Highland Court proposal expected to be delayed to April 6

Direct Development has requested town officials table requests for the proposed Highland Court development until April 6, delaying the hearing before the Flower Mound Town Council that was slated for Monday.

In a March 12 letter to Doug Powell, David Watson, managing principal of Direct Development, wrote: “in accordance with the direction provided last Monday evening by the planning and zoning commission, Direct Development and the interested residents have engaged in discussions to try and determine if there is a mutually agreeable plan for the property in question.

“Direct Development is in agreement with the Planning and Zoning Commission that a mutually acceptable plan involving a compromise from both parties is the best solution. And, there, respectfully request that our items be tabled to the April 6th, 2015 Town Council Agenda.

“In consideration of the neighborhood and other interested citizens, we would like to make the announcement of the tabling as soon as possible.”

Watson said Friday he was hopeful meetings would soon be scheduled with residents in neighborhoods off Rippy Road. “The neighbors have been very responsive,” he said.

Three requests including one for removal of four specimen trees are on the Town Council agenda for Monday with the letter from Direct Development seeking the delay. The council can either approve or deny their request for a delay of the three agenda items.

Last Monday, the Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended to deny a master plan land use amendment and a rezoning request for the 31-acre residential development off Rippy Road near FM 3040. More than 150 residents appeared at the meeting to voice concerns about the proposed change in density from neighboring lower density neighborhoods to the proposed 5,000-square-foot per single family home density known as SF-5.

Watson has said he has revised the project several times, including as recently as last week, to address neighbors’ concerns. The project now has a total of 137 lots ranging from 3,600 square feet to larger than 7,000 square feet.