Updated 9:30 p.m. Saturday with statement from Bayside developers
The initial plans called for a sprawling $1 billion development on the shores of Lake Ray Hubbard, anchored by a crystal-blue eight-acre lagoon, the equivalent of 10 football fields of sparkling water.
Now, the plans for that signature element of the "Bayside" mixed-use development in Rowlett have been scrapped, according to city officials.
The revised plan presented to the city by the project's developers, Bayside Land Partners, eliminates the "three most important differentiators" in the project: the lagoon, a one-acre show fountain and a trolley, the city announced in a press release.
The new plan also "significantly reduces the entertainment, restaurant, and retail opportunities," the city said, while increasing the amount of land that would be used for "residential uses."
“Bayside is a public-private partnership, and our development partner is obligated to adhere to the vision for Bayside; any changes to the vision require City approval,” Mayor Tammy DanaBashian said in a statement. “We know our residents are very excited about Bayside, and the proposed changes do not meet expectations.”
In a statement on its website, Bayside Land Partners said, "We’ve simply presented a preliminary new path that we think is a better way to achieve our shared goals."
"Once we learned that the lagoon and show fountain, as originally presented, would likely not meet the goals — and could perhaps jeopardize Bayside’s success — our intention was to bring a potential solution to the City rather than simply identify a problem," the statement said.