The City of Denton Public Utilities Board on Feb. 10 recommended that City Council be authorized to acquire various permanent drainage easements and temporary construction easements—using eminent domain if necessary—for the Pecan Creek phase 3 and 4 drainage project.

Angel Delore, senior real estate specialist with Development Services Real Estate, described the project scope to the board: "This project will include 2,700 linear feet of reinforced concrete box for drainage, 2,300 linear feet of water line relocation and lowering, 1,700 linear feet of sanitary sewer line, relocation and adjustment, and they will be repaving, reconstructing various roads," Delore said. He listed the affected corridors as Bernard, West Mulberry, West Sycamore and Stroud Street between Carroll and Elm.

Delore said the city plans to start construction in the third quarter of 2025 and finish in the fourth quarter of 2027, and that about 49 parcels will be taken to council for property‑interest actions. "We reached out to all the property owners already," he said, and staff explained that appraisals and surveys are underway and offers will be made before pursuing eminent domain.

Board members asked about the project footprint and floodplain effects. One member noted the existing open channel on East Highland and asked whether it will remain open; staff replied that that channel is not part of phases 3–4 and will remain an open channel for the foreseeable future. Senior project manager Scott Fedex said the design will generally increase box size over existing 8‑foot channels to 16‑by‑8 reinforced concrete boxes, requiring larger easements and temporary construction easements adjacent to private properties.

Members also asked whether the city will assist property owners with FEMA map revisions if properties are removed from the floodplain after construction; staff said they would consult with the drainage department and provide that information when the project returns for construction approval.

A motion recommending that City Council adopt an ordinance to determine public use and necessity and to use eminent domain if offers required by state law are not accepted passed unanimously. The motion restated project boundaries and survey abstracts to be included in the ordinance exhibited to council.

Staff said the city will present more detailed floodplain and construction impacts as the project moves to the construction authorization stage.