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Denton County holds public hearing on Mustang-area multifamily plat amid drainage, water and safety concerns
Summary
At a public hearing, residents and church leaders near Mustang Road raised worries about drainage, water supply, traffic and public safety related to a proposed 47.308-acre multifamily development; the court opened and closed the hearing and moved to approve the plat.
Denton County Commissioners Court held a public hearing April 29 on a proposed multifamily plat for about 47.308 acres near Mustang Road, where residents and Mustang Baptist Church leaders raised concerns about drainage, water supply and traffic safety.
The court opened the public hearing on the plat — described in the record as the Mustang multifamily repl(at)/"replay to the multifamily edition" — after a motion by Commissioner Williams, seconded by Commissioner Epperson. The hearing drew at least one formal speaker from the Mustang area who urged careful review of infrastructure and safety before development proceeds.
Junior Worthy, who identified himself as a member of the building and grounds committee at Mustang Baptist Church, described the parcel as lying north of Mustang Road across from the church and said the congregation and neighborhood worry about water and drainage if the development goes forward. "They're going to put 1,378 units out there, complex apartments," Worthy said, adding, "it's gonna be a nightmare getting all that in there. Drainage. You've got sewer problems." He said the church has used nearby land for farming and that the congregation includes many elderly members for whom increased traffic and noise would be disruptive.
Court members responded by describing limits on county land-use authority compared with cities and urged residents to meet with county development staff for technical detail. "As far as development code, it's very limited as far as what the county can and cannot restrict," a presiding official said. The court directed residents to speak with Stephen Belknap of the county's development services team for more information and a timeline of next steps.
Speakers also raised local water-supply questions. A court member noted long-term planning efforts including advocacy for Lake Ralph Hall and other regional projects; another mentioned the Trinity River Authority and the county's lack of representation on its board as a separate issue affecting regional water planning.
The court closed the public hearing on a motion by Commissioner Williams, seconded by Commissioner Edmondson. Following the public hearing the court recorded a motion "to approve" the plat application; the motion language appears in the public record. Court discussion emphasized that county approval depends on applicants meeting required technical standards and that county authority to impose design limitations is limited compared with municipal regulation.
Court officials offered to have county staff meet with community members after the hearing to address questions about drainage, road safety and water service. Stephen Belknap was identified as the staff contact for follow-up.
The matter will remain subject to submittal of required technical studies and the county's standard plat review procedures; the transcript records the hearing and subsequent motion, and residents were encouraged to continue engagement with development services for more precise timelines and engineering information.
