Keeping It Country

The Town of Fairview was incorporated in 1958 with a population of 50. Since that time, it has grown steadily to today's population of a little more than 10,000. The community is marked by large houses on large lots, expansive open spaces, numerous horse farms, excellent schools, rolling hills, vast hardwoods, beautiful creeks, and the extensive Fairview Town Center shopping area and mixed-use center.

 

About the Zoning Defense Fund

The Town of Fairview Zoning Defense Fund was created by the Town at the request of Town residents and others because of potential litigation between our small community and the giant wealthy Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS).  Put simply, the LDS church is attempting to force the Town to accept a Temple and steeple that would dominate the Town due to its size and is totally out of proportion to the surrounding residential area. If this issue goes to court, we would be David fighting Goliath. 

All donations are VOLUNTARY and go toward legal costs and related expenses incurred by the Town and its attorneys in defending the Town’s zoning ordinances, including costs for preparation and defense against any litigation initiated by or involving the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), its individual members and/or other interested parties in relation to the disputed zoning matter.

Donations to this fund are NOT REFUNDABLE. 

The Town is not able to provide legal or tax advice, but the Town does not believe that any donations made to this fund would be tax deductible or otherwise result in favorable tax treatment. Please consult with a licensed attorney or qualified tax professional if you have any questions.

After this matter has been concluded, including any litigation and related appeals, and after all legal costs and related expenses, including but not limited to legal fees, judgment, awards and other associated costs, have been paid in full, any money remaining in the Town of Fairview Zoning Defense Fund will be donated to the Friends of Fairview First Responders Association.

If you wish to make a donation, please visit the donation management website

Zoning Defense Fund

Scan the QR code above with your smart phone camera to link to the donation site. 

FAQs

Why was this zoning defense fund established?

On Aug. 6, 2024, the Fairview Town Council denied without prejudice an application for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for a Religious Facility. The proposed Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) temple, which was the subject of the application, did not conform to height restrictions of the proposed building site in the residential (RE-1) zone, nor was the application consistent with other churches approved by the Town and constructed in the RE-1 zone.

The Town anticipates further action related to this case, including potential litigation.

Some residents have expressed interest in helping the Town fund these costs and asked the Town to create a mechanism for receiving donations.

Can I make an anonymous donation?

The Town of Fairview will not publish a list of donor names. However, as the Town is subject to open records requests through the Public Information Act (PIA), and billing information, including name, billing address and amount of donation, is required for credit card processing of donations, donors’ names billing address and amount of donations may be disclosed to anyone who submits a PIA request, unless the Texas Attorney General rules otherwise. Financial account information, such as credit card numbers, expiration dates and security codes, will not be disclosed.

Can I make a cash donation or write a check?

Cash and check donations will not be accepted.

Can I include a donation with my water bill payment? 

No. Donations will only be accepted through the official donation fund site

Is my donation tax deductible?

The Town is not able to provide legal or tax advice, but the Town does not believe that any donations made to this fund would be tax deductible or otherwise result in favorable tax treatment. Please consult with a licensed attorney or qualified tax professional if you have any questions.

What will happen to unused money?

After all anticipated litigation has been resolved, including any potential appeals, and after all legal costs and related expenses, including but not limited to legal fees, judgments and awards, have been paid in full, any money remaining in the Town of Fairview Legal Defense Fund will be donated to the Friends of Fairview First Responders Association.

I received a phone call, text or email asking for a donation to this fund. Can I trust that it’s legitimate? 

All donations must be made through the official Zoning Defense Fund site. The safest way to access the site is through the link provided here. Email and text messages can be spoofed to look real, so it’s hard to know if they are legitimate. 

 

Visits with Santa

SantaVisits2024square

Weekends through Dec. 23, visit with Santa at Fairview Town Center in a relaxed environment at a time that works for you - using your personal camera! Your $10 booking fee includes a dedicated time slot for your family with Santa, a gift for each child and a Santa’s Helper who will be happy to use your personal camera to snap photos of your family. 100% of the booking fees will be donated to Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County.

Friendly leashed pets are welcome.

Reservations must be made online.  There are no refunds, if you must reschedule you can do so through your account by selecting an open date and time until there are no appointments left.

All appointments will be located at 183 Town Place, two doors down from NASR Bros. Jewelers.

Schedule your appointment now. 


Civilian Response to Active Shooter Event Awareness

CRASE

Lovejoy ISD will present a community-wide program at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15, in the Lovejoy High School auditorium featuring safety protocols used within schools and strategies and guidance for surviving an active shooter event (Civilian Repsonse to Active Shooter Event, CRASE). Have you ever asked yourself, "What should I do if confronted with an active shooter event?" This program will help provide strategies, including Avoid, Deny, Defend. 

Vision, Mission, Focus Areas and Core Values

In March of 2023, the Fairview Town Council held its annual retreat. As part of the retreat, a discussion took place regarding revising the content of the town's vision and mission statements and its core values and focus areas. At the July 11, 2023, Town Council meeting, the council ratified the revised vision and mission statements, core values and focus areas located below. The ratification of this language establishes the foundation to what will ultimately become the town’s revised Strategic Plan. As the Strategic Plan evolves, updates and information can be found on this page.

LeafVISION

Fairview, a premier place to live and work with a unique and vibrant quality of life.

LeafMISSION

Fairview:

·         Promotes high quality economic and community development,

·         Embraces the natural features of the community,

·         Maintains open community communication, and

·         Delivers efficient, quality municipal services with a professional, well trained work force, for the benefit of residents, businesses and visitors.

LeafFOCUS AREAS

Infrastructure, Public Safety, Economic and Community Development, Community Engagement and Fiscal Responsibility.

LeafCORE VALUES

Integrity, Caring, Responsive, Innovation, Trust, Excellence

 

Integrity - We deal honestly and respectfully with each other and the public at all times. We conduct ourselves in a manner that is ethical, legal and professional, with the highest degree of honesty, respect and fairness.

Caring – We care about the wellbeing of our employees, residents, and visitors.  This is demonstrated in our interactions with citizens and customers and our commitment to our employees.

Responsive – We engage our community, with a focus on listening to and supporting their needs, and delivering high quality, efficient services.

Trust - We strive to be worthy of the community’s trust.  Providing effective and equitable solutions to citizens’ needs, and building a culture that is developed through the open exchange of ideas, hard work and strong teamwork all contribute to building that trust.

Innovation – We value progressive thinking, creativity, flexibility and adaptability in service delivery. We develop creative solutions as a team and share leading practices that enhance the value of services provided for our community. 

Excellence - Our work is characterized by its quality and by the diligence with which it is carried out. We proactively seek to solve problems in advance. We promote openness and transparency in our operations ensuring that we are accountable for our actions at all times.

Town History

A petition to request an incorporation election for Fairview was submitted to the county judge and commissioners’ court on April 21, 1958. The petition contained the following thirty-three names: Edgar Bush, V. W. Glover, Joe Hooper, C. A, Ostrawn (sp?), M. E. Travillion, L. W. Bryson, Mrs. L. W. Bryson, Mrs. W. H. Ellenburg, W. M. Bush, Mrs. W. M. Bush, E. A. Hooper, Elsie Hooper, Mrs. V. W. Glover, P. L. Barksdale, Mrs. P. L. Barksdale, H. L. Lowry, Mrs. H. L. Lowry, L. M. Nelson, Mrs. L. M. Nelson, Mrs. J. F. Summers, H. J. Petefish, Mrs. H. J. Petefish, Mrs. Robert R. Miller, Mr. Robert R. Miller, Mrs. Clyde Geren, George Apple, Mrs. George Apple, H. L. Knight, Mrs. H. L. Knight, B. C. Knight (?), C. H. Murray, J. K. Wa(?)

Fairview came into existence following an election held at what was called the Fairview Grocery on May 7, 1958. Ordered by Collin County Judge W. E. Button after submission of a petition, the purpose of the voting was to determine whether or not the Town of Fairview would be incorporated as a town. The ballot choices were simple: “Corporation” or “No Corporation.” A total of fifty ballots were cast, with only two of those opposing incorporation. Judge Button signed the order incorporating Fairview on May 12, 1958.

According to accounts, the town’s name might just as easily have been Wetsel because there were two communities included in the incorporated land – Fairview and Wetsel. The latter community began when Henry Wetsel, a Pennsylvania immigrant and carpenter by trade, sold his grist and flour mill in McKinney (a three- to five-oxen operation described as a “first-class ox mill”) and head right a square mile of land four to five miles south of town. That land is memorialized today as the Henry Wetsel Survey. He built his cabin on the Fisher and Sawyer stage road that ran from Austin through McKinney on its way to the Red River. One account suggests Henry operated a new grist mill on the northwest corner of today’s Stacy Road and SH 5 beginning in about 1850. Either here or at his McKinney mill he lost an arm in a terrible accident. He also supposedly built a two-story house with large cedar trees in the front yard on the west side of the stagecoach road, and brought Bermuda grass back from East Texas and had the first lawn of its kind in the area. This story seems not to ring true, however. Lawns were not really “invented” for many more years, so the grass story may have more accurately described one of Henry’s descendants.

 

Fairview's total sales tax rate is 8.25%, which includes one percent (1%) for local economic and community development. Fairview maintains one of the lowest ad valorem rates in the Metroplex and is ranked as one of the lowest tax rates out of 675 Texas municipalities reporting tax rates to the Texas Municipal League.

Property tax rate comparison:

  • Fairview
  • 0.310281%
  • Lucas
  • 0.239051%
  • Frisco
  • 0.425517%
  • Allen
  • 0.417500%
  • McKinney
  • 0.415513%

Fairview consistently maintains one of the lowest property tax rates for a full service municipality in Collin County. Texas is one of only four states that does not have a corporate income tax and one of only seven states that does not have an individual income tax.

Additional Information about Tax Rates and Demographics

wwwwww.fairviewtexasedc.com