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Coppell in bidding war with Billingsley Co. over 900 acres at
North Lake
04:24 PM CDT on Friday, August 8, 2008
By BRANDON FORMBY / The Dallas Morning News
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The Coppell City Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday on the issuance of $30 million in bonds for the
purchase of more than 900 acres at North Lake.
But the bonds will be issued only if Coppell wins a bidding war against developer Billingsley Co. for
land now owned by Luminant Energy.
."Ifwe are the successful bidder, then timing-wise we have done what we needed to do," Coppell City
Council member Brianna Hinojosa-Flores said.
The deal involves about 750 acres of the lake and 175 land acres, including property north of the lake
that is home to a natural gas power plant owned by Luminant, a subsidiary of Energy Future Holdings,
formerly TXU. The land sits in the city of Dallas but is surrounded by the cities ofCoppell and Irving
and is in the Coppell school district.
Luminant received an undisclosed offer earlier this year from the Billingsley Co., which appears to be
increasing its stake in the area where it already owns more than 500 acres.
After receiving Billingsley's bid, Luminant asked Irving and Coppell whether they wanted to be part of
the bid process.
Irving Mayor Herbert Gears said Friday that his city has no plans to bid on the land, but would support
Coppell in its efforts.
"We've made ourselves available for assistance and have asked that ifthey need any kind of
cooperation, we stand ready," Mr. Gears said. "But we have not been asked to do that."
That disappointed Irving council member Beth VanDuyne. She said a partnership between the cities
could provide better future uses, but hopes Coppell officials are successful in their bid.
"If they can do it, that's great," she said. "But I think that Irving owes it to its residents to be involved."
Lisa Singleton, a spokeswoman for Energy Future Holdings, said she could not release the details of the
bids.
"We are continuing discussions and are committed to keeping all the parties in the loop," she said.
http://www.dallasnews.comlsharedcontentldws/ dnllatestnews/stories/080908dnmetcoppellb... 8/8/2008
Coppell in bidding war with Billingsley Co. over 900 acres at North Lake I Dallas Mornin... Page 2 of 2
Billingsley officials did not return phone calls seeking comment.
Billingsley purchased the land for a proposed residential development called Cypress Waters. Previous
estimates for the project have ranged from 4,000 to 10,500 housing units. Current proposals were not
available.
The company's plans for its existing North Lake property touched off a contentious debate among the
developer, Coppell, Irving, Dallas and the Coppell school district. Coppell and Irving officials are
concerned that Cypress Waters would overwhelm city and school services.
Ms. Singleton said a decision on the bids should be reached within "a few weeks."
Coppell officials said if they win the bidding process and purchase the land, they would likely use a
portion of it for water storage, a pumping station and future municipal facilities.
"We are in the process oflooking at sites for a second pump station, and that's a good site for it," said
Ken Griffin, Coppell's engineering and public works director.
Coppelllost a legal request to condemn land Billingsley already owns at North Lake to use for parks.
But a county court judge ruled last year that the Coppell school district could use eminent domain to
take land from Billingsley to use for schools.
A Coppell school district spokeswoman said Friday that a trial is set for Sept. 8 to determine how much
the district would have to pay Billingsley to purchase the land for that use.
The Coppell City Council meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Coppell Town Center, 255 Parkway Blvd.
Staff Writer Deborah Fleck contributed to this report.
http://www.dallasnews.comlsharedcontentl dwsl dn/latestnews/stories/080908dnmetcoppellb... 8/8/2008