The City of McKinney City Council on Monday approved a license agreement with the Harvest Seed Project Foundation allowing the nonprofit to make improvements at Brave Branch Park and to use the site for programming.
City Attorney Mark Hauser told the council the agreement is “the culmination of a lot of work since early this year,” and included one recommended variance: a waiver from the city’s lighting code for the park parking lot so the foundation can install lighting adequate for safety while shielding fixtures from nearby residences. Hauser said the proposed lighting would be “very adequate for the parking lot itself, as well as to shield lighting from neighborhood residences.”
Councilman Franklin moved approval that included the single lighting waiver; Councilman Jones seconded. The motion passed 7-0.
Hauser said the license allows the nonprofit, led by Rick Wells, to carry out improvements for students and community members on the park property on Gray Branch Road. Wells was present and indicated concurrence with Hauser’s description of the agreement. The license is limited to the city-owned park property and does not transfer fee title.
The council did not discuss specific construction timelines or funding responsibilities during the meeting. Staff did not report any changes to routine maintenance responsibilities or long-term city obligations; those details will be set out in the final license document.