“Closing our borders has been a topic of conversation at the Town Hall as far back as early June of this year,” said Town Administrator Debbie Millican.  She went on to say, “Future incompatible building and development in our extraterritorial jurisdiction has been and remains a source of concern for our town council and citizens.”

The Town of Flower Mound’s recent moratorium on all new applications for centralized gas compression stations has encouraged gas production companies to seek locations outside of Flower Mound’s jurisdiction and forced activity in Bartonville’s ETJ.  Rumors and speculation have been ramped regarding a proposed centralized compressions station to be located in Bartonville’s ETJ between Flower Mound’s Tour 18 Golf/Residential Development and Porter Road, just south of Bartonville’s most southern Town Limits.  When discovered that the land speculation and gas production activity was imminent, Mayor Robertson decided that action had to be taken quickly.  He instructed staff to expedite the evaluation and prospect of consolidating territory into Bartonville or relinquishing ETJ in this area.

As a matter of law, released ETJ automatically goes into the closest contiguous city, in this case Flower Mound.  The Town of Bartonville is a General Law City with limited authority and almost non-existent authority in the ETJ.  Flower Mound is a Home Rule City and has the authority to regulate all matters relating to public safety within their ETJ. 

The Bartonville Town Council is charged with the responsibility of protecting its citizens and our bordering neighbors to the extent that we are able, even if it means turning over land to a larger town.  “The Town will examine and expedite future border consolidations or relinquishment in order to protect against development which burden our resources and place unfavorable development which may threaten our quality of life,” said Robertson.