A nice breeze blew across the Freestone County Courthouse lawn as Shawn Todd of Todd Interests made quick work of detailing his cause in front of a crowd of approximately 300 during a press conference held Thursday, July 6, 2023.

 

Of those in attendance, most were Freestone County landowners in support of their new neighbor, as evidenced by applause at various intervals during the speech.

 

 

He began by saying it was not a park or even Todd Interests that he had come to address, but to preserve a right – private property rights, which he said we must not lose.

 

 

Vistra Corp had leased the land for public use to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) for 50 years. When the lease was expiring, TPWD had the opportunity to purchase it, but did not do so. Todd Interests purchased it on June 1, 2023 from Vistra Corp.

 

TPWD had not made any bona fide offer to buy Fairfield Lake State Park from Todd Interests, Mr. Todd informed the crowd. Instead, they asked that he drop his real estate transaction so they could purchase it from Vistra Corp.

 

Ultimately, according to Mr. Todd, TPWD issued a statement that they had, indeed, made multiple offers which were turned down, so they were compelled to pursue another avenue. That, ultimately, was to condemn the Park via eminent domain.

 

 

Mr. Todd stated emphatically that they did not intend to sell the water rights to anyone, as had been rumored.

 

Mr. Todd expressed concern that the letter sent by Freestone County Commissioners and Judge Linda had not been addressed by Texas Parks & Wildlife. In the letter, they stated that Freestone County would derive an estimated $20 million from property taxes due to the new community.

 

 

Todd said both Texas legislative bodies had opposed the eminent domain approach and that TPWD was not an elected body.
Those who want to save the Park were mostly respectful with only a few of outbursts throughout the entire meeting shouting, “Save our Park.”

 

Only one question was asked and that from Bret Shipp of Spectrum News 1. “Does Texas Parks & Wildlife have the authority to impose Eminent Domain?”

 

Mr. Todd answered that they did.

 

Todd Interests plans to develop the property as a $1 billion gated community around the lake.

 

 

BBQ was served after the presentation, compliments of Todd Interests, to those in attendance.

 

That same day, an editorial piece was published in The Dallas Morning News written by Arch Aplin, III – Chairman of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. In it, he reiterates the difficult negotiations and ‘good-faith’ offers on the part of the State of Texas that were ultimately rejected by Todd Interests and Vistra Corp.

 

State Park supporters protest during Todd Interest press conference

 

“Even with our decision to condemn the land, we remain open to securing a deal that will save the state park and benefit all parties,” Aplin wrote.

 

Regarding landowner concerns, Aplin writes, “TPWD is not taking, nor do we intend to take, anyone’s private land to establish new parks. This rare activation of eminent domain authority is a last resort to save an existing state park that Texans have enjoyed for the past 50 years.”

 

The ‘Save Fairfield Lake State Park’ protestors who attended last week’s event have encouraged their supporters to send emails to members of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commissioner, and to their elected state representatives, in support of eminent domain action.

(Photos and video by Natalia V. Marsters)

 

 

Correction:  Paragraph 10 originally identified the lone question being asked by Fox News. It was later reported that Bret Shipp of Spectrum News 1 was the lone reporter.