Print
Share page with AddThis

Denton ISD and Town of Cross Roads Partnership Overview

From the Mayor's Desk:

As we enter into a new year, I am excited to announce a partnership that has been over 15 months in the making. In the fall of 2022, Denton ISD (DISD) notified the Town of a contract to purchase land formerly owned by Volunteer Enterprises which was zoned as a planned development known as “Cross Roads Market Square.” The proposed Cross Roads Market Square was approved in January 2020 and included retail, entertainment and approximately 286 multifamily units near the southeast corner of US 380 and Naylor Road.

DISD ultimately acquired the Cross Roads Market Square property, along with several parcels of land that was planned to be future phases of the Oak Hill Ranch subdivision. The district communicated to the Town their desire to build High School No. 5 as well as a career and technical education (CTE) facility. Through intensive discussions, we came to an agreement with the school district that is outlined in Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) adopted by the Cross Roads Town Council on December 11, 2023, and the DISD School Board on December 12, 2023.This MOU will serve as the outline for future agreements related to the development of the High School No. 5, the CTE and future retail at the former Cross Roads Market Square property. DISD will construct the high school and CTE on approximately 113 acres of land that was to be future phases of Oak Hill Ranch, while the property that was to be Cross Roads Market Square will be developed through a joint partnership venture whereby the Town and DISD each own a 50% interest in approximately 29.5 acres and the Town is granted a 2.5 acre tract of land for a future government facility. Developing the 29.5 acres as commercial and retail will help the Town continue to grow its sales tax base, while providing taxable property for the school district.

DISD has committed to helping the Town further aspects identified by our residents in the Cross Roads Vision 2035 plan while providing a community based educational environment for students. Of significant importance to me, on a personal level, is the school district has committed that they will not utilize any of their property in Cross Roads for a bus barn or bus storage facility. Further in this newsletter, you will see additional information related to the MOU. If you have any questions or concerns, I would encourage you to email me at l.tompkins@crossroadstx.gov.

Respectfully, Mayor T. Lynn Tompkins, Jr.

What is an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)?

A MOU is a document that sets forth a general understanding between two or more parties used for the purpose of guiding the development of future agreements. In this case, it is a general understanding that was approved by the Cross Roads Town Council on December 11, 2023, and by the Denton ISD School Board on December 12, 2023, that will be used as the basis to craft agreements related to the development of property owned by Denton ISD.

Background Information

Denton ISD acquired three parcels in late 2022:

  • A 32-acre parcel described in the MOU as the “Cross Roads Property” that had previously been approved by the Town of Cross Roads as a Planned Development in January 2020 under the general name the Cross Roads Market Square. This Planned Development consisted of approximately 11 acres of multifamily property and 21 acres of commercial property.
  • Several tracts totaling approximately 113 acres of land (described in the MOU as the “High School No. 5 Property” that had previously been identified as future phases of the Oak Hill Ranch subdivision.
  • An 80-acre parcel of land running between Naylor Road and S. Potter Shop Road approximately 450 feet south of US 380 (described in the MOU as the “Connector Parcel”)

The Town of Cross Roads owns a 5-acre parcel on Naylor Road previously deeded to the Town from the developers of the Oak Hill Ranch subdivision.

DISD Land Parcel Map

Cross Roads Vision 2035 Plan

The Town of Cross Roads adopted the Cross Roads Vision 2035 Plan in September 2021 after receiving feedback from over 500 community members regarding desires for the future development of the Town of Cross Roads.

The partnership between Denton ISD and the Town of Cross Roads lays the framework for the implementation of several aspects of the Vision 2035 Plan including:

  • Roadways/bypasses around US 380 through the installation of the east/west collector road that will be constructed with Denton County Road Bond funds to service the new high school proposed to open in August 2027;
  • Diversity of restaurants;
  • A location for public events and festivals;
  • Constructing walking, biking and hiking trails;
  • Diversifying local businesses and providing for more boutique and local shops;
  • More green space for public use;
  • High speed internet access; and,
  • Increased sense of community.

Additionally, the partnership provides resources that allow the Town to continue with what survey respondents identified as why they live in Cross Roads including:

  • No municipal property taxes;
  • Large acreage lots;
  • Small community that is close to shopping and medical facilities;
  • Open space;
  • Land for animals; and,
  • A safe place to live.