LETTERS TO THE EDITOR OPINION
City is missing its chance
From 2001 to 2013 I attended and monitored numerous City sponsored Master Planning Meetings for Pilot Point. The universal theme for every meeting, echoed by all participants, was that the citizens did NOT want Pilot Point to become a continuation of the suburban sprawl spreading from Dallas.
How the City has disconnected from the citizens and is now replicating Lewsiville is baffling and disturbing.
In 2004, the School District rejected an Architectural appropriate Middle School design compatible to an Historic Square and instead intentionally selected a MORE COSTLY school design straight out of a 1979 Lewisville I.S.D. bond package.
In 2005, the City rejected an offer by the State of Texas, Denton County, Dallas Water, Denton Water and two private conservancy groups to purchase all the development rights for the horse ranches in order to save a valuable industry and create a permanent 7,000 to 8,000 acre green belt around the City at NO COST to the City.
In 2011, The City rejected the construction of a landscaped Parkway for 377 within the city limits of Pilot Point, PAID FOR by the County.
The City rejected the RUDAT plan created by over 200 citizens 12 years ago that designated the historic Eddleman Property as Pilot Point's 92 acre Central Park at a BARGAIN PRICE of $900,000.
Pilot Point, with a large central park, a landscaped parkway for 377, an 8,000 acre green belt around the City, the State Park, a vibrant horse industry and a renovated historic square with compatible architecture would have been a world class draw for corporate headquarters and high quality development.
Pilot Point can never regain the potential it had 20 years ago but a 5 to 15 year depression in the real estate market, which is a possibility, will allow for some real improvement in the quality of future development with a new mind set.
Tom Kam Austin
