This drawing by Planning Concepts of Tyler shows a large goverment complex between Martin Street and the south side of Winchester Park. It also shows a road connecting Martin Street and Farmto Market Road 315 on the north side of the park. Courtesy Graphic A government complex has been drawn into a conceptual plan on the expansion of Winchester Park and the development of 29 acres near Martin Street in Chandler.

About 50 city residents attended a meeting on May 25 in which Mark Priestner of Planning Concepts of Tyler presented drawings based on their recommendations and those of Chandler officials.

“I thought Mark gave an excellent presentation on what he would suggest,” City Counci member Gene Giger said. “Most of the stuff was very positive. The only negative questions or comments came from people concerned about access to the park.”

It was the second such meeting in less than two months to gauge interest in expanding Winchester Park.

“I thought it was a pretty good meeting,” city administrator Jim Moffeit said. “There was some discussion from people who live in Winchester subdivision who are concerned about park roads close to their houses, and about access to trails and that sort of thing.”

On April 6, residents talked about the need for added features at and around Winchester Park, improved parking, and the need for privacy at residential neighborhoods in the area. The lastest meeting seemed to focus on privacy, Moffeit said.

“I think we’d like to see the city complex closer to Martin Street,” he said. “The new drawings show all the city departments — City Hall, the community center, the police department, the chamber of commerce.”

A new government complex would replace the cramped space on State Highway 31, where City Hall, the Chandler Police Department, Chandler Community Center, and Chandler Brownsboro Chamber of Commerce are housed in a single building. Priestner’s drawing shows a group of nine buildings that would from the complex on the Martin Street property.

“I think it would encompass eight or nine acres,” Giger said. “But I’m not sure about that.”

The Chandler City Council is expected to discuss the conceptual plan on Tuesday during a regular meeting.

Chandler acquired 29 acres from Stanley McCurley in April. He received a down payment of about $200,000, and the title was transferred temporarily to the Texas Parks and Recreation Foundation.

The remaining $385,000 will be paid at 6 percent over the next 10 years. If the city satisfies the debt in five years, the early-payoff penalty would be about $18,000.

The land includes a house, swimming pool and other buildings. Eighty to 90 percent of that land, offi- cials have said, will be used for park development.

Early planning includes adding walking paths, nature trails, playground equipment and restroom facilities and a spray pad. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department programs offer money to state municipalities and counties with populations under 20,000, providing 50 percent matching funds, with the maximum amount awarded $750,000.

The state agency allows the assessed value at purchase to be used as matching funds in a parks grant. However, state law prohibits Chandler from using that program if it owns the property.

Park land typically remains with the foundation for five years. The cost to use the program is $100 a year.

Planning Concepts has been retained to draft plans on how to best use the land and Winchester Park as Chandler prepares for what is projected to be substantial growth in Smith and Henderson counties over the next 30 years.

Officials initially discussed purchasing 14 acres of McCurley’s land before an offer was made on the entire property.

His asking price was $650,000.