlights is a proposal for compensation increases for the fire and police departments. The proposal is for a 2-percent merit increase or two 1-percent merit increases. In addition, there would be a market increase of 2 percent for police captains and 1-percent increases for police officers, police lieutenants and firefighters.
Kent Collins, assistant town manager, listed several future capital improvement project (CIP) projects for the upcoming fiscal year.
Among the street reconstruction projects are: Colonial Drive, Wood Creek Drive and Sheffield Court being designed this fiscal year and constructed the next fiscal year. Canterbury Drive, Lopo Road and Colony Street are set to be designed next year and constructed the following year.
There is also a traffic signal proposed for the intersection of FM 2499 and College Street.
Park improvements include extending Pink Evening Primrose Trails, construction at The Heritage Park of Flower Mound and parking lot construction at Jake’s Hilltop Park.
There are also water and wastewater projects lined up.
The town will host a budget meeting June 12 at town hall. New community support organizations can make their presentations to the council June 21. There will be public hearings on the budget in August and September with the council set to adopt the budget Sept. 17.
Instead it took a modest step in that direction.
Council members and representatives from the proposed $1 billion, 150-acre mixed-use project met for the first time since the May 12 election brought in two new council members.
Progress in the project, which would be located near the southern end of FM 2499 and off the shores of Grapevine Lake, had slowed in previous weeks because of issues the town staff had with several components of the project.
Tuesday, the Lakeside DFW team brought forward seven items the two sides have disagreed on in hopes of resolving them that night.
But the council decided the first step is to have a series of meetings to discuss in detail the items of contention.
Staff members reminded the council that a “go team” was created to examine and discuss the details of the River Walk at Central Park project a few years ago and to work with the developer. A similar team was proposed for this project, which would include two council members, the planning and zoning chairman, staff members and a consultant. The mixed-use ordinance calls for the town to work with a consultant with mixed-use experience. The consultant is paid for by developer fees.
“I think the catalyst we need to get us out of the mud is a consultant to work with our go team, or some variation of the go team,” said councilman Steve Dixon.
Town manager Harlan Jefferson said the staff can have the go team set up by next week and can establish a dollar amount available for the consultant by the second council meeting in June.
Among the disagreements between the staff and the developers is how detailed the concept plan should be. The staff would like various components to be specific, while developers want the flexibility to provide approximate figures in the initial stages of the process while still following the general requirements of the town’s mixed-use ordinance.
There are also disagreements over a tree survey and environmental, water and wastewater studies and how specific or approximate they should be.
“If the staff requires it, then there must be a reason behind it,” said Mayor Tom Hayden. “So we just need more explanation for it and then get to a resolution.”
The project is set to include restaurants, retail, boutiques, entertainment venues, a mix of residential options and hotels.
Also Tuesday, the council got its first look at the town’s proposed budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year.
Among the highlights is a proposal for compensation increases for the fire and police departments. The proposal is for a 2-percent merit increase or two 1-percent merit increases. In addition, there would be a market increase of 2 percent for police captains and 1-percent increases for police officers, police lieutenants and firefighters.
Kent Collins, assistant town manager, listed several future capital improvement project (CIP) projects for the upcoming fiscal year.
Among the street reconstruction projects are: Colonial Drive, Wood Creek Drive and Sheffield Court being designed this fiscal year and constructed the next fiscal year. Canterbury Drive, Lopo Road and Colony Street are set to be designed next year and constructed the following year.
There is also a traffic signal proposed for the intersection of FM 2499 and College Street.
Park improvements include extending Pink Evening Primrose Trails, construction at The Heritage Park of Flower Mound and parking lot construction at Jake’s Hilltop Park.
There are also water and wastewater projects lined up.
The town will host a budget meeting June 12 at town hall. New community support organizations can make their presentations to the council June 21. There will be public hearings on the budget in August and September with the council set to adopt the budget Sept. 17.
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