Balch Springs staff report progress on new warehouse, signal and street projects; council previously approved CO funding

Staff gave a multi-item report on capital projects, development activity and funding approaches and answered board questions about traffic impacts from new warehouse development.

A staff presenter said a pre-construction meeting occurred earlier in the week for a speculative distribution warehouse of approximately 140,000 square feet; construction is expected to start within the next month. The speaker said the applicant will provide a roadway-impact contribution that will be placed in escrow; staff said that contribution will be no more than $200,000.

Staff reported several signal and intersection projects under construction or in near-term work: foundations for the new signal at BeltLine and Mercury are being installed and poles are staged awaiting power; traffic signals at Pioneer and McKenzie have been installed and are awaiting activation; and a right-turn lane project at Elam and Shepherd is under construction. Staff said council previously approved a certificate of obligation (CO) package of about $13 million to fund multiple capital projects, including design funding for Elam Road improvements tied to a grant and a match.

Staff said the city received a grant of $1,600,000 from the COG to pay for a design and engineering study for Elam Road safety and pedestrian improvements; the city approved matching funds to proceed with the study. The CO funding also includes reconstruction of Shepherd Lane into a three-lane section with sidewalks between Elam and the recreation center; staff said the city has set aside $6 million for Shepherd and $4 million for Spring Oaks in that financing package.

Board members asked about large-cost corridors that will need long-term planning and multiple funding sources. Staff said a full reconstruction of Peachtree from city limit to city limit was estimated at about $60 million; Hickory Tree (a roughly one-mile stretch) was estimated at $30 million. Staff said the city does not currently charge development impact fees but is conducting studies with an engineering firm to evaluate water, sewer and roadway impact fees and expects that work to complete within roughly a year. The staffer said impact fees, developer contributions and grant or bond packages will be needed to fund major thoroughfare projects.

Staff also gave project updates for parks: Oak Ridge restroom project is complete; contracts for Irum Park field renovations (phase 1) have been approved and are under review; playground, shade-structure and sidewalk work are ongoing across parks and will be featured in an end-of-year presentation to the board.