Balch Springs staff outline Alexander Village, warehouse and a $6.4M trail grant; residents flag truck-safety risks

City staff told the Balch Springs Economic Development Corporation on Nov. 12 that several large developments and capital projects are advancing, and they highlighted a newly awarded construction grant for a regional trail.

Staff reported grading had begun at Alexander Village, a 14-acre mixed-use development along Alexander Road that the economic-development agreement limits to certain retail, sit-down restaurants, family entertainment and market-rate apartments; zoning and the development agreement have advanced through the planning process, and future PNZ public hearings will provide additional opportunities for comment. “We have an executed economic development agreement that stipulates what uses that they have to adhere to,” a staff presenter said.

Staff also noted a 140,000-square-foot warehouse under construction by Huntington Partners and a nearby 80–90-room hotel expected to open in 2026. The city listed more than $3 million in completed projects, about $8 million under construction and more than $78 million in projects in the pipeline, including street, water and wastewater items.

On regional active-transportation funding, staff said the city and Dallas County received a design partnership and that the city was awarded approximately $6.4 million for construction of a 3.7-mile trail connecting Seagullville Road through Irvin Park, Pioneer and Oak Ridge Park and tying into Mesquite. “The city has been they've been awarded 6,400,000.0 for construction of that trail,” staff said, and Kimley Horn was identified as the design consultant at about 60% design completion.

Public commenters and some board members raised safety concerns about trucks queuing at the Edgeworth/Raleigh Crest site for the warehouse under construction. A resident warned that multiple dump trucks lined up waiting to dump were creating hazardous queuing and could cause an accident; staff said the developer contributed traffic-impact funds to escrow, the developer is required to follow a traffic-control plan, and the city would work with police and marshals to enforce plans and seek stacking on private property where possible.

Board members asked staff to follow up with enforcement and to review traffic-control plans with the site manager; staff said they would review the short-term traffic-control plan and longer-term intersection improvements tied to HSIP grants and developer contributions. The board heard no votes on development approvals at this meeting; staff said further planning reviews and public hearings will precede land use or occupancy approvals.