[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6624895,"mediaKeyId","2765590-a1e1961063db0dee8b3e3ab26413d90b","parentId",2765590,"title","Rockwall commissioners disapprove four River Rock Trails preliminary plats, citing water, safety and apportionment concerns","audioSeconds",744,"startMs",5682000,"endMs",6426000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2765590-a1e1961063db0dee8b3e3ab26413d90b&start=5682&end=6426","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2765590-a1e1961063db0dee8b3e3ab26413d90b/thumbnail_5682000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6624895/Rockwall-County/Texas/Rockwall-commissioners-disapprove-four-River-Rock-Trails-preliminary-plats-citing-water-safety-and-apportionment-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6624895-c8a8d505e4cee615fc1ace8b316d03a7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159074&Signature=oUrg2ffVF1YlLiwu8ivxZ1JYZu6lG2x2H3qKklUx~z6c3CjqFPNrwzUG0tAVDxhNGYno0a9dLTn7Oc~~FebPhIXO5WFBev-wof2GEiPna3JccHjhjT3AHrHR2M2aOdVOVVsaDXqKi613iudWKaS83po2KDY0X99tI0MxMAudjWGn1-hrF-Dz4CnIwRdX9CqWeJ56ElqEgRyaOZ9IG~Drc29qwpCqvjrqgDRNMUTRL3tg4BCQ9e1APlcd059AeRzt141l1B2JPAHy9hd~YnmFyj82dWPR-BYedlsZhtE1RvNCVIriZajKnPlBWlq5P9TBPyHNtVtSL4RpNCD5WBjUog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Rockwall County Texas","date","2025-03-25T00:00:00Z","article","Rockwall County Commissioners on March 25 voted 5-0 to disapprove four preliminary plats connected to the River Rock Trails development, including Phase 1A, Phase 1B, a wastewater treatment plant site and the remainder tract. Commissioners said the developer had not satisfied technical review comments, had not demonstrated adequate water service or a final emergency-services arrangement, and had not resolved apportionment and open-space requirements before approval.

The disapprovals came after more than an hour of public comment and technical exchanges between county reviewers and the applicant’s team. Residents and nearby city officials urged the court to slow the project over infrastructure and safety worries. Mayor Brian McNeal of McClendon Chisholm told the court the city “does not recognize this contract with D.R. Horton,” saying his city voted last July not to honor a developer agreement for fire/EMS and that the developer had not engaged city leaders on those issues.

Why it matters: The plats cover the early legal steps for a large subdivision proposed in the county’s extraterritorial jurisdiction. Approval would have cleared the way for later construction permitting and final plats; disapproval requires the developer to resolve outstanding technical and policy issues before returning to the court.

Public concerns and developer responses

Residents and municipal officials described a range of concerns about the scope and pace of the project, from road and school capacity to water and emergency service coverage. Resident Todd Aarons cited population comparisons and said the planned density could put “27,000 people” onto a roughly 2-mile-by-2-mile area. Sherry London and others urged the court to protect existing property owners’ expectations for a semi-rural lifestyle.

Developer representatives and technical reviewers pushed back. Jeff Miles, representing the applicant, said the applicant believed it had met the technical requirements and asked the court for approval, saying the teams were coordinating on required items. David Booth, also representing the developer, said certain long-term water infrastructure commitments were part of a phased approach that would be built concurrently with development and that there was existing capacity to serve the first stages.

Friese & Nichols planner Connor Roberts summarized the county’s technical review process and told the court that many items cited in review letters were typical preliminary-plat issues that are usually resolved during construction-plan review. Roberts said his team had cast a wide net in identifying issues but that the construction set is expected to resolve numerous technical details.

Court rationale and legal bases

In moving to disapprove, a commissioner cited Local Government Code Section 232.101(a) and Rockwall County subdivision regulations, saying the county must promote “the health, safety, morals or general welfare” of the unincorporated area and ensure “safe, orderly and healthful development.” The motion referenced Friese & Nichols comment letters (March 17 and a revised March 25) and specified: inadequate access to water, potential danger to public health and safety, nonpayment or unresolved apportionments, and noncompliance with open-space requirements. The court authorized counsel to send the required disapproval letters to the developer.

Quotes from the meeting illustrate the disagreement. A commissioner said: “I am concerned about water — that is not a commitment to serve water, it’s a letter that says they can provide it if certain conditions are met.” Mayor Brian McNeal said publicly: “The city of McClendon Chisholm does not recognize this contract with D.R. Horton.” From the developer side, Jeff Miles said, “we ask your approval,” and David Booth said the developer would provide studies and meet with county and utility staff on outstanding technical items.

What happens next

The court’s rulings require the developer to address the technical review items and the county’s apportionment and open-space concerns before a future filing. The court also approved procedures earlier in the meeting for developers to appeal apportionment determinations to the commissioners’ court. Several speakers asked the court and the developer to return with clearer, binding commitments on water delivery and fire/EMS coverage. The court’s disapprovals were final for this meeting; the developer may revise materials and pursue appeal remedies described by the court’s new procedures.

Ending: The four disapprovals were adopted unanimously, with the court instructing its counsel to send formal disapproval notices so the developer and county staff could document the items needing resolution.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Rockwall County Texas - Commissioners Court Regular Meeting - Mar 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Rockwall County Commissioners on March 25 voted 5-0 to disapprove four preliminary plats tied to the River Rock Trails development, citing unresolved water commitments, unanswered fire-protection arrangements, and outstanding apportionment and open-space requirements.","taxTitle","Rockwall County, Texas","taxId",54914,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6624885,"Votes at a glance: River Rock plats disapproved; county awards dam repair contract and approves several construction and procurement items",0,8021000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2765590-a1e1961063db0dee8b3e3ab26413d90b&start=8021&end=8021","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2765590-a1e1961063db0dee8b3e3ab26413d90b/thumbnail_8021000.jpg","/articles/6624885/Rockwall-County/Texas/Votes-at-a-glance-River-Rock-plats-disapproved-county-awards-dam-repair-contract-and-approves-several-construction-and-procurement-items","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6624885-0fd8002ac00bd9fd25d50778c2056580/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159074&Signature=MOocxKEQONYulkyQPCr9RDjF3wKCJHmL6Lq2Hd5ozeqYx~PnL8hqVzus-KIQKSrXq0ORLjGGJnSwBDqAeDB5WzrKkRzR-MGxzLyf7gMeE4GyOFRQvXPC7zhzdD2BfLCr30CEWb77gWebZJkV2NBG8y7pA00Y~5N76StTS2dg9GgniFafYcWID~YYaRuTj5MB5dZp0PEwTb8eJrLrXy-UO0e-w~YJp3-cyvBLeVw-6rLHX15K-dEjPypkfIFJoaRtl6KVZU1bN995CaYSVwO40zsR4YHkK2JG9PvzTVHRulwReUhONbp-Cy0UowwSW1rGMW7DhYmRIAyf3QPQuJ0mvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Rockwall County Commissioners Court on March 25 logged a range of formal actions spanning land-use decisions, construction contracts and administrative approvals. Key outcomes included unanimous disapprovals of multiple preliminary plats for the River Rock Trails development, the award of a dam repair contract, several construction‑project and procurement approvals, and routine financial approvals.

Major votes and outcomes (selected)

- River Rock Trails preliminary plats (Phase 1A, Phase 1B, wastewater treatment site, remainder tract): four separate disapproval motions were made by commissioners and each passed 5–0. The disapprovals cited unsatisfied Friese & Nichols technical comments, inadequate water assurances, possible risks to public health and safety, unresolved apportionments, and open-space noncompliance. The court authorized counsel to issue formal disapproval letters to the developer.

- Cedar Creek Watershed Site 13 (structural repair of dam): the court awarded the contract to Beavers Contracting, LLC for $996,692.50 after evaluating seven bids; the county’s engineer had estimated approximately $1.4 million. The work will be funded and administered in coordination with the watershed/conservation district.

- Cedar Creek Watershed Site 3 repair: the court approved Contract Modification No. 3, extending the contractor’s completion schedule by 56 days with no change in cost (the modification addressed holiday and weather-day impacts reported by the contractor).

- Road repairs (Eagle Pass and High Point Ranch): the court approved additional localized concrete repairs and accepted a bid from Don Smith Concrete LLC in the amount of $39,043.76.

- Security and access control (adult probation building): the court approved two proposals from Mobile Communications America (MCA): a DMP alarm/dialer installation and a Phoenix base-license installation for door‑card access. The Phoenix license amount cited in the agenda was $1,336.40; the monitoring arrangement for the dialer ties into the county’s existing monitored services (monthly monitoring fees were discussed but a recurring amount was not finalized in the meeting record).

- Appointments and reappointments: the court appointed Commissioner Bobby Galana to the Board of Public Power Pool and reappointed Doreen Miller to the Rockwall County Library Advisory Board for a two‑year term (May 2025–April 2027). Both actions passed 5–0.

- Budgetary and financial approvals: the court approved a non‑emergency budget transfer (2025‑9) reallocating funds within the sheriff’s general fund, approved paid claims ($122,550.49), unpaid claims ($1,145,772.38), and the payroll report for the period ending March 15, 2025 ($1,106,643.95). All financial items were approved by recorded vote.

Why it matters: The disapprovals stall a major proposed subdivision in the county’s extraterritorial jurisdiction and require the developer to resolve technical, infrastructure and apportionment issues before moving forward. The awarded dam contract and construction approvals reflect the county’s continuing infrastructure maintenance and emergency‑risk mitigation work.

Ending: The court also adopted procedures for developer appeals of infrastructure apportionment determinations; applicants who dispute apportionment notices may use the court’s newly adopted appeal process. The meeting adjourned for lunch and reconvened to complete remaining items.","At its March 25 meeting Rockwall County Commissioners recorded multiple formal actions: four River Rock Trails preliminary plats were disapproved (all 5–0), the county awarded a dam repair contract, approved road repairs and a number of procurement and personnel motions.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6624890,"Rockwall County holds public hearing on Strategic Plan 2050; officials praise unity, court to consider adoption",524,1656000,2180000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2765590-a1e1961063db0dee8b3e3ab26413d90b&start=1656&end=2180","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2765590-a1e1961063db0dee8b3e3ab26413d90b/thumbnail_1656000.jpg","/articles/6624890/Rockwall-County/Texas/Rockwall-County-holds-public-hearing-on-Strategic-Plan-2050-officials-praise-unity-court-to-consider-adoption","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6624890-261b4a26e37d4ca77d7655681052832c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159074&Signature=OMLk7zmgxYnylk5kWo95MiwCED1wfrkh4i5HLBUveHfu0Kh-MKmcWc9FVVTWqV-G~utntOR2FiVVdvAllDU4q5WK7i5y5LftgtV3p~PJfrBLpXWWwgd-JNjXiOLAsMtvXaKcmEkQD6yb6uQ~lnFKbQ5qu3UqZK2WmHN4yu7W0qPcOlVCmZpjqwDqBQBATdoscu1zLk5XkYzARYi2CyV8eo2xbei1oDNpyD1S~ro1Tab~gJhcGk5mlTBEC5W4HXLiNm7b8SRjdKa-4aua-YnuQJaJD5kJ8sOt0HKySRp0bsyZg7qmyDASHnYVqy6Z2wCSSbDiGXHet7h8o47ZBOzaWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rockwall County Commissioners convened a public hearing March 25 to receive public comment on the county’s Strategic Plan 2050. Dozens of elected officials, city leaders and volunteers who served on the steering committee praised the plan’s inclusive process and urged the court to adopt it and follow through with implementation steps.

Why it matters: The strategic plan is intended to guide county and city decisions on growth, infrastructure and services for the next 25 years. Several speakers described the plan as a “living document” that requires a concrete implementation and reporting approach if it is to influence future development and policy choices.

Public input and endorsements

Clarence Storff, mayor pro tem of the City of Rockwall, told the court that community engagement “was at the heart of this process,” and that the plan offers a clear roadmap for aligning county and city priorities. Mark Kippett, chair of the steering workgroup, said the plan is backed by extensive supporting material — “about a thousand pages of data and facts” assembled by consultants Baker Tilly and Friese & Nichols — and urged the court to adopt it at a future meeting.

Other speakers, including Royce City Mayor Carl Alsobrook, Fate Mayor David Billings and volunteer Ryan Breckenridge, said the process brought together city, county and nonprofit partners and that the plan’s “unity” theme should guide implementation across jurisdictions.

County response and next steps

Commissioner Makalik (chair of the steering effort) and other commissioners thanked volunteers and said the next step after adoption will be an implementation-management plan. Makalik said county staff and appointed volunteers will develop implementation and monitoring steps and that the court would consider adoption at a future regular meeting. The court did not take a formal adoption vote at the March 25 session.

Quotes and supporting detail

\"This plan will allow some control to be reestablished,\" steering chair Mark Kippett told the court. Ryan Breckenridge, who worked on the plan as a volunteer, called the document \"thorough\" and said it represented an unprecedented level of regional collaboration.

Ending: The court closed the public hearing at 9:49 a.m. and moved the item to a subsequent agenda for formal action. Commissioners emphasized that implementation — funding, metrics and frequent reporting — will be necessary for the plan to influence future land-use and infrastructure decisions.","During a March 25 public hearing, mayors, volunteers and county leaders praised Rockwall County Strategic Plan 2050 for its public engagement and cross‑jurisdictional collaboration; the commissioners’ court did not adopt the plan at the meeting but said it would consider adoption and focus next on implementation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Rockwall commissioners disapprove four River Rock Trails preliminary plats, citing water, safety and apportionment concerns

Votes at a glance: River Rock plats disapproved; county awards dam repair contract and approves several construction and procurement items

Rockwall County holds public hearing on Strategic Plan 2050; officials praise unity, court to consider adoption