Council reviews 100% community center design; estimated cost about $2.4 million prompts funding and traffic concerns

Fair Oaks Ranch City Council on Jan. 16 reviewed 100% design documents for the proposed community center and heard extended public comment raising traffic and funding concerns. No formal action was requested; staff sought direction on plans, schedule and an opinion of probable cost ahead of a planned February bid advertisement.

City project manager Kelsey Delgado introduced the workshop presentation and said the design development phase led by Lopez Salas Architects is at 100% completion. Architect Robert "Rocky" Lopez reviewed exterior elevations, floor plans and interior finishes, describing the building as a roughly 5,000-square-foot event center with supporting spaces and a gable roof, and estimated construction costs based on 90% documents at about $2.4 million. Lopez said two contractor budgets received during design were approximately $4.60 and $4.50 per square foot? (transcription note: contractor figures were given as $460 and $4.50 per square foot in the record; the firm later clarified the opinion of probable construction cost is roughly $2.4 million for the building). Kelsey Delgado confirmed staff’s current project estimate at about $2.4 million and said the city would also estimate furniture, fixtures and equipment at roughly $250,000 and annual operating costs around 2% of construction (roughly $50,000 annually as an industry heuristic).

Council members and staff discussed funding. Staff said the Municipal Development District (MDD) has $1.2 million identified for the project and that the city holds more than that amount in unallocated fund balance, which staff said would allow the project to proceed without a tax increase. Multiple council members expressed caution about relying on the MDD for additional funding and emphasized the city should not defer the decision entirely to the MDD. One councilmember noted any MDD award requires a negotiated contract between the MDD and the city and that the MDD meets quarterly; staff said applying for additional MDD funds could be pursued but recommended waiting for firm bid numbers before requesting more.

Neighbors raised concerns about traffic and timing with other nearby construction projects. Resident Carol Willoughby asked whether planned road work on Deats Elkhorn (transcribed in the record as "Deep Veil Corn") would overlap community-center construction and warned of difficult ingress and egress at the Chartwell/School area and the Ralph Fair Road intersection. Sharon Brimhall urged better citywide communication and suggested the city consider acquiring a larger parcel away from the school campus for a civic center, saying, "I appreciate y'all's thoughts and appreciate your consideration and perhaps take another look at what to do at this location and building a really nice civic center for us in another location." Both speakers asked to participate in the forthcoming policy committee on facility use.

Staff outlined the anticipated schedule: advertise for bids in February, receive bids in March, review in April and—if no major changes—begin construction in May with completion possible within a year. Staff emphasized the schedule is flexible and that council could delay award if further funding or policy questions remain; staff will seek direction on design changes before bidding.

Why it matters: the design and price estimate set the parameters for a potentially multi-million-dollar capital project that will affect traffic, municipal budgets and the city’s event and voting locations. Council members asked for clear information on funding, operating costs and a use policy before awarding any construction contract or committing additional city funds.