Tall plantings in Ownsby Parkway medians would come out to clear drivers' sight lines

The landscaping in the median noses along Ownsby Parkway has grown tall enough to block drivers' views at turn openings, Celina staff say, and the City Council is set to approve replacing it Tuesday evening.

A consent item on the council's 5 p.m. agenda would authorize a $131,761 change order with McMahon Contracting LP, the company rebuilding Coit Road between Vest Lane and Choate Parkway, to pull out the tall plantings and put in lower-profile vegetation.

According to a memo from Engineering Director William Janney, the Ownsby landscape plans were drawn before the commercial developments on the south side of the parkway existed. Since then, staff found that the taller, mature plants in several median noses obstruct sight lines where drivers turn, raising the chance of crashes during busy travel periods.

Engineering and parks staff studied the sites together before recommending the swap, which the memo says would cut down on hesitation at median openings while keeping the look of the corridor.

Third change on the Coit Road job

The council awarded the Coit Road reconstruction contract to McMahon in July 2025 for $13,464,877.50, plus a 10% contingency that brought the ceiling to $14,811,365.25. Two changes have been approved since:

• May 12, 2026: $122,354.34 for a 24-inch in-line gate valve on the Coit Road water line
• July 14, 2026: $159,451.95 to add the fourth leg of the Coit-Ownsby roundabout

The new change order fits within the contingency the council already approved, and the money comes from bond funds, according to the memo. It still needs a council vote because it is over $100,000. Staff recommend approval.

Consent items pass in a single vote unless a council member asks to discuss one separately. The meeting is at the council chambers, 112 N. Colorado St.

Sources

celinatx.api.civicclerk.com

celinatx.api.civicclerk.com