Title
Conduct a public hearing and consider a resolution authorizing the exchange of property with the Mesquite Independent School District (MISD) for the construction and maintenance of a detention pond and a driveway for Vanguard High School on property located at 1717 McKenzie Road, Mesquite, Texas, in exchange for MISD land on property located at 4201 Faithon P. Lucas, Sr., Boulevard, Mesquite, Texas, finding that there is no feasible and prudent alternative to MISD’s use of the land, and all reasonable planning has been done to minimize harm to the land as a park; and authorizing the City Manager to execute the exchange agreement with MISD and all documents necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated in the exchange agreement.
Body
At the June 3, 2019, City Council meeting, City staff briefed the Council on a request by MISD to exchange a portion of City park property located at the Mesquite Girls’ Softball Complex for an equal portion of School property so that MISD could construct and maintain a drainage detention pond and a one-way driveway exit from the new Vanguard High School. At the conclusion of the briefing Council directed staff to proceed with the property exchange. MISD is now ready to execute the property exchange and an Agreement for Exchange of Real Property has been prepared for Council’s consideration and approval.
The City park property to be conveyed to MISD is a 1.501-acre tract located at the Girls’ Softball Complex fronting F.P. Lucas, Sr. Boulevard between the Complex parking lot and the high school as shown in the attached City Tract Location Map. The MISD property to be conveyed to the City as consideration for the exchange is a 1.501-acre tract that abuts 49.64 acres of vacant City park property as shown in the attached MISD Tract Location Map.
Before the City tract can be conveyed to MISD, Chapter 26 of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code requires the City Council to hold a public hearing and make findings that there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the change in use of park property and that all reasonable planning was made to minimize harm to City park property as a result of the exchange.
The topography of the Vanguard High School site could not accommodate a safer location along F.P. Lucas for the ingress and egress of school traffic, or provide onsite drainage detention without locating the improvements on the City tract. The addition of equal acreage to the existing park property northeast of the School minimizes the harm to the City park system; therefore City staff finds the property exchange justifiable. This public hearing will allow interested parties to present other findings or recommendations as required by State law.
Recommended/Desired Action
Upon conclusion of the public hearing, City staff recommends approval of the resolution.
Attachment(s)
Resolution
City/MISD Property Exchange Site Map
City Tract Location Map
MISD Tract Location Map
Drafter
Ted Chinn
Head of Department
Ted Chinn