Argyle citizens,
Many of you have heard that the owners of Furst Ranch, a 2,068-acre property in far west Flower Mound, are planning a mixed-use development on the land. I want to take a moment to address your concerns about this project.
The property includes frontage along US 377 and FM 1171, and a small piece (31 acres) falls into the Town of Argyle’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). The proposed development envisions single-family residential and open space for this 31-acre piece. Another 450 acres are located within the Town of Bartonville’s ETJ. The remaining 1,586 acres, or 75% of the land, fall within Flower Mound boundaries.
The ETJ is an unincorporated area of a municipality - property owners within the ETJ do not pay property taxes to the municipality. In Argyle, the town can regulate platting, tree preservation, and signage in our ETJ, but we do not have authority over zoning or lot size.
The developer would like to consolidate all the property into one municipality (the Town of Flower Mound). This will make the development process more efficient; the size of Flower Mound also makes it better equipped to provide needed services for Furst Ranch residents.
I was first introduced to the proposed development last month through a brief phone conversation with the Mayor of Bartonville. He shared a summary of the project with me, explaining that a proposal for the development of Furst Ranch was in the works, Argyle’s ETJ could be affected, and that we would be hearing more about it.
The town was contacted with a request to consider adjusting our boundaries to allot the 31 acres in our ETJ to Flower Mound. We decided that Rich Olson, our incoming Town Administrator, would take the lead in discussions with all involved parties as the details developed. No decisions have been made at this point.
We understand that many Argyle citizens are concerned about the impact that this proposed development would have on traffic along US 377. Engineering design work is underway to begin moving utility lines in preparation for TxDOT to widen US 377 in Argyle. This project should mitigate some of the potential traffic that we will see as the Furst Ranch development progresses over the years.
Argyle Town Council remains committed to our vision of preserving the small-town character and natural beauty within Argyle. As growth continues in our adjacent communities, we will listen to your concerns and work within our powers to address any impacts on our town. While we do not have jurisdiction over developments adjacent to our borders, we strive for open communication and collaboration with our community partners.
I first learned the specific details of the proposed development when I read the Cross Timbers Gazette article released last week. For now, we do not have any additional information. As specific details are revealed to us, we will share updates. If you have any questions, please contact me or another member of Town Council.
Cynthia Hermann
Mayor Pro Tem
