1961-10-02 CC MinutesMINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL
FARMERS BRANCH, TEXAS
October 2, 1961
The City Council met in a regular
October 2, 1961 at 7:30 p.m. with
Mayor
Councilmen
City Manager
Assistant City Manager
City Secretary
session in the Council Room on
the following members present:
Oley E. Attebery
Sam Page
John Wilsey
Bill Hamilton
J. M. Orman
John C. Dodson
Dorthanna Williams
Mayor Attebery called the meeting to order. Mr. F. W. Rogers,
Pastor of Valwood Church of The Nazarene gave the invocation.
The minutes of a regular meeting of September 18 were considered
and approved after this correction. Item 1 of the minutes under
the heading "Surfacing Farmers Branch Lane" reads: Mayor Attebery
called for a vote: Councilmen Knox and Hamilton voting "ayes",
Councilmen Mallon, Page and Wilsey abstaining. Corrected to read:
Councilmen Knox, Hamilton and Page voting "ayes", Councilman Wilsey
voting "nay", Councilman Mallon abstaining.
tRESOLUTION - APPROVE TAX ROLL FOR 1961
Upon a motion by Councilman Wilsey, seconded by Councilman Page,
all-voting "ayes'", a resolution was passed accepting and approving
the Tax Roll, consisting of one volume, covering taxable property
in the City of Farmers Branch for the year 1961, said Tax Roll having
been carefully examined, reiiewed, and fully and finally revised by
the Board of Equalization.
PUBLIC HEARING - HAROLD G. WEIL ZONE CHANGE REQUEST
Mayor Attebery explained this hearing was being held to consider a
request of Mr. Harold G. Weil to change from "R-1" Temporary and "R-2"
zones to "R-3" zone on a triangular tract of land bounded on the north
by Valley View Lane, on the west by Marsh Lane and on the southeast by
the city limit line (north r-o-w line of proposed loop); also included
in this request is the proposed commercial zone on 10.64 acres at the
southeast corner of Marsh Lane and Valley View Lane. Houses with a
minimum of 1600 square feet of living area are proposed. The Planning
and Zoning Commission recommended the zone change request, which
includes the proposed development of a shopping center, be denied.
Mayor Attebery then explained that all members of the Council were
not present. If the Council reverses the Plan Commission's recom-
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mendations they must have three-fourths majority of the vote, if
they follow the recommendations it is not necessary. He said they
could postpone the hearing, have the hearing and continue it, or
have the hearing, close it and wait for a full Council for a decision.
Mr. Napier, who acts as secretary for the Plan Commission, said, the
Commission treated the request as a package, the basic reason against
the request was the shopping center. Mr. Hollin said they have
dropped the request for the commercial area and are asking for "R-3"
zone for the complete area. The City Attorney had ruled that the
Council may or may not drop the request for commercial zoning, said
Mayor Attebery.
Mr. Bob Hollin, representing the applicant, said they would like to
continue the hearing because of the time element, they will miss
the spring market as it is.
Mr. Hollin presented a plat, prepared without the commercial zone,
showing 382 lots with a minimum of 10,000 square feet (80 X 120),
he said the houses will be 1600 square feet minimum and costs will
range from $22,000 to $29,000.
Mayor Attebery pointed out the area on the Master Plan map. He
explained part of the area is now "R-2", part "R-3" and part "R-1"
Temporary. When the Master Plan was prepared a strip along the east
side of Marsh Lane was zoned "R-2" for a buffer across the street
from Brookhaven and the Nasher tract. He suggested a buffer zone of
"R-2" with the balance being "R-3". Mr. Hollin said, the need for
a buffer zone is very moot, a layman could not drive along Marsh Lane
and pick out "R-2" from "R-3" lots.
In opposition, Mr. Jim Upfield, 3055 Selma, said he could not see
rezoning the area without leaving a buffer zone of "R-2", he would
not object as long as there is a buffer zone.
Mrs. Sally Linder, 12620 Sunglow, said their main objection at the
Plan Commission hearing was the commercial zoning, she would not
object with a buffer zone as suggested by Mr. Upfield.
Mr. Glen Long said he would like to see a buffer zone. Mr. Emeral
Noah of Brook Hollow said he came prepared to object but would be
satisfied as long as it conforms to the Master Plan. Mr. David
Inwood, 2951 Selma, said he agrees, it would only be proper to change
the zone within the developers property. Mr. Bill Perle, 12615 Sun-
glow, said he would have no objection to houses of 1600 square feet.
Mr. Osburn, 3178 Brook Hollow Drive, said, under the circumstances a
buffer sone of "R-2" would satisfy him.
After a discussion of the improvement of Valley View Lane in the area,
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Councilman Wilsey moved, deny without prejudice and refer back to
the Plan Commission, seconded by Councilman Hamilton, Councilman
Hamilton voting "aye", Councilmen Page and Wilsey voting "nay".
After further discussion, Councilman Wilsey moved, refer this
request back to the Plan Commission for their recommendation on the
revised plat as presented to the Council tonight without the Commer-
cial zone, including the "R-2" buffer zone, and continue the hearing;
seconded by Councilman Page; Councilmen Page and Wilsey voting "aye",
Councilman Hamilton voting "nay".
ZONE CHANGE TO NORTHWOOD HOMES
City Manager Orman explained to the Council that this zone change
request had been approved on July 17, 1961, Before the ordinance
is finally considered, Mr. Harold Pollman of Northwood Homes would
like to make a presentation to the Council concerning the change in
the plans to extend Farmers Branch Lane from Dennis Road to Webb
Chapel Road, the bridge across Farmers Branch Creek and the access
to the new school site north of Sunbeck Circle Addition. This sub-
ject was also discussed on August 28.
Mr. John Gibson, Engineer, presented the proposed plat asking that
it be accepted by the Council. Mr. Pollman explained that they had
worked this out with the Plan Commission and the City Engineer. They
have also met with the School Board. They had asked Mr. Gibson to
come up with something, even a foot bridge, that they could afford.
They have now come to the Council with a plan, a bridge that will
cost between $12,000 and $13,000. They were appearing before the
Council asking the City of Farmers Branch to pay one-half the cost
of the bridge, between $6,000 and $6,500.
Councilman Page asked, will this be a box? Mr. Gibson said, yes,
the street will be 27 feet wide with a sidewalk on each side.
After thorough discussion and a recess for discussion of the Council,
Councilman Page moved, accept preliminary plat as shown contingent
upon Northwood Homes building the bridge and road that ties in
Veronica Road at the easement line of Maydelle, that the City will
pay to Northwood Homes one-half the cost of the bridge not to exceed
$6,500 and all in excess of paving Veronica Road above the assessment
to the school with the developer paying the City's share and carrying
the note not longer than 12 months, the interest being not more than
usual for municipalities; no cost to the City for the easment of the
road from the School District, this easement being acquired by North-
wood Homes; seconded by Councilman Hamilton; all voting "ayes".
REPORT ON PEGIONS ON MONTVALE AND OVERLAND STREETS
City Manager Orman had been instructed to investigate this problem
after the Council had received a petition requesting the City to
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give this their immediate attention. Mr. Orman reported that these
are all wild pigeons and are not the racing or homing pigeons. Some
method of eradication needs to be used either on the part of the
City or the property owners. After studying the Pigeon Ordinance of
the City it was agreed this was not a responsibility of the City but
of the property owners.
LETTER TO SCHOOL BOARD
Councilman Wilsey moved that the Mayor write a letter to the School
Board asking them to contact the City Council when they consider
acquiring property for school sites to see if the site conforms with
the City's Master Plan, seconded by Councilman Page, all voting "ayes".
Adjournment at 11:15 p.m.
Dorthanna Williams, City Secretary
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