A $500 million mixed-use development in Parker County is facing delays due to a legal dispute over annexation, according to an April 13 report. The cities of Aledo and Fort Worth have asked a district court judge to stop Willow Park from moving forward with infrastructure work for the 135-acre Beall Development project along Bankhead Highway, claiming that Willow Park unlawfully annexed land connected to the site.
The conflict could impact one of North Texas’s largest growth corridors and highlights increasing competition among municipalities for tax revenue, development oversight, and investment in infrastructure. At issue is a 10.9-acre right-of-way that attorneys for Aledo and Fort Worth argue was improperly annexed by Willow Park, enabling the city to include the larger development within its boundaries. Mediation efforts last month did not resolve the disagreement.
Judge Craig Towson is scheduled to hear arguments next month regarding requests for a temporary restraining order and injunctions that may halt progress on the project. Plans for the Beall Development site—a part of the broader 2,000-acre Dean Ranch—include commercial space, multifamily housing, single-family homes, light industrial uses, parks, and trails. The developer has invested millions into early stages of construction and warned that an unfavorable court ruling could “derail the project entirely.”
Willow Park has approved zoning changes and initial development plans while continuing with preparations despite ongoing litigation. The City Council is expected to vote soon on a $4.1 million contract for additional water and sewer infrastructure work.
The origins of this dispute date back to last summer when Aledo first contested Willow Park’s actions regarding annexation. Officials from Aledo say their lawsuit aims to protect municipal boundaries; meanwhile Beall representatives have indicated their decision was influenced by faster access to utilities through Willow Park rather than jurisdictional preferences.
The outcome of this case may influence how developers approach municipal partnerships as they navigate changing laws affecting extraterritorial jurisdictions in Texas.
