Summary: Willow Park City Council Meeting reviewed by the City of Willow Park newspaper of record, The Community News: • Expects major growth in commercial valuations • Election amendment • Oncor Steering Committee • AHS students to help with [Kings Gate Park] project.
• Note: Willow Park Civics is about Willow Park but is NOT associated with or managed by the City of Willow Park.
• Latest Update: posted 03 February 2024
• Reprinted with written permission.
[28 January 2025 Council Meeting Review] Council approves TIRZ for new land, The Community News, posted online 29 January, print edition 31 January 2025
Topics:
• Expects major growth in commercial valuations
• Election amendment
• Oncor Steering Committee
• AHS students to help with project
Excerpt:
Council approves TIRZ for new land [Beall Development]
Another step was taken in the process of the annexation of approximately 317 acres of land by Willow Park from the City of Fort Worth at the Willow Park City Council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 28.
Following a public hearing in which only one resident spoke, the council approved a tax increment reinvestment zone (TIRZ) for the area. A TIRZ abatement buys down the property taxes as an incentive to the developer, prompting businesses to consider coming to the area.
“It provides an incentive for businesses to come in, knowing the city is willing to help,” said Jennifer Sloan, manager of Municap, Inc., the third party public improvement district (PID) administrators for the area.
A PID administrator handles duties such as reporting to the state comptroller, collecting payments for the PID, preparing and submitting an annual budget for the PID, and more.
At the Jan. 14 meeting the council approved the creation of a PID for the area about to be annexed. Property assessments from a PID are used to cover the cost of improvements in areas where a PID exists.
A TIRZ does not produce debt, but rather offsets property taxes, Willow Park City Manager Bryan Grimes explained. He added it also does not affect the city’s credit rating.
“I think the key thing is it will attract businesses — high quality businesses — businesses that will produce sales tax,” Grimes said. “You can look at The Shops (at Willow Park) and see what happens when you properly incentivize businesses.”
Sloan said when the TIRZ reaches its termination date in 2063 the estimated value of the property could be as much as $799 million.
The land on the verge of annexation, voluntarily offered for annexation and owned by Dean-Beall Ranch, Ltd., is located on the southwest corner of Interstate 20 and Highway 1187, running all the way to Bankhead Highway. The final step in the annexation is expected to come at the Feb. 11 meeting.
The addition of the property will include a little more than 35 acres of single family residential space, almost 92 acres of multi-family residential, more than 135 acres of commercial and more than 55 acres of light industrial.
Potential businesses for the area include sit-down restaurants, fast food restaurants, big box retail, grocers, convenience stores, office, and work space. The residential portion will include some green space with a neighborhood park and some small water areas.
The anticipated influx of new residents has the estimated future population of Willow Park increasing by up to more than double its current status of around 9,000, city officials say.
Build out will take place in three phases, with dates to be determined.
Once the development agreement is in place, the City of Willow Park has up to two years to get water and sewer in place. When that process is complete, it is anticipated that businesses and residences will begin to pop up in the next year to a year and a half.
Also at the November meeting, to help with the purchase and renovating of the land, etc., the council approved issuing certificates of obligation not to exceed $5,135,000. This is long-term borrowing that cities can use to fund major capital projects without voter approval.
At that time, council also approved a sales tax agreement with Parker County Emergency Services District 1 that they noted could more than quadruple the current annual sales tax collection of around $2 million in a decade or less.
Election amendment
The council amended its election ordinance to reflect that the designated polling place for the May 3 election will be the Willow Park Public Safety Building, 101 Stagecoach Trail. This includes early voting for six days prior to the election.
This year's election will be for mayor, along with council places 1 and 2.
Doyle Moss has been mayor since 2017. He is challenged by Teresa Palmer and Catherine Davis, the first time Moss has faced a challenger since 2019.
Place 2 is held by Chawn Gilliland and Place 1 is Eric Conteras. Gilliland has filed for re-election, and at press time had no challengers.
Contreras had yet to file at press time, but told The Community News that he plans to do so. Meanwhile, David Allen has filed for Place 1 and will be Conteras’ first challenger since 2019.
Oncor Steering Committee
The council approved Willow Park remaining on the 169-member city coalition known as the Steering Committee of Cities Served by Oncor. The resolution also approved the assessment of an 11 cents per capita fee to fund the activities of the Steering Committee.
The Steering Committee undertakes activities on behalf of municipalities for which it needs funding support from its members. Municipalities have original jurisdiction over the electric distribution rates and services within the city.
“It serves to keep us in the fray on issues concerning Oncor,” said Willow Park City Attorney Pat Chesser.
The Steering Committee has been in existence since the late 1980s.
The Steering Committee is actively involved in rate cases, appeals, rulemakings, and legislative efforts impacting the rates charged by Oncor Electric Delivery Company, LLC within the City.
AHS students to help with project
Grimes announced that architecture students from Aledo High School will help with a project at King’s Gate Park. He said the students are learning about such things as building codes, construction, etc., so city officials invited them to help with the design of a much-needed public restroom at the park.
“We look forward to their designs and seeing what they all come up,” Grimes said.
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