Candidate responses may have been edited for length, style and clarity.
Robbie Cox
Occupation: vice president of business development
Residence: lived in Flower Mound 16 years
Contact: [email protected]
Brian Taylor
Occupation: vice president of an aircraft modification company
Residence: lived in Flower Mound two years
Contact: [email protected]
Why are you running for office?
Cox: I love this town and want the amazing quality of life we have here in Flower Mound to continue. I applied and interviewed for the planning and zoning commission four years ago to get off of social media and focus my efforts at town hall where I could be engaged in the conversation where it mattered most. I wanted to listen to the residents, study the packet and listen to town staff and the development community to shape the highest quality product for our town. After four years of learning, listening and working with all stakeholders, I feel prepared to go to work for all of our residents. I understand that I represent all of Flower Mound as well as I understand the process.
Taylor: I am running for office to serve the residents of Flower Mound. We moved to Flower Mound for our town’s beautiful quality of life. I want to ensure that we maintain the quality of life for all residents.
What are the biggest challenges facing the town?
Cox: The biggest challenges facing our town now are most certainly balancing a strong local economy with increased development in three key areas: [the] Lakeside Business District, ]the] Cross Timbers Conservation Development District and [the] Denton Creek District. Additionally, traffic solutions will continue to be a challenge with the growth of Denton County and our neighboring communities.
Taylor: The biggest challenge facing the town is growth and development. We have an opportunity to help shape the final development on the south entrance to town. We also have a chance to oversee much of the remaining development in the middle of town. Finally, as development occurs on the west side of town, we can shape how the western entrance to town grows.
If elected, what would be your top priorities?
Cox: My top priority would be a more efficient, transparent public meeting process for our residents, staff, boards [and] commissions, and council, especially as it relates to development work sessions. We are desperately in need of a better process for community meetings that create transparency, inclusion, a safe environment for public participation, as well as in a more efficient manner for our planning staff.
Taylor: Managed and responsible growth, and appropriate taxation are my two top priorities. As our population expands, the town will grow, and new developments are inevitable. By exercising managed and responsible growth, we ensure future developments enhance the quality of life for all residents. We must ensure the developments appropriately enhance adjacent areas, ensure infrastructure can support the developments without undue burdens on residents and evaluate the community impact from a financial perspective. Additionally, the town has high standards new developments must meet. We must also support residents with appropriate taxation. With the rapidly rising home values, property taxes will continue to increase. Last year, Town Council reduced property tax rates to help mitigate the increases. We need to ensure we follow their lead and evaluate our tax rate again this year. This also requires that we are good stewards of the town’s financial resources and maintain a fiscally responsible budget.
What are some new ideas or programs you would like the town to explore?
Cox: Our Master Plan is our guiding document to preserve and enhance Flower Mound’s community character and maintain our quality of life with development. Too often the Master Plan is amended, creating unintended consequences to our [residents] and local economy. Over the history of the Master Plan, it has been reviewed seven times since 1981 with the last review in 2013. We should explore a full Comprehensive Master Plan review process every five to seven years with independent consultants along with public input to be sure the legacy of our town is not left to the political winds of the time. For example, Master Plan 2030 with a deadline to review again. We must have a vision and plan for our town while also reviewing on a regular schedule to be sure current market conditions are allowing for the quality of life and character of our town that our residents expect.
Taylor: I’d like to explore ways to attract high-quality office space and businesses to occupy them on the east and west sides of town. With the growth of the metroplex in and around Flower Mound, it would be great to attract high-quality offices and the employees that come with it. Flower Mound historically has and will continue to attract a capable, talented and well-educated workforce that companies desire. Flower Mound is a naturally attractive location to these companies, as well. We should facilitate their relocation to Flower Mound (and support existing local businesses as they grow and expand). This can lead to additional high quality commercial/retail development (restaurants, shops, services, etc) to help round out growth and development. This will also help broaden our tax base. With so many people moving to Denton County, this can be an opportunity for Flower Mound to capitalize on that growth.
