Flower Mound commission delays vote on Monarch thoroughfare changes after heated public hearing

The Town of Flower Mound Transportation Commission on Sept. 9 held a public hearing on a proposed master-plan amendment, MPA 2053, that would change Landsdowne (Lansdowne) Parkway from an urban minor arterial to an urban collector and remove an urban collector north of Denton Creek Boulevard in the Monarch development area; commissioners voted down two separate motions to approve the changes and instead voted to postpone further action to Oct. 14.

The amendment would reduce the planned cross-section of Lansdowne from a larger right-of-way (90 feet as an urban minor arterial) to a smaller urban collector (60-foot right-of-way, three-lane cross-section with a two-way left-turn lane) and would remove a planned collector—referred to in the hearing as Schmitz/Smith's Boulevard—north of Denton Creek. Proponents, including Jonathan Kirby of Kimley-Horn and Associates, said a traffic impact analysis (TIA) prepared for the development supports the smaller cross-section and shows three-lane collector sections with a two-way left-turn lane would provide the needed capacity while reducing pavement and long-term town maintenance.

"The traffic impact analysis is what came back and said the three-lane section ... with the two-way left-turn lane was what we needed to do," Jonathan Kirby said. He and other applicants said the proposed change would reduce right-of-way needs, remove on-street parking in outside lanes where left turns are expected, and reduce construction and maintenance costs…