The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About06-03-96 TC Min128 TOWN OF WESTLAKE MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN JUNE 3, 1996 Present: Scott Bradley, Mayor Carroll Huntress, Mayor Pro -Tem Al Oien, Member Howard Dudley, Member Jerry Moore, Member Dale White, President of the Westlake Development Corporation Charla Bradshaw, Chairperson of the Planning & Zoning Commission Paul Isham, Town Attorney Dennis Wilson, Town Planner Rowland Jackson, Town Planner Roland Jary, Town Engineer Greg Little, Town Engineer Charles Haynes, Town CPA Jim Schiele, Town CPA Thomas Lawrence, Town Financial Adviser Ginger Crosswy, Town Secretary Absent: Fred Held, Member The Executive Session of the regular meeting was called to order at 6:07 p.m. by Mayor Scott Bradley. The Board adjourned the Executive Session at 7:00 p.m. and moved to the Solana Education Center for the regular meeting. The Board reconvened into open session at 7:08 p.m. The minutes of the May 6, 1996 meeting were approved as presented. Item 42: Motion by Jerry Moore, seconded by Carroll Huntress, to confirm the appointment of William E. Greenwood to the Planning & Zoning Commission. Motion carried unanimously. Item 43: Motion by Carroll Huntress, seconded by Howard Dudley, to approve Resolution No. 96-5, a Resolution of support for the Metroport SH 114 Partnership's request to the Texas Department of Transportation to expedite State Highway 114 improvements. Motion carried unanimously. 129 June 3, 1996 Special Meeting Page 2 Item #4: Motion by Howard Dudley, seconded by Carroll Huntress, to contribute $5,000 to the Metroport SH 114 Partnership to help defray costs of the effort to expedite State Highway 114 improvements. Al Oien asked how we arrived at that amount. Mayor Bradley told the Board that $5,000 was the amount requested. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting of the Board of Aldermen was then adjourned by Mayor Bradley at 7:12 p.m., and reconvened into a Joint Public Workshop with representatives of Hillwood/ Willow Bend, Ltd. (Developer), owner of the Circle T Ranch in Westlake, Texas. Dennis Wilson, Town Planner, was then recognized to give a slide presentation showing the Town's Comprehensive Plan, outlining the vision the Town has adopted for future development of the Town. Darcy Anderson of Alliance Development Corporation was recognized to give a slide presentation showing the vision the Developer has for the development of the Circle T Ranch. Mr. Anderson then introduced Tony Belluschi of Anthony Belluschi Architects to give a slide presentation of two regional retail centers he has developed around the country and what he sees for the proposed regional retail center on the Circle T Ranch. Mr. Anderson then told the audience that Hillwood/Willow Bend, Ltd. would like to develop the Circle T Ranch as a 2000 acre integrated planned development. Mr. Anderson stated that the Developer would request several changes to the zoning ordinance, such as, private hike and bike trails, private gated communities, reduced flood plain areas, and changes to the building materials allowed. Mr. Anderson stated that under the Developer's plan there would be a population of approximately 10,000 living on the Ranch. He also informed the audience that the Developer will initially propose zoning changes on a mall site and the area known as MU -2 (mixed use). MU -2 is the area north of SH 170. Mr. Anderson then proposed that the Board appoint a committee of 2 Aldermen and 1 Planning & Zoning person to work with the Developer on the plan, and to schedule another workshop on June 24`x' to work on specifics. Town Planner, Dennis Wilson gave the Town's response, stating that most of the Town's current standards would be modified under the proposed zoning ordinance and the ordinance would provide transfer to the Developer most of the discretion normally reserved for cities. This proposed ordinance would also impact other properties in the area, like Solana, which developed under the current codes. Mr. Wilson then cited several areas of the proposed ordinance that were in opposition to the Town's Comprehensive Plan. Rowland Jackson, Town Planner, gave the Town's response to the proposed ordinance in the areas of landscape, open space and tree preservation standards 130 June 3, 1996 Special Meeting Page 3 Although present at the meeting, Town Attorney, Paul Isham was unable to give his response as to the legal aspects of the proposed ordinance, and Barton-Aschman Associates was unable to give its response concerning the Developer's proposed changes to the Town's Master Thoroughfare Plan, due to time constraints. Mayor Bradley recognized Joe Grace, Mayor of Roanoke, and William Tate, Mayor .of Grapevine. He then read the attached letter from Mayor Tate into the record. Mayor Bradley opened the meeting to anyone in the audience who wanted to speak or ask questions. Six residents spoke, all of whom voiced negative reactions to the plan proposed by Hillwood/Willow Bend, Ltd. for the development of the Circle T Ranch. The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 p.m. Scott Bradley, Mayor ATTEST: Ginger Crosswy, Town Secretary GRAPEVINE A Future With A Past June 3, 1996 Honorable Mayor Scott Bradley Town of Westlake 3 Village Cirice Suite 207 Westlake, Texas 76262 Dear Mayor Bradley: This day, all eyes are on Westlake. The immensity of the changes you and the Board of Alderman have been asked to consider regarding the Circle T not only impact Westlake, but every community along the 114 corridor. I am writing this letter to convey to you my willingness to support your right and responsibility to work on behalf of your city in such a way as to be consistent with the expectations of your residents. Along that line, I would request that this letter be included in the public record concerning this important topic. 1 The scope of change being requested of you in this case , in my opinion, unprecedented. Even when the City of Grapevine willingly rezoned hundreds of acres of our community to accommodate the DFW Airport Master Plan, we were able to maintain our basic principals of planning and our vision for Grapevine. I understand that the extent of change you are considering would essentially require you to abandon your previous planning efforts and vision for Westlake and embark on a completely new path for your community. It is neither the place of Grapevine nor any other city to decide what is best for Westlake. I salute your efforts to keep Westlake consistent with your long range plan and the vision that has been established for your community. If that is to change, it should be for the benefit of Westlake and its citizens and all cities along the 114 corridor. Perhaps the most fundamental elements of any growth plan is transportation. Land use planning without transportation planning is planning to fail. Each of us that travel the 114 corridor today are painfully reminded about the cost of urbanization without adequate transportation. I sincerely hope our combined efforts through the vehicle of the Metroport 114 Partnership will result in action by the State to begin immediate remedial action on State Highway 114. The plain and simple truth, however, is that what ever action the State takes, will not be enough. THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR P.O. Box 95104 • Grapevine, Texas 76099 • Phone Metro 817/481-0380 a Honorable Mayor Scott Bradley June 3, 1996 Page 2 I strongly encourage you to resist any development that fails to address the long term needs of your community and of the 114 corridor. Without radical changes in planning for mass transportation far beyond what 114 will ever hope to accommodate, changes of this magnitude could well bring the 114 corridor to its knees. If the developer cannot provide such a plan and funding to implement it without placing the full financial burden on taxpayers then Westlake and all the other Metroport cities will be the losers. reiterate my willingness to stand beside you in defending the rights of the citizens of Westlake to plan your community. I remain committed to working with you and the other Metroport cities to protecting and improving our opportunities for growth consistent with the quality of life that has made our area so attractive to so many. Sincerely, William D. Tate Mayor /tp