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 while still providing turn lanes at intersections and driveways.

Representatives from the Town of Argyle, including Harrison Wicks, Argyle's director of community development, urged the commission to retain the arterial designation and to preserve the north–south connection into Argyle. "The concept plan from January is something we'd still like to maintain if possible," Wicks said, arguing a north–south connection could relieve traffic on FM 407 and I‑35.

Commissioners raised concerns about connectivity and future regional impacts, the potential need for a future bridge across floodplain to connect to Argyle, the effects on developable land and parking for large retail boxes, and whether the TIA accounted for likely growth outside Flower Mound. Several commissioners said they were open to the applicant's data but uncomfortable eliminating a planned connection without clearer evidence of alternatives or guarantees of private access.

At the meeting the commission split the proposal into two separate motions: (1) to change Lansdowne from an urban minor arterial to an urban collector, and (2) to remove the urban collector north of Denton Creek Boulevard from the thoroughfare plan. The first motion failed on a split vote. The second motion also failed. After additional discussion, commissioners voted to postpone the item to the commission's Oct. 14 meeting so staff and applicants could provide additional materials requested by commissioners, including comparative data on four-lane undivided cross sections versus the proposed three-lane (with two-way left-turn lane) sections and additional TIA exhibits showing regional traffic effects.

Commission and staff comments at the hearing noted that the Monarch project and its thoroughfare alignment have prior history: a concept PD was approved in January, the master plan amendment approved by council in January set the current third-party map context, and prior Transportation Commission and Planning & Zoning review occurred earlier in 2025. Staff said TxDOT frontage-road work is scheduled for a 2027 letting and that some planned future infrastructure depends on those larger projects.

What happened at the meeting

- Two separate motions on the proposed thoroughfare changes failed in roll-call votes. Commissioners recorded both support and opposition during discussion, citing connectivity, fiscal, safety and regional coordination concerns. - The commission then voted to postpone the item to Oct. 14, 2025, and asked staff and the applicant to return with additional TIA exhibits, cross‑section comparisons and options showing how private access or a truncated public collector could preserve connectivity while reflecting topo, floodplain and developer constraints.

Why it matters

The Monarch area lies at the northeastern edge of Flower Mound near the town limits with Argyle and near I‑35 frontage-road improvements planned by TxDOT. Thoroughfare designations determine right-of-way widths, allocation of bike/ped facilities, impact-fee eligibility and who pays to build and maintain public pavement. Changes to the thoroughfare plan could shift construction and maintenance costs from the town to private developers and affect how future retail and residential development will connect to regional roads.

What’s next

The commission asked staff to bring back TIA exhibits, a concise comparison of the proposed three-lane collector versus four-lane alternatives, and language or map options that would preserve a connection at the property line (for a future private or public link) so commissioners can weigh connectivity and maintenance trade-offs. The commission set the matter for further consideration at its Oct. 14 meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes (consent item: minutes of June 10): motion passed (roll-call recorded as ayes by Commissioners Vandeig/Vandeg, Moriera, Hughes, Landry, Clark, Barrios). - Motion to change Lansdowne Parkway from urban minor arterial to urban collector: motion failed (roll-call included Barrios: Aye; Clark: Nay; Landry: Aye; Hughes: Nay; Moriera: Aye; Vandeau/Vandeg: Aye; Chair Reid noted the motion did not pass). - Motion to remove the urban collector north of Denton Creek Boulevard: motion failed (roll-call included Vandeau: Nay; Moriera: Aye; Hughes: Nay; chair and others stated motion did not pass). - Motion to postpone the proposed amendment to Oct. 14: motion passed (ayes recorded from Barrios, Clark, Landry, Hughes, Moriera/Moyer, Vandeg/Vandeau; motion passed).