Lewisville planners report 6,200 engagement touch points, unveil draft 2035 vision and launch 'big moves' exercise

Consultants from Freeze and Nichols told the Lewisville City Council that outreach for the Lewisville 2035 vision plan has reached more than 6,200 engagement touch points so far toward a target of 8,000, with roughly 4,000 online interactions and about 1,900 neighborhood contacts.

"Of those 8,000 touch points, we've reached over 6,200 people so far," said the presenter from Freeze and Nichols, reporting the team's engagement totals and noting targeted outreach to the Hispanic community and ongoing committee involvement.

The presentation summarized how the team condensed input from those contacts into 21 "big issues," then turned the issues into a set of "big ideas" that will guide the next planning phase. Claire, a project presenter, introduced a streamlined, public-facing draft vision statement she described as the plan's "North Star" and said staff intend to move detailed analytics into an appendix so the main document can remain concise and accessible.

Claire read the draft language for council review: "By 2035 and beyond, Lewisville is a city that shows up — welcoming, authentic, bold, connected, thoughtful, and built to last. A place that grows with intention, protects what matters, and delivers a quality of life people feel every day." She asked the council for feedback on tone and phrasing.

Council members praised the more conversational tone but flagged a few word choices and the plan's opening and closing lines for tightening. One councilor suggested changing "on purpose" to "with purpose," and another cautioned that the phrase "shows up" can have slang connotations for some residents; the presenters said they would refine wording and preserve accessibility.

Planners also highlighted the project's large steering committee. The consultant said the steering committee includes about 120 people, a design the presenters described as intentionally inclusive though some of that participation is recorded as grouped touch points rather than individual contacts.

After the presentation, facilitator David led a short, hands-on table exercise. Each two-person board prioritized up to five of the 21 issues, matched them to the project's big ideas, and proposed possible "big moves" to address top priorities. One table reported emphasizing Old Town revitalization, diverse downtown businesses (including a frequently requested grocery store), completion of local trade-education pathways tied to TSTC and high-school programs, and advancing Lake Lewisville connectivity and the Lake Park master plan.

Staff outlined next steps: consultants will synthesize the exercise results, carry them to the steering committee and public, and hold a public meeting on April 9 at Valley Ridge Church focused on the "big moves" phase. The team also plans to distribute "meetings in a box" materials to enable community members and partners to host local discussions.

On targeted outreach, Rao, a project organizer, said Hispanic residents generally love the city but have expressed anxiety about safety and the possibility of being targeted because of immigration status or race. "They're concerned about safety, not so much with regards to scribe or anything that's happening to them," Rao said, adding that the community wants clear, accessible information and locally hosted sessions where residents feel heard.

The presenters closed by asking councilors to help publicize the April 9 meeting and other outreach opportunities; council members thanked the presenters and said the discussion helped clarify priorities and next steps for the plan.