Highland Village Community Development Corporation to Hold Public Hearing

The City of Highland Village Community Development Corporation will hold a public hearing to consider the annual updates to their Facilities Development Capital Improvement Program (FDCIP) which shall include the addition of Doubletree Ranch as a potential site for the city’s future soccer facility.

Under the Highland Village Community Development Corporation structure, funds may be expended on two projects; construction of the city trail system and a soccer facility.  The Doubletree Ranch property has numerous trails planned throughout the site, as identified in the City’s Trail Master Plan, and it provides enough space to construct the soccer facility approved by voters.

The City has fostered a working relationship with the Trust for Public Land (TPL) on the potential acquisition of Doubletree Ranch. TPL is a non profit organization that conserves land for communities to enjoy as parks, recreational areas, gardens and other natural places. TPL works with property owners seeking to sell land, and public agencies seeking to acquire it by structuring transactions that align their needs and facilitating a successful acquisition. The potential purchase of Doubletree Ranch would also provide park property at a time when the expansion of I-35E will significantly reduce the size and use of Copperas Branch Park.

The citizens of Highland Village approved the implementation of the 4B ½ cent sales tax to fund the city’s trail system and a soccer facility in November 2004. At that time, the only property available was the Lewisville Independent School District property on Harlington Drive and Chinn Chapel Road. This parcel was identified as a potential location for the soccer facility. As the property is owned by the LISD, an inter-local agreement was formed between the school district and the City. The agreement allowed for the use of the property and included an amortization schedule in conjunction with the ability of the LISD to terminate the City’s lease at any time. The potential purchase of Doubletree Ranch would provide the City the ability to build a similar soccer facility on City-owned property. Use of City land will allow future generations the ability to enjoy the park, trails and soccer fields for many years to come.

What:     Highland Village Community Development Corporation Public Hearing
When:    Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Time:     7:00 p.m.
Where:   Highland Village Municipal Complex     
             1000 Highland Village Road
             Highland Village, TX 75077 
             Televised Live: HVTV 16 (Time Warner)/ 43 (Verizon)
             Streaming Video: www.highlandvillage.org