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Residents urge caution on State Highway 66 project, raise tree‑removal and drainage concerns
Summary
During open forum, residents Kevin Folsom and Robert Wacker urged the council to reconsider aspects of the State Highway 66 project, citing an absence of a comprehensive study, stormwater and drainage problems, and the need for a tree mitigation plan despite the lure of a $1,000,000 grant.
Two residents used the open forum at the June 15 Rockwall City Council meeting to urge caution and further study of a contested State Highway 66 project.
Kevin Folsom (1115 Bayshore Drive) told the council he had spent hundreds of hours reviewing materials and said the project ‘‘did not really have a comprehensive study for this particular project.’’ He said neighbors now favor turning the contested parcel into a park and flagged significant stormwater drainage problems on the site.
"This is a pretty momentous moment... Now let's pull all this together and let's look at it," Folsom said, adding that he supplied the council with a report generated with AI to summarize months of public material.
Robert (Bob) Wacker (309 Featherstone) also urged the council to question tradeoffs tied to grant funding. He noted an earlier figure of $1,000,000 in grant funds and asked whether accepting the grant made sense if the resulting design would not match community preferences. Wacker specifically asked whether staff had prepared a tree mitigation plan and suggested the city has a tree mitigation fund that could be used instead of removing mature trees.
Council response and status Mayor Tim McAllen thanked both speakers and recognized the time and effort residents had invested. The exchange was recorded as public comment; council did not take immediate action on the State Highway 66 project at the meeting.
What to watch next Residents and councilmembers may pursue further study or formal agenda placement if they want staff analysis or a change in direction on the project.
