Argyle staff outlines population, traffic and wastewater projections and suggests much larger impact fees

Town staff and consultants led a detailed workshop on June 3 about base land uses, population projections, roadway and wastewater impacts, and draft impact‑fee calculations that the Capital Improvements Advisory Committee (CIAC) will review this summer.

Presenter Mike summarized the analysis area and growth assumptions, saying the town limits currently hold about 6,928 people, the extraterritorial jurisdiction about 6,200, and a surrounding traffic analysis "donut" about 51,000 for roughly 64,000 people today. Under the study assumptions Argyle’s population within town limits could reach about 9,100 by 2036 and continue to grow toward 2050 as nearby development in Avalon, Argyle Landing and other projects materialize.

On infrastructure, staff presented maps showing wastewater flow corridors and noted that flows routed south to the TRA system are less costly to treat than flows sent north to Denton. Presenter Mike described a starter list of capital projects totaling roughly $131,000,000; "Under state law, I can only recoup about $52,000,000 of those dollars," he said, explaining the statutory limits on feeable costs.

Using that example, the staff gave a household example: "1 single family home would be due to pay the town $15,302 whenever it goes to construction because that is its share of that $52,000,000 of allowable cost recovery," Mike said. Staff emphasized those figures are drafts that will be refined; CIAC will see a final draft later this summer, with hearings in August and a council vote possible in September.

Commissioners pressed staff on methodology and policy options. Several commissioners voiced support for maximizing cost recovery to shift infrastructure costs to developers rather than the town; one said the proposed new fee is a "three times" increase over current levels but argued builders will pass costs to buyers. Other commissioners asked whether the commission or the town council could initiate zoning changes to limit density; staff replied that city‑initiated zoning changes must come from town council and explained procedural paths for the commission to ask for workshops on the comprehensive plan.

The presenter also reviewed roadway projects and traffic‑calming proposals (Old Justin, Harpool, Crawford, Stonecrest and FM 407), described coordination with TxDOT on the FM 407 federal study and a 36–39 month timeline for certain US 377 projects, and noted the council has asked staff to explore a temporary development moratorium on the FM 407 corridor (railroad tracks to I‑35) as a potential tool for the town; hearings on that moratorium are expected in August with a possible September vote. Staff reported some developer contributions and internal funds could be applied to near‑term calming measures this summer.

Next steps: staff will finalize numbers with the engineering firm, present to CIAC and then to Town Council with required public hearings. The workshop was informational; no policy vote or change occurred at the meeting.