2008-01-08 CC Minutes
City of Farmers Branch
City Council Regular Meeting Agenda
City Hall Plaza
13000 William Dodson Parkway
Farmers Branch, Texas
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
6:30 P.M.
The following members of the City Council were present:
Mayor Bob Phelps
Mayor Pro Tern Tim O'Hare
Deputy Mayor Pro Tern Ben Robinson
Councilmembers Jim Smith
David Koch
Tim Scott
The following members of the Administration were present:
City Manager Gary D. Greer
Assistant City Manager Greg Vick
City Secretary Cindee Peters
City Attorney Michael Kallas
Communications Director Tom Bryson
City Engineer Jerry Murawski
Director of Community Services Michael Spicer
Director of Public Works Mark Pavageaux
Human Resources Director Kathy Shields
Library Director Danita Barber
Police Chief Sid Fuller
Fire Chief Kyle King
Mayor Phelps called the City Council meeting of January 8, 2008 to order at 6:30
p.m. The meeting was televised.
A.1 INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
Councilman Koch gave the invocation and led the pledge of allegiance.
A.2 CITY COUNCIL WELCOME OF OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL SERVING
IN IRAQ AND/OR AFGANISTAN.
Mayor Phelps presented the following information. The Farmers Branch City
Council would like to welcome all members of the United States armed services
home on leave for the holidays. The City Council would like to thank them for
their service to our country and for the freedom they continue to safeguard for all
United States citizens.
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Mayor Phelps presented a certificate and paperweight to Private Dustin Freeman
and the parents of Atia McNeal and Doug Black.
A.3 CONSIDER ACCEPTANCE OF A DONATION FROM WAL-MART TO THE
FARMERS BRANCH POLICE DEPARTMENT AND TAKE APPROPRIATE
ACTION.
Mayor Phelps presented the following information. The Wal-Mart Foundation
wishes to make a donation of $1,000 to the Farmers Branch Police Department on
behalf of the local Farmers Branch Wal-Mart store, located at 13307 Midway
Road. This generous gift represents Wal-Mart's continued support of the Police
Department's efforts to make Farmers Branch a safer community in which to live
and work.
The donation will be utilized by the police department to purchase several pieces
of tactical equipment for the Special Weapons and Tactics team.
Ms. Natasha Vaz, Lose Prevention Manager of the Farmers Branch Wal-Mart
store presented the $1,000 donation to Police Chief Sid Fuller.
A motion by Mayor Pro Tem O'Hare, a second by Councilman Smith, all voting
"aye", accepted the donation from Wal-Mart with the appropriate thank you letter.
A.4 PRESENTATION OF BOARD APPLICATIONS AND BOARD AND
COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.
Mayor Phelps stated there are three vacancies on the Senior Advisory Board,
there is a vacancy on the Historical Preservation and Restoration Board due to the
Board Emeritus of Glenna Grimmer, the following members of the Valwood
Improvement Authority have terms that expired on December 31, 2007: Michael
Fitzpatrick and Buddy Rees; and the following members of the Historical
Preservation and Restoration Board have terms that will expire on February 1,
2008: Barbara Sisserson-Honnoll, and Roger McKemie.
A.5 RECOGNITION OF YARD OF THE MONTH RECIPIENTS FOR
EXEMPLARY EFFORTS IN MAINTAINING THEIR YARDS AND FOR
ADDING BEAUTIFICATION TO THE CITY.
Mayor Phelps presented the following information. One of the goals of the City
Council is to improve the appearance of the City of Farmers Branch by
encouraging neighborhood beautification. The Yard of the Month program was
put into place to achieve this goal, and to recognize homeowners who added
beauty to their neighborhood with the landscaping and upkeep of their yard.
Mayor Phelps explained only two owners could be present tonight and recognized
Shawna Shumante of 2646 Danny and Chester Tate of 2848 Valwood Parkway
for January's Yards of the Month. Bernard and Dora Valdez of 2576 Valwood
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Parkway and John and Evelyn Rubeck of 12257 Chapelview were also mentioned
as January's Yards of the Month.
A.6 REPORT ON STUDY SESSION ITEMS.
Mayor Phelps and the City Council gave a brief summary of items discussed in
the Study Session.
B.0 CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING AS CONSENT ITEMS AND TAKE
APPROPRIATE ACTION.
Mayor Phelps stated consent items are items that are to be considered that may
not need discussion individually. Any member of the City Council or the
audience may request to withdraw any item from the consent items and place the
item before the Council for full discussion. The concept for consent items is to
speed up discussion for those items that need more time for discussion.
A motion by Mayor Pro Tem O'Hare, a second by Councilman Robinson, all
voting "aye," approved the consent agenda as submitted.
B.1 APPROVED MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF
DECEMBER 18, 2007.
C.1 PUBLIC HEARING: CONSIDER ADOPTING ORDINANCE NO. 2949
APPROVING THE REQUEST OF MASTERCRAFT POOLS FOR A SPECIFIC
USE PERMIT TO ALLOW AN ACCESSORY STRUCTURE EXCEEDING 120
SQUARE FEET IN AREA AND 15 FEET IN HEIGHT AT 12637 EPPS FIELD
ROAD WITHIN THE PLANNED DEVELOPMENT NO. 79 ZONING
DISTRICT AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.
Mayor Phelps presented the following information. The subject property is a
0.19-acre lot located in the residential neighborhood known as Branch Crossing.
A single-family home is presently being built on the subject property.
The applicant intends to construct a pool cabana that would have a height of 16%
3" and be approximately 300 square-feet in area. The Comprehensive Zoning
Ordinance requires approval of a specific use permit for residential accessory
structures exceeding an area of 120 square feet or a height of 15 feet.
The proposed cabana will be architecturally compatible with the main building
and constructed on a permanent foundation. It will be located in the rear yard
adjacent to Rawhide Creek.
The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommends approval of the
specific use permit and the associated site plan.
Mayor Phelps opened the public hearing.
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A motion by Councilman Robinson, a second by Councilman Smith, all voting
"aye", closed the public hearing.
A motion by Councilman Robinson, a second by Mayor Pro Tem O'Hare, all
voting "aye", adopted Ordinance No. 2949 approving the specific use permit and
the associated site plan for a pool cabana.
ORDINANCE NO. 2949
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF FARMERS
BRANCH, TEXAS, AMENDING THE
COMPREHENSIVE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE
CITY OF FARMERS BRANCH, TEXAS, BY
GRANTING A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT TO ALLOW AN
ACCESSORY BUILDING AREA OF
APPROXIMATELY 300 SQUARE FEET WITH A
TOTAL HEIGHT OF APPROXIMATELY 16 FEET
LOCATED AT 12637 EPPS FIELD ROAD WITHIN THE
PLANNED DEVELOPMENT NO. 79 ZONING
DISTRICT; PROVIDING FOR A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY OF FINE
NOT TO EXCEED THE SUM OF TWO THOUSAND
($2,000.00) DOLLARS; PROVIDING FOR INJUNCTIVE
RELIEF; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
D.1 CONSIDER ORDINANCE 2926 APPROVING THE REQUEST BY
PROVIDENT REALTY ADVISORS, INC. FOR THE REZONING OF
APPROXIMATELY 28.81 ACRES LOCATED NORTH OF IH 635, WEST OF
WEBB CHAPEL ROAD, PREDOMINANTLY SOUTH OF MAYBROOK
DRIVE, AND EAST OF JOSEY LANE FROM PLANNED DEVELOPMENT
NUMBER 14 (PD-14) AND PLANNED DEVELOPMENT NUMBER 47 (PD-
47) TO PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NUMBER 91 (PD-91)
ESTABLISHING NEW PERMITTED LAND USES AND DEVELOPMENT
STANDARDS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.
Mayor Phelps presented the following information. The applicant is proposing to
redevelop this 28.81 acre tract into a mixed-use shopping district containing both
retail and office uses. Currently the tract contains six, two story office buildings
and is located within both Planned Development district Number 14 (PD-14) and
Planned Development district Number 47 (PD-47). PD-14 allows both office use
as well as low density multi-family (two story) development, subject to the
development standards prescribed in the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance as
Multi-Family 2 (MF-2). PD-47 only allows office uses and limits the height of
the office building to four stories. At present the approximate 3.5 acres of land
within PD-47 is vacant, and all existing office development is located within PD-
14.
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The proposed Planned Development district PD-91 would allow only retail and
office uses, eliminating the opportunity for future multi-family development
within this area. Within this new PD, specific development standards pertaining to
all future redevelopment have been identified. Those standards include building
setback lines, building height restrictions, lot coverage maximums, exterior fagade
materials requirements, masonry screening walls along Maybrook, landscaping
requirements, open space requirements, and sign controls. A Concept Plan
(Exhibit D) showing where future buildings may be located and how these new
development standards could be incorporated within the tract is included in this
ordinance.
The proposed zoning change is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.
The Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to recommend
approval of proposed Planned Development 91 (PD-91), as defined in Ordinance
2926 including the Concept Plan (Attachment 3-Exhibit D).
Mr. Lars Gronhagen, 3018 Abbey Lane, presented several concerns about this
development and wanted to maintain the value of his home and subdivision.
Councilman Robinson stated he thought the developer had agreed to construct a
retaining wall and trees to buffer the property.
Mr. Andy Gilles, Planning Director, stated that was correct.
There followed a short discussion concerning traffic, streets, restriction of certain
type vehicles and undeveloped land.
A motion by Councilman Robinson, a second by Mayor Pro Tem O'Hare, all
voting "aye", approved Ordinance 2926 for Planned Development district
Number 91 (PD-91) including the Concept Plan.
ORDINANCE NO. 2926
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF FARMERS BRANCH,
TEXAS, AMENDING THE COMPREHENSIVE ZONING
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF FARMERS BRANCH, TEXAS,
AS HERETOFORE AMENDED; BY REZONING PLANNED
DEVELOPMENT NUMBER 14 (PD-14) ZONING DISTRICT
AND PLANNED DEVELOPMENT NUMBER 47 (PD-47)
ZONING DISTRICT TO PLANNED DEVELOPMENT
NUMBER 91 (PD-91) ZONING DISTRICT INCLUDING
ESTABLISHING PERMITTED USES, DEVELOPMENT
STANDARDS AND PROCESSES; AN APPROXIMATE 28.81
ACRE TRACT LOCATED NORTH OF LBJ FREEWAY, EAST
OF JOSEY LANE, SOUTH OF MAYBROOK DRIVE, AND
WEST OF WEBB CHAPEL ROAD; REPEALING IN ITS
ENTIRETY ORDINANCE NUMBER 1479 AND ORDINANCE
769 AS IT PERTAINS TO THE SUBJECT PROPERTY ONLY;
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PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR
INJUNCTIVE RELIEF; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY OF FINE NOT TO
EXCEED TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS ($2,000.00); AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
D.2 CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION NO. 2008-005 APPROVING THE
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH ICON PARTNERS AS
FARMERS BRANCH STATION AREA MASTER DEVELOPER AND TAKE
APPROPRIATE ACTION.
Mayor Phelps presented the following information. This Memorandum of
Understanding is designed to begin the process for Icon Partners as the Farmers
Branch Station Area Master Developer. This document establishes a few basics
of the relationship between Icon and the City of Farmers Branch. For the past 4
decades, Icon has developed large-scale mixed-use developments and its team has
helped create such local places as Uptown Dallas, Addison Circle, Downtown
Plano, Legacy Town Center, Willow Bend and the Galleria.
The purchase of city owned land, time frames for action and other details of the
relationship are addressed. The Memorandum of Understanding will allow Icon
to begin their market study, begin additional development details, address land
purchase terms, and other preliminary details. A more thorough contract will be
the final document that cements this relationship with the city and addresses these
and other issues in more detail.
Approval of this non-binding document will allow Icon to move forward with
additional planning, budgeting, and market evaluation efforts leading toward a
final long term agreement.
City Administration recommends approving Resolution No. 2008-005 authorizing
the City Manager to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with Icon Partners.
Assistant City Manager Greg Vick stated he was excited about this project and
available to answer any questions the Council might have.
A motion by Mayor Pro Tem O'Hare, a second by Councilman Koch, all voting
"aye", adopted Resolution No. 2008-005 authorizing the City Manager to sign the
Memorandum of Understanding with Icon Partners.
D.3 CONSIDER RUNOFF CANDIDATES FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
THE DALLAS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT AND TAKE
APPROPRIATE ACTION.
Mayor Phelps presented the following information. The Farmers Branch City
Council in October nominated Scott Wheeler to the Board of Directors of the
Dallas Center Appraisal District. Since no one candidate received 16 votes, a
runoff election is necessary.
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Entities wishing to case their vote for one of the runoff candidates must do so by
official resolution before January 31, 2008.
A motion by Councilman Smith, a second by Councilman Koch, all voting "aye
nominated Scott Wheeler by approving Resolution No. 2008-003.
D.4 CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION NO. 2008-002 AWARDING THE BID
FOR CAMELOT LANDFILL GAS COLLECTION SYSTEM EXPANSION TO
SCS FIELD SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $365,882 AND TAKE
APPROPRIATE ACTION.
Mayor Phelps presented the following information. SCS Field Services submitted
the low bid meeting specifications for the Phase B Expansion of the landfill gas
collection system at Camelot Landfill in the amount of $365,882. The project
consists of the installation of 39 new methane gas wells, and the piping to connect
to the existing extraction system.
Funds in the amount of $1,050,000 are available in the Landfill Closure/Post-
Closure Care Fund for this purchase. The expansion of the gas collection system
will reduce the potential for odors at Camelot Landfill, and possibly increase
revenue from the landfill gas-to-energy project.
City Administration recommends adopting Resolution No. 2008-002 awarding the
bid for the construction of the Phase B Landfill Gas Collection System Expansion
at Camelot Landfill to SCS Field Services for an amount not to exceed $365,882.
A motion by Councilman Robinson, a second by Councilman Koch, all voting
"aye", adopted Resolution No. 2008-002.
D.5 CONSIDER COUNCIL TRAVEL REPORTS AND REQUESTS, AND
COUNCIL COMMITTEE AND ORGANIZATION REPORTS, AND TAKE
APPROPRIATE ACTION.
There were no reports or no travel requests.
MAYOR PHELPS ANNOUNCED THAT THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA FOR THE
EXECUTIVE SESSION WERE DISCUSSED AFTER THE REGULAR CITY
COUNCIL MEETING. MAYOR PHELPS EXPLAINED THE CITY COUNCIL
CONVENED INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 7:25 P.M. AND CONCLUDED THE
EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 8:35 P.M. AFTER THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL
MEETING AT 6:30 P.M. TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 551 OF THE
OPEN MEETING LAW PROVIDES THAT SUCH ITEMS AS PERSONNEL
MATTERS, LAND ACQUISITION AND PENDING AND CONTEMPLATED
LITIGATION MAY BE DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION.
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E.1 DISCUSS PENDING AND CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION - TEXAS
GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071.
Ramos v. City of Farmers Branch
Barrietos, et.al., v. Farmers Branch
Villas at Parkside Partners, et. al., v. Farmers Branch
Alfredo Vasquez, et. al., v. Farmers Branch
Valentine Reyes, et.al., v. City of Farmers Branch
Mayor Phelps stated representatives from Strasburger & Price, LLP was present
to discuss pending litigation.
E.2 DISCUSS LAND ACQUISITIONS - TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE
SECTION 551.072.
Discuss purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property in the following areas:
for the area generally bounded by Midway Road, Valwood Parkway and Beltline,
I-635 and Denton Drive.
Mayor Phelps stated City Manager Gary Greer discussed land acquisition
possibilities and proposals with the City Council.
F.1 CONSIDER NECESSARY ACTION ON ITEMS DISCUSSED IN THE
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
Mayor Phelps stated the City Council was updated and no action was necessary
on items discussed in Executive Session.
F.2 ADJOURNMENT.
A motion by Councilman Koch, a second by Councilman Smith, all voting "aye,"
adjourned the City Council meeting of January 8, 2008 at 8:3 M.
Bob Phelps, Mayo Cindee Peters, City Secretary
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