Name: Clare Harris

Age: 60

Website: https://clareharrisfortowncouncil.com

How long have you lived in Flower Mound?

6 years

Why do you want to be on town council?

I am motivated by my belief in Flower Mound, it is a truly special place, and I am committed to continuing my service to this town and its residents to help keep it a "best place to live." I believe our Town Council should remain non-partisan and focused on local issues, and I am an advocate for preserving local decision-making. My history of service on our Town’s Boards and Commissions, combined with my proven commitment to SMARTGrowth and the Master Plan, demonstrates my dedication to preserving the quality of life we all enjoy. My track record of standing up for residents while supporting appropriate, high-quality development shows that I am ready, willing, and able to serve while maintaining fiscal responsibility and transparency.

What experience or perspective would you bring to the office?

I bring a fresh perspective to the Town Council that is not currently represented. Living in a more urban part of Flower Mound gives me a firsthand understanding of the challenges that come with higher-density development, along with a deep commitment to preserving the Cross Timbers Conservation Development District to ensure Flower Mound retains the country atmosphere that makes our town unique. My service on the Environmental Conservation Commission also adds a viewpoint to the Council that is absent today.

My experience and training have prepared me well to serve effectively. I currently serve on the Planning and Zoning Commission and the SMARTGrowth Commission, both of which have given me valuable insight into land use, development, and long-term planning for our community. My previous service on the Capital Improvement Advisory Commission, and the Blue Ribbon Bond Committee has given me a better understanding of the fiscal, environmental, and infrastructure decisions that shape Flower Mound.

Completing the Flower Mound Citizens Academy gave me a comprehensive understanding of the roles and responsibilities of every town department. I also had the privilege of attending the Town's 2025 Strategic Planning Retreat, where I gained firsthand knowledge of the goals and priorities guiding Flower Mound through fiscal year 2025/2026.

In addition to my Town Commission service, I have invested in continued professional development through the American Planning Association Texas Chapter (APATX) Elected and Appointed Officials Workshop, the APATX Ethics in AI and Urban Planning Seminar, the APATX State Conference, and the Focus North Texas Planning Workshop. These experiences have strengthened my knowledge of planning best practices, ethical decision-making, and regional issues affecting communities like ours.

My hands-on experience and continued education have equipped me with the skills and perspective needed to serve our residents.

What are the biggest issues that Flower Mound is facing?

Flower Mound's biggest challenges include protecting local control over zoning and budgeting from State Legislature overreach, balancing new infrastructure and service needs in far west Flower Mound with aging roads and public works demands in other areas and maintaining fiscal discipline while continuing to deliver excellent services to our residents.

As far west Flower Mound continues to develop, there is increasing demand for new infrastructure and services. At the same time, we must not lose sight of the aging roads and public works needs in other areas of town. Ensuring that all residents receive the attention and investment they deserve will require careful planning and thoughtful prioritization.

Equally important is maintaining fiscal discipline while continuing to deliver the excellent services our residents expect. As costs rise and demands grow, the council must make responsible budget decisions that protect taxpayers while preserving the quality of life that makes Flower Mound such a desirable community.

One of the most effective ways to address these infrastructure and fiscal challenges is by strategically growing Flower Mound's commercial tax base. A stronger commercial tax base reduces the burden on residential property taxpayers while generating the revenue needed. By attracting quality commercial development, the town can generate funding for essential services while also financing the new infrastructure needed to support growth in west Flower Mound.

Diversifying our tax base and ensuring the town has the resources it needs, will allow us to continue to deliver the excellent services our residents expect while preserving everything that makes Flower Mound unique.

Traffic is a top concern for residents. What ideas do you have for alleviating congestion?

Managing traffic congestion in Flower Mound will require a multi-pronged approach.

As a Town Council member, I am committed to technology-driven solutions that improve our daily commutes. This includes expanding the use of Adaptive Signal Technology, which uses real-time data to adjust signal timing based on actual traffic flow, reducing travel times and stop-and-go congestion. By integrating with Waze, the Town will be able to share real-time road closures and construction updates directly with drivers and receive user-reported incident data to make faster signal adjustments and reroute traffic as needed.

Beyond technology, careful consideration of future development density will be essential to ensure growth does not overwhelm our roadways. Attracting quality commercial development that brings jobs to Flower Mound can reduce commute distances, decrease the number of vehicles on our roads, and improve residents' overall quality of life.

Collaboration with neighboring municipalities, including Grapevine and Highland Village, will also be critical to preventing bottlenecks at our borders. The planned expansion of Lakeside Parkway and added turn lanes at key intersections, along with continued communication with TXDOT to advocate for the needs of our community.

All these efforts will work together to improve traffic flow across Flower Mound.

What is something specific that the town council can address to improve the quality of life in Flower Mound?

Flower Mound already does many things to help ensure a superior quality of life for its residents, from maintaining excellent emergency response times and expanding our parks and trail system, to preserving our tree canopy and open spaces, keeping residential property taxes low, street maintenance and repair, storm water management and planning for increased services to far west Flower Mound, including Fire Station 6, and improved retail access.

One initiative I would like to introduce is a monthly open house where residents can meet informally with a Town Council member to share concerns, ideas, or feedback. This would give residents a chance to get to know their elected officials, stay engaged in our community, and ensure that Council members hear directly from the people they serve about what matters most to their quality of life.

In recent years, the state legislature has imposed limits on the ability for municipalities to make local zoning decisions like minimum lot size. Do you agree with those changes? How do you plan to coordinate with state legislators to make sure decisions made in Austin are beneficial to the residents of the town?

The prospect of the State Legislature reducing or removing local control over zoning, is concerning and represents a threat to Flower Mound's ability to govern itself in the best interests of its residents. Thomas Jefferson wisely observed that "the government closest to the people serves the people best." The elected officials and staff of Flower Mound know this community — its character, its values, and the expectations of its residents — far better than legislators who are far removed from our day-to-day realities.

Local zoning authority is the primary tool through which Flower Mound has protected its unique character, honored our Master Plan, preserved the Cross Timbers ecosystem, and ensured that development reflects our community's values.

I would strongly support Flower Mound's efforts to advocate at the state level for the preservation of local control, working with the Mayor, fellow council members, and the Texas Municipal League to push back firmly against legislation that undermines our community's right to self-governance. Local decisions should be made locally, by the people who live here and are directly accountable to our residents.