Council approves Havenwood Phase 1 site plan, approves limited specimen-tree removals after split vote

Flower Mound — The Town Council on Tuesday approved the Havenwood Phase 1 subdivision site plan and a request for a floodplain exception that will allow limited infrastructure crossings of FEMA and locally mapped floodplain areas, and approved a related tree-removal permit by a 4–1 vote after extended deliberation.

Lexson, a town planner, and the applicant team described Phase 1 as a 172.73-acre portion of the larger PD‑197 project and said Phase 1 proposes 87 single‑family detached homes within a development that could ultimately allow up to 222 lots across about 447 acres. Staff said the floodplain exception is limited to infrastructure crossings — private trails, retention ponds, grading and roadway and utility crossings — and does not permit putting lots into the floodplain. The applicant will be required to pursue letters of map revision and final floodplain delineation in subsequent phases.

Mike Boswell, the applicant, told council that a previous shallow groundwater contamination issue at a pad site on the tract has been remediated and closed by the state: "the letter was issued by the state indicating that it had been dealt with and closed out," he said. Boswell and staff said the overall project includes drainage work intended to improve conditions for neighboring properties once full build‑out is reached.

The council approved the site plan (item K2) with staff and Planning & Zoning recommendations, voting unanimously to permit the applicant to proceed to engineered phases and to require updated floodplain studies and limits on construction within floodplain areas.

A separate vote on the tree removal permit (item K3) drew more division. The applicant asked to remove three specimen trees in Phase 1; staff and the Environmental Conservation Commission recommended approval for two of the trees and noted that a third (tree #6636, referenced in the applicant materials) showed mixed condition and might be salvageable. Council member [functional label: Council member] argued for delaying that specific removal until the home pad and final grading were submitted, saying "I'd rather wait till we have a site plan for the home, and then we can remove it then if needed." Others on council said the tree is too close to the proposed pad, the retaining wall and grading would likely cause fatal root impacts, and that past experience showed denying removals late in the process created difficult on‑lot construction constraints.

After questions and a brief recess for discussion, the council approved the tree removal permit 4–1; the dissenting vote asked staff and the applicant to provide clearer documentation of tree health for similar future requests.

What’s next: The applicant expects to continue engineered design for Phase 1 and return with subsequent phase plats and floodplain documentation. The council recorded conditions that final floodplain boundaries and drainage improvements must be shown on each subdivision plat and remain under HOA unbuildable lots where applicable.

Votes and actions: K2 (site plan) approved unanimous; K3 (tree removal permit) approved 4–1.