The gist
Lewisville City Council approved a preliminary design contract up to $162,809.01 with consulting firm Halff Associates during a Dec. 2 meeting. Under the agreement, Halff Associates will design a boardwalk and trail at two different areas near the intersection.
Halff Associates will conduct topographic surveys, site investigations, geotechnical engineering services and schematic design for the trails. The firm will also coordinate with the United States Army Corps of Engineers since the land parcel is part of a mitigation bank.
A mitigation bank is a wetland or stream that’s been restored, enhanced or preserved as compensation for impacts to other aquatic sources, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The property in Lewisville was placed in a mitigation bank after a previous developer exchanged the land for adjacent wetlands, according to a staff memo.
Since the land is protected, any development has to undergo review and permitting through USACE.
City officials approached USACE after a concept study was completed in 2019. USACE initially indicated there was no room for improvement on the land parcel and that it needed to remain natural, according to the staff memo.
After additional meetings, USACE “softened their original position” and indicated there was some room for developing pedestrian access in and around the property, according to the memo.
The details
Under the agreement, Halff Associates will design a 1,200-foot long boardwalk around the pond and a 1,000-foot long pedestrian trail at the northeast corner of McGee Lane and Lamar Drive. The designs will be based on a concept study completed by Talley and Associates in 2019.
According to the agreement’s project scope, boardwalk elements will include:
- Boardwalk overlook
- Pedestrian bridge/overlook
- Natural wood boardwalk
- Concrete trail paving
- Directional signage
- Wetland restoration of disturbed areas
