Resident warns trail will not be built after developer paid $455,000 park fee; city may need easement

Bill Lyle, a Plano resident, told the City Council Sept. 8 that a developer paid $455,000 in park fees tied to a 2022 zoning case at Avenue K and J Place but has not built the trail the city expected as part of the planned multifamily project. Lyle said the developer later purchased an adjacent commercial parcel that would have allowed the trail connection, then "decided to take the path of, I'm just gonna do nothing with the property," leaving the trail unbuilt. Lyle said the original park-fee payment, made when the site received permits, was $455,000 and that under the city's new fee schedule the same payment would be roughly $910,000. He told the council that if the developer refuses to build the trail, the city will need to buy an easement and then build the trail to create the intended pedestrian connection to the service road near the President George Bush Turnpike. Lyle referenced a prior zoning case, "zoning case 2022-018," which was heard by the council on April 10, 2023, and described the parcel assembly and the discussion that followed at that time about compatible land uses between multifamily and remaining commercial parcels. Council did not take action on the matter during the Sept. 8 meeting; Lyle urged council members to consider cooperating with the developer or using city funds to acquire easements so the trail could be completed. The council did not discuss or vote on a specific acquisition or amendment to the park-fee policy in the Sept. 8 meeting record provided.