Former West Lake Hills planner being investigated

Neighbors who oppose a proposed subdivision on Redbud Trail are accusing a former West Lake Hills city planner who recently left the city to start his own architecture business of ignoring emails from a potential buyer while he represented a separate, soon-to-be buyer who is now proposing the subdivision.

The allegations have temporarily stalled the West Lake Hills City Council votes on the subdivision proposals. The city Board of Adjustment did not vote on the variances because the mayor and a few board members said they would rather wait until the city attorney addresses the allegations.

Fillpot was never in charge of approving the application for the plans he is representing privately, Mayor Dave Claunch said.

Attorney Herb Prouty will look into the accusations against former city planner Davin Fillpot and will report his findings to the City Council at the upcoming June 25 meeting, Claunch said. Prouty works for the law firm of Alan Bojorquez, who serves as West Lake Hills city attorney.

Staff with the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners, which regulates the practice of architecture within the state, examined information provided by the Westlake Picayune about the allegations and found no indication of a violation of their own rules and statutes.

Fillpot has declined to comment before June 25 because the city is investigating these allegations, and I do not want to complicate their efforts, he said.

In a letter to the mayor and City Council, neighbor Chris Gunter has objected to someone so close to the city attorney being the investigating attorney. He requested that someone with experience investigating these matters, such as a former prosecutor, be chosen.

Mr. Bojorquezs role is to defend the City of Westlake Hills, and he is very zealous about this, Gunter wrote. An attorney associated with his firm does not engender even the appearance of an independent and objective investigation, much less an actual one.

Claunch said he disagrees that Prouty would be partial to one side.

Hes about as far removed from this situation and all the people involved as you can get, he said.

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Former West Lake Hills planner being investigated