Resident urges more notice on Josey Lane development, criticizes school closure communication and flags intersection safety

Jennifer Evans, a Farmers Branch resident, told the City Council during public comment that she and neighbors were not adequately informed about plans tied to resolution 2026073 affecting the property at 13309 Josey Lane. Evans said the parcel—previously discussed as a roughly 41‑unit, three‑story townhome project—had been sold and that neighbors received no public meetings or updates explaining the change.

“I was displeased to see that the city didn't provide any kind of public meeting or public hearing in order to inform the citizens that that property was sold,” Evans said, adding that surrounding neighbors should have had an opportunity to see proposed plans.

Evans also criticized how the city communicated the closure of Farmers Branch Elementary School, saying residents without children in the district learned of the decision through a Facebook post rather than broader public notice. “I was disappointed to find out that the actual moving forward of it wasn't communicated in any of the city council meetings or any of the parks and rec board,” she said.

Finally, Evans raised a traffic‑safety concern at the Rawhide–Josey intersection and the adjacent school zone. She urged the city to extend the school‑zone markings farther south and north to account for a large curve in the road and said the current light placement can be obscured by vegetation, increasing the risk for pedestrians.

Councilwoman Bennett asked that item L4 be pulled from the consent agenda for fuller discussion and moved it to the regular agenda (to become N3). The council agreed to the request, so the matter will return for additional consideration at the regular agenda.

The mayor then recessed the meeting into executive session later in the agenda on separate items related to cybersecurity and pending litigation; no formal action on the Josey Lane property was recorded during the study session.