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COLUMN: Mayor's view on Elgin B. Robertson Park

By John E. Harper

Published: Wednesday, December 3, 2008 8:27 AM CST

Mayor of Rowlett

Elgin B. Robertson Park is located at the southern end of Dalrock Road, near Rowlett. The Park was acquired by the City of Dallas in 1966 as part of the Forney Reservoir development, now known as Lake Ray Hubbard. Although contiguous with the southern boundary of the City of Rowlett, the 257 acre Park is owned and operated by the City of Dallas. However, Dallas residents get little benefit from the park either through recreational use or revenue generation. IH-30 goes through the center of the park, dividing the park into a northern tract of 142 acres and a southern tract of 115 acres. In 2005 the City of Rowlett offered to buy the entire RobertsonPark from the City of Dallas. The offer was declined.

The City of Rowlett recently made another offer to the City of Dallas. However, this time the offer is to purchase only the northern tract. The primary motivation for Rowlett to purchase this property is to protect and maintain the high standards for development of a major entrance to our City, and also to allow the City to grow its residential tax base by expanding the Rowlett neighborhood that now borders the Park. Both of these needs are essential to our future economic development.

Rowlett’s offer was presented to the Dallas City Council Economic Development Committee earlier this month. Dallas City Staff recommended that Dallas enter into a cooperative development agreement with the City of Rowlett to sell the northern tract. Dallas City Council members have expressed interest in that cooperative agreement and are expected to begin an appraisal process to determine the current value for both tracts. The current value is critical to reaching a final agreement. Dallas City Staff and Rowlett City Staff are discussing the proper method to use to arrive at a fair appraisal. My belief is that a proper appraisal can be completed by the end of October and an agreement reached shortly after that.

Although the City of Rowlett would purchase the northern tract, it does not intend to hold it or develop it. Private developers have expressed interest in immediately purchasing the property from Rowlett and begin developing it to Rowlett’s standards. The City of Dallas would have to seek voter’s permission to develop the Park. The agreed upon value of the land will determine whether a private developer will proceed. The business case must be made for both Dallas and Rowlett.

The current land use planning calls for as many as 500 new homes to be built in the northern tract. A small portion of the northern tract would be developed for retail and restaurant use. Directly to the west of the northern tract across Lake Ray Hubbard is another Rowlett peninsula connected to IH-30 by a new bridge now under construction. On that peninsula is about 150 acres that will be the site of a major commercial waterfront entertainment development. Together, the two sites add more excitement and opportunity. Rowlett is on the move! Come join us!

What is the motivation for the City of Dallas to sell this property?

Robertson Park cannot be properly developed without the cooperation of the City of Rowlett. The only cost-efficient source of sufficient water and waste water service is through the City of Rowlett. Otherwise, the developer of the southern tract, whether the City of Dallas or a private developer, will have to bring a very large water line across the IH-30 bridges over Lake Ray Hubbard or construct a water treatment plant on the tract. Likewise, sewage will have to be pumped underneath Lake Ray Hubbard or a treatment plant constructed on the tract. Neither alternative is desirable or cost-effective.

At the present time, 88% of the visitors to the Park live outside the City of Dallas. Although more than 10 miles from the city limits of Dallas, police and fire protection and other city services must be provided by the Dallas taxpayers. The highest and best use of this property to Dallas residents is not as a park. However, park land cannot be sold by the City of Dallas without a public referendum approving the sale. The northern tract can be sold to the City of Rowlett without an election�just an adjustment of boundaries. So, the City of Rowlett is a critical partner to the City of Dallas.

Sale of the northern tract to Rowlett will provide millions of dollars to Dallas to spend on other park land inside the Dallas city limits. Sales proceeds are required to be used for park system improvements, nothing else. Funding park system improvements in this manner will also provide General Fund relief, allowing currently budgeted park system spending to be reallocated to other priority needs of the City of Dallas.

In addition to providing sales proceeds, the City of Rowlett will provide access to the needed utilities to support development of the southern tract. The City of Rowlett is also prepared to provide First Response Police and Fire services as well as other municipal services to the residents of the southern tract. All of this must be negotiated and become part of a formal Interlocal Agreement for services. Without such an agreement, neither the northern tract nor especially the southern tract can be efficiently developed for residential and commercial use. Development of the southern tract into a use of 1,700 residential units, office, retail, and hotel mix will bring both property tax revenues, sales tax revenues, and other revenue opportunities to the City of Dallas.

Of course, the land can remain as it is�park land.

My hope is that both cities will negotiate an interlocal agreement for service provision, begin an appraisal process to determine current value for both tracts, and bring the final interlocal agreement and sales price back to the Dallas City Council and to the Rowlett City Council for approval as soon as possible.

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