Two candidates show support for controversial 1100-unit development despite residents’ clear opposition
Fate, TX – In a moment that crystallized one of the defining issues of the upcoming May election in Fate, Texas, candidates for City Council faced a blunt but revealing question at a recent public forum: “Would you have voted in favor of LaFayette Crossing?”
The answer required no speech, no posturing—just a raised hand. And in a room of residents who had strongly opposed the controversial development, that gesture spoke volumes.
Held at the Chamberlain Crossing Community Center and attended by dozens of concerned citizens, the candidate forum offered a rare moment of political clarity. As the moderator posed the question, the room was quiet. Two hands went up: those of Emily Camacho and Brett Bushnell.
The remaining candidates—Andrew Greenberg, Martha Huffman, and Lorna Grove—did not raise their hands.
A City Divided Over Growth
LaFayette Crossing, a large-scale mixed-use development approved by the Fate City Council in a 6-1 vote, will introduce more than 1,100 apartment units alongside retail and commercial spaces. The project is set to dramatically increase density in a city where many residents have sought to preserve a semi-rural, small-town atmosphere.
The development sparked sharp public backlash during the lead-up to its approval. Citizens filled council meetings, submitted feedback, and voiced objections centered around traffic concerns, water infrastructure, school capacity, and a broader worry that Fate is being reshaped without meaningful input from its residents.
Despite that outcry, the council approved the project—triggering lasting resentment and galvanizing grassroots opposition that has since carried into the election season.
Camacho and Bushnell Signal Support for More Growth
Camacho and Bushnell were the only candidates at the forum willing to indicate, with a raised hand, that they would have supported the project. Both have generally positioned themselves as pro-growth candidates and have expressed optimism about bringing more housing and commercial options to Fate.
Their visible support for LaFayette Crossing at the forum signals alignment with the city’s recent direction—favoring dense development models that mirror urban trends in neighboring suburbs.
That alignment, however, puts them at odds with many residents who remain wary of further expansion without stronger protections for infrastructure and community character.
Greenberg, Huffman, and Grove Oppose the Project
In contrast, Greenberg, Huffman, and Grove kept their hands down, signaling they would not have supported LaFayette Crossing. Each has articulated a more cautious approach to growth, emphasizing responsible land use and greater responsiveness to the people most directly affected by development decisions.
Their refusal to support the project underscores a broader concern shared by many in Fate—that decisions are being driven more by developers and staff recommendations than by the people who live in the city.
By opposing the development, these candidates appear to be tapping into a constituency increasingly skeptical of high-density housing and urban-style planning.
Trust and Transparency at Stake
LaFayette Crossing has become more than a zoning issue—it is a symbol of growing distrust between residents and elected officials. Many residents have expressed frustration that their concerns were dismissed or minimized during the approval process. For them, the project represents a disconnect between the people and the government that claims to represent them.
The forum’s hand-raising moment brought that disconnect into sharp relief. With a single question and a simple gesture, voters were offered a rare opportunity to draw a clear line between those who stand with the direction of the current council and those who do not.
The fallout from that vote—and the clarity offered by the candidates’ responses—will likely shape the tone and trajectory of the election in the weeks ahead.
Election as a Turning Point
As early voting approaches, Fate residents face a defining choice. Will the city continue to pursue dense, developer-driven projects like LaFayette Crossing, or will voters usher in a new slate of leaders committed to measured growth, community input, and long-term planning?
The Chamberlain Crossing forum didn’t offer soundbites or grandstanding. It offered something more rare in local politics: clarity.
And for voters concerned about the future of Fate, that moment may prove decisive.