The Dallas-based development firm that purchased Fairfield Lake State Park is calling for the resignation of Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Chairman Arch “Beaver” Aplin III, the co-founder and CEO of Buc-ee’s, after allegations that the department took illegal actions.
Todd Interests officially purchased the property from Vistra Corp. on June 1 for roughly $110 million. The developer purchased the 5,025-acre property, which includes the 2,400-acre private lake, with plans to develop a resort, according to The Land Report.
Vistra Corp. had been leasing the land to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) for just one dollar per year since 1971, but that lease ended once the land was sold to Todd Interests, per The Land Report.
Before selling the property to Todd Interests, Vistra Corp. had encouraged the TPWD to bid on the lake and surrounding land, but the state passed on the opportunity, The Texas Tribune reported.
Once the property was sold to Todd Interests, TPWD officials made attempts to purchase the land from the new owner, but the two parties have been unable to reach an agreement.
“Not only was the [TPWD’s] offer below what we paid for and have already put into the property, and hundreds of millions below fair market value, TPWD doesn’t have the money to purchase our ongoing real estate development and compensate us for damages, let alone pay us fair market value for our water rights,” said Todd Interests in a statement to KCENTV News.
At a special meeting on June 10, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission voted and authorized the TPWD to petition for condemnation of the property, paving the way for the agency to purchase the property at a fair market value by right of eminent domain, according to a TPWD news release.
Despite receiving authorization to petition for condemnation, Cory Chandler, director of media communications for the TPWD, said last week that the agency “has not yet filed a petition for condemnation of the Fairfield Lake State Park property and remains hopeful the landowner will agree to a voluntary sale prior to TPWD initiating court proceedings,” per KCENTV News.
An attorney for Todd Interests, Blake Beckham, claims that the TPWD has “enacted a complete blockade” on public information requests that should be granted to the firm, according to The Dallas Morning News.
Todd Interests stated the department has denied multiple public information requests, leading the firm to become “very concerned about government officials abusing their power and agencies running amuck trying to cover up their own inept behavior,” per the DMN.
Beckham said that the TPWD claimed the requests were denied due to the attorney-client privileges based on litigation expected to occur regarding the condemnation of the land, per the DMN.
Now, Todd Interests has called for the resignation of Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Chairman Aplin, alleging that he has been a main factor in the failed purchase of the park and the denial of public information requests, according to the DMN.
Similarly, the firm is asking for an investigation into actions taken by TPWD related to Fairfield Lake State Lake Park, claiming bills, although not passed, were developed in an attempt to help the agency claim the land, per the DMN.
Chandler responded that the agency has a right “to acquire park sites devoted to public use through condemnation with payment of adequate compensation,” per the DMN.
