Freeport NIP(1)-CS010326 T H E C I T Y O F
COP?ELL
March 26, 2001
Robert B. Dunkin II, CCIM
Emerson Partners Incorporated
10005 Technology Blvd., West, Suite 151
Dallas, Texas 75~.0
RE: ~reeport N siness Park/Royal Lane
Dear Bob:
Thank you for your letter of March 19, 2001. I appreciate your patience regarding my response
concerning the completion of Royal Lane. I think we can agree that the development that will
occur west of Royal Lane, adjacent to SH 121, will have substantial impact on the City of
Coppell.
While we do not have any capital improvement money allocated towards this project at this time,
I will consult with the City Council on April 10 regarding your request. I will get back to you
shortly thereafter regarding our response, and any alternatives we would propose.
Thank you for your continued interest in the City of Coppell, and specifically this project. I look
forward to working with you in the future, and I will have a somewhat firmer answer back to you
by mid-April regarding the development of Royal Lane.
'~/~'~ty~tnager
)JW:kb
cc: Mayor and Council
Ken Griffin
Jennifer Armstrong
255 PARKWAY 'k P.O.BOX 478 ~' COPPELL TX 75OI9 * TEL 972/46~' 0022 ~" FAX 972/304 3673
EMERSON PARTNERS
ROBERT B. DUNKIN II, CCIM
March l9,2001 Ih'4! M/IR 1.1~..Ofi_, l~ VIA COURIER
Mr. Jim Witt
City Manager
255 Parkway Boulevard
Coppell, TX 75019
Re: Freeport North Business Park, Coppell, Texas
Dear Jim:
Thank you for meeting with Bill Dahlstrom and me to review the last few development challenges at
Freeport North Business Park. The prominent location of the 37-acre tract at the north-end of the
Business Park suggests that the ultimate development of this site will have a significant impact on
the image that Coppell projects to its citizens and visitors. Accordingly, we believe it is in the
public's best interest for the city to encourage a project of the highest quality at this location.
Experience has shown, however, that the market for this site is limited by the poor access provided
by the current roadways serving the property, particularly the "unfinished" portions of Royal Lane on
the property's eastern boundary and Sandy Lake Road to the north, as well as the uncertainty of an
interchange at SH 121 and Sandy Lake Road. The marketability is further hindered by the obligation
of the developer of this tract to build the final two lanes of Royal Lane and the storm drainage
improvements. Currently, because of these shortcomings, there are no plans for development of this
tract. We believe that with City assistance, interest in developing a quality project would increase,
and an expanding unsafe condition would be abated. This letter is to respectfully request that the
City of Coppell fund the improvements to complete Royal Lane and the necessary, drainage
improvements in order to promote the expedited development of a quality project.
If the city were to finance the construction of the additional western two lanes of Royal Lane, the
property could be developed sooner than it would be otherwise. The City would then realize the
benefit of increased ad valorem and sales tax sooner. The community would also benefit from
enhanced aesthetics which result from improvements to the street scape.
Traffic on this portion of Royal Lane continues to steadily increase as more commuters use it.as a
"by-pass" to the SH 121/LBJ interchange. Furthermore, commuters continue to compete with truck
traffic coming from the industrial developments within the park, as well as those developments
surrounding the park. This situation creates additional hazards for traffic using Royal Lane and
Mr. Jim Witt
March 19, 2001
Page Two
Sandy Lake Road. A substantial amount of traffic goes from four lane thoroughfares and highways
to two-lane roads and then back to four-lane roadways. Given the volume of traffic and the speed at
which the vehicles travel, this unsafe condition continues to increase. It is imperative that measures
be taken sooner rather than later to avoid a dangerous condition.
Jim, the primary beneficiaries of this widening would be the citizens of Coppell and those
commuters who pass through the city on a daily basis. Several users have expressed an interest in
acquiring and developing the property, but the status of roads and roadway improvements have made
acquisition and development cost prohibitive. It is our hope that Coppell will facilitate the
improvements in order to capture additional revenue and to correct an increasingly unsafe condition.
Once again, thank you for considering this proposal. We look forward to discussing this matter with
you in further detail.
Very truly yours,
Robert B. Dunkin II, CCIM
cc: Jerry W. Cooper - Emerson Partners, Inc.
William S. Dahlstrom - Jenkens & Gilchrest