More
than 50 years ago, the City of Dallas annexed approximately 1,700 acres of
property to house its electric utility. The annexation and subsequent zoning of the property was for non-residential
utility and power uses. In 1993, a Planned District for non-residential uses
continued the non-residential status of the property.
In 2004, The Billingsley Company purchased 325 of these acres from TXU. The Dallas City Council approved the rezoning of this area to high-density residential and mixed commercial use. The planned development, known as Cypress Waters, could possibly bring 3,600 new students to Coppell ISD-a 30% increase in the 2004 student population.
In response, CISD filed condemnation proceedings for 125 acres for land that would accommodate two elementary schools, a middle and high school and administrative center.
In 2014, Coppell ISD opened its 10th elementary school, Richard J. Lee, on land purchased through the condemnation process.
