Council members approved a land development contract with Hillwood Communities during the Oct. 23 Pilot Point City Council meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem Andrew Ambrosio showed interest in the project but requested more time to review the contract, opting to abstain in the 6-0-1 decision.
The development focuses on community and walkability, with plans to add a school at the center.
“So the name of the community that we have determined for this project is called Lantern,” said Brian Carlock, senior vice president of acquisitions at Hillwood Communities, as he outlined the development plan.
He explained that the site’s unique features such as wooded open spaces and floodplain contribute to the name.
The project spans 600 acres total, with over 100 acres designated for parks and trails.
Carlock said the company is excited about this opportunity.
“From an economic impact standpoint, once we build out the community, we estimate we’ll be a little over a billion dollars of assessed value,” Carlock said. “I suspect it’ll move the needle annually for the city once you consider your capital on taxes.”
The development is expected to take 10 years to complete, with groundbreaking anticipated between October and December 2026.
Homeowners are expected to start moving in between April and June 2028.
“We need developments like this in and around our city,” council member Ray Dane said.
A public hearing was held to discuss changing the zoning from Single Family Residential to General Commercial/Planned Development near the intersection of North Prairie and North Washington streets.
Additional requests were made related to parking and potential bans.
“The Planning and Zoning board has reviewed this and made recommendations that no car repair operations are in use, no convenience store gas pump operations are in use, and no bars or saloons serving only alcoholic beverages,” City Manager Britt Lusk said. “However, restaurants featuring sitdown dining would still be able to serve alcoholic beverages, and no payday loans or operations or uses. This does comply with our future land use plan.”
Rhett Stone of Living Stone Investments also attended to answer questions.
Also, up for approval was an ordinance requiring a masonry fence separating residential and commercial properties for the zoning change near the surrounding homes.
During the hearing, resident Justin Cook voiced his thought.
“If you’re going to cheap out, at least go with wood,” Cook said. “That vinyl siding is going to deteriorate.”
Both council members and Stone agreed with Cook, leading to a motion that was ultimately approved.
The approved fencing plan called for an 8-foot, board-on-board wood fence with a top cap and steel posts, among other details.
Matthew “Tex” Miller expressed concern about a foul sewer smell coming from the street at 1900 N. Saint James Road in Pilot Point, which leads to the sewer plant.
Miller, a resident on that street for over 16 years, said the smell has worsened over the last five years.
“When the bond was passed to revamp the sewer plant, we thought that might fix the problem, and that just has not been the case,” Miller said. “We used to joke and say you can tell when it was halftime of the Cowboys game because it would get really bad. Now, halftime seems to be all times of the day, to the point where it’s only going to get worse as more and more people move in.”
Miller requested that the City Council investigate the odor’s cause.
Chief of Police Angela Mathews and Sgt. Leah Wilson provided an update on the Pilot Point Police Department.
Nine positions are open, with over 30 applications received.
The interviewing process is underway.
Once hired, the new police officers are expected to start patrolling in May or June after their background check, training and other requirements are completed, Wilson said.
