Flower Mound homestead exemption to increase to 20%
Flower Mound officials approved setting the local homestead exemption at the highest level allowed for a municipality, also increasing the town’s percentage for the fifth consecutive year.
Council unanimously approved the increase to 20% of a property’s appraised value, which was initially proposed to be 17.5%, at its June 16 meeting.
Town officials had until June 30 to increase the exemption for fiscal year 2025-26, according to town documents. Chief Financial John Zagurski said the owner of a homestead with the town’s average value of $465,000 would save around $352 on a tax bill based on the town’s current tax rate of $0.387278 per $100 of assessed value.
With the increased homestead exemption, it shifts the tax base burden to commercial and non-homestead exemption properties. Zagurski said the town plans to be able to maintain its current tax rate of $0.387278 per $100 of assessed value despite the higher homestead exemption.
Flower Mound adopts updated EV charging station restrictions
Flower Mound has adopted further restrictions on electric vehicle charging stations, particularly those in parking garages, at its June 2 meeting.
“This is an emerging threat,” Henley said. “These [fires] can reach temperatures up to 4,000 degrees [Fahrenheit]; whereas, an internal combustion engine [fire] can only reach 2,000 degrees [Fahrenheit]. The difference there is that [internal combustion engine fires] can be put out by water.”
According to town documents, regulations for charging stations within a commercial, mixed-use development or multifamily complex parking structure include:
- Requiring all electric vehicle charging stations to be on the first floor and near an exterior wall of a parking structure or the surface level of a parking lot
- Stipulating an emergency power shut off switch between 20 feet and 100 feet of the electric charger location
- Requiring early response fire suppression sprinklers to help fight a potential electric vehicle fire
- Mandating property owners with at least five charging stations provide a fire suppression blanket
- Requiring bollards or barriers to protect charging stations from a collision
Council approves removal of Highland Village Elementary school zones
Highland Village City Council members approved an update to the city’s code of ordinances to repeal school zones near Highland Village Elementary School at the June 24 meeting.
City Manager Paul Stevens said the public works department can take the signs down immediately. Sometimes sign poles are reused, but Stevens said with the age of these signs the poles will not be repurposed.
The ordinance also includes general updates, such as:
- Clarifying remaining school zone locations
- Removing redundant language
- Adding language to ensure posted school zone hours remain enforceable even if flashing lights are not operational
- Eliminating provisions giving the police chief authority to determine school zones or times
Argyle will see a badminton and pickleball facility along FM 407 after the special use permit was approved at the June 16 town council meeting.
Argyle Sports Academy will be located along FM 407 and accessed by Avalon Boulevard, Hampshire Drive and Gateway Boulevard. It will be constructed on a 2.35-acre lot within Argyle Landing, a community of 198 single-family homes currently being developed.
Argyle Sports Academy will be similar to Frisco Badminton Academy, Principal CEO of the Frisco Badminton Academy, Karri Reddy said. There are also three badminton academies in the Austin area, marking Argyle as the company’s fifth location for the badminton training facility.
Construction on the facility will start after the infrastructure and roads leading to the development are built, Marisa Brewer from McAdams, the design and engineering firm working on the project, said. This is anticipated to be completed in March 2026.
