City Manager Proposes PR Campaign as Meathod to Combat “Fire Support” over Citizens.
Fate, TX – A series of emails obtained through an Open Records Request (ORR) has shed light on what appears to be a concerning pattern of collusion between city officials and a developer pushing for the controversial Lafayette Crossing project in Fate, Texas. The correspondence should spark fears among residents that their voices are being sidelined in favor of corporate interests.
The emails, exchanged between city officials, staff members, and the developer, paint a picture of cozy relations and unwavering support for the Lafayette Crossing development, despite growing opposition from Fate residents.
Of particular concern is an email exchange in which City Manager Michael Kovacs referred to the Lafayette Crossing project as “Our Olympics” and hinted at undisclosed “significant projects in the works,” including visits from international management teams. Kovacs’ language suggests a level of excitement and urgency surrounding the development, raising questions about whose interests are truly being served.
Furthermore, residents should be alarmed by Kovacs’ mention of a forthcoming public relations campaign aimed at “educating” citizens about the project, using the code word “fire-support” to address potential public outcry. This revelation has fueled suspicions that the city manager may be actively working to manipulate public opinion and stifle dissent… and apparantly, he fully expects the Council to go along with it.
Indeed, the fact that the City Council held two seperate public outreach meetings (intentionally crafted with differing council members so as to avoid the establishment of a quorum) may give credence to the PR campaign. So to the fact that he sent a “blind carbon copy” notice of the P&Z meeting for the project the original members of the “Fate Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee Members”, allegidily so that they will do pre-emptive damage control. Just for reference, those members were: Allen Robbins, John Hamilton, Josh Burkhart, Laura White, Kimber Patterson, Virginia Harris, Mike Reynolds, Jim Wills, Shane Hollas, Victoria Egbert, John Thatcher, Julie Stutts, John Heil, John McCurdy, Wendy Smith, and Mark Wilburn.
Although email addesss for distribution to the group were redacted, the Fate Tribune was able to confirm the distribution to a number of members on that committee.
In response to the revelations, Fate residents are rallying together to demand transparency, accountability, and meaningful public engagement in the decision-making process. Grassroots efforts are underway to challenge the perceived collusion between city officials and the developer, with calls for greater scrutiny, independent oversight, and respect for community input.
The Lafayette Crossing project, a mixed-use development on a 266.22-acre tract of land, as outlined in the emails, includes a Concept Plan with the following components:
- 186 single-family homes
- 2,178 multifamily units, consisting of townhomes, apartments, and duplexes
- 120-room hotel
- 373,000 square feet of office space
- 373,000 square feet of retail space
- 95,400 square feet of restaurant space
However, it’s worth noting that the statistics of the square footages provided in the Concept plan differ from that presented by Mayor David Billings at a community event he held on January 23rd at the Fate First Church. Although the actual documents submitted are vague enough to give the developer room in the future to alter these numbers.
It’s worth noting that the owner of the Lafayette Crossing property is Robert Yu of D-F Funds GP, LLC, based in Alhambra, CA (626-282-3100) who owns an enormeous amount of land in Texas, including Fate, but does not live here. The Applicant is Jackson Walker LLP, of Dallas, TX, (whom also does not live here) with a listed contact person of Bill Dahlstrom (972-738-0226). These details are public record and are written on the drawings that the parties submitted to the City.
The Fate Tribune has learned that the Lafayette Crossing project is scheduled to come before the City Council on Feb. 5, 2024, at 6:00 pm. The full report, as provided by staff for approval, can be found at: Link to the Full Report.
For readers interested in delving deeper into the matter, the Fate Tribune is providing access to the entire email correspondence obtained through the ORR. Download the Email Correspondence below. As the controversy surrounding the Lafayette Crossing project continues to unfold, residents remain steadfast in their commitment to holding their elected officials accountable and safeguarding the interests of the Fate community. The battle lines have been drawn, and the fate of Fate hangs in the balance.