HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 01-08 Supporting the Principle of a Locally Controlled, Level Playing Field for Economic DevelopmentTOWN OF WESTLAKE
RESOLUTION NO. 01-08
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN OF THE TOWN OF
WESTLAKE, TEXAS, SUPPORTING THE PRINCIPLE OF A LOCALLY
CONTROLLED, LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
WHEREAS, the economy of Texas, and especially the Dallas -Fort Worth
Metroplex, has flourished in recent times due to the aggressive and sensible economic
development efforts of a myriad of locally inspired leaders that reflects the diversity and
values of each independent community; and
WHEREAS, the continued strength and growth of the Texas economy is
contingent upon the support of the Texas Legislature in maintaining a fair and level
playing field upon which cities across Texas may equally compete for new business
development; and
WHEREAS, any effort by a governmental entity to seek legislative relief in
order to avoid compliance with fair business attraction practices should be summarily
dispatched by the Texas Legislature and vigorously opposed by all Texas cities
competing for new business opportunities for their citizens; and
WHEREAS, DFW is attempting to put more than 5,000 acres of publicly held
land on the commercial marketplace which is not subject to the same taxing limitations or
zoning regulations as any other private development; and
WHEREAS, this will not only create an unfair economic development attraction
mechanism favoring the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth to the detriment of their own
existing private property owners, but will also seriously impede surrounding cities'
ability to market new commercial projects in their own cities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN
OF THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE, TEXAS:
SECTION 1: That it is fundamentally wrong for the cities of Dallas and Fort
Worth, through the land holdings of DFW Airport, to compete with privately owned
properties for commercial developments that must pay taxes at the full market value and
be subject to local zoning oversight; and
SECTION 2: That the ability to publicly develop projects subject only to
leasehold improvement taxes and exempt from all local municipal development and
zoning controls is fundamentally inconsistent with fair and equitable business practices
and sound business judgment; and
SECTION 3: That the cities of Texas should unite in opposing DFW Airport's
attempt to persuade the Texas Legislature to create for DFW Airport alone an economic
development incentive measure that no Texas City may compete against and no Texas
developer may match; and
SECTION 4: That the use of publicly held airport land for the development of
office, retail and industrial uses that compete with private property owners is inconsistent
with the principles of a free market economy; and
SECTION 5: That the Texas Legislature is hereby urged to reject any attempts
by DFW Airport to acquire unfair economic incentive advantages which will flood the
market with vast amounts of land with permanently reduced taxes and zoning
exemptions, thereby damaging the value and marketability of existing developable land
and available lease space in North Texas.
SECTION 6: That this Resolution shall become effective upon the date of its
passage.
PASSED AND APPROVED ON THIS 12THDAY OF FEBRUARY, 2001.
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Scott Bradley, Mayor
ATTEST:
in Crosswy, To Secretary Trent O. Petty, Town Manager
APPROVED AS TO FORM: