Nearby owners oppose Walnut Drive thoroughfare upgrade proposed by commercial property owner

Vatsal Mounpara of MLANZ Engineering presented a proposed Walnut Drive alignment to develop the road into a major thoroughfare connecting FM 1314 and Mills Road, saying the revised alignment would reduce impacts to property owners and produce a more conventional four‑way intersection.

"The old one is the one that's going diagonally towards the walnut... the one that we're proposing is a straight line," Mounpara said while showing the proposed alternative.

Neighbors and small business owners pushed back. Tonia Perdue and Jared Meares (speaking for relatives) raised concerns about losing property and long‑standing family holdings; Anna Pena said the proposed widening would demolish part of her mini‑storage business and erase investments made under current permits. During public comment, Chris Milson of Fairway Oaks described Mills and Smith as dead‑end roads serving six or seven families and urged the commission to preserve the neighborhood's quiet character.

Commissioners asked about outreach and ownership impacts; the applicant said staff had talked with landowners and Montgomery County but that responses were still pending. No vote was taken at the public hearing; staff advised applicants and opponents to coordinate with planning staff before the scheduled recommendation hearing in September.