FORNEY, Texas – The Forney City Council had a packed agenda which included seven public hearings, seven consent agenda items, and two action items during their Tuesday, July 15, 2014, council meeting.
{loadposition adinsert}
Presentations
A special medal was presented to 80-year-old Charles B. Shelby by Mayor Darren Rozell for completing the Liberty Fest 5K despite heart complications at the age of 40. Shelby was presented the medal because his age group wasn't represented during the awards ceremony at the 5K, stated Rozell.
“We have an 80-year-old gentleman who finished that 5K and did a really good job with it so I felt like you should be recognized,” Rozell told Shelby before placing a Liberty Fest 5K medal around his neck.
“It's just a pleasure to be able to participate,” said Shelby. “And if the good Lord is willing, I'll participate next year.”
Next, the Forney City Council heard from members of La Terra Studio who have been tasked with completing the city's updated Comprehensive Plan. La Terra Studio Project Director Brad Moulton presented a proposed timeline for the plan which includes interviews with local stakeholders – citizens, officials, business owners, school administrators, etc. – to be conducted in late July, four advisory committee meetings, a one-day public charrette in early August, a public presentation in early October, and a council update in December.
A draft master plan is expected to be revealed in January or February 2015 and a final master plan is expected to be revealed in April or May 2015. During the course of the development of the Comprehensive Plan, La Terra Studio will launch an information website where citizens can submit feedback, conduct surveys, and check the overall progress of the Comprehensive Plan. More information will be released on the Comprehensive Plan and the website once it becomes available.
Consent Agenda
The Forney City Council approved all seven consent agenda items in one swift motion which included the July 1, 2014, meeting minutes. Also approved on the consent agenda was a final plat for Gateway Boulevard West which will connect Farm-to-Market (FM) 548 to the Gateway bridge at U.S. Highway 80.
A preliminary plat for Kroger Drive North Addition, Lots 1 and 2, Block A was approved as well as the final plat for the Kroger Drive North Addition, Lot 1, Block A. Both plats are located north of Kroger Drive and west of FM 548.
The council approved a site plan to add a bus garage and pavilion which will serve as covered basketball courts at First Baptist Church on FM 741.
A site plan was approved for a 5,184 square foot North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) maintenance facility on Hunters Circle which is located west of Regal Drive, south of U.S. Highway 80, and north of Broad Street. The property will abut an existing NTMWD facility location.
The council approved a variance for a new home being constructed in the 300 block of Border Street for the use of hardieplank style siding in lieu of the current zoning ordinance which requires a minimum of 50 percent standard masonry and at least an additional 30 percent cementitious material.
The requester currently owns the home at the address which will be demolished to build the new home. The requester asked for the variance to achieve the appearance of a historic home because the address is within historic downtown Forney.
Public Hearing Items
In total, the council held seven public hearings.
Six of the public hearings concerned the annexation of land between Farm-to-Market (FM) 1641 and County Road (CR) 212. The three tracts of land equal .52, 105.160, and 96.554 acres. Each tract of land held two public hearings each in accordance with law.
The seventh public hearing was to discuss a conditional use permit for a car wash on Ridgecrest Road. The car wash will sit on 2.238 acres within the Ridgecrest Center Addition in between the Ridgecrest Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center and the Aldi grocery store being built at the corner of Ridgecrest Road and FM 548.
A site plan submitted to the City of Forney shows the construction of a 6,350 square foot car wash facility described as self-service and automated. According to a representative of the car wash, drivers will enter a 120-foot tunnel on a conveyor belt where the exterior of their car will be washed. Drivers will then be presented with several options upon exiting the tunnel: exit the parking lot; use self-serve vacuums to clean the interior of your car; or pull into one of their detail bays to have your car's interior detailed professionally by their employees.
Hours at the location were discussed as a concern by the Planning and Zoning Commission at their July 10, 2014, meeting because of the car wash's proximity to residential neighborhoods. The car wash will operate from mid-March to November from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. and the remainder of the year from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Action Items
The Forney City Council then approved a site plan for the car wash discussed during the public hearing.
A second amendment to a development agreement between Dassan Brothers and the City of Forney was approved by the council. The amendment changes Dassan Brothers, Ltd. to Dassons Commercial, Ltd. and clarifies language in the agreement which would allow both sides of a duplex to be platted separately.
Dassons Commercial, Ltd. plans to build a 122-acre planned development on FM 741 at Interstate 20 which will include 343 single family residential lots, 74 duplex lots, and supporting retail. Last month, the Forney City Council approved a revised site plan for developer.
The next Forney City Council meeting is scheduled for August 5, 2014.
A special medal was presented to 80-year-old Charles B. Shelby by Mayor Darren Rozell for completing the Liberty Fest 5K despite heart complications at the age of 40. Shelby was presented the medal because his age group wasn't represented during the awards ceremony at the 5K, stated Rozell.
“We have an 80-year-old gentleman who finished that 5K and did a really good job with it so I felt like you should be recognized,” Rozell told Shelby before placing a Liberty Fest 5K medal around his neck.
“It's just a pleasure to be able to participate,” said Shelby. “And if the good Lord is willing, I'll participate next year.”
Next, the Forney City Council heard from members of La Terra Studio who have been tasked with completing the city's updated Comprehensive Plan. La Terra Studio Project Director Brad Moulton presented a proposed timeline for the plan which includes interviews with local stakeholders – citizens, officials, business owners, school administrators, etc. – to be conducted in late July, four advisory committee meetings, a one-day public charrette in early August, a public presentation in early October, and a council update in December.
A draft master plan is expected to be revealed in January or February 2015 and a final master plan is expected to be revealed in April or May 2015. During the course of the development of the Comprehensive Plan, La Terra Studio will launch an information website where citizens can submit feedback, conduct surveys, and check the overall progress of the Comprehensive Plan. More information will be released on the Comprehensive Plan and the website once it becomes available.
Consent Agenda
The Forney City Council approved all seven consent agenda items in one swift motion which included the July 1, 2014, meeting minutes. Also approved on the consent agenda was a final plat for Gateway Boulevard West which will connect Farm-to-Market (FM) 548 to the Gateway bridge at U.S. Highway 80.
A preliminary plat for Kroger Drive North Addition, Lots 1 and 2, Block A was approved as well as the final plat for the Kroger Drive North Addition, Lot 1, Block A. Both plats are located north of Kroger Drive and west of FM 548.
The council approved a site plan to add a bus garage and pavilion which will serve as covered basketball courts at First Baptist Church on FM 741.
A site plan was approved for a 5,184 square foot North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) maintenance facility on Hunters Circle which is located west of Regal Drive, south of U.S. Highway 80, and north of Broad Street. The property will abut an existing NTMWD facility location.
The council approved a variance for a new home being constructed in the 300 block of Border Street for the use of hardieplank style siding in lieu of the current zoning ordinance which requires a minimum of 50 percent standard masonry and at least an additional 30 percent cementitious material.
The requester currently owns the home at the address which will be demolished to build the new home. The requester asked for the variance to achieve the appearance of a historic home because the address is within historic downtown Forney.
Public Hearing Items
In total, the council held seven public hearings.
Six of the public hearings concerned the annexation of land between Farm-to-Market (FM) 1641 and County Road (CR) 212. The three tracts of land equal .52, 105.160, and 96.554 acres. Each tract of land held two public hearings each in accordance with law.
The seventh public hearing was to discuss a conditional use permit for a car wash on Ridgecrest Road. The car wash will sit on 2.238 acres within the Ridgecrest Center Addition in between the Ridgecrest Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center and the Aldi grocery store being built at the corner of Ridgecrest Road and FM 548.
A site plan submitted to the City of Forney shows the construction of a 6,350 square foot car wash facility described as self-service and automated. According to a representative of the car wash, drivers will enter a 120-foot tunnel on a conveyor belt where the exterior of their car will be washed. Drivers will then be presented with several options upon exiting the tunnel: exit the parking lot; use self-serve vacuums to clean the interior of your car; or pull into one of their detail bays to have your car's interior detailed professionally by their employees.
Hours at the location were discussed as a concern by the Planning and Zoning Commission at their July 10, 2014, meeting because of the car wash's proximity to residential neighborhoods. The car wash will operate from mid-March to November from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. and the remainder of the year from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Action Items
The Forney City Council then approved a site plan for the car wash discussed during the public hearing.
A second amendment to a development agreement between Dassan Brothers and the City of Forney was approved by the council. The amendment changes Dassan Brothers, Ltd. to Dassons Commercial, Ltd. and clarifies language in the agreement which would allow both sides of a duplex to be platted separately.
Dassons Commercial, Ltd. plans to build a 122-acre planned development on FM 741 at Interstate 20 which will include 343 single family residential lots, 74 duplex lots, and supporting retail. Last month, the Forney City Council approved a revised site plan for developer.
The next Forney City Council meeting is scheduled for August 5, 2014.