County plat conditions are unmet, Parker–RTG negotiations continue with no documents executed, TxDOT access review is open, the MUD creation case remains at TCEQ/SOAH with 60+ parties, and the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) permit is under court challenge — alongside unresolved flooding, groundwater, fire-access, and traffic-safety questions across Maxwell Creek, Dublin Creek, and Cottonwood Creek.
Commissioners voted 3–1 — County Judge Chris Hill opposed — to conditionally approve a final plat for 624 residential lots on ~100 acres with only one way in or out. This was not a green light to build: conditions include that Collin County MUD No. 7 must become a legal entity, Parker and TxDOT must approve the entrance, groundwater permits must be obtained, the wastewater legal case must be resolved, the flood study must be approved, and other technical approvals must be completed. Numerous residents and Parker officials — Mayor and Council members Roxanne Bogdan, Billy Barron, and Buddy Pilgrim, plus past Parker mayors — spoke, and Pilgrim presented directly to the Court. The Fire Marshal clarified the plat is being treated as single-family (sprinklers deemed sufficient for one access point), but a building with four or more dwelling units would trigger the two-entrance multifamily requirement. Commissioner Williams flagged the County’s 10-day statutory window to respond to plat packages as a problem for the Legislature to fix.
Parker learned on a Friday that the RTG final plat had been added to the Commissioners Court agenda for the following Monday, June 8 — where a consent item could pass with little or no discussion. Officials balked at immediate passage, and the item was resubmitted for June 22.
After meeting with RTG representatives, the City revised its List of Key Issues and reported agreement in principle on a majority of outstanding items, emphasizing it had executed no documents and that several items required detailed negotiation. Parker separately communicated willingness to move toward 170 detached single-family homes with City water and sewer — contingent on resolving its key issues and finding an ingress/egress configuration the City deems safe.
Verified findings shared with the community: Collin County Engineering has no records showing Gregory Lane as a county road, and a retained law firm’s review of deeds, plats, and recorded documents found no legal documentation that Gregory Lane was ever formally dedicated and accepted as a public road. Existing right-of-way and utility easements do not make it a publicly dedicated street, and the County’s GIS map is not a legal record. Eminent-domain exposure for nearby private-property owners remains.
The Gregory Lane lawsuit was nonsuited, and the City of Parker posted an announcement regarding the lawsuit on its transparency page (April 13). Community review of the Traffic Impact Analysis identified serious issues: the wrong elementary school assumed (Hunt instead of Hickey, over 4 miles away, confirmed with PISD), traffic data ending in 2022 with a generic 5% growth rate, omission of developments already underway, and future roadway changes (Hogge/Murphy/FM 2551) not fully reflected. The community’s position: the TIA should be revised and resubmitted with the County and TxDOT.
Parker City Council considered the preliminary plat for the RTG connection to FM 2551. After the City Attorney explained the Council’s ministerial responsibilities under Texas law and a 40-minute executive session, a majority conditionally approved the preliminary plat with numerous stipulations, including TxDOT approval of the FM 2551 access and resolution of the items in the City engineer’s review letter. Council emphasized this ministerial action on the preliminary plat should not be interpreted as approval of the development or the single entrance.
Mayor Pettle and City Council released an Open Letter to Residents with a List of Key Issues and launched a dedicated transparency page, stating that no final agreements or binding commitments had been approved or extended.
A new proposal went before Parker’s Planning & Zoning Commission: 694 total lots (including 372 lots of 40′ × 120′, 8 model lots, and 5 two-acre lots) plus 10.3 acres of 309 multifamily (30 DU/AC) units. Both agenda items were declined, with numerous issues noted by the City’s Engineer and City Administrator.
Plaintiffs’ opening briefs filed in the court challenge to the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) permit.
Preliminary hearing held by Zoom in the MUD creation contested case. The City of Parker, the City of Murphy, and numerous residents were granted party status at that time; the contested case has since grown to 60+ parties, and Murphy has since dropped out.
Parker City Council heard a presentation from Jordan Ramirez regarding a proposed development agreement tied to the Huffines land and the pending MUD application. As presented:
Council pressed for which properties the MUD would use eminent domain on and whether density would be reduced; Mr. Ramirez did not answer at the meeting. The proposal never became an official filing and never replaced the Huffines plan.
After substantial discovery and preparation for hearing on the merits, the MUD creation matter was remanded by the SOAH judge to TCEQ for additional public notice relating to ownership of the property, after which hearing requests were briefed and granted.
A proposed settlement agreement between Parker and the developer — negotiated without public involvement — was set for possible vote at a special meeting noticed with the minimum 72 hours and no published terms. Residents, including co-litigants, objected publicly to the process, and a temporary restraining order prevented the City from entering into an agreement before a hearing on the merits. No agreement was executed.
At a CCU-sponsored meeting in Murphy City Council Chambers, developer Phillip Huffines confirmed Huffines Communities is behind the project filed under the name Restore the Grasslands, LLC, along with the wastewater plant and MUD applications.
The wastewater permit application (TCEQ Docket 2022-0326-MWD) went through a contested case at SOAH, with community experts testifying to risks to Maxwell Creek, wildlife, water sources, and nearby neighborhoods. Exceptions to the proposal for decision were filed by protesting residents.
The MUD process began in March 2020 — six years and counting. Restore the Grasslands, LLC filed for permits supporting up to 666 homes and apartments on roughly 55 of ~101 unincorporated acres between Parker and Murphy, a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) discharging to Maxwell Creek, and creation of Collin County MUD No. 7. Communities & Creeks United formed to oppose the project and organized thousands of residents through petitions, hearings, and public comment.
