GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE MAY 4TH, 2021 REGULAR MEETING OF THE GARLAND CITY
[Call to Order]
[00:00:15]
COUNCIL.IF I WAS THE HIP/COOL MAYOR, I WOULD SAY, MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU, BUT SINCE I'M NOT, I WON'T SAY THAT.
BUT I'D LIKE TO WELCOME YOU ALL HERE TONIGHT.
OBVIOUSLY, WE ARE STILL MEETING IN OUR VIRTUAL FORMAT.
AS YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE AT THIS POINT, WE WILL CONTINUE THAT AND THE SAME THING I HAVE BEEN SAYING FOR OVER A YEAR NOW, ALL OUR MEETING PARTICIPANTS WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY MUTED UNTIL IT'S THEIR TURN TO SPEAK IF YOU NEED TO BE RECOGNIZED USE THE RAISE YOUR HAND FEATURE OR STAR 9 ON THE ZOOM PLATFORM AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE SPEAKER OF TIME ONCE WE GET TO ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
BUT IT IS THE CUSTOM AND TRADITION OF THIS CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE AN INVOCATION AND RECITAL OF THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF OUR MEETING, LED BY ONE OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND TONIGHT WE WILL BE LED BY DISTRICT 8 COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT SMITH.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE START BY THANKING YOU FOR THE CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SAFE AND SECURE ELECTIONS OF OUR NEW LEADERS.
WE CONTINUE TO ASK FOR YOUR SHELTER, YOUR BLESSINGS.
WE ASK THAT YOU WATCH OVER THOSE ON THE FRONT LINES WHO STILL ARE FIGHTING COVID-19.
WE ASK THAT YOU GIVE US GUIDANCE AND WISDOM IN OUR DELIBERATIONS.
WE ASK THAT YOU HELP US DO RIGHT BY EACH OTHER AND TREAT OUR NEIGHBORS AS YOU WOULD HAVE US TREAT THEM.
AND WE ASK THAT YOU HELP US ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION AND ENSURE THE CONTINUED SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF EVERYONE THAT CALLS GARLAND THEIR HOME.
AND THIS BEING THE FIRST MEETING OF THE MONTH, WE DO HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST
[Mayoral Proclamations, Recognitions and Announcements]
WITH US TONIGHT, AMY DUNPHY FROM ANIMAL SERVICES.AMY, I SAW YOU IN HERE EARLIER.
HOLD ON, THE VIDEO IS BEING FUNNY.
AS YOU CAN SEE, I BROUGHT A VERY EXTRA EXCITED SPECIAL FRIEND.
SHE IS A TWO MONTH OLD GIRL HERE AT THE SHELTER.
HER NAME'S SONIA AND SHE IS EXCITED AND WIGGLY AND GOING THROUGH THE CHEWING PHASE, AS ALL PUPPIES DO.
SO IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT ADOPTING HER, WATCH YOUR SOCKS, WATCH YOUR SHOES, BECAUSE SHE'S GOING FOR THEM, YOU KNOW, AND SHE JUST SHE JUST TOOK--LOOK, SHE JUST TOOK A NAP.
BUT SHE JUST WANTED TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THERE'S LOTS OF FURRY FRIENDS AT THE SHELTER LOOKING FOR THEIR FOREVER HOMES.
AND WE DO HAVE SPECIALS FOR SPECIAL PEOPLE SUCH AS VETERANS, TEACHERS AND POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS, GISD EMPLOYEES, PEOPLE FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY.
PRETTY MUCH IF YOU HAVE A REASON TO BE SPECIAL, WE'LL HELP YOU OUT AND FIND THIS CUTE LITTLE DOGGO LIKE HER.
ALL RIGHT, SONYA, 'READY TO GO? VERY GOOD.
I WISH WE WERE MEETING IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS BECAUSE I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HER RUNNING UP AND DOWN THE AISLES.
THAT WOULD BE QUITE ENTERTAINING.
BUT THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, AMY.
ALL RIGHT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR AGENDA FOR THE EVENING, AND I SHOULD ALSO NOTE THAT MAYOR PRO TEM NICKERSON WILL NOT BE JOINING US FOR THE MEETING THIS EVENING.
THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[Consent Agenda]
ALL ITEMS UNDER THIS SECTION ARE RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL BY A SINGLE MOTION OF COUNCIL WITHOUT DISCUSSION.COUNCIL HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW EACH OF THESE ITEMS AT A PREVIOUS WORK SESSION AND APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AUTHORIZES THE CITY MANAGER TO IMPLEMENT EACH ITEM.
[INAUDIBLE] THE AGENDA AND PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE OR THE CITY COUNCIL TO REQUEST THAT AN ITEM BE REMOVED AND CONSIDERED SEPARATELY.
AT THIS POINT, I DON'T HAVE ANY REQUESTS FOR THAT, BUT LET ME GO AHEAD AND READ THROUGH THE AGENDA.
ITEM ONE, CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE APRIL 20TH, 2021 REGULAR MEETING.
ITEM TWO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING BIDS, ITEM 2A ARTERIAL PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS, CONTRACT MINOR REPAIRS TO FIVE.
2B MAYFIELD AVENUE PAVING AND WATER AND WASTEWATER MAINS REPLACEMENT.
ITEM 2C REPLACEMENT OF WATER MAINS ON CAMILA LANE, WEST CAROLYN AND DRIVE AND WEST WALNUT
[00:05:01]
CIRCLE ITEM 2D MUNICIPAL COURT ON BASS WORKFLOW ENHANCEMENTS ITEM 2E TMPA BEN DAVIS TO MCCREE RECONDUCTOR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES.ITEM 2F DESIGN SERVICES FOR BOBTOWN ROAD, WATERHOUSE BOULEVARD AT SOUTH COUNTRY CLUB ROAD IMPROVEMENTS EXCUSE ME.
ITEM 2G ROOF REPLACEMENTS FOR NORTH GARLAND BRANCH LIBRARY AND POLICE FORENSICS BUILDING 2H CRANE BODY.
2I HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS, 2J COMMERCIAL CONTAINER REPAIRS.
ITEM 3 PUBLIC HEARINGS WERE PREVIOUSLY CONDUCTED FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONING CASES.
COUNCIL APPROVE THE REQUEST AND INSTRUCTED STAFF TO BRING FORTH THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCES FOR CONSIDERATION.
ITEM 3A ZONING FILE NUMBER Z21-02 RODOLPHO V.
HERRERA ELIZALDE IN DISTRICT FIVE, ITEM THREE B ZONING FILES Z21-03 ALLIANCE ARCHITECTS INCORPORATED IN DISTRICT SIX.
ITEM FOUR IS CONSIDERED AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AN AMENDMENT TO THE 2020-21 OPERATING BUDGET BUDGET AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE, PROVIDING FOR SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS IN THE NARCOTICS SEIZURE FUND AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ITEM FIVE CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AN AMENDMENT TO THE 2020-21 OPERATING BUDGET BUDGET AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR, PROVIDING FOR SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS IN THE GENERAL FUND.
ENVIRONMENTAL WASTE SERVICES FUND.
STORM WATER UTILITY FUND GROUP.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUND, FAIR HOUSING GRANT FUND.
INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT FUND.
DOWNTOWN TIF FUND AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ITEM SIX CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE REFUNDING OF ELECTRIC SYSTEM SUBORDINATE LEAN REVENUE NOTES TAXABLE SERIES 2021, AND ELECTRIC UTILITY SYSTEM COMMERCIAL PAPER NOTES SERIES TWENTY EIGHTEEN.
APPOINTING A PRICING OFFICER AND DELEGATING TO THE PRICING OFFICER THE AUTHORITY TO APPROVE, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, THE TERMS OF SALE OF REFUNDING BONDS AND ESTABLISHING PARAMETERS FOR THE APPROVAL OF SUCH MATTERS BY THE PRICING OFFICER.
ITEM SEVEN, CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE ALLOCATION OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT HOME INFILL GRANT AND THE EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT PROGRAMS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021-22 AND LAST ITEM EIGHT CONSIDER A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF GARLAND FINDING THAT ENCORE ELECTRIC DELIVERY COMPANY LLC APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF A DISTRIBUTION COST RECOVERY FACTOR PURSUANT TO TEX.
CODE 25.243 TO INCREASE DISTRIBUTION RATES WITHIN THE CITY SHOULD BE DENIED, FINDING THAT THE CITY'S REASONABLE RATE CASE EXPENSES SHALL BE REIMBURSED BY THE COMPANY REQUIRING NOTICE OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE COMPANY AND LEGAL COUNSEL AND SETTING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
AND THAT IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.
IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN ITEM PULLED AND CONSIDERED SEPARATELY, WHICH IS FINE WITH ME AS LONG AS I DON'T HAVE TO READ THEM ALL AGAIN? I SEE NONE.
MAYOR, I THINK I MISSED ONE OF THOSE FUND NAMES IN ITEM 5.
[LAUGHTER] I'LL LET YOU GET BY WITH IT THIS TIME.
MOVE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH IN A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN RIVERA TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED FOR THE DISCUSSION COUNCIL.
AND THAT ITEM IS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
AND THAT WILL MOVE US ON TO ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION UNDER THIS SECTION.
WE WILL HAVE TIME FOR SPEAKERS.
APPLICANTS WILL BE GIVEN 10 MINUTES TO MAKE THEIR PRESENTATION AND ANY ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES.
IF AT THE END OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, WE WILL ALLOW TIME FOR THE APPLICANT TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS THAT COME UP DURING THAT TIME, AND OUR FIRST ITEM IS ITEM NINE.
DEPUTY MAYOR PRO-TEM MORRIS, THIS IS A TWO PART.
DO YOU WANT TO CONSIDER THEM BOTH AT THE SAME TIME IS THAT.
[Items 9A & 9B]
OH, YES, PLEASE.[00:10:04]
9A CONSIDER A ZONING PLAN DEVELOPMENT REQUEST BY MAXWELL FISHER ON BEHALF OF EMBREE EAST SIDE LIMITED, PALLADIUM USA INTERNATIONAL TO CONSTRUCT AN APARTMENT COMPLEX WITH ONE HUNDRED AND SEVEN DWELLING UNITS.THIS PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 1010 STATE HIGHWAY 66 IN DISTRICT TWO.
IT ALSO INCLUDES ITEM 9B, WHICH IS CONSIDERED THE DETAILED PLAN BY THE SAME APPLICANT AT THE SAME ADDRESS.
YES, MAYOR AND COUNCIL GOOD EVENING, THIS IS A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT AND DETAIL PLAN REQUEST FOR AN APARTMENT COMPLEX ON A PROPERTY ZONED COMMUNITY RETAIL DISTRICT FOR A TOTAL OF ONE HUNDRED AND SEVEN DWELLING UNITS.
THE SITE IS A LITTLE OVER FOUR ACRES IN SIZE.
HERE'S A GENERAL LOCATION INDICATING WHERE THIS OBJECT PROPERTY IS LOCATED IN GARLAND, JUST SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 66 EAST OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
AND HERE IS THE SUBJECT PROPERTY OUTLINED IN TEAL.
THIS IS A VACANT PROPERTY, IT'S ACTUALLY A PORTION OF THE OVERALL CHURCH PROPERTY.
YOU CAN SEE THE EXISTING CHURCH OVER HERE DIRECTLY TO THE WEST.
AND SO THE PROPOSAL IS TO DEVELOP THIS REMAINING VACANT PORTION OF LAND OUTLINED HERE.
FURTHER TO THE WEST, THE SUBJECT PROPERTY ALSO ZONED COMMUNITY RETAIL IS A SMALL RETAIL AND CONVENIENT STORE BUILDING WITH FUEL PUMPS OUT FRONT AND SURROUNDING THE SUBJECT PROPERTY TO THE EAST AND TO THE SOUTH AS A SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD ZONED SF7.
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATES THIS AREA AS NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS, THAT INCLUDES A SUBJECT PROPERTY TO THE CHURCH, AS WELL AS THAT SMALL RETAIL CORNER AT DAIRY AND 66.
AND NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS PRIMARILY, BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY, IS NON RESIDENTIAL, AND THIS PROPOSAL REPRESENTS INVESTMENT AND MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL ON AN UNDERUTILIZED TRACT OF LAND.
HERE ARE SOME PHOTOS, ONE SHOWING THE SUBJECT PROPERTY LOOKING NORTH OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY FROM DAVIDSON DRIVE, LOOKING WEST OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY FROM STATE HIGHWAY 66 AND LOOKING EAST OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY.
AND HERE'S THE PROPOSED SITE PLAN.
THE PROPOSAL IS FOR ONE MULTIFAMILY BUILDING, THREE STORIES IN HEIGHT.
IT'S OUTLINED HERE WHERE MY CURSOR IS SHOWN.
THE APPLICANT HAS ESSENTIALLY SCOOTED UP THE BUILDING TO THE NORTHWEST PORTION OF THE SITE TO ALLOW A LITTLE MORE BUFFER BETWEEN THE MULTIFAMILY BUILDING AND THE ADJACENT SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS TO THE SOUTH AND EAST OF THE SITE.
OF COURSE, YOU CAN SEE THE PARKING AREA HERE, THE DRIVE, AISLES, THE SITE WOULD BE ACCESSED FROM DAVIDSON DRIVE THERE WOULD BE A SECONDARY ACCESS OVER HERE, THROUGH THE CHURCH PROPERTY, THROUGH MUTUAL ACCESS EASEMENT, ALTHOUGH THAT WOULD BE FOR EMERGENCY ACCESS PURPOSES ONLY.
THE PARKING MEETS THE GDC STANDARDS, AND THAT INCLUDES MEETING THE COVERED PARKING REQUIREMENT.
THE APPLICANT PROPOSES A NUMBER OF AMENITIES FOR THE SITE AND YOU CAN SEE A FEW OF THEM.
THERE'S A SWIMMING POOL PROPOSED, A PAVILION, A DOG PARK, HORSESHOE PIT BACK UP HERE AND A PLAYGROUND DOWN HERE, THE SOUTHWEST PORTION OF THE SITE.
AND I SHOULD ALSO POINT OUT THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING SIDEWALK CONNECTIONS TO EXISTING SIDEWALKS TO THE WEST AND TO THE EAST.
SHOWING TREES AND OTHER PLANTINGS THROUGHOUT THE SITE, INCLUDING THE PERIMETER OF THE EAST AND SOUTH OF THE PROPERTY LANDSCAPE PLAN MEETS THE GDC JUST WITH ONE EXCEPTION REGARDING TREE SUBSTITUTIONS AND THE LOCATION OF THE TREE PLANTINGS, WHICH I'LL GET TO IN A LITTLE BIT AND THE DEVIATION SUMMARY TABLE.
AND HERE ARE JUST SOME SLIDES SHOWING JUST SOME PHOTOGRAPHIC EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE AMENITIES BEING PROPOSED BENCHES.
THERE'S A DOG PARK GATE THERE, SOME OF THE SHADED STRUCTURES, TRELLIS AND PAVILION, AGAIN, THE HORSESHOE PIT SHOWN THERE ON THE LEFT.
BARBECUE PIT, PLAYGROUND AREA.
AND HERE ARE THE PURPOSED BUILDING ELEVATIONS.
I'LL KIND OF RUN THROUGH THESE.
BUILDING ELEVATIONS MEET THE GDC, WITH THE ONLY EXCEPTION BEING THE BUILDING HEIGHT, THE APPLICANTS PROPOSING A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT THAT WILL GO INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE IN THE SUMMARY TABLE COMING UP.
BUT OTHERWISE, IT CONFORMS WITH THE GDC.
[00:15:03]
AGAIN, IT'S THREE STORIES, AS YOU CAN SEE.HERE THE ELEVATIONS OF THE MAINTENANCE BUILDING, THIS WILL BE LOCATED DOWN BY THE DOG PARK.
AND CARPORT ELEVATIONS, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THEY WOULD COMPLY WITH THE COVERED PARKING REQUIREMENT.
AND THERE WOULD BE A MASONRY SCREEN WALL BETWEEN THIS DEVELOPMENT AND THE ADJACENT SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS, EIGHT FOOT SCREEN WALL AND A METAL ORNAMENTAL METAL FENCE ALONG THE WESTERN PORTION OF THE PROPERTY ADJACENT TO THE CHURCH.
THAT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING.
HERE'S A SUMMARY OF THE DEVIATIONS THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS PROPOSAL WORK FOR THIS SITE.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A FEW ADDITIONAL FEET IN MAXIMUM HEIGHT.
THE MAXIMUM FOR MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT IS 40 FEET.
THE ELEVATION ACTUALLY REFLECT ANYWHERE FROM THIRTY SEVEN TO ABOUT FORTY TWO FEET IN HEIGHT.
BUT THE APPLICANT WANTED JUST A LITTLE BIT ADDITIONAL HEIGHT JUST IN CASE MEASUREMENT COMES IN A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN, SAY, FORTY TWO FEET.
THAT'S TO ACCOMMODATE SOME SITE GRADE CHANGES, AS WELL AS TO PROVIDE A THREE STOREY PRODUCT WHICH THE APPLICANT STATES WOULD HAVE GREATER FLOOR TO CEILING HEIGHTS SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT THE SITE SITS LOWER THAN THE RESIDENCES TO THE SOUTH.
DENSITY, THE MAXIMUM DENSITY FOR MULTIFAMILY IN THE GDC IS 18 UNITS PER ACRE.
THIS PROPOSAL WOULD BE TWENTY SEVEN UNITS PER ACRE.
THE APPLICANT REQUESTS DENSITY LEVEL TO SUPPORT A RANGE OF AMENITIES AND SERVICES OFFERED FOR THE SITE AND TO MAKE THIS A VIABLE PROJECT.
THE CARPORTS, THE DEVIATION THERE, IN ORDER TO MEET THE COVERED PARKING REQUIREMENT AND THE GDC, WHICH THEY DO, SOME OF THE PARKING AREAS ALONG THE SOUTH AND EASTERN PERIMETER OF THE SITE WOULD BE COVERED THOSE ENCROACH INTO THE SETBACK THAT'S REQUIRED BETWEEN MULTIFAMILY AND SINGLE FAMILY.
BUT THAT'S KIND OF THE TRADE OFF DEVIATION THERE.
THEY'RE PROPOSING THAT DEVIATION ORDER IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET THAT COVERED PARKING REQUIREMENT.
AND [INAUDIBLE] SCREENING, THE APPLICANT PROPOSES AN EIGHT FOOT MASONRY SCREEN WALL ALONG THE SOUTHERN PERIMETER.
THERE ARE LARGE CANOPY TREES REQUIRED THROUGHOUT THAT ALONG THAT ENTIRE PERIMETER.
HOWEVER, OVERHEAD POWER LINES PREVENT THE PLACEMENT OF LARGER CANOPY TREES SO THE APPLICANT PROPOSES FIVE LARGE CANOPY TREES AND TWENTY FOUR SMALL ORNAMENTAL TREES.
AND THE TREE, THE SMALL ORNAMENTAL TREES WOULD BE LOCATED ON THE SINGLE FAMILY SIDE, THE ALLEY SIDE OF THE DEVELOPMENT.
PUTTING THEM ON THE ACTUAL DEVELOPMENT SIDE, WHICH THAT'S THE GDC REQUIREMENT, WOULDN'T REALLY PROVIDE MUCH ADDITIONAL SCREENING BECAUSE THE GRADE AND THE SLOPE DIFFERENCES, THOSE SMALLER TREES WOULDN'T REALLY BE VISIBLE.
WE DON'T REALLY PROVIDE MUCH IN THE WAY OF SCREENING IF THEY WERE PROVIDED ON THE DEVELOPMENT SIDES.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO PLACE THOSE ON THE OUTSIDE KIND OF CLOSER TO THE ALLEY OUTSIDE OF THE SCREEN [INAUDIBLE].
[INAUDIBLE] FOR CONDITIONAL APPROVAL OF THE REQUEST THAT BOTH THE ZONING CHANGE AND THE DETAILED PLAN AND THE PLAN COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION WAS APPROVAL OF BOTH REQUESTS AS WELL.
THAT WAS WITH A NINE TO ZERO VOTE.
AND STAFF MAILED OUT ONE HUNDRED AND SEVEN NOTIFICATION LETTERS FOR THE SITE, WE RECEIVED ONE IN FAVOR AND SIX IN OPPOSITION AND ALL OF THOSE WERE WITHIN THE NOTIFICATION AREA.
AND WITH THAT, MAYOR, I'LL STOP SHARING.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF ON THE SITE PRESENTATION.
SO WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE APPLICANT.
MUST SEE MR. FISHER HAS ALREADY BEEN CUED UP.
AND MR. FISHER, I'M SURE YOU KNOW THE DRILL BY NOW, BUT IF YOU CAN GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
OK, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, MAXWELL FISHER WITH MASTERPLAN 2201 MAIN STREET, DALLAS, TEXAS, 75201 REPRESENTING PALLADIUM USA.
WE ALSO HAVE AVIS CHAISSON AVAILABLE WHO WILL BE MAKING THE SECOND HALF OF THE PRESENTATION.
SHE'S THE DIRECTOR OF REAL ESTATE AND WE ALSO HAVE A ENTIRE TEAM OF PALLADIUM STAFF AND OUR CONSULTING ENGINEERS AND ARCHITECTS TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT I CAN'T ANSWER.
[00:20:01]
I CAN CONFIRM THAT BECAUSE I HAVE THE SIGN UP LIST AND THERE'S AT LEAST, I DON'T KNOW, 20 PEOPLE.I THINK THE ENTIRE PALLADIUM STAFF, TEAM, SUPPORT STAFF, EVERYONE IS ON WITH US TONIGHT.
WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL HERE AVAILABLE AND KNOW HOW EXCITED WE ARE ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
I'LL GET STARTED IF I COULD SHARE MY SCREEN.
LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU CAN SEE IT.
OK, SO THIS WOULD BE PALLADIUM THIRD PROPOSAL.
THEY HAVE THE EXISTING PALLADIUM GARLAND AT I-30 DEVELOPMENT 30 AND NORTHWEST AT THE BASICALLY FAR SOUTHWEST BORDER IN THE CITY.
AND THEN THEY RECENTLY WERE APPROVED AND UNDER CONSTRUCTION WOULD BE THE PALLADIUM SENIOR LIVING PROJECT AT BELTLINE AND [INAUDIBLE] SO THIS WOULD BE A THIRD PROPOSAL AND THEY ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS ONE.
THIS IS ACTUALLY THE ENTRY OFF DAVIDSON THAT SHOWS YOU THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING BRICK AND STUCCO AND IT PROVIDES A NICE ENTRY AND AESTHETIC HEADING INTO THE DEVELOPMENT.
YOU KNOW, THE LOCATION, AS MENTIONED BY STAFF, IT IS NEXT TO THE IGLESIA CHRISTINA CANNON CHURCH, A CHURCH IS A CELLAR.
AND THIS THIS IS THIS ACTUAL PARCEL WE THINK DOESN'T REALLY MAKE SENSE FOR ITS CURRENT ZONING, ITS OWN RETAIL.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE LOCATION, MID BLOCK AND NOT ON THE CORNER OF AN INTERSECTION MAKES NOT ONLY VISIBILITY CHALLENGING FOR RETAILERS, BUT ALSO JUST THE ACCESS AND THAT THERE'S ONLY ONE ACCESS POINT THAT REALLY CAN LOGICALLY CONNECT HERE.
SO WE BELIEVE THAT BY DOING A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT FOR RESIDENTIAL IS IS THE BEST OPTION FOR THIS PROPERTY.
DOING A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT ACTUALLY ALLOWS US TO SITE PLAN AND PROVIDE MORE BUFFER AND SAFEGUARD FOR THE NEIGHBORS THAT OTHERWISE WOULD BE ALLOWED BY A DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD BE ALLOWED BY RIGHT AS RETAIL.
WE ALSO HAVE PROXIMITY HERE TO WHERE OUR RESIDENTS CAN WALK TO RETAIL.
WE HAVE PARKLAND GARLAND HEALTH LOCATED CLOSE BY AND NOT TO MENTION, OF COURSE, ALL THE CITY SERVICES THAT ARE IN THE AREA AND THE DART BUS STOP.
ONE HUNDRED AND SEVEN UNITS WE WE'VE ACTUALLY, I THINK ONE OF THE BEST DESIGNED SITES I'VE SEEN IN A WHILE WHERE THE LAYOUT IS SUCH THAT WE PUSH THE BUILDING AWAY FROM THE RESIDENTIAL TO THE SOUTH AND THE EAST AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THE GRADES HERE.
WE'RE GOING TO BE CUTTING DOWN THE SITE AND BUILDING OUR SITE IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE A LITTLE LOWER COMPARED TO THE NEIGHBORS.
THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WOULD HAVE A BUSINESS CENTER WITH WITH FREE WI-FI, CONFERENCE ROOM, A LARGE CLUBHOUSE, STATE OF THE ART FITNESS CENTER.
IT WILL BE FULLY GATED AND SECURED WITH EXCELLENT LIGHTING FOR SECURITY.
WE DO HAVE A COURTYARD WITH A RESORT STYLE POOL, PLAYGROUND, HORSESHOE PIT, DOG PARK WITH SHADE STRUCTURES AND BARBECUE STAGES.
AND A MINIMUM OF 50 PERCENT OF OUR PARKING WILL BE PROVIDING WILL BE COVERED.
AND SO WE'RE MEETING THE MINIMUM 50 PERCENT AND AT LEAST ONE COVERED SPACE PER UNIT WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT.
HERE'S A SITE PLAN WITH LANDSCAPING SHOWN, I'LL GO THROUGH THIS TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW THE GRADES WORK.
SO, AS YOU KNOW, DAVIDSON SITS MUCH LOWER AT FOUR HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIVE FEET IN ELEVATION AND THEN QUICKLY GOES TO FOUR EIGHTY FIVE AT THE [INAUDIBLE]T.
AS YOU AS YOU HEAD BACK TOWARDS THE SOUTHERN PERIMETER, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE UNPAVED ALLEY ALONG RICHARD IS ACTUALLY AT FIVE FOUR NINETY EIGHT TO 508.
SO IT SETS QUITE A BIT HIGHER.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE CUTTING IN AT OUR EXPENSE, CUTTING DOWN TO BASICALLY TO EFFECTIVELY MAKE THIS SITE DEVELOPMENT FEEL LIKE A TWO STOREY DEVELOPMENT INSTEAD OF A THREE STOREY DEVELOPMENT WITH THE GRADES THAT WE HAVE THAT RANGE FROM ANYWHERE FROM FOUR FEET ALL THE WAY UP TO 11 FEET AT THE SOUTHERN PERIMETER.
AND THEN AT THE BACK OF OUR BUILDING, WHICH WILL BE EVEN LOWER, YOU'RE LOOKING AT A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SEVEN FEET TO AS MUCH AS 17 FEET DIFFERENCE.
AND I PROVIDED A PROFILE OF SORT OF THE SOUTHERN PERIMETER WHERE YOU HAVE A RETAINING, YOU HAVE THE PARKING LOT BELOW A RETAINING WALL THAT RANGES IN HEIGHT DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE ALONG THE SOUTHERN PROPERTY LINE.
AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, WE'RE BUILDING AN EIGHT FOOT TALL MASONRY WALL.
THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT IS SIX BUT WE'RE BUILDING, EIGHT TO GIVE MORE BUFFER AND SCREENING FROM THE RESIDENTIAL.
AND THEN WE'RE PUTTING OUR TREE ON THE TOP, BASICALLY UP AGAINST THE UNPAVED
[00:25:06]
ALLEY.SO THAT PROVIDES THE MOST SCREENING AS POSSIBLE FOR THE RESIDENTS.
WE CREATED SOME SITE, SOME BUILDINGS PROFILE EXHIBITS HERE, THESE ARE SORT OF HARD TO GET ORIENTED.
BUT THE TOP EXHIBIT SHOWS A VIEW NORTH FROM RICHARD DRIVE ALLEY, SO THAT'S LOOKING IF YOU'RE LOOKING NORTH TOWARDS DAVIDSON FROM THE SOUTHERN ALLEY, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE HOUSE THAT'S ON CURTIS IS ON THE RIGHT.
THIS JUST SHOWS YOU THAT WE HAVE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY FIVE FEET FROM STRUCTURE TO STRUCTURE AND SIXTY FIVE FEET FROM OUR VERY NEAREST PROPERTY LINE.
AND THAT'S ONLY FOR A VERY SMALL PORTION OF OUR BUILDING.
AND THAT EXCEEDS THE ONE POINT TWO FIVE RATIO SET BACK RATIO BY ABOUT 16 PERCENT.
AND MOST OF OUR BUILDING IS OVER TWO TIMES THE MINIMUM SET BACK AS REQUIRED IN THE GDC.
THE SOUTHERN EXHIBIT IS A VIEW WEST.
SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING FROM THE CURTIS, FROM THE CURTIS DRIVE ALLEY LOOKING WEST TOWARDS THE CHURCH.
I'M SORRY, THIS IS ACTUALLY LOOKING FROM CURTIS DRIVE, LOOKING WEST.
YOU CAN SEE TO HOW BASICALLY THE FULL FIRST STORY OF THE BUILDING IT'S GOING TO BE BELOW THE GRADE OF THE RICHARDSON HOMES.
THE RICHARD DRIVE HOME, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE ENTIRE FIRST STORY IS BELOW THE GRADE, SO IT'S EFFECTIVELY GOING TO FEEL LIKE A TWO STORY DEVELOPMENT, NOT TO MENTION WE HAVE ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY FEET FROM THE SOUTHERN POVERTY LINE AND TWO HUNDRED AND TEN FEET FROM EACH STRUCTURE.
AND I CAN GO BACK TO THESE LATER ON.
THIS SHOWS YOU JUST A MORE COMPREHENSIVE CHURCH ON THE RIGHT I'M SORRY, CHURCH ON THE LEFT AND HOUSE ON THE RIGHT AND SHOWS HOW OUR DEVELOPMENT SORT OF FITS IN WITH THE REST OF IT.
AND THEN A CLOSE UP VIEW OF THE CHURCH.
THE CHURCH IS ABOUT TWENTY FIVE FEET TALL.
OUR DEVELOPMENT WILL FEEL ABOUT THIRTY FIVE, THIRTY SIX FEET TALL FROM THE BACK.
WE DO NEED THE FORTY FIVE FEET HEIGHT FROM THE FRONT BECAUSE THE WAY THE BUILDING CODE, THE WAY THE ZONING AND BUILDING CODE MEASURES BUILDING HEIGHT, IT'S MEASURED FROM THE FRONT YARD.
IF YOU RECALL THE FRONT YARD SLOPES OFF GREATLY TOWARDS DAVIDSON.
SO WE HAVE AN ARTIFICIALLY TALL MEASUREMENT FROM THE FRONT.
THAT'S WHY WE NEED A 45 [INAUDIBLE].
HERE'S AN EXHIBIT THAT JUST SHOWS YOU SOME DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS OF SPACING FROM A RESIDENTIAL AROUND IT.
I REALLY THINK THE ARCHITECT AND ENGINEER DID A GREAT JOB AND IN DESIGNING THIS PROJECT AWAY FROM THE RESIDENTS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
AND YOU CAN SEE OUR CLOSEST POINT ON THE EASTERN SIDE.
THAT'S THE END OF THE BUILDING.
ALL OF OUR BALCONIES HERE ARE FACING NORTH OR THEY'RE FACING IF THEY ARE FACING SOUTH, WE ARE AT A GREATER DISTANCE.
WE PUSHED THE BUILDING AWAY OVER 200 FEET FROM THE NEAREST HOUSE.
WE ARE AS WILL STATED, WE ARE ASKING FOR A FEW VARIANCES THAT WE BELIEVE ARE JUSTIFIED TO INCREASE IN BUILDING HEIGHT AS STATED THAT GIVES US A NINE BASICALLY NINE FOOT TALL UNIT FROM FLOOR TO CEILING IN THE HEIGHT, AS I MENTIONED.
AND THEN THE DENSITY INCREASE SUPPORTS THE RANGE OF SERVICES AND AMENITIES.
WE ARE ASKING FOR CARPORTS IN OUR PERIMETER SETBACKS.
BUT KEEP IN MIND, WE HAVE THAT GRADE DIFFERENTIAL, NOT TO MENTION THE SCREENING WALLS AND THE TREES THAT WILL SOFTEN THE VIEW OF THE STRUCTURES OR YOU JUST WON'T EVEN SEE THEM IN MANY CASES.
AND THEN WE HAVE A VERY A CHANGE IN THE TYPE OF TREE FROM A LARGE TREE TO AN ORNAMENTAL TREE TO TO AVOID CONFLICT WITH AN OVERHEAD POWER LINE ALONG [INAUDIBLE].
I AM GOING TO STOP THERE AND TURN IT OVER TO AVIS WHO WILL FINISH THE REST OF THE PRESENTATION, WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS AT THE END THERE IF YOU DON'T MIND.
MAYOR LEMAY, MEMBERS OF THE GARLAND CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS AVIS CHAISSON ON THE DIRECTOR OF REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT HERE AT PALLADIUM USA.
ADDRESS 13455 [INAUDIBLE] ROAD, SUITE FOUR HUNDRED.
SO I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHY APPROVE EMBREE EASTSIDE BY PALLADIUM ZONING AMENDMENT.
ONE AS STAFF WENT THROUGH, THEY RECOMMENDED APPROVAL.
IT MEETS ENVISION GARLAND, THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN BY PROVIDING A COMPACT NEIGHBORHOOD ON IDENTIFYING A SITE THAT IS CURRENTLY ZONED FOR RETAIL.
HOWEVER, IT IS UNDERUTILIZED RIGHT NOW AS IT'S VACANT AND IT WILL BE REDEVELOPED INTO AN URBAN FORM WITH OUR BUILDINGS BEING PUSHED UP CLOSER TO THE RIGHT AWAY AND AWAY FROM RESIDENTIAL HOMES TO PROVIDE A NICE BUFFER AND FIT WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
ALSO ITS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
WE'RE ENSURING A BROAD RANGE OF HOUSING TYPES AND ALTERNATIVES TO ENSURE EMPLOYEES, EMPLOYERS AND RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF GARLAND HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE THROUGHOUT
[00:30:05]
DIFFERENT LIFESTYLES STAGES OF THEIR LIFESTYLE.SO FROM SENIORS, WORKING YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AND MIDDLE INCOME WORKING FAMILIES, IT'S BUILDING VITAL NEIGHBORHOODS AND BUILDING BLOCKS.
WE'RE INTRODUCING A NEW DESIRABLE HOUSING TYPE THROUGH INFILL AND REDEVELOPMENT OF A VACANT PROPERTY.
IT'S INCREASED MOBILITY OPTIONS.
MAXWELL, WALK THROUGH HOW WE'RE CONNECTING THE SIDEWALK TO THE FRONT OF OUR PROPERTY, NOT JUST TO THE RETAIL, BUT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO THE NEIGHBORHOOD WILL BENEFIT FROM THAT SIDEWALK THAT WILL GO IN AND BE ABLE TO ACCESS DART AND RETAIL AT THE CORNER AS WELL.
WE'RE ALSO PUTTING ACTIVE A PROPERTY THAT'S NOT ON THE TAX ROLLS CURRENTLY AND MAKING IT AN ACTIVE PROPERTY TO BE ON THE TAX ROLL WITH THE CITY WILL BENEFIT FROM THE AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAXES.
SO JUST A SUMMARY OF THE DEVELOPMENTS TO REMIND YOU, THIS IS ONE, TWO, THREE BEDROOMS AGAIN FOR SENIORS, FAMILIES AND YOUNG WORKING PROFESSIONALS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH IT WAS SAID THIS IS A GREAT NEED FOR BRINGING THIS PRODUCT IN THIS AREA OF GARLAND.
THERE'S DEFINITELY A LOT OF YOUNG INDIVIDUALS WHO'VE GONE OFF AND WHO GRADUATED FROM GARL AND WHO WENT OFF TO COLLEGE BUT DON'T HAVE AN AFFORDABLE PLACE TO COME BACK TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO THIS WILL BE A PROJECT FOR THAT.
SO IN THE GLEN HILL ESTATES NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE RAINBOW ESTATES NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE ARE PROUD TO OFFER THIS PRODUCT, TO HAVE THEIR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS COME BACK AND BUILD SEEDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY UNITS.
TWENTY FIVE PERCENT OF THE UNITS WILL BE MARKET RATE.
IT'S AN ANTICIPATED TOTAL DEVELOPMENT COST OF TWENTY FIVE MILLION DOLLARS SO A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT TO THIS COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE NEIGHBORS.
WE THANK MAYOR PRO TEM MORRIS FOR REACHING OUT TO US AND BEING ABLE TO MITIGATE ANY OF THE CONCERNS OF THE NEIGHBORS, ESPECIALLY ALONG CURTIS DRIVE AND RICHARD DRIVE.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE GOING TO WORK WITH THE CITY AND I EXPERIENCED THIS PAST SATURDAY, IT'S A [INAUDIBLE] AT DAVIDSON AND HIGHWAY 66 TO HELP TO IMPROVE THE TIMING.
SO THERE'S NOT A BACK UP ALONG DAVIDSON SINCE OUR MAIN ENTRANCE IS GOING TO BE OFF OF DAVIDSON.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS A CONCERN TO THE NEIGHBORS IS PEST CONTROL.
RIGHT NOW THERE'S A RODENT AND SNAKES AND ROACHES.
SO WE'RE GOING TO PRE TREAT OUR SITE.
WE COMMITTED TO THAT PART OF CONSTRUCTION AND WE'LL MAKE SURE ONGOING THROUGH OUR CONSTRUCTION THAT WE KEEP TRAPS AND MITIGATE ANY VERMIN CONCERNS AS WELL.
SO THE NEXT SLIDE, THIS IS OUR EXPECTED FINISH OUT, AS MAX MENTIONED, WE'RE PROUD TO HAVE THIS BE OUR THIRD DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY OF GARLAND.
THIS IS ACTUALLY OUR PALLADIUM GARLAND PROPERTY.
WE HAVE A BUSINESS LAB WITH FREE WI FI COMPUTERS, STATE OF THE ART FITNESS CENTER, A CLUBHOUSE THAT'S FREE FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO USE WITH HOST FUNCTIONS THERE AS WELL.
SO FOR ANY FUNCTIONS, THEY WOULD LIKE TO SOCIAL ENGAGEMENTS THAT CAN RENT IT OUT.
THEY'LL PUT DOWN A DEPOSIT, BUT WE'LL GIVE THEM THE DEPOSIT BACK AND THEN WE HAVE A CHILDREN'S PLAYROOM WITH OUR LAVA TILE SET IF YOU WALK ON THEM, THEY CHANGE COLORS AND VARIOUS ACTIVITIES FOR THE KIDS TO PLAY LIKE VIDEO CONSOLES, WHICH ARE VERY, VERY CUTE.
WE HAVE WINDOWS IN BETWEEN OUR FITNESS CENTER AND OUR BUSINESS LAB.
SO WHILE THE PARENTS ARE WORKING OR WORKING OUT, THEY CAN WATCH THE KIDS PLAY.
SO VERY, VERY KNOCK-OUT PACKAGE FOR WHAT WE OFFER HERE AT PALLADIUM.
WE ALSO HAVE INSPIRED INTERIORS WITH AN OPEN CONCEPT DESIGN.
AGAIN, THIS IS OUR PALLADIUM GARLAND PROPERTY, SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT WE WILL BRING TO THE TABLE WHEN WE DEVELOP THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY IN COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO GRANITE COUNTERTOPS.
FORTY TWO INCH UPPER CABINETS WITH DRAWER [INAUDIBLE], UNDER MOUNTED SINKS, WHICH IS FOR SUSTAINABILITY PURPOSES, A GREAT FEATURE TO HAVE.
WE DO HAVE ADA ACCESSIBLE UNITS, ALONG WITH MEETING THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS.
WE HAVE SPACIOUS WALK IN CLOSETS WITH BUILT IN WOOD SHELVES.
OUR APARTMENTS ARE ENERGY EFFICIENT WITH APPLIANCES, WITH DUAL PANE WINDOW AND SHADING.
AND THEN ALL OF OUR UNITS WILL HAVE EITHER A COVERED PATIO BALCONY WITH AMPLE STORAGE.
SO I DID WANT TO TOUCH ON OUR PALLDIUM MANAGEMENT COMPANY, SO WE ARE A LONG TERM PROPERTY OWNER AND WE ALSO HAVE IN-HOUSE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT.
ONE OF THE CONCERNS WITH THE NEIGHBORS, WITH CRIME AND NOISE.
WE DO CRIMINAL BACKGROUND SEARCHES, STRINGENT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND SEARCHES ANNUALLY.
IT'S A NATIONAL DATABASE TO CONDUCT THESE SEARCHES.
WE ALSO SCREEN FOR ANYONE THAT IS 13 YEARS OR OLDER AND THEN EVERYBODY THAT'S 18 YEARS OR OVER THAT LIVE ON SITE HAVE TO HAVE A QUALIFY AS A LEASEHOLDER.
WE DO NOT ALLOW SEX OFFENDERS.
SO WE HAVE A HUNDRED DIFFERENT SITES THAT WE LOOK AT AS WELL, WHICH IS DIFFERENT FROM EVEN IF YOU WERE A PROPERTY OWNER AND RENTED.
SO MOST SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL HOMES DO NOT GO THROUGH THE STRINGENT BACKGROUND CHECKS THAT WE DO.
WE ALSO HAVE A COMMUNITY POLICY.
[00:35:02]
ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS MUST SIGN THIS, WHICH INCLUDES COMMUNITY ETIQUETTE, SUCH AS NOISE, SO LIMITING NOISE BETWEEN 10:00 P.M.AND TRYING TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR.
WE ALSO PROHIBIT OUR LEASES PROHIBIT BAD CONDUCT AND WE ENFORCE OUR LEASES.
AND IF ANYONE IS ACTING OUT OR IN VIOLATION OF OUR COMMUNITY POLICY, WE DO TAKE ACTION.
WE ALSO HAVE A COMMUNITY, A CURTESY OFFICER PROGRAM, WHERE A LAW OFFICER FROM HOPEFULLY GARLAND PD.
WE WOULD LOVE FOR GARLAND PD TO COME ON LIVE ON SITE AND THEY GET A UNIT FREE OF CHARGE AND THEY WALK THE PERIMETER, CHECK OUR LIGHTING, FENCING TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS IN PLACE.
WE HAVE ALL OF OUR GATES ARE MANNED.
SO IF ANYTHING IS OPEN OUR ALARMS GO OFF, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE SOMEBODY ON SITE TO GO AND CHECK.
ONE OF THE THINGS HERE AT PALLADIUM ALWAYS MENTIONED, WE LOVE TO BE GREAT NEIGHBORS, WE DO OFFER SERVICES AND PROGRAMS TO OUR RESIDENTS AS WELL.
WE OFFER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS. WE PROVIDE TWENTY FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS TO GRADUATING SENIORS ONSITE.
WE OFFER OUR ANNUAL HEALTH FAIR, INCOME TAX PREPARATION, NOTARY SERVICES, ARTS, CRAFTS AND OTHER RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
AND WE DO SPECIAL EVENTS AND CELEBRATIONS SUCH AS THIS PAST OCTOBER DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, THERE WAS LIMITED ACTIVITY AT THE STATE FAIR.
SO WE HOSTED THE STATE FAIR ON SITE.
AND ACTUALLY I'M HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE ONE OF OUR RESIDENTS WHO DESIGNED THE BIG TEXAS ACTUALLY REGISTERED TO SPEAK.
SO YOU'LL GET TO HEAR FROM HER.
SO WE DID SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WORKING ALONG, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM MORRIS STARTED BACK IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR.
WE'VE MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOODS, RAINBOW NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE BUTTON VARIOUS LEADERS, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER DIXON. WE'VE PROVIDED A TOUR OF OUR PROPERTIES.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS YOU CAN DO IS SHOW WHAT WE PRODUCE AND WE DEFINITELY PRODUCE WHAT WE SAY WE'RE GOING TO PRODUCE.
AND THEN WE'VE HAD CALLS WITH VARIOUS RESIDENTS WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND JUST RECENTLY MET WITH THE NEIGHBORS THIS PAST SATURDAY.
SO WE DEFINITELY HAVE GREAT SUPPORT FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT.
WE HAVE 12 SUPPORT LETTERS, INCLUDING A FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER.
THE CITY OF GARLAND FOR YOUR RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR A TAX CREDIT APPLICATION, WHICH WE ARE IN A STRONG AWARD POSITION AND WITH YOUR APPROVAL TONIGHT, GO A LONG WAY TO GET IT CLOSED.
WE HAVE TO CLOSE THIS DEAL BY THE END OF THE YEAR, WHICH IS AWESOME FOR US AND FOR THE CITY OF GARLAND.
NEXT SLIDE, NEXT COUPLE SLIDES.
SO OUR SUPPORT LETTER FROM FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER DIXON, SHE WAS ONE OF THE STRONG PROPONENTS OF HAVING OUR DEVELOPMENT COME ON LINE, ESPECIALLY FOR PROVIDING A PLACE TO LIVE FOR THOSE WHO GREW UP IN THE COMMUNITY.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, RIGHT NOW, THERE'S JUST NOT A PLACE FOR THEM TO CALL A HOME THAT'S AFFORDABLE FOR THEM.
WE ALSO HAVE SUPPORT FROM TERRY [INAUDIBLE], WHO IS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE RAINBOW ESTATES NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, AND WE UNDERSTAND SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION SUPPORT THIS DEVELOPMENT AS WELL.
THEN WE ALSO HAVE [INAUDIBLE], WHO IS AN ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER ACROSS THE STREET, STATE HIGHWAY 66.
SO THIS IS ONE OF OUR SUPPORT LETTERS THAT FROM ONE OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN THE NOTIFICATION AREA AT 702 CURTIS DRIVE MARIA ROJAS.
WE HAVE SUPPORT FROM PAUL MAYER THE CEO OF THE GARLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
WITH LINDA THOMPSON, WHO IS THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AT METRO CARE SERVICES.
WE ALSO HAVE JOSE [INAUDIBLE], WHO'S PROPERTY OWNER OR BUSINESS OWNER AT THE CORNER OF DAIRY AND STATE HIGHWAY 66, THE TREND SETTERS BARBER AND SALON.
WE ALSO HAVE VALENTINES'S CUTS, WHICH IS AT DAIRY ROAD AND STATE HIGHWAY 66 AS WELL IN THE RETAIL LOCATED THERE.
THE OWNER OF MR. J'S FOOD STORE AND THE OWNER OF THE STOP N' GO.
SO TONIGHT, WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO APPROVE FILE NUMBER Z21-06, WHICH IS LISTED ON YOUR AGENDA AS ITEM NUMBER 9A AND 9B FOR EMBREE EASTSIDE BY PALLADIUM.
VERY MUCH, MR. FISHER, IF YOU CAN BRING THE PRESENTATION DOWN FOR ME, JUST.
WE MAY HAVE TO GO BACK TO IT AT SOME POINT, BUT FOR THE MOMENT.
OK, SO ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANTS? FIRST UP, WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
AND [INAUDIBLE] ENTOURAGE WELCOME TONIGHT.
[00:40:01]
JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU.ONE, DOES THIS PROPERTY PARTICIPATE IN THE SECOND CHANCE PROGRAM? I GOT TWO QUESTIONS.
SO ARE YOU CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT THE SECOND CHANCE PROGRAM IS, AND THIS MAY BE A QUESTION FOR OUR PRESIDENT OF OUR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY.
THE SECOND CHANCE PROGRAM IS A PROGRAM THAT'S PRETTY WIDELY USED FOR PERSONS WHO HAVE LIVED IN MULTIFAMILY COMPLEXES BEFORE BUT FOR SOME REASON, THEY RAN INTO FINANCIAL ISSUES AND HAD DIFFICULTIES.
BUT THEY HAVE REGAINED THEIR FINANCIAL STATUS AND CORRECTED THEIR HISTORY AND THEN ARE APPLYING TO MOVE BACK INTO A NEW PROPERTY.
AND THAT'S WHAT'S CALLED A SECOND CHANCE.
YOU KNOW, THERE MAY BE A MORE TECHNICAL TERM, BUT THAT'S WHAT I KNOW THE CHANCES.
YOU'VE GOT SOME FOLKS WHO ARE DOWN ON THEIR LUCK, WHATEVER HAPPENED, BUT THAT THEY ARE REGAINING THEIR FOOTING FINANCIALLY AND APPLY FOR RESIDENCY AT AT VARIOUS OTHER UNITS.
A NUMBER OF THE MULTIFAMILY COMPLEX IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROGRAM.
AND I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF PALLADIUM PARTICIPATED IN THAT PROGRAM.
OUR CITY ATTORNEY HAS POPPED UP AND THAT USUALLY MEANS HE HAS SOMETHING TO SAY.
THAT IT'S A FASCINATING PROGRAM.
IT'S JUST NOT GERMANE TO THE LAND USE ISSUE [INAUDIBLE].
LET ME GO TO MY SECOND QUESTION.
THE I THINK NUMBER TWO ON THE SLIDE.
THE WAIVER REQUEST FOR BASED ON THE NUMBER OF UNITS AND IT WAS THE RATIONALE FOR IT WAS TIED TO DENSITY, I MEAN, LET ME REPHRASE THIS, THE SECOND WAIVER, AS I RECALL, ON THE NUMBER OF UNITS FROM EIGHTEEN TO TWENTY SEVEN, THE RATIONALE WAS BECAUSE OF AMENITIES AND OTHER SERVICES.
CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THAT AND TIE THAT TOGETHER FOR ME.
EXPLAIN THE CONNECTION FOR ME.
IN ORDER FOR DEVELOPMENT TO BE FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE THERE HAS TO BE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF UNITS THAT ARE BUILT.
AND SO TYPICALLY WHAT YOU'VE SEEN WITH SOME OF THE MULTIFAMILY HISTORY, PARTICULARLY OVER THE LAST FIVE TO 10 YEARS, IS THAT THERE'S BEEN AN INCREASE IN DENSITY AND THERE'S BENEFITS TO THAT.
AND IF YOU PROVIDE MORE MORE UNITS, THEN TYPICALLY THERE'S MORE MONEY AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE A GREATER RANGE OF AMENITIES AND BETTER BUILDING EXTERIOR BUILDING MATERIALS AND THAT SORT OF THING.
SO IN THIS CASE, IT'S ONLY ONE HUNDRED AND SEVEN UNITS.
SO IT'S ACTUALLY IT'S NOT A HUGE IT'S NOT EVEN I THINK IT'S ABOUT HALF THE SIZE OF ANY OF YOUR MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY THAT ARE USUALLY IN 200 TO 300 RANGE.
SO THIS IS ACTUALLY ONLY ONE HUNDRED AND SEVEN UNITS.
THE DENSITY OF TWENTY SEVEN UNITS AN ACRES, PRETTY CONSISTENT WITH WITH ALMOST EVERY MULTI-FAMILY PROJECT THAT I'VE BEEN PART OF RECENTLY IN THE AREA.
TYPICALLY THAT THE 18 UNITS PER ACRE IS JUST DOESN'T IT DOESN'T SUPPORT MULTIFAMILY THAT'S BEING DEVELOPED IN ALMOST EVERY INSTANCE THESE DAYS.
OK, ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT.
[LAUGHTER] IF WE THROW A FLAG OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT OR.
ANYWAY, MY FIRST QUESTION WAS THE ORIGINAL PLAN THAT WAS BROUGHT TO US DURING THE REQUEST FOR OUR ENDORSEMENT, THAT WAS A THAT WAS A SUPPORT LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THAT WAS A.
THAT WAS A BIGGER PROPERTY AT THAT TIME, WASN'T IT? SO CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT WHERE WE ARE AND THEN WHAT WAS THE DENSITY UNIT DENSITY OF THAT PROPERTY PROPOSED TO BE? I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAD THE DENSITY AVAILABLE THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE COULD PROVIDE YOU, BUT INITIALLY WE WERE POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT REDEVELOPING THE ENTIRE CHURCH PROPERTY, BUT IT WAS DETERMINED THAT MADE BETTER SENSE FOR THE CHURCH TO STAY.
AND SO WE WE FIGURED OUT A WAY TO PROVIDE DEVELOP THE APARTMENTS, BUT ALSO RETAIN
[00:45:05]
THE CHURCH.THE DENSITY WE HAD, WE HAD MORE UNITS ON THAT DEVELOPMENT.
I DON'T EXACTLY RECALL THE EXACT NUMBER THAT WAS PLANNED ORIGINALLY, BUT IT WAS PROPORTIONAL TO THE AMOUNT OF ACREAGE THAT MAKES SENSE.
IT WAS BIGGER BUILDINGS AND EXPANDED ACROSS WHERE THE CHURCH IS TODAY.
SO WE REALLY FEEL LIKE THIS ACTUALLY MAKES MAKES BETTER SENSE THE WAY IT'S DESIGNED.
IT WILL BE MORE OF A RESIDENTIAL ENCLAVE, A LITTLE NICHE DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS A BETTER FEEL AN AESTHETIC THAN ACTUALLY WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED.
I THINK IT WORKS OUT BETTER WITH WHAT WE HAVE HERE.
AND IT'S A SMALLER DEVELOPMENT, LESS DENSITY.
I RECALL I THINK IT WAS AT LEAST ANOTHER 40 OR 50 UNITS BUT MAYBE WRONG ON THAT.
I DON'T KNOW [INAUDIBLE] REMEMBER, BUT THIS IS DEFINITELY A SMALLER SCALE DEVELOPMENT.
IT AND I GUESS THE INDICATION WAS, HAVE THE TAX CREDITS BEEN AWARDED YET OR ARE Y'ALL STILL WAITING ON THAT DETERMINATION? THEY WILL NOT BE AWARDED UNTIL JULY COUNCIL MEMBER AUBIN, BUT WE ARE IN STRONG COMPETITIVE AWARD POSITION.
AND THIS MAY THEN BE A QUESTION FOR OUR CITY ATTORNEY.
IF WE IF MY CONCERN IS IF WE OF WHAT HAPPENS TO THIS DEVELOPMENT, YOU KNOW, ARE WE CHANGING THE ZONING IN SUCH A WAY THAT IF THEY DON'T GET THE CREDITS, IS THAT GOING TO BE PROBLEMATIC FOR US? IN OTHER WORDS, ARE WE PUTTING THE CART A LITTLE BIT BEFORE THE HORSE HERE? PERHAPS, ALTHOUGH WE CAN'T TIE THE FINANCING IS NOT OF A CONCERN IN THE ZONING OR MAKING THAT DETERMINATION AS FAR AS THIS ZONING APPLICATION WITHOUT REGARD TO HOW IT'S BEING FINANCED TONIGHT.
NOW, I UNDERSTAND THEY SEEM TO BE INEXTRICABLY INTERTWINED AND WE WARN YOU AS MUCH WHEN WE GO THROUGH THE APPLICATION THAT IT IS SORT OF A PRE COMMITTAL.
THAT SAID, I THINK THE CURE IS AND WHAT YOU SHOULD BEAR IN MIND, NO ZONING IS PERMANENT UNTIL IT'S VESTED.
AND IF THE STATE APPLICATION FELL APART, THEN IT COULD STILL BE UN ZONED OR REZONED.
BUT IT BEGS THE QUESTION THEN, IF THIS DOESN'T THIS APPLICATION ON ITS OWN AS A ZONING APPLICATION ON ITS OWN DOESN'T STAND ON ITS OWN MERITS WITHOUT REGARD TO WHERE THE FINANCING COMING FROM, THEN IT SHOULD BE DENIED.
IT'S EITHER A GOOD LAND USE PLAN OR A BAD ONE.
AND WHERE THE MONEY WOULD COME FROM TO BUILD IT DOESN'T CONTROL IN THAT REGARD.
THE APPLICATION WITHOUT REGARD TO WHERE THE FINANCING IS COMING FROM.
WELL, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS BEFORE.
AND AS YOU SAID, THERE'S A CONNECTION.
THERE'S SOME LEVEL OF CONNECTION AS ALMOST A PRE APPROVAL.
IF WE'VE GONE AHEAD AND SAID, WELL, THIS IS OK, WE'VE GIVEN A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT, I'M NOT PARTICULARLY CONCERNED.
AND AS YOU KNOW, I DID NOT SUPPORT THIS AT THE, WHEN IT CAME BEFORE US EARLIER.
BUT I FEEL THAT MY PERSONAL FEELING IS THE COUNCIL HAS HAS SPOKEN ON THIS OR AT LEAST A SIMILAR PROJECT.
AND SO I'D BE INCLINED YOU KNOW, I WANT TO HEAR WHAT OTHER FOLKS HAVE TO SAY AND WHATNOT.
BUT TO ME, THAT HOLDS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WEIGHT.
BUT MY UNDERLYING CONCERN IS THAT IF THE TDHGA DOES NOT COME THROUGH AND THIS THIS PROJECT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TODAY, TONIGHT DOES NOT HAPPEN.
DO WE RUN THE RISK OF GETTING SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S VERY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'VE APPROVED WITH THIS DETAILED PLAN OR WITH THIS PD? I MEAN, I'M GLAD IT'S NOT JUST A STRICT ZONING REQUEST.
AND THEN THERE'S YOUR CONTROL.
I MEAN, WHOEVER EXCUSE ME, IF THIS PARTICULAR APPLICANT DOESN'T COME THROUGH, SOMEBODY PICKS UP THE PROJECT, COMES IN WITH PRIVATE FINANCING AND WANTS TO BUILD THIS PROJECT, THEY THEY MUST BUILD IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS DETAILED PLAN AND THIS ZONING AND EXACTLY AS IT'S BEEN LAID OUT, UNLESS THEY COME BACK AND GET SOME KIND OF AMENDMENT.
[00:50:02]
IF THE COUNCIL HAD A CONCERN LATER ON THAT THIS ZONING IS INAPPROPRIATE, AGAIN, WITHOUT REGARD TO WHERE THE FINANCING COMES FROM UNTIL THE ZONING, THE RIGHTS IN THAT ZONING ARE VESTED AND IT COULD BE CHANGED.I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER WE APPROVE OR DON'T APPROVE, IF WE DO SOMETHING, THAT WHATEVER WE APPROVE IS WHAT WE ULTIMATELY GET FOR WHAT THE WHAT THE RESIDENTS OF GARLAND ACTUALLY ULTIMATELY GET.
[AUDIBLE] I'LL REMIND THE COUNCIL THERE'S A GENERAL PROVISION IN THE VESTING ORDINANCE, AS WE CALL IT, ALTHOUGH THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE GRANTING OF [INAUDIBLE] GRANTING AWARD.
AND IF YOU MAKE PROMISES IN A COUNCIL MEETING WITH RESPECT TO AN APPLICATION, THOSE BECOME PART, IF IT IS APPROVED, THEY BECOME PART OF THE APPROVAL.
AND WE'VE TRIED TO TIE ALL THAT TOGETHER AND GIVE SOME ASSURANCE THAT WHAT YOU'RE BEING PRESENTED IS WHAT MUST BE BUILT UNLESS THE APPLICANT COMES BACK AND GETS A CHANGE.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANTS? COUNCIL.
ALL RIGHT, AND AT THIS POINT, I WILL OPEN IT UP THIS ITEM FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, IF THERE ARE ANY OF OUR ATTENDEES, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM IF YOU CAN USE THE RAISE YOUR HAND FEATURE OR STAR NINE AND WE'LL GET YOU CUED UP.
ALL RIGHT, AND WHAT I WILL DO IS I WILL OPEN THE LINE ON OUR END, YOU'LL NEED TO UN MUTE YOURSELF IF YOU CAN GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
FIRST SPEAKER IS SANDY BENNETT.
I'VE OPENED THE LINE ON OUR END.
IF YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
MY NAME IS SANDY BENNETT, 978 WEST INTERSTATE 30, APARTMENT 713, GARLAND, TEXAS.
I LIVE AT THE PALLADIUM GARLAND APARTMENTS AND I'VE BEEN HERE.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THE COMMUNITY ITSELF, EVEN LIKE WHEN WE DID THE STATE FAIR THING [INAUDIBLE] STATE FAIR TEXAS GUY.
BUT THE OWNERS OF THE COMPANY, I MEAN, OWNERS OF [INAUDIBLE] THEY COME AND SHAKE YOUR HAND.
I MEAN, THERE'S NOBODY THAT'S IT'S ALL LIKE FAMILY ORIENTED.
AND LIKE THE STAFF HERE, YOU ASK FOR ANYTHING, THEY GET IT DONE FOR YOU, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO, LIKE, KEEP CALLING AND BEGGING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I MEAN, THE AMENITIES HERE, LIKE I'M A DOG OWNER.
SO THE DOG PARK IS AMAZING AND IT'S VERY SUFFICIENT.
THEY'RE VERY GOOD ABOUT KEEPING IT CLEAN.
THE RESIDENTS ARE VERY GOOD ABOUT KEEPING IT CLEAN CLEANED UP.
I MEAN, YOU WALK ON OUR PROPERTY, OUR PROPERTY IS NOT TRASHY.
I MEAN, THE RESIDENTS HERE KEEP IT NICE, SO PRETTY MUCH PEOPLE WHO WHO LIVE HERE THAT I HAVE BECOME FRIENDS WITH I GUESS YOU SAY, THE OTHER RESIDENTS, THEY'RE VERY PROUD OF WHERE THEY THEY ARE.
I LIKE I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET IN HERE, YOU KNOW? I MEAN, I WAS HOMELESS AT ONE POINT AND THIS IS MY HOME NOW, AND I DON'T PLAN ON LEAVING.
I MEAN, THAT'S JUST HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT ALL HERE, BUT THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH MS. BENNETT AND I LIKE HOW YOU REFER TO IT AS OUR PROPERTY.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ASHLEY FULLER.
ASHLEY, I'VE OPENED THE LINE ON OUR END.
HELLO, MY NAME IS ASHLEY FULLER JAMES AND I'M A RESIDENT OF PALLADIUM [INAUDIBLE] RIGHT NOW.
MY ADDRESS IS 964 WEST I-30 APARTMENT 417 GARLAND, TEXAS.
FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I LOVE BEING HERE.
NEXT MONTH WILL BE MY THIRD LEASE I WILL BE SIGNING.
I MOVED HERE WAS WHEN IT WAS UNDER NEW CONSTRUCTIONS.
AND I WANT TO SAY I LOVE FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY I LOVE MY APARTMENT
[00:55:03]
[INAUDIBLE] BECAUSE WHEN I EMAIL HER, THE TURNAROUND IS LESS THAN TWO HOURS AND I'M LIKE, I WANT TO SPEED LIKE THAT BECAUSE I'M A TEACHER IN DALLAS ISD.SO I'M LIKE, LOOK, I NEED SPEED LIKE THAT WITH MY STUDENTS AND PARENTS.
AND ANOTHER THING I LOVE ABOUT MY APARTMENT ITSELF IS THAT IT IS ENERGY EFFICIENT.
I LOVE THAT AND MY ELECTRICITY BILL IS ALWAYS LOW AND AFFORDABLE.
AND ANOTHER THING I LOVE ABOUT MY COMMUNITY, MY NEIGHBORS.
LIKE MY UPSTAIRS NEIGHBORS ARE QUIET.
I'M HAVE NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT LIKE, WELL, YOU KNOW, UPSTAIRS NEIGHBORS THAT RUN AND I DON'T HAVE NONE OF THAT.
AND ANOTHER THING, MY HUSBAND DURING THE PANDEMIC UNFORTUNATELY LOST HIS JOB.
SO HE HE WAS OUT OF JOB FOR A WHILE AND THEY KEPT THE FOOD PANTRY AND DUE TO COVID, THEY CLOSED DOWN AT ONE POINT.
BUT AMANDA CALLED JUST TO CHECK ON ME BECAUSE I CALLED AND ASKED ABOUT THE FOOD PANTRY BECAUSE I KNOW DURING THE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC WE WAS ABLE TO GET LIKE THINGS, ITEMS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
SHE SAID ACTUALLY EVERYTHING IS SUPPOSED TO BE CLOSED, BUT I WILL DO ANYTHING I CAN TO HELP YOUR FAMILY OUT, YOU KNOW, FIND RESOURCES.
AND SHE PROVIDED ME WITH THINGS AS WELL IN MY COMMUNITY, LIKE THE OTHER LADY SAID, IT'S ALWAYS CLEAN HERE.
I'M ALWAYS ABLE TO GET THINGS DONE IF SOMETHING WAS TO GET BROKEN.
THANKFULLY WE HAVEN'T HAD TOO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THINGS BEING BROKEN BECAUSE IT'S A NEW CONSTRUCTION.
I APPRECIATE THAT WHEN WE HAVE [INAUDIBLE], AMANDA AND OTHER RESIDENTS COOK FOOD FOR PEOPLE.
SO I THINK THAT WAS A REAL BIG THING.
THE SHOWING OF GRATITUDE AND KINDNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE MORE COMMUNITIES LIKE THAT.
AND I KNOW PALLADIUM USA WILL BE ONE OF THOSE.
SHE ACTUALLY LIVE IN PALLADIUM [INAUDIBLE] AND SHE TOLD ME HOW GREAT THEIR COMMUNITY IS.
NOT BETTER THAN GARLAND, YOU NEED TO MOVE TO GARLAND.
I THINK WE'RE A BETTER OVER HERE, BUT I MEAN, JUST THE COMMUNITY THAT I LOVE.
I HAVE TWO CHILDREN AND A HUSBAND.
I'M NOT AFRAID TO LET MY KIDS GO OUTSIDE, RIDE BIKES BECAUSE WE HAVE COURTESY PATROL AND I JUST WANT TO FEEL SAFE WHERE I LIVE, YOU KNOW? SO.
THANK YOU YOUR INFORMATION IN THE I GUESS IT'S THE BATTLE OF THE PALLADIUMS. THANK YOU.
MY NEXT SPEAKER IS [INAUDIBLE].
I HAVE OPENED THE LINE ON OUR END.
AND GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
I'M A RESIDENT HERE AT 986 WEST I-30 APARTMENT 517.
AND I WILL BE DOING MY SIGNING MY LEASE IN MY THIRD YEAR HERE.
REASON BEING IS HONESTLY, WHENEVER WE FIRST CAME HERE, THEY LITERALLY JUST WELCOMED US WITH OPEN ARMS. YOU KNOW, OUR NEIGHBORS LIKE WE'RE A YOUNG COUPLE, YOUNG FAMILY.
SO IT WAS STILL VERY, VERY MUCH AFFORDABLE FOR US SINCE MY HUSBAND IS THE ONLY ONE THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WORKING AS OF RIGHT NOW.
SO THEY HAVE MADE IT SO MUCH AFFORDABLE FOR US AND WE STILL ARE ABLE TO SAVE, YOU KNOW, EVERY SINGLE MONTH SINCE OUR LIGHT BILL IS ALSO VERY, VERY LOW, YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S ANOTHER THING.
AND HONESTLY, THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY, THE FEELING OF COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, I JUST HONESTLY LOVE IT HERE.
WHENEVER WE HAD THE SNOW STORM, HONESTLY, EVERYONE JUST CAME OUT AND STARTED CHECKING ON EACH OTHER.
I KNOW ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS, LIKE, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING OUT FOR EACH OTHER.
AND I WENT OVER THERE AND BE LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU NEED? DO YOU NEED SOMETHING? ARE YOU OK? ARE YOU WARM SO THAT THERE'S A SENSE OF, YOU KNOW, A FEELING OF COMMUNITY THERE? ALSO, AS TO MY HUSBAND, HIS WORK, HE HAS TO TRAVEL A LOT.
SO THE I LOVE HOW THEY HAVE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT LIVING ON SITE.
[01:00:05]
YOU KNOW, IT JUST GIVES HIM AND ME MYSELF, SINCE I HAVE A EIGHT YEAR OLD SENSE OF PEACE, THAT I WANT TO BE ABLE TO FEEL AT PEACE KNOWING WHERE I LIVE, YOU KNOW.SO HONESTLY, THERE'S MORE THAT I COULD SAY, BUT I DONT' WANT TO TAKE UP MUCH OF YOUR TIME.
WE APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US TONIGHT.
MY NEXT SPEAKER IS KIM PARKER.
MS. PARKER I'VE OPENED THE LINE ON OUR END.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M DEVELOPMENT PARTNER TO PALLADIUM USA.
MY ADDRESS, 2626 COAL AVENUE IN DALLAS.
I REALLY JUST WANTED TO ADD SOME CLARITY TO THE DISCUSSION ABOUT WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR STATE FINANCING.
THERE WILL BE ABOUT 11 DEVELOPMENTS RECEIVING AN AWARD IN AUGUST IN OUR REGION AND WE ARE NUMBER SEVEN RIGHT NOW.
SO REALLY THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD PREVENT US FROM RECEIVING AN AWARD IS IF WE DO NOT RECEIVE SUPPORT FOR OUR ZONING CASE TONIGHT THAT IS HOW CERTAIN WE ARE WE'RE IN LINE RIGHT NOW.
AND WE FEEL LIKE WE'VE GOT A GREAT PARTNER WITH THE CHURCH.
AND I REALLY JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT AND RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT THIS EVENING.
MY NEXT SPEAKER IS JESSICA [INAUDIBLE] .
EVENING, MY NAME IS JESSICA [INAUDIBLE] AND I AM REPRESENTING [INAUDIBLE] CHURCH OF GARLAND, LOCATED ON 1010 STATE HIGHWAY 66 GARLAND, TEXAS, 75040.
WE ARE IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE ZONING CASE FOR EMBREE EASTSIDE.
OUR CHURCH OWNS FOUR ACRES OF VACANT LAND.
WE BELIEVE THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL BRING NEW INVESTMENT TO OUR CHURCH COMMUNITY AND TO THE CITY OF GARLAND.
WHEN THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM CAME TO US WITH THEIR IDEA, WE WERE EXCITED, AS WE BELIEVE IT WILL BE A GOOD ADDITION FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CHURCH.
WE WERE IMPRESSED WITH THE QUALITY OF THE DEVELOPMENT, THEIR TRACK RECORD AND THEIR WILLINGNESS TO BE FLEXIBLE WITH OUR NEEDS.
SINCE COVID-19 AS MANY, OUR WORLD DRASTICALLY CHANGED.
AND THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT HELPS US CONTINUE TO OPERATE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE LOVE SO MUCH, CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR LONG STANDING CONGREGATION WHILE PROVIDING NEW HIGH QUALITY HOUSING FOR THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.
I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU VOTE IN SUPPORT OF THE ZONING CASE.
MY NEXT SPEAKER IS KEITH [INAUDIBLE].
HOPEFULLY I GOT RELATIVELY CLOSE TO CORRECT ON THAT.
MY NAME IS KEITH [INAUDIBLE] 2633 COAL AVENUE IN DALLAS SUITE THREE HUNDRED.
I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT A PLEASURE IT HAS BEEN, I WORKED WITH [INAUDIBLE] COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE AND WE WORKED WITH THE CHURCH WITH WHO YOU JUST HEARD FROM JESSICA [INAUDIBLE] AND THE REST OF THE CHURCH LEADERSHIP.
AND WE APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO STAND IN SUPPORT OF THIS DEVELOPMENT.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT CHANCE TO USE THE LAND BEHIND THE CHURCH AND LET WHEREBY THE CHURCH WILL BE ABLE TO STAY WHERE IT IS.
AND WE CAN ALSO PROVIDE HOUSING FOR THE CITIZENS OF GARLAND.
AND MY LAST SPEAKER HERE IS THE HONORABLE ANNIE DIXON.
I HAVE OPENED THE LINE ON OUR END AND HONORABLE DIXON, I WASN'T I WASN'T SKIPPING YOU IN THE QUEUE.
I WAS SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST.
WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE BEEN BEFORE YOU AND THE COUNCIL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE YOU.
I LIKE THE WAY PALLADIUM DO BUSINESS AND REACH OUT.
THE REASON WHY I AM IN SUPPORT OF THIS IS BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING NEW IN DISTRICT TWO.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TRAFFIC THAT COMES FROM OUR SISTER CITIES ON THE OTHER SIDE, ON THE EAST SIDE, WE KNOW THAT THEY DRIVE BACK AND FORTH THROUGH THE DIFFERENT JOBS AND TO
[01:05:01]
SEE SOMETHING NEW BUILDING UP WILL BE A GOOD THING FOR DISTRICT TWO THAT LEADS INTO DOWNTOWN.THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN VACANT AND I'VE BEEN LIVING HERE FOR OVER 50 YEARS AND IT'S BEEN VACANT.
AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT SOMEONE IS INTERESTED IN BUILDING SOMETHING IN DISTRICT TWO.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I NOTICE AND MISS AVIS HAS REALLY WE TALK ABOUT THIS IS THAT I'M A GRANDMOTHER OF TWO YOUNG PROFESSIONALS.
ONE IS GRADUATING THIS YEAR FROM TSU.
THE OTHER ONE IS IN TENNESSEE, GRADUATED FROM UTD, AND SHE PLANNED ON COMING BACK.
SO WE NEED PLACES FOR PEOPLE OF THAT AGE TO LIVE.
GENERATIONAL PEOPLE, YOUNG PROFESSIONALS WHEN FRANK AND I FIRST GOT MARRIED WHEN HE WAS IN THE AIR FORCE, WE LIVED IN AN APARTMENT.
WE EVENTUALLY BOUGHT A HOME AND WE MOVED TO GARLAND AND WE ARE STILL HERE.
EVERYONE NEEDS A FRESH START TO TO GROW AND TO GET STARTED.
AND WHAT I NOTICE IN GARLAND THAT GARLAND GOES ON, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE.
IT IS EITHER HIGH SCALE HOMES RANGING FROM ENORMOUS PAYMENTS, A [INAUDIBLE] MORTGAGE, AND THERE'S SOME FOR SENIORS.
SO WHAT ABOUT THE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS IN THE MIDDLE? WE ARE A GENERATIONAL COMMUNITY AND GISD HAS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN, SENDING THEM OFF TO COLLEGE.
AND WHEN THEY COME BACK, THERE'S NO PLACE TO LIVE BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD IT.
EVERYONE NEEDS A CHANCE TO DO THAT.
BEING GENERATIONAL MEANS THAT WE WILL HAVE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE REINVESTING BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY, BECOMING FUTURE LEADERS, GIVING BACK AND THEY NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I HAVE LOOKED AT THIS COMPANY AND I'M VERY IMPRESSED WITH THIS COMPANY.
I'VE LISTENED TO ALL OF THE AMENITIES AND THE LADIES, THE MANY WOMEN WHO HAVE SPOKE ON THIS PROJECT SEEM SO POSITIVE.
AND I LOVE THE TERM COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY IS WHAT'S MISSING IN OUR LIVES TODAY.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BIG UPSCALE HOMES, PEOPLE PARK IN THE BACK.
YOU KNOW, OVER HERE IN DISTRICT TWO, WE HAVE A FRONT PORCH AND WE GET OUT THE CAR.
HOW ARE YOU DOING? WHAT'S GOING ON? YOU KNOW, AND WE KNOW EACH OTHER.
WE EVEN HAVE EACH OTHER'S KEYS TO OUR HOME IN CASE WE NEED SOMETHING.
AND I LIKE THE FACT THAT THE RESIDENTS ARE TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS COMPANY, PALLADIUM, IS THAT THEY JUST DON'T BUILD AND SELL TO SLUMLORDS.
THEY BUILD AND THEY MAINTAIN AND THEY KEEP A PRESENCE.
BEFORE I KNEW ABOUT PALLADIUM, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO ONE OF THEIR APARTMENTS.
MY SISTER-IN-LAW LIVED IN THE APARTMENT.
SHE WANTED ME TO MEET HER THERE AND WE HAD AN OUTING.
WHEN I WALKED IN, I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE WAY IT LOOKED AND SHE LOVED IT.
UNFORTUNATELY, MY SISTER IN LAW PASSED AWAY THIS NOVEMBER OF COVID AND BUT HER LAST DAYS WERE LIVING AT PALLADIUM AND SHE WAS VERY PLEASED WITH THAT.
I'M IMPRESSED WITH THE OPERATION, IMPRESSED WITH THE AMENITIES, AND I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF PALLADIUM.
APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US TONIGHT.
THAT WAS THE LAST SPEAKER I HAD IN THE QUEUE.
I THINK WE WILL WE WILL MOVE ONTO MORE DISCUSSION.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND I'LL KEEP THIS SHORT.
I JUST WANTED TO GIVE CREDIT TO PALLADIUM, I HEARD FROM A HANDFUL OF RESIDENTS ALONG CURTIS AND ONE ON RICHARD STREET, WHICH ARE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT STREETS IN THAT AREA IN RESPONSE TO BOTH PLAN AND COUNCIL NOTIFICATION LETTERS.
BUT THEN GIVEN THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE MAKING THIS DECISION TONIGHT, I WENT IN AND HAD FLIERS PUT ON THEIR DOORS AND JUST SAID, COME TO THIS YARD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BLOCK AND TALK TO US.
AND LET'S TALK THROUGH YOUR CONCERNS, BECAUSE MOST OF THE CONCERNS WERE MORE ALONG THE LINES OF MISCONCEPTIONS.
SO I WAS VERY PLEASED THAT ON SUPER SHORT NOTICE THAT MAX AND AVIS PACKED UP THEIR STUFF.
AND WE WENT THERE AND SAT IN THE FRONT YARD OF MR.
[01:10:04]
[INAUDIBLE], WHO'S RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF CURTIS AND TALK THROUGH EVERY ONE OF THESE THINGS AND ANSWERED THEIR QUESTIONS, TALKED ABOUT PROXIMITY.AND I WAS JUST I WAS PLEASED WITH THE RESPONSIVENESS AND I WAS PLEASED THAT AVIS GAVE THEM ALL HER CARD AND HER PHONE NUMBER SO THAT IF THEY IF THEY GOT ANNOYED, THEY COULD GET AHOLD OF HER EASILY.
SO AND I DID GO AND TOUR PALLADIUM GARLAND BACK IN JANUARY AND WAS ALSO IMPRESSED.
I'M HAPPY WITH THE SAFEGUARDS THAT MR. [INAUDIBLE] TALKED ABOUT WITH THIS HAVING A DETAILED PLAN THAT IT ISN'T THAT SOMEBODY PASSING THIS ZONING CHANGE, THAT SOMEBODY ELSE CAN COME IN AND JUST BUILD ANY OLD THING THEY WANT.
I AM CONFIDENT THAT THIS IS GOING TO GET THE TAX AWARD.
BUT ANYWAY, SO WHENEVER YOU'RE READY FOR A MOTION, I WILL BE READY AND I'LL GET OFF THE HORN RIGHT NOW, I HAVE ONE PERSON IN THE QUEUE AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK TO YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS. THANK YOU.
I JUST WANT TO THANK THE RESIDENTS CONSTITUENTS FROM THE PALLADIUM PROPERTY DOWN ON I-30, WHICH IS PART OF MY DISTRICT.
IN MY PRIOR LIFE I SAT FOR DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM SITS TONIGHT ON THIS PROJECT.
ON THAT PROJECT, I HAD THE PLEASURE.
AND IT HAS BEEN A WHILE, I THINK IT WAS EITHER IN PROSPER OR COLLEYVILLE.
I HAD THE CHANCE, MAX MAY REMEMBER, TO VISIT THE PROPERTIES GOING THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH TONIGHT.
SO I'M JUST DELIGHTED TO HEAR THE FEEDBACK.
IT'S BEEN IT'S BEEN IT IS JUST SORT OF A DIMOND ON THE HEEL DOWN HERE.
AND I'M JUST GLAD TO HEAR THE FEEDBACK FROM THOSE RESIDENTS AND WANT TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE YOU ALL STEPPING UP TONIGHT AND SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT.
AND I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT.
ALL RIGHT, LOOKS LIKE WE'VE CLEARED THE QUEUE, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM MORRIS, I BELIEVE THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE APPLICANT AND STAFF AND RESIDENTS OF SIMILAR DEVELOPMENTS.
SO I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS.
I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE BOTH THE ZONING AND THE DETAIL PLAN REQUEST ON BEHALF OF PALLADIUM AS PRESENTED.
COUNCIL MEMBER MCNEIL ARE YOU SECONDING THAT OR ARE YOU WANTING TO GET IN THE QUEUE.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM MORRIS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCNEIL TO APPROVE THIS ITEM AS PRESENTED WITH ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.
AND THAT ITEM IS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY AND AGAIN, THERE ARE EIGHT COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, WE APPRECIATE IT.
APPRECIATE YOUR APPRECIATES YOUR PRESENTATION.
YOU'RE FULL TEAM AND EVERYONE WHO IS JOINING US THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND SUPPORT.
COUNCIL, THAT WAS ONE OF TWO ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA THIS EVENING, AND WE'VE BEEN GOING FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND 15, I HAVE A I HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA THAT OUR NEXT CASE IS GOING TO GO PROBABLY SIMILAR OR MORE TIME.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE A QUICK RECESS JUST TO KIND OF GIVE EVERYBODY A CHANCE TO REGROUP FOR A LITTLE BIT.
SO IF WE CAN HAVE EVERYBODY BACK ONLINE AT 8:25, PLEASE.
WE ARE COMING BACK FROM A SHORT RECESS, WE ARE IN THE MAY 4TH, 2021 REGULAR MEETING OF THE GARLAND CITY COUNCIL.
WE ARE MOVING ON IN OUR AGENDA TO ITEMS NINE C AND D AND MAYOR DEPUTY MAYOR PRO
[9C. Consider a Major Waiver request by Good Samaritans of Garland, to build a 2,700 square-foot food pantry building with restrooms and an office to replace an existing pantry. This property is located at 212 and 214 North Twelfth Street in District 2.]
[9D. Consider a Downtown Development Plan request by Good Samaritans of Garland, to build a 2,700 square-foot food pantry building with restrooms and an office to replace an existing pantry. This property is located at 212 and 214 North Twelfth Street in District 2.]
TEM MORRIS.DO YOU WANT TO CONSIDER THEM SEPARATELY OR TOGETHER? LET'S PUT THEM TOGETHER, YES.
CONSIDER A MAJOR WAIVER REQUEST BY GOOD SAMARITANS OF GARLAND TO BUILD A TWENTY SEVEN HUNDRED SQUARE FOOT FOOD PANTRY BUILDING WITH RESTROOMS AND AN OFFICE TO REPLACE AN EXISTING PANTRY.
THIS PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 212 AND 214 NORTH 12TH STREET IN DISTRICT TWO.
IT ALSO INCLUDES ITEM 9D, WHICH IS TO CONSIDER A DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT PLAN
[01:15:05]
REQUEST FOR THE SAME APPLICANT AT THE SAME ADDRESS.AND MR. GUERIN? YES, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THIS IS A PROPOSAL FOR A NEW FOOD PANTRY BUILDING WITH RESTROOMS AND AN OFFICE TO REPLACE AN EXISTING FOOD PANTRY BUILDING.
THE APPLICANT AND OWNER IS THE GOOD SAMARITANS OF GARLAND, AND THE CURRENT ZONING IS DOWNTOWN DISTRICT WITH THE INTOWN RESIDENTIAL NORTH SUBDISTRICT.
HERE'S THE GENERAL LOCATION OF THE SITE, IT'S LOCATED IN THE WESTERN PORTION OF THE DOWNTOWN GARLAND AREA.
AND HERE IS THE SUBJECT SITE OUTLINED IN TEAL AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF NORTH 12TH STREET AND WEST STATE STREET.
THE EXISTING GOOD SAMARITANS USE PROPOSES TO CONTINUE THE USE ON THE PROPERTY WITH A NEW BUILDING TO REPLACE AN EXISTING PANTRY, AS WELL AS TWO SMALL ACCESSORY UNITS.
THE USE HAS EXISTED AT THIS LOCATION FOR ABOUT 19 YEARS, ACCORDING TO THE APPLICANT.
THE PANTRY PROVIDES GOODS, INCLUDING FOOD, AS CHARITY TO THOSE IN NEED.
IN ADDITION, SEATING AND PICNIC TABLES EXIST ON THE SITE, WHICH ARE FREQUENTLY USED.
THE NEW BUILDING WOULD REPLACE EXISTING ON AND OFF SITE STORAGE, INCLUDING EXISTING EXISTING EXTERIOR STORAGE UNITS.
THE APPLICANT STATES THAT THE STORAGE SPACE WOULD ALLOW MORE EFFICIENT DONATION AND DISTRIBUTION TRACKING, AND THE NEW BUILDING WOULD INCREASE STORAGE CAPACITY TO PROVIDE THOSE IN NEED WITH HOUSEHOLD HYGIENE, BABY AND PET FOOD PRODUCTS.
HERE'S JUST A SNAPSHOT OF THE DOWNTOWN ZONING MAP, THE SUBJECT SITE IS LOCATED HERE WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN RESIDENTIAL NORTH SUBDISTRICT.
IT'S ESSENTIALLY A SINGLE FAMILY ZONING DISTRICT WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN AREA TO KIND OF PRESERVE THE CHARACTER OF THE RESIDENTIAL AREA.
HOWEVER, THE IN TOWN RESIDENTIAL NORTH, A DISTRICT, DOES ALLOW A FEW NON RESIDENTIAL USES AS WELL, SUCH AS RETAIL OFFICE, ANTIQUE SHOPS, THINGS OF THAT SORT.
HOWEVER, THE CURRENT USE SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY IS NOT LISTED AS A PERMITTED USE WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN RESIDENTIAL NORTH SUBDISTRICT.
A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IDENTIFIES THE SERIOUS COMPACT NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMPACT NEIGHBORHOODS DESIGNATION GENERALLY CORRESPONDS WITH LOW TO MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL, BUT PERMITS NON RESIDENTIAL AS WELL, SOME LIGHT NONRESIDENTIAL SUCH AS CONVENIENCE, RETAIL, OFFICE SPACE AND PUBLIC SERVICES.
THE DOWNTOWN AREA IS A MIX OF VARIOUS USES, INCLUDING VARIOUS TYPES OF RESIDENTIAL, BOTH SINGLE FAMILY AND MULTIFAMILY COMMERCIAL RETAIL, AS WELL AS VARIOUS CHARITABLE USES, PLACES OF WORSHIP AND GOVERNMENTAL USES AS WELL THROUGH MAINTENANCE OF THE SINGLE FAMILY STYLE BUILDING ON THE SITE.
PROPERTY WOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE A RESIDENTIAL CHARACTER ON THE CORNER WHERE OTHER SINGLE FAMILY STYLE BUILDINGS ARE LOCATED AAS WELL AS ACTUAL SINGLE FAMILY USES.
HERE ARE SOME PHOTOS OF THE AREA.
AND ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT HAND SIDE IS THE SUBJECT PROPERTY LOOKING FROM 12TH STREET.
THIS IS THE PROPOSED SITE PLAN, THE EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY STYLE BUILDING IS LOCATED HERE, AND THIS BUILDING AND THE HASH MARKS IS THE PROPOSED ADDITION AND APPROXIMATELY TWENTY SEVEN HUNDRED SQUARE FOOT FOOD PANTRY BUILDING.
IT WOULD REPLACE AN EXISTING BUILDING AS WELL AS A COUPLE OF ACCESSORY UNITS ON THE SITE.
THE APPLICANT PROPOSES TO ADD EIGHT PARKING SPACES ON SITE AND THEY PROPOSE TO ESSENTIALLY KEEP THE EXISTING TREES OR AS MANY EXISTING TREES ON THE SITE AS POSSIBLE AS SHOWN HERE AND THESE CIRCLES.
HERE ARE THE ELEVATIONS OF THE PROPOSED BUILDING, AS WELL AS THE EXISTING BUILDING HERE ON THE TOP LEFT, JUST TO KIND OF SHOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FROM THE STATE STREET VIEW.
AND THEN THIS WOULD BE THE NEW BUILDING, THE SOUTH FACING OR FRONT FACING, IF YOU WILL, A VIEW OF THE NEW PROPOSED BUILDING FROM THE STATE STREET SIDE.
AS WELL AS THE SIDE AND REAR ELEVATIONS THERE ON THE BOTTOM.
THE APPLICANT HAS A FEW MAJOR WAIVER REQUESTS, THE MAJOR WAIVER IS, OF COURSE, A UNIQUE MECHANISM TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA WITHIN THE GDC.
[01:20:02]
THE FIRST MAJOR WAIVER REQUEST IS REGARDING THE USE AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY USE IS NOT A LISTED PERMITTED USE IN THE IN TOWN RESIDENTIAL NORTH SUBDISTRICTS.SO THE APPLICANT IS ESSENTIALLY PROPOSING TO EXPAND ON A LEGAL NON CONFORMING USE.
THE NET INCREASE IN SQUARE FOOTAGE IS APPROXIMATELY NINETEEN HUNDRED SQUARE FEET.
ONCE YOU ACCOUNT FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE EXISTING BUILDING.
AND THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OTHER DEVIATIONS, JUST SIMPLY OR MAJOR WAIVERS, I SHOULD SAY, JUST SIMPLY RELATED TO STREET SCAPING AND LANDSCAPING.
THE APPLICANT, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER AND SHOWED ON THE SITE PLAN, IS ESSENTIALLY PROPOSING JUST TO EXPAND OR BUILD THE NEW BUILDING, REPLACE THE EXISTING ACCESSORY BUILDING AND THE TWO ACCESSORY UNITS, BUT REALLY MAINTAIN THE EXISTING TREES, NOT PROPOSE AN ADDITIONAL SIDEWALK.
BESIDES, WHAT IS THERE CURRENTLY TO THE GDC DOWNTOWN STANDARDS HAVE SOME SPECIFICS ON STREET SCAPING SIDEWALKS AND SOME SPECIFIC DIMENSIONS ON TREE LOCATIONS, TREE WELLS AND WHATNOT.
THE APPLICANT PROPOSES TO KEEP THE EXISTING STANDARD OUT THERE.
SIMILAR WITH WITH BLOCK FACE PARKING, THIS JUST MEANS THAT THE DOWNTOWN AREA DISCOURAGES SURFACE PARKING BETWEEN THE BUILDING AND STREET, IT ENCOURAGES SURFACE PARKING TO BE LOCATED BEHIND BUILDINGS.
SO AS I SHOWED ON THE SITE PLAN EARLIER, THE PROPOSED ADDITIONAL PARKING SPACES WOULD BE LOCATED BETWEEN THE ADDITIONAL BUILDING AND STATE STREET AND PARKING LOT LANDSCAPING WHERE THERE IS PARKING FACING THE STREET.
THE GDC DOWNTOWN STANDARDS REQUIRE TWO ROWS OF STREET TREES.
AGAIN, THE APPLICANT IS JUST PROPOSING TO MAINTAIN THE EXISTING STANDARD.
OF COURSE, THERE ARE SOME EXISTING TREES ON THE SITE PROVIDING SOME SHADE.
AND I MENTIONED SOME SEATING ON THE SITE AS WELL THAT THEY WOULD PROPOSE TO CONTINUE.
AND THEN FINALLY, BICYCLE PARKING.
THE DOWNTOWN AREA REQUIRES BICYCLE PARKING, BIKE RACKS, THAT SORT OF THING.
SO NONE ARE SHOWN ON THE PLANS.
THE GDC DOWNTOWN STANDARDS HAS A REVIEW CRITERIA FOR MAJOR WAIVERS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER, AND IT IS THAT THE PROPOSAL MEETS THE GENERAL INTENT OF THIS DISTRICT AND WILL RESULT IN AN IMPROVED PROJECT, WHICH WILL BE AN ATTRACTIVE CONTRIBUTION TO THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT.
THE STAFF ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATION TYPICALLY STAFF PROVIDES A RECOMMENDATION RECOMMENDATION BASED ON AN ANALYSIS OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE GDC PLAN AND COMPATIBILITY WITH SURROUNDING USES.
IN THE CASE OF THIS APPLICATION, WHICH INCLUDES THE EXPANSION OF EXISTING NONCONFORMING USE, THE DECISION TO APPROVE OR DENY RESTS PRIMARILY ON A SUBJECTIVE REVIEW OF THE COMPATIBILITY OF THE USE AND THE OPERATION OF THE FACILITY WITH THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD.
AS A RESULT, LESS TANGIBLE AND QUALITATIVE FACTORS OUTWEIGH THE MORE TECHNICAL AND OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS THAT STAFF WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO THE COUNCIL SHOULD WERE THEY USED TO BE LOCATED IN ANY OTHER DISTRICT OUTSIDE THE DOWNTOWN AREA AN EXPANSION WOULD SIMPLY NOT BE PERMITTED AND THE APPLICANT WOULD HAVE LIMITED AVENUES FOR PROPOSAL.
HOWEVER, BEING IN THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT, A MAJOR WAIVER PROCESS DOES PROVIDE AN AVENUE FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER SUCH REQUEST.
THEREFORE, STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE COUNCIL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER THE REQUEST.
THE PROPOSAL IS A LEGAL NON CONFORMING USE THAT WISHES TO EXPAND BY CONSTRUCTING A NEW BUILDING VIA MAJOR WAIVER, THE COUNCIL MAY CONSIDER MAJOR WAIVERS AND MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE APPROVE WITH CONDITIONS OR DENY PER THE GDC.
AND AS I MENTIONED AND SHOWN EARLIER, THE REQUEST MAY BE EVALUATED WITH THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA.
DOES IT MEET THE GENERAL INTENT OF THIS DISTRICT AND WILL IT RESULT IN AN APPROVED PROJECT WHICH WILL BE AN ATTRACTIVE CONTRIBUTION TO THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT? THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF BOTH THE MAJOR WAIVER AND THE PLAN WITH A SEVEN TO TWO VOTE.
AND WE MAILED OUT FIFTY SIX NOTIFICATION LETTERS, THREE WERE IN FAVOR OF THE REQUEST WITHIN THE NOTIFICATION AREA 4 WERE IN OPPOSITION OF THE REQUEST, WITHIN THE NOTIFICATION AREA AND FOUR WERE IN OPPOSITION OUTSIDE OF THE NOTIFICATION AREA.
AND WITH THAT MAYOR, I'LL STOP SHARING AND I'D BE GLAD TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF ON THIS ITEM.
FIRST I HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH.
[01:25:01]
THANK YOU MAYOR, JUST TWO QUICK QUESTIONS FOR YOU, WILL.FIRST QUESTION IS WITH THE WITH THE BUILDING REMOVAL AND THE ADDITION OF THE NEW AND WHAT'S THE CHANGE IN THE SQUARE FOOTAGE? YES.
ONCE ACCOUNTING FOR THE REMOVAL OF IT AND THE ADDITIONAL ONE, THE NET ADAGE IS NINETEEN HUNDRED SQUARE FEET, APPROXIMATELY NINETEEN HUNDRED.
OK, AND SECOND QUESTION IS AND.
I DON'T KNOW THE AREA AS WELL AS A LOT OF US, BUT DOES THE PROPOSED STRUCTURE WITH THE ELEVATIONS THAT WE'VE SEEN, DOES IT DOES IT GENERALLY FIT THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD? IS IT ANYTHING THAT'S JUST WAY OUTSIDE THE NORM OR IS IT PRETTY, PRETTY MUCH IN LINE WITH WHAT WE DO EXPECT TO SEE THERE? SO I BELIEVE THEY MET THE RESPECTED THE RESIDENTIAL STYLE OF THE SURROUNDING AREA.
IT IS A MORE RESIDENTIAL STYLE OF BUILDING.
SO I THINK THE ARCHITECT DID A GOOD JOB OF KIND OF INCORPORATING THAT.
IT'S KIND OF A SIMILAR STYLE AS THE EXISTING HOUSE THAT'S ALREADY ON THERE.
THE MASSING OF IT, THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY THING THAT'S KIND OF MAYBE A LITTLE TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF THE KIND OF SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL CHARACTER, BECAUSE IT IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT BUILDING ADAGE.
BUT BEYOND THAT, I THINK THE STYLE IS PRETTY RESPECTFUL OF THE RESIDENTIAL CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
EXCUSE ME, ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR STAFF ON THIS ITEM? I SEE NONE, I JUST WANT TO MAKE A QUICK POINT, I HAVE SOMEBODY IN THE ATTENDEES WHO HAS THEIR HAND UP, BUT WE ARE NOT TO PUBLIC COMMENT YET.
SO IF YOU CAN HOLD YOUR QUESTION, IF THERE'S NO FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF, WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE APPLICANT.
AND I SEE HERE I HAVE OPENED THE LINE ON OUR END AND WE HAVE THE HONORABLE LORI DODSON.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
GOOD TO SEE ALL STAFF DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB.
SO I JUST WANT TO GO OVER REAL QUICKLY WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR HERE.
THE REQUEST IS TO ADD TWENTY SEVEN HUNDRED SQUARE FEET, BUT THERE'S A REMOVAL OF OUR MORGAN BUILDING THAT'S OLDER, HAS A HOLE IN THE FLOOR, WE THINK THAT MORGAN BUILDING IS A THOUSAND SQUARE FEET.
SO WE BELIEVE THE NET SQUARE FOOTAGE TO BE ADDED IS 17 HUNDRED SQUARE FEET.
IN THAT AREA, WE WILL BE ADDING ONE ADA RESTROOM FOR EMPLOYEE AND VOLUNTEERS, WE CURRENTLY ONLY HAVE ONE BATHROOM THAT IS NOT ADA COMPLIANT.
WE ALSO PLAN TO ADD ADDITIONAL OFFICE SPACE FOR OUR FIVE DAILY STAFF.
WE HAVE ABOUT 15 VOLUNTEERS A DAY THAT COULD BE HERE.
AND THE REMAINING SQUARE FOOTAGE WOULD BE FOR STORAGE, FOR ITEMS THAT ARE DONATED.
WE'LL REMOVE ALSO OUTSIDE BESIDES THE MORGAN BUILDING.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE ONE POD ON SITE.
WE UP UNTIL A FEW WEEKS AGO HAD THREE PODS.
AND THEN WE HAVE TWO CLIMATE CONTROLLED STORAGE UNITS OFFSITE.
THE PLANS TO BRING ALL OF THAT IN-HOUSE AND THEN MAKE THE SPACE MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE FOR THE DONATIONS THAT COME THROUGH THE BACK DOOR AND GO OUT THE FRONT DOOR.
GOOD SAMARITANS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THE APRIL MEETING THEY HELD, THEY DID APPROVE THE FORM A BUILDING RELOCATION COMMITTEE.
THE INITIAL CALL FOR THAT IS ACTUALLY TOMORROW NIGHT, SO.
BUT ONCE WE FIND SOMETHING WE'VE SEEN WE'VE HEARD THAT THE SURVIVORS ARE CONCERNED WITH, WE'VE MADE SOME CHANGES AROUND HERE, BUT BASICALLY WE'RE JUST ASKING TO MAKE THE SITE CLEANER AND TO GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE SQUARE FOOTAGE TO OPERATE WITH.
AND WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS OR MOVE ON AND LET OTHERS SPEAK.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU, MISS DODSON.
WELL, SORT OF SEE, YOU'RE AN ICON RIGHT NOW, BUT.
OH, GOOD, GOOD TO HEAR YOU, I SHOULD SAY.
[01:30:03]
THANKS FOR LETTING US KNOW ABOUT THE BUILDING RELOCATION COMMITTEE.AND AGAIN, SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS ARE MAINLY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING THE ANTICIPATED COST OF THIS EXPANSION, I UNDERSTAND, IS ABOUT THREE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.
IS THAT IS THAT STILL CORRECT? THAT'S PROBABLY CLOSE.
WE HAVE NOT HAD IT ACTUALLY PRICED OUT, BUT I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY IN THE RANGE.
AND I'M SURE YOU HAVE SEEN THE NEIGHBORS COMMENTS AND THINGS, AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO TRY TO AT LEAST CLEAR UP, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN IS THAT GOOD SAMARITAN IS NOT A HOMELESS FOCUSED SERVICE.
THERE ARE ZERO SERVICES OTHER THAN FOOD ON SITE PROVIDED FOR THE UNHOUSED.
AND THAT HAS CAUSED A LITTLE CONSTERNATION.
SO I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU TO KIND OF QUANTIFY THAT ON YOUR WEBSITE IT LISTS OR EXCUSE ME, THE GOOD SAMARITANS FACEBOOK PAGE.
IT LISTS THE WHOLE LIST OF ON SITE PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE UNHOUSED, INCLUDING STREET SIDE SHOWERS ON TUESDAYS, METRO RELIEF TUESDAY AND FRIDAY.
MATTHEW 2540 ON TUESDAY, PARKLAND HOMES MEDICAL EVERY THIRD TUESDAY AND THEN IT DOESN'T LIST IT.
BUT SUNDAY MORNING CHURCH SERVICES.
SO THOSE ARE ALL PROGRAMS FOR THE UNHOUSED THAT ARE TAKING PLACE ON SITE.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE SPEAKING FOR GOOD SAMARITAN.
CAN YOU JUST MAKE THAT CLEAR, GOOD SAMARITAN DOES WHAT VERSUS THESE OTHER THINGS.
GOOD SAMARITANS IS AND REMAINS SIMPLY A FOOD PANTRY THAT IS SORT OF A FRONT DOOR FOR PEOPLE IN NEED.
THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS SUCH AS METRO RELIEF, STREET SIDE SHOWERS, GOOD SAMARITANS HAS FORMED A PARTNERSHIP TO PROVIDE SOME OF THESE SERVICES.
BUT IT IS NOT GOOD SAMARITANS, GOOD SAMARITANS ALLOWS THEM TO COME ON SITE.
ACTUALLY, THAT'S NOT EVEN EXACTLY STREETSIDE SHOWERS IS NOT PHYSICALLY ON THE PROPERTY WE OWN, HOWEVER THEY COME HERE, THE PARKLAND YOU'RE AWARE OF, IT WAS A GRANT.
THEY WERE AT [INAUDIBLE] MEMORIAL AND THEY WERE IN DANGER, I BELIEVE, OF LOSING A GRANT.
AND SO THROUGH THOSE DISCUSSIONS, IT WAS ANOTHER POSSIBILITY THAT IF SOMEBODY IS NEEDING FOOD, THEY MAY VERY WELL NEED MEDICAL ATTENTION.
THOSE CAN JUST AS EASILY BE HOUSED AS UNHOUSED CLIENTS.
NOT WITH THE HOME SERVICE, THEY CAN'T.
THAT IS STRICTLY A HOMELESS MEDICAL SERVICE.
BUT THROUGH THE DISCUSSIONS, PRETTY MUCH YOU HAVE WITH THE CITY, IT SEEMED AS IF IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE WANTED TO PROVIDE.
AND SO THAT'S JUST KIND OF WHY WE MOVED INTO THAT PARTNERSHIP.
METRO RELIEF THAT COMES ON SITE HAS SINCE JANUARY PLACED FORTY NINE UNHOUSED FOLKS IN HOUSING.
THEY COME AND MEET WITH WHOEVER IS HERE ON SITE THAT I BELIEVE WAS ALSO A BRAND THAT WAS FROM THE EMERGENCY COVID GRANT FUNDING THAT THE CITY HAD HAD LOOKED FOR GOOD SAM'S TO MAYBE TAKE IN SOME OF THOSE FUNDS FOR EMERGENCY HOUSING.
OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY CALLED WE DISCUSSED IT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT A HOMELESS SHELTER, WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFF.
THERE'S NO WAY WE COULD HAVE SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED THE PROGRAM.
BUT THEN AGAIN, WITH METRO RELIEF RECEIVING IT, AGAIN, JUST A PARTNERSHIP THAT CAN HELP.
FOLKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SO THAT'S THE ONLY GOOD SAMARITANS AS IT HAS BEEN, A FOOD PANTRY, WE'VE OWNED THE PROPERTY SINCE TWO THOUSAND ONE.
THE SPACE OUT FRONT HAS BEEN USED COVID MADE A LOT OF CHANGES, HONESTLY.
[01:35:12]
THE FRONT OF THE PLACE HAS BEEN USED FOR COMMUNITY GATHERINGS AND THINGS, WHICH IS WHAT WE WOULD MUCH RATHER SEE MORE OFTEN, BUT COVID STOPPED THAT.OK, SO JUST STEP BACK, CAN YOU CAN YOU GIVE ME JUST A DESCRIPTION OF THE FOOD PANTRY SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LISTENING? WHAT WHAT DOES THE FOOD PANTRY DO AND PROVIDE FOR THE COMMUNITY? THERE ARE AND I ALSO HAVE PAM SWENDIG, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
SHE MIGHT CORRECT ME ON SOME OF IT, AS YOU ALL KNOW, I'M JUST A NUMBERS PERSON, BUT WE BASICALLY HAVE THREE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. SO, BEFORE COVID, GOOD SAMARITANS SERVICED RESIDENTS OF GARLAND, ROWLETT, SACHSE.
AND THEY WERE CLIENTS, WHICH WAS BASICALLY WE HAD TO KNOW THE CLIENT WE KNEW OF THEIR FAMILY WHO LIVED IN THE HOME, BASICALLY BECAME, YOU KNOW, A GOOD FRIEND OF THE FAMILY, IF YOU WILL.
YOU COULDN'T DO THE CLIENT MEETINGS.
BUT WE STILL SERVE THOSE CLIENTS AND THAT SERVICE IS WHAT WE CONSIDER OUR BACK DOOR.
IT IS A PRETTY LARGE CARTON OF STAPLES FOOD THAT WILL HELP KIND OF STRETCH THROUGH THE MONTH, SPAGHETTI, PEANUT BUTTER, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THE FAMILIES ALSO COME ON SITE ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK AND THERE WILL BE GETTING LIKE FRUITS, VEGETABLES PRODUCE THAT DOESN'T LAST AS LONG.
THEN WE HAVE A 10 PACK, WHICH IS FOR THE UNHOUSED.
THAT INCLUDES BASICALLY 10 ITEMS, AND THEY CAN GET THOSE, I BELIEVE, TWICE A WEEK.
JUST NOT THAT IT HAS TO DO NECESSARILY WITH OUR EXPANSION, BUT OUR UNHOUSED NUMBERS, REALLY, OVERALL, THE NUMBER HAS NOT CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY YEAR OVER YEAR, EVEN WITH COVID AND THEN GOING BACK TO OUR THIRD PROGRAM IS AN EMERGENCY.
WHICH WE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE PRIOR TO COVID, BUT IT'S FAMILIES THAT BASICALLY WERE EMPLOYEES LOST THEIR JOBS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THROUGH COVID AND FIND THEMSELVES IN NEED .
AND SO WE TRY TO PROVIDE THE FOOD SO THAT THEIR FUNDS CAN BE USED TO PAY THEIR RENT, SO THEY REMAIN HOUSED.
THOSE ARE THE THREE MAIN PROGRAMS THAT GOOD SAMARITANS HAS.
SO THE CHANGES THAT HAVE HAPPENED WERE ALL COVID-MADE.
OK, I JUST I'M SORRY, ONE MORE.
I ALMOST FORGOT THIS ONE GIRL.
GISD, WE ARE ALSO SERVING THOSE FAMILIES, WHENEVER THEY CALL.
THE SCHOOL OBVIOUSLY IS THE FIRST IN LINE TO KNOW IF CHILDREN ARE RUNNING INTO TROUBLE, AND SO WE HAD A BIG PARTNERSHIP WITH GISD, WHICH ALSO WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAD THREE PODS FEEDING THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND TRYING TO GET THE FOOD OUT TO THEM.
SO THOSE FOLKS GENERALLY ARE NOT THEY MAY BE COMING ONSITE, BUT GENERALLY GISD HAS BEEN TAKING THIS.
THEY'LL COME PICK THEM UP AND TAKE IT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THEIR STUDENTS ARE.
OK, SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS GOOD SAMARITANS IS ABOUT FOOD AND IT'S JUST REALLY ABOUT FOOD? YES.
LET'S SEE, I'VE GOT COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
JUST A QUESTION, IT'S NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE REQUEST.
ASK THIS QUESTION, SINCE IT WAS RAISED AND I REVIEWED THE RESPONSES THAT CAME IN.
[01:40:04]
AND AS THIS AN ANCILLARY ISSUE AND I'D JUST LIKE TO KNOW YOUR YOUR OPINION AND MS. SWENDIG'S THOUGHTS ON HOW TO ADDRESS THAT AND A NUMBER OF THE RESPONSES THEY RAISED, CITIZENS, NEARBY RESIDENTS RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OVERNIGHT TRAFFIC, THE PEOPLE SLEEPING IN CARS, FOOT TRAFFIC THROUGH NEIGHBORHOODS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.SO IN ANTICIPATION OF AN EXPANSION.
WHAT'S THE DISCUSSION AS TO HOW THOSE KIND OF CONCERNS WILL BE ADDRESSED GOING FORWARD SO THAT THE FOLKS WHO ARE NEARBY THEIR CONCERNS HOPEFULLY CAN BE ADDRESSED.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO SPEAK TO THAT, PLEASE? ABSOLUTELY, I THINK THE FIRST THING THAT I WANT TO POINT OUT IS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER WE GET APPROVAL OR NOT, WE WILL REMAIN HERE AND WE WILL REMAIN OPERATING.
SO AN EXPANSION IS NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO MAKE A CHANGE.
IT'S JUST NOT AS EFFICIENT FOR US.
LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE FORMED A BUILDING RELOCATION COMMITTEE TO LOOK FOR.
TO PLAN FURTHER IN THE FUTURE.
WE HAVE MET WITH CHIEF BRIAN, LOOKED AT THE PLACE CALLED.
WHERE THEY'RE GENERATING FROM.
NEIGHBORS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED THEMSELVES, THAT IS NOT RELATED TO GOOD SAM.
THE FOOT TRAFFIC, THOSE THINGS AT NIGHT, WE ARE SUPPOSED TO MEET WITH CAPTAIN MCCULLY.
TO BRING HIS IDEAS OF WHETHER IT'S THEY CALL IT ENVIRONMENTAL, I FORGET EXACTLY, BUT REDUCTION IN CRIME WITH ENVIRONMENTAL WAYS, WHETHER IT'S LIGHTING CAMERAS, THINGS ALONG THAT LINE, THE POLICE CALLS, THE INCREASED IN CALLS, WE SAW AN INFLUX OF DIFFERENT CLIENTS I FAILED TO MENTION EARLIER.
WITH COVID, GOOD SAMARITANS REMOVED THE REQUIREMENT THAT IS GARLAND, SACHSE, ROWLETT.
AND OBVIOUSLY, WE REMOVED THAT YOU HAD TO BE A CLIENT, SO THERE WAS.
SOME CHANGE, THERE WAS SOME INCREASE.
BUT WHAT THE POLICE REPORTS DON'T REFLECT IS HOW MANY OF THOSE CALLS WERE MADE BY GOOD SAMARITANS.
FOR INSTANCE, WE HAVE AND I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS, BUT WE CRIMINALLY TRESPASSED SEVERAL PEOPLE.
WE HAVE A GENTLEMAN THAT ACTUALLY LIVES IN A HOUSE OR AN APARTMENT THAT KNOWS HE WILL BE CRIMINALLY TRESPASS.
WE JUST CAN'T GET AN OFFICER HERE FAST ENOUGH, AND THAT'S NOT MEANT TO BE NEGATIVE.
I THINK THIS GENTLEMAN IS KIND OF PLAYING A GAME.
SO WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THOSE TYPES OF ITEMS. YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN IT FOR A LONG TIME, YOU KNOW, IT WAS AT THE LIBRARY, IT WAS IN THE APARTMENTS.
GOOD SAM'S HAS TRIED VERY HARD TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR.
PLANNED COMMISSION ASK BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY HAVE A PORTA POTTY OUTSIDE.
AGAIN, TRYING TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR, JUST AS WE DID ALONG THE LINES WITH WORKING WITH METRO RELIEF, BECAUSE THE CITY HAD REQUESTED THAT WE TRY TO HELP OUT AND SO TRYING TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS, WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER MORRIS CAME FORWARD WITH THE PARKLAND HOLMES CLINIC, AGAIN TRYING TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS.
AND ACCEPTING THAT SERVICE OUT HERE, BUT WE'VE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE TRESPASS AND ON CALLS WHERE THEY'VE ACTUALLY BEEN ARRESTED AND SO WE'RE WORKING ON IT.
I MEAN, IF I COULD FIX THE WORLD'S PROBLEMS, I WOULD DO MY BEST TO DO THAT, BUT
[01:45:04]
WE'RE DOING THE THINGS WE KNOW WHAT TO DO.THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND MAYOR, IF IT'S APPROPRIATE, CHIEF BRIAN IS ON THE LINE, COULD I GET HIM TO SPEAK TO THAT SAME POINT OR DO YOU WANT TO WAIT UNTIL LATER? YOU KNOW WHAT? LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO IT NOW.
AND I JUST SAW HIM POP UP SO CHIEF? I CAN POP BACK OUT.
[CHUCKLING] NO, ONCE YOU'RE IN, YOU'RE IN.
SO I DID GET ASKED TO COME TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT POLICE ACTIVITY AT GOOD SAM'S AND AROUND GOOD SAM'S.
AND SO WHAT WE DID IS WE PULLED STATS FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS AND WE PULLED IT FOR KIND OF A SMALL AREA.
SO IF YOU CAN IMAGINE BETWEEN 11TH STREET, 13TH STREET AND MAIN STREET AND AUSTIN STREET IS THE AREA THAT WE PULLED STATS FROM AND WE PULLED IT OVER FIVE YEARS.
AND SO I'M GOING TO KIND OF GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT WE FOUND.
IN 2016 IN THAT AREA, WE HAD 16 CALLS FOR SERVICE.
AND WHEN I SAY CALLS FOR SERVICE, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE TIMES THAT PEOPLE HAVE CALLED FOR A POLICE RESPONSE.
AND SO IF IT'S AN OFFICER INITIATED ACTIVITY, WE LEFT THAT OUT OF THE STATS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TIMES THAT SOMEONE HAS CALLS FOR A POLICE RESPONSE.
SO IN 2016, YOU HAD 16 CALLS FOR SERVICE AND WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN CALLS FOR SERVICE THROUGH THE YEARS.
AND 2020, FOR EXAMPLE, WE GOT IT TO SEVENTY FIVE CALLS FOR SERVICE.
AND THEN AND THIS YEAR WE'RE ON PACE FOR ABOUT ONE HUNDRED CALLS FOR SERVICE.
SO THAT'S A LOT, THAT'S A LOT OF CALLS FOR US TO RESPOND TO IN A SMALL AREA.
SO WE WANTED TO LOOK AT WHAT TYPE OF CALLS ARE DRIVING THESE NUMBERS AND THE TYPE OF CALLS THAT ARE DRIVING THESE NUMBERS OR GENERAL DISTURBANCE CALLS, SUCH AS PEOPLE SLEEPING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, PEOPLE SLEEPING IN CARS, SUSPICIOUS PERSONS URINATING IN PUBLIC, CONCERN FOR WELFARE CALLS, THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY DRIVING THESE NUMBERS, THOSE GENERAL NUISANCE TYPE CALLS WHICH ARE DRIVING THESE NUMBERS.
WE ALSO LOOKED AT CRIMINAL OFFENSES.
HOW MANY CRIMINAL OFFENSES HAD OCCURRED.
WE HAVE SEEN A SMALL INCREASE IN CRIMINAL OFFENSES.
IT IS A PURSE, CELL PHONE, SOMETHING THAT GETS LEFT OUT.
WHAT WE CALL CRIMES OF OPPORTUNITY IS WHAT WE'VE SEEN PUSHING THE CRIME.
AND I WILL SAY ONE THING THAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN AND WE LOOKED AT DOWNTOWN AS WELL.
WE'VE ALSO SEEN AN INCREASE DOWNTOWN IN CALLS FOR SERVICE.
WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN THOSE DISTURBANCE AND NUISANCE TYPE CALLS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND WE'VE SEEN A SMALL INCREASE IN THOSE PROPERTY CRIMES AND CRIMINAL MISCHIEF TYPE CALLS.
WHAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN THIS AREA OR IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA IS VIOLENT CRIME.
AND I THINK THE FIRST QUESTION I GET IS, IS IT SAFE? AND THE ANSWER, YES, ABSOLUTELY, THIS AREA IS SAFE AND DOWNTOWN IS SAFE.
WE ARE NOT SEEING ASSAULTS WITH INJURIES.
WE'RE NOT SEEING AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS, SEXUAL ASSAULT.
I WOULD FEEL CONFIDENT FOR ANYONE WALKING IN THAT AREA.
BUT WE HAVE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THOSE NUISANCE TYPE CALLS IN AND AROUND GOOD SAMARITANS.
I CAN SAY THAT ABOUT 30 TO 40 PERCENT OF THOSE CALLS ARE COMING FROM GOOD SAMARITANS ITSELF.
AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT IT APPEARS IN THE NUMBERS.
I DID MEET WITH MS. WENDIG AND MISS DODSON ON FRIDAY AND WE TALKED ABOUT THESE NUMBERS.
AND I WILL TELL YOU THIS, GOOD SAMARITAN IS A VERY PROACTIVE LOCATION FOR CALLING US WHEN THERE IS A PROBLEM.
SO THEY DO NOT HESITATE IF THEY HAVE A PROBLEM AT THEIR FACILITY, THEY CALL US AND WE TRY TO GET THERE QUICKLY.
IN FACT, WE TALK ABOUT THE ONE INDIVIDUAL THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO GET CRIMINAL TRESPASS FROM THERE.
SO THEY ARE VERY ACTIVE, VERY GOOD PARTNERS WITH US FOR TRYING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
WE DO HAVE ONE, CPTED, IS THE TERM MS. DODSON WAS LOOKING FOR, WHICH IS CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN.
WE HAVE A CPTED SPECIALIST THAT'S GOING TO IT'S GOING TO MEET WITH GOOD SAMARITANS AND MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO REDUCE SOME OF THESE NUMBERS.
I THINK THOSE ARE ALL THE POINTS THAT I HAVE TO GET THROUGH, BUT I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS. OK, THANKS, CHIEF.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, THOSE ARE ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAD.
ALL RIGHT, CHIEF, I WOULD JUST STAND BY.
[01:50:04]
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.MAYOR DODSON, GOOD EVENING, AND I HAVE A QUESTION TO CLARIFY A STATEMENT YOU JUST SAID.
YOU SAID THAT YOU WOULD STILL HAVE A PRESENCE OR STILL BE LOCATED IN THAT SAME LOCATION, EVEN IF YOU DECIDE TO MOVE.
IS THAT CORRECT? NO, I'M SORRY.
WHETHER WE RECEIVE APPROVAL TONIGHT OR DENIED, WE WILL REMAIN IN THIS PLACE OPERATING UNTIL A SUITABLE REPLACEMENT PROPERTY CAN BE FOUND.
SO, UNTIL WE CAN GO ELSEWHERE, WE'RE LEGAL, NONCONFORMING, AND SO WE CAN STAY HERE AND DO WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH OR WITHOUT APPROVAL.
AND OTHER THAN THAT, ONCE A LARGER FACILITY, I'LL POINT OUT, LIKE ONCE WE ACTUALLY REMOVE THE SMALL SHED, THE STORAGE [INAUDIBLE] AND BRING THOSE TWO OFFSITE STORAGE UNITS UNDER THE ROOF, ADDING SEVENTEEN HUNDRED SQUARE FEET, WE'RE PRETTY MUCH AT CAPACITY AS SOON AS WE OPEN.
SO LONG TERM STRATEGIC PLANNING SHOWS THAT WE WILL NEED TO RELOCATE TO A LARGER BUILDING.
WE JUST ARE KICKING OFF THAT COMMITTEE TO FIND THOSE AREAS THAT ARE POTENTIAL.
MY BIGGEST CONCERN WITH THAT IS ONCE YOU MOVE, WE ALMOST CODIFY THIS LEGAL NONCONFORMING USE INTO A ZONING CASE THAT THEN ONCE YOU GUYS ARE GONE, THE RESIDENTS ARE LEFT WITH THAT ZONING THAT IS NOW FORMING USE AND WITH THE WAREHOUSE THERE.
THAT'S THE BIGGEST ISSUE FOR ME ON THIS QUESTION.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S TAKE ANOTHER PASS THROUGH.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL FOR THE APPLICANT BEFORE WE MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
MAYOR, QUICK QUESTION FOR STAFF.
MR. NEIGHBOR, IF YOU'RE AVAILABLE.
BRAD, IS THERE A WAY TO WRITE ZONING IN SUCH A WAY OR WRITE THIS PARTICULAR PERMIT IN SUCH A WAY THAT JUST GOES AWAY WHEN THE PROPERTY IS SOLD? BECAUSE I WANT TO ADDRESS COUNCIL MEMBER HEDRICK'S CONCERN.
I THINK IF I COULD REPHRASE YOUR QUESTION: IS THERE A WAY TO TIE IT TO THIS APPLICANT? YEAH, AND NO, IT'S NOT AN SUP.
AND IT'S NOT EVEN REALLY A ZONING CHANGE, THE UNDERLYING ZONING DOESN'T CHANGE FROM WHAT IT IS.
IT'S NOT AN SUP; IT'S A MAJOR WAIVER, AS WE CALL IT IN THE GDC.
AND THE MAJOR WAIVER IS TO ACCOMMODATE THIS RECONFIGURATION OF THE SETUP TO WHERE YOU'RE MAKING, AS SOMEBODY MENTIONED EARLIER, A NONCONFORMING USE INTO A CONFORMING USE.
CONDITION IT? YES, WE CAN DO THAT, BUT I DON'T KNOW OF ANY MECHANISM TO TIE IT TO THE GOOD SAMARITAN.
DID I ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YOU DID AND IS THERE A WAY TO TIE IN, SAY, AND THIS IS JUST OFF THE CUFF GUYS, SORRY, A FIRST ORDER OF REFUSAL TO THE CITY.
WHEN THEY GO TO SELL THE PROPERTY.
ALL RIGHTS HAVE NO ONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE FROM THE COUNCIL, SO WE WILL MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
I HAVE ONE PERSON IN THE QUEUE ALREADY.
WE ARE GOING TO OPEN THIS UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
JUST A REMINDER, IF YOU CAN USE THE RAISE YOUR HAND FEATURE AND I'LL GET YOU CUED UP.
I WILL UNMUTE THE LINE ON OUR END.
YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
COUNCIL, ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR ME OK? YES, SIR.
MY NAME IS ROBERT SMITH, 115 NORTH 9TH STREET IN DOWNTOWN GARLAND.
[01:55:04]
MY OBJECTION TO THE REQUEST TONIGHT IS NOT ABOUT GOOD SAM'S' ORIGINAL SERVICES TO GISD FAMILIES.IT HAS TO DO WITH THE FUTURE OF DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE FOUR COMMENTS ABOUT THAT.
IT WAS ABOUT A WEEK AGO I LOOKED THROUGH WHAT WAS MAILED TO THE CITY OF REGARDING THOSE WHO WERE FOR AND THOSE WHO WERE AGAINST.
AND IT CAME BACK THAT THERE WERE BASICALLY TWO GROUPS OF THAT, NOT JUST BEFORE AND AGAINST, BUT THOSE WHO WERE FOR.
DID NOT LIVE IN DOWNTOWN GARLAND, THEY WERE LIKE MYSELF, BUSINESS OWNERS, THOSE WHO WERE AGAINST AT THE TIME THAT I LOOKED AT, THESE WERE THOSE WHO LIVE AROUND GOOD SAM'S AND IN THAT AREA.
AND THAT RAISED A RED FLAG FOR ME.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS I'M HERE TONIGHT.
SECONDLY, GOOD SAM HAS ESTABLISHED AN AD HOC COMMITTEE, WHICH I DO CURRENTLY SERVE ON, AND I APPRECIATE BEING ASKED TO SERVE FOR.
HOWEVER, IT SEEMS DISINGENUOUS TO ME THAT GOOD SAM IS SEEKING SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR AN ADDITION AND AT THE SAME TIME SEEKING A NEW LOCATION.
THE AD HOC COMMITTEE THAT HAS BEEN FORMED HAS A TIME FRAME THAT EXPIRES IN THE FIRST PART OF JULY.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT AN EARNEST SEARCH FOR A NEW LOCATION, A NEW PROPERTY CANNOT HAPPEN IN THE MONTHS AND BE SUCCESSFUL FROM THE MONTHS OF MAY, JUNE AND JULY.
SOMETHING OF THAT MAGNITUDE USUALLY TAKES BETWEEN SIX TO NINE MONTHS TO FULLY, EARNESTLY FIND [INAUDIBLE].
NUMBER THREE, I CANNOT FIND ANYTHING IN ANY OF THE DOWNTOWN REPORTS, INCLUDING THE PARIS RUTHERFORD PLAN, WHICH WOULD ADVOCATE THAT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES CONTINUE A NON CONFORMING USE ALONG WITH A NEW NONCONFORMING BUILDING ADDITION.
IT GOES COMPLETELY IN OPPOSITION TO THE GOALS OF DOWNTOWN, WHAT THE CITY HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR.
AND FOURTH, GOOD SAM'S SERVICES APPEARS TO HAVE CHANGED FROM PROVIDING FOOD FOR GST FAMILIES TO INCLUDING VAGRANT SERVICES, WHICH WE HAVE HEARD EARLIER, HENCE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THE HOME OWNERS.
AND NOW FROM THE TESTIMONY OF THE POLICE CHIEF, PROBABLY THOSE CALLS MADE BY THE GOOD SAM'S.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? VERY GOOD, SIR.
YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU MADE THAT IN UNDER JUST UNDER THREE MINUTES, AND I WILL TELL YOU, MR. SMITH, WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED SPEAKING, I DIDN'T THINK YOU WERE GOING TO MAKE IT, BUT I SEE NO QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT.
MY NEXT SPEAKER IS RUSSELL DUCKWORTH.
MR. DUCKWORTH, I'VE OPENED THE LINE ON OUR END.
MAYOR LEMAY, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, SIR.
WELL, CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL THIS EVENING, I ALWAYS ASK THE BOARD AT GOOD SAM' TO APPROACH THINGS FROM THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN WHEN WE DO BUSINESS ON BEHALF OF GOOD SAM'.
AND SO I THOUGHT IT BE APPROPRIATE FOR ME JUST TO REMIND EVERYBODY ABOUT THAT PARABLE.
AND SINCE WE'VE BEEN DOING SOME LAWYERING HERE, I THOUGHT IT WAS FUNNY AS JUST THEN A LAWYER STOOD UP TO TEST JESUS.
TEACHER, HE SAID, WHAT MUST I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE? HE SAID TO HIM, WHAT IS WRITTEN IN THE LAW? WHAT YOU READ THERE.
HE ANSWERED, YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD, YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, WITH ALL YOUR MIND AND LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.
AND HE SAID TO HIM, YOU HAVE GIVEN THE RIGHT ANSWER.
BUT WANTING TO JUSTIFY HIMSELF, HE ASKED JESUS.
AND WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR? JESUS REPLIED.
A MAN WAS GOING DOWN FROM JERUSALEM TO JERICHO AND FELL INTO THE HANDS OF ROBBERS WHO STRIPPED HIM, BEAT HIM, WENT AWAY, LEAVING HIM FOR DEAD.
NOW A PRIEST WAS GOING BY DOWN THE ROAD, AND WHEN HE SAW HIM, HE PASSED BY ON THE OTHER SIDE.
LIKEWISE A LEVI, WHEN HE CAME TO THE PLACE AND SAW HIM PASSED BY ON THE OTHER SIDE.
BUT A SAMARITAN CAME NEAR HIM, AND WHEN HE SAW HIM, HE WAS MOVED WITH PITY.
HE WENT TO BANDAGE HIS WOUNDS, HAVING POURED OIL AND WINE ON THEM.
THEN HE PUT HIM ON HIS OWN ANIMAL, BROUGHT HIM TO AN END AND TOOK CARE OF HIM.
THE NEXT DAY HE TOOK OUT TWO DENARII, GAVE THEM TO THE INNKEEPER AND SAID, TAKE CARE OF HIM.
AND WHEN I COME BACK, I WILL REPAY YOU WHATEVER YOU HAVE SPENT.
WHICH OF THESE THREE DO YOU THINK WAS A NEIGHBOR TO THE MAN WHO FELL INTO THE HANDS OF THE ROBBERS, HE SAID.
JESUS SAID TO HIM, GO AND DO LIKEWISE.
SO WE MIGHT SPEND THE ENTIRE EVENING COUNCIL ASKING HOW THE CITY IS WORKING TO
[02:00:05]
ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES OF HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY OF GARLAND OR HOW WE PARTNER WITH SURROUNDING CITIES TO IMPLEMENT POLICIES THAT PREVENT PUSHING THE UNHOUSED FROM CITY TO CITY OR EVEN DIG DEEPER INTO QUESTIONING WHY WE ALLOW SOME SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, SOME AT THE REQUEST OF THE CITY TO WORK WITH TARGETED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.HOWEVER, THAT'S NOT A COMPONENT OF OUR REQUEST.
WE'RE REQUESTING A VARIANCE TO ALLOW IMPROVEMENT OF THE PROPERTY, BOTH FUNCTIONALLY AND VISUALLY.
THAT'S THE NATURE OF OUR REQUEST.
AND I WOULD REQUEST THAT YOU LIMIT THE WEIGHT GIVEN TO SOCIAL ISSUES THAT FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE CHALLENGED TO ADDRESS AND GET FOCUSED ON THE ITEMS THAT WE CAN CONTROL.
THE IMPROVEMENT OF OUR PROPERTY SO THAT WE, IN THE SPIRIT OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN, CAN CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
WHEN SOMEONE HAS A FOOD NEED, WE SAY YES, JUST AS DURING SNOWMAGEDDON, WHEN MAYOR PRO TEM MORRIS ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY IN THE FORM OF BOTTLED WATER, WE SAID YES.
MORE THAN 80 PERCENT OF OUR CLIENTS ARE CITIZENS OF GARLAND, ROWLETT AND SACHSE STUDENTS OF GISD AND NEIGHBORS.
GOOD SAMARITANS IS A GOOD NEIGHBOR AND THE WAY THAT THE PARABLE GUIDES US TO TAKE CARE OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND IN THE WAY THAT WE ENVISION OUR PLACE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS WE IMPROVE THE CONDITIONS OF THE PROPERTY AND SUPPORT OF OUR MISSION: FEEDING, HELPING AND SERVING.
AND BEFORE YOU GO, IF YOU COULD GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
I LIVE AT 202 BONHAM, IN LADONIA, TEXAS.
I ALSO SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF GOOD SAMARITANS.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.
I'VE OPENED THE LINE ON OUR END.
IF YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
I LIVE AT 12 WEST STATE STREET.
I AM CATTY CORNER TO THE GOOD SAMARITAN.
FIRST, I JUST WANT TO PREFACE MY COMMENTS BY SAYING THAT WHILE I STRONGLY SUPPORT FEEDING THE HUNGRY AND THE MISSION OF GOOD SAMARITAN TO HELP FEED THOSE IN NEED TO SERVE, I AM IN MY PRAYER MINISTRY.
WHAT IT IS ABOUT IS THAT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS AFTER THE STAFF GOES HOME AT THREE THIRTY IN THE AFTERNOON.
SO WE HAVE MADE SOME POLICE REPORT, SOME OF THEM WE DON'T, BECAUSE THE POLICE HAVE TOLD US THAT THEY REALLY CAN'T DO ANYTHING UNLESS THE PEOPLE HAVE DONE SOMETHING EXCEPT MAYBE TRY TO ASK THEM TO MOVE ALONG.
SO I DON'T THINK WASTING THEIR RESOURCES TO COME OUT FOR SOMEBODY CLUNKING A POLE ON OUR STREET SIGN AT THREE THIRTY IN THE MORNING IS WORTHY OF THEM MAKING A CALL.
HOWEVER, WE'VE HAD EVERYTHING HAPPEN TO US FROM ME HAVING MY WINDOW KNOCKED ON MY LIVING ROOM WINDOW WITH SOMEBODY STANDING IN MY SHRUBS, PEOPLE STANDING BETWEEN OUR HOUSES, I'VE BEEN APPROACHED IN MY YARD FROM BEHIND BY A STRANGER ASKING ME IF MY HUSBAND'S HOME WHILE I'M WORKING AT MY FLOWER BED.
I MOVED HERE BECAUSE OF THE QUIET, QUAINT, NICE LITTLE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND WE ALWAYS OUR NEIGHBORS AND MYSELF CALL IT THE BACKWARDS NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE EVERYBODY LEAVES AT 5:00.
THE LITTLE SMALL BUSINESSES HERE AND MOST OF THESE SPACES ARE TWELVE HUNDRED SQUARE FEET, MOST OF THESE SMALL HOMES, OURS IS A NINETEEN TWENTY EIGHT HOUSE.
THIS IS TWICE THE SIZE OF ANY OF OUR HOMES OVER HERE.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT REALLY CHANGED WHEN THEY ADDED THE PICNIC BENCHES, ALL OF THAT OUTSIDE THE FLOWERS.
BUT I'M TELLING YOU, THE CROWD THAT IS GATHERING THERE AFTER HOURS IS FRIGHTENING.
WE VIDEOTAPE EVERY NIGHT THIS LAST WEEK.
AND ACTUALLY WHEN MY HUSBAND MET WITH PAM A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND ONE OF THE OTHER NEIGHBORS, WE TOLD HER THAT FOR I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG, MAYBE A COUPLE OF YEARS THEY'VE BEEN HANGING BLANKETS AND TARPS AND EVERYTHING AROUND THIS FRONT PORCH.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING OVER THERE.
PEOPLE ARE FIGHTING OUT THERE.
WERE WOKEN UP AT TWO O'CLOCK THE OTHER NIGHT FROM PEOPLE SCREAMING PROFANITIES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.
I DON'T GO OUTSIDE UNLESS MY HUSBAND'S HOME.
I CAN'T EVEN WORK IN MY FRONT YARD.
AND I THINK BY ADDING A BATHROOM AND MAKING A LARGER FACILITY WITH PARKING SPACES, YOU'RE GOING TO ATTRACT MORE THAN THAT.
AND MY OTHER POINT I'D LIKE TO MAKE IS THAT THERE ARE STATE STREET IS A
[02:05:02]
THOROUGHFARE FROM GARLAND ROAD TO DOWNTOWN GARLAND.AND THAT IS SUCH A NICE LITTLE REVITALIZED DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY.
WE DON'T EVEN HAVE FRIENDS THAT COME OVER ANYMORE.
THEY'VE BEEN APPROACHED THEIR CARS WHEN THEY PARK AT OUR HOUSE.
IT'S JUST VERY, VERY FRIGHTENING.
AND IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T SUPPORT THE MISSION, BUT THE DISTURBANCES, THE INTIMIDATION, ALL OF IT HAS JUST BECOME A FACTOR.
AND ALL OF MY NEIGHBORS STILL THE SAME WAY.
MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR CALLED MY HUSBAND TO COME OUT A COUPLE OF NIGHTS AGO BECAUSE THE SAME STRANGE MAN'S BEEN KNOCKING ON OUR FRONT DOOR AND SHE LIVES ALONE.
I'M GOING TO NEED YOU TO SUM UP, PLEASE.
AND I HAVE A GREAT, EMPATHETIC HEART FOR THE MISSION.
BUT THIS IS THE WRONG LOCATION FOR AN OPERATION OF THAT SIZE.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS SIDE OF.
OK, MY NEXT SPEAKER IS [INAUDIBLE] CASTILLO.
I'VE OPENED THE LINE ON OUR END.
HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, IF YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] CASTILLO.
I LIVE AT 226 NORTH 12TH STREET IN GARLAND, TEXAS, TWO HOUSES DOWN FROM THE SAMARITANS.
AND I HAVE LIVED THERE FOR A LITTLE OVER 12 YEARS, MY FIRST HOUSE AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE MILITARY.
IT USED TO BE A QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD, A GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT SEEMS LIKE A GOOD SAMARITAN THEY'RE, NOT ONLY A FOOD PANTRY, BUT ALSO IT'S TURNING INTO A HOMELESS CAMPGROUND.
WE WAKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TO FIGHTS, 3:00 A.M.
IN THE MORNING, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO CALL THE COPS.
I WALKED OVER THERE MYSELF TO STOP FIRES THAT THEY HAVE HAPPENING.
I HAVE WALKED OUTSIDE MY HOUSE TO PEOPLE SELLING ME DRUGS.
I COME HOME TO FIGHTS, SCREAMING.
IT'S NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE, AND I LOVE WHAT THEY DO THERE.
I'M ALL FOR KINDNESS AND I KNOW THERE'S PEOPLE STRUGGLING OUT THERE.
BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, WE, THE NEIGHBORS DON'T DESERVE ALL THIS CHAOS AROUND THIS.
WE GO TO WORK LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE AND WE HAVE TO COME HOME TO ALL THIS NONSENSE.
THE VOLUNTEERS AT GOOD SAMARITAN, THEY GET TO GO HOME AND ENJOY THEIR PEACE AND QUIET.
AND HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS OPPOSE THIS REQUEST FROM GOOD SAMARITAN.
IT'S JUST NOT THE RIGHT LOCATION FOR THEM ANYMORE.
AND I GUESS THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
MY NEXT SPEAKER IS RICHARD HARGROVE.
MR. HARGROVE, I'VE OPENED THE LINE ON OUR END.
YOU ANNOUNCED MY NAME, RICHARD HARGROVE? I DID.
OK, MY NAME IS RICHARD HARGROVE.
I OWN ALSTON'S ANTIQUES AT 212 NORTH SEVENTH STREET DOWNTOWN.
I WANT TO FIRST MENTION THAT WHEN MAYOR PRO TEM MORRIS ASKED LAURIE DOTSON IF IT WAS ONLY ABOUT FOOD AND SHE SAID YES, WELL, THE SHOWERING IS NOT ALL ABOUT FOOD.
SHOWERING THE INDIVIDUALS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH FOOD.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT POINT CLEAR, BUT, I WANT TO SAY THAT WHAT THEY DO IN GOOD TIMES IS COMMENDABLE TO THE VOLUNTEERS FOR ALL THEIR WORK AND THIS ORGANIZATION, THEY DO A GREAT, GREAT JOB IN PROVIDING FOOD FOR THE LESS FORTUNATE.
MY POINT IN SPEAKING TONIGHT IS IN HOPES THAT YOU, OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, CAN MAKE A WRONG, A RIGHT.
GRANTING A FOOD PANTRY ON A MAIN ENTRY INTO OUR CITY SQUARE WAS THE FIRST MISTAKE.
IT CREATES THE CONGESTION AT THE INTERSECTION OF ST.
AND 12TH AND HONESTLY, IT'S NOT FAVORABLE.
IT'S NOT A FAVORABLE SITE FOR THE ENTRY TO OUR DOWNTOWN.
SINCE IT'S BEEN A FOOD PANTRY, IT HAS ALSO BECOME A PLACE FOR HOMELESS TO HANG OUT AND SLEEP ON THE PROPERTY.
THIS SHOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE.
IT'S NOT ALLOWED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
I FEEL FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE IN THIS AREA AND HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS NUISANCE.
EVERYONE IS SO QUICK TO CORRECT US AND SAYING IT'S A FOOD PANTRY, NOT A HOMELESS SHELTER.
BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO ADDRESS THE HOMELESS STAYING THERE 24/7 AND THE NUISANCE IT'S
[02:10:02]
CAUSING TO THE NEIGHBORS.SINCE IT WAS ACKNOWLEDGED THERE WERE PEOPLE SLEEPING ON THE PROPERTY, NO ONE HAS DONE ANYTHING TO FIX IT.
THEREFORE, I'M OPPOSED TO BUILDING A LARGER FACILITY AT THIS LOCATION.
THIS TYPE OF OPERATION SHOULD NOT HAVE EVER BEEN APPROVED FOR THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS SIDE OF.
OTHERWISE, I'M GOING TO GO BACK.
AND GIVE THE APPLICANT SOME TIME AND THE APPLICANT HAS ALREADY RAISED THEIR HAND, FOR THE APPLICANT TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES.
I HAVE OPENED THE LINE FOR THE APPLICANT AND I WILL SAY, I MEAN, SOME OF THE POINTS THAT I HEARD THAT MIGHT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IS OBVIOUSLY THE AFTER HOURS ACTIVITIES.
AND I KNOW YOU HAVE MET IN OUR MEETING WITH DPD AND THE BATHROOM THAT YOU'RE ADDING, IS THAT A PUBLIC RESTROOM OR IS THAT FOR VOLUNTEERS, ETC.? SO THOSE WERE SOME OF THE POINTS, IF YOU COULD ADDRESS THOSE.
SOMEHOW, THE EMAIL STENT REGARDING THE BUILDING RELOCATION COMMITTEE, THE DEADLINE OF JULY WAS SET FOR US TO RETURN TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WITH A LIST OF POTENTIAL SITES.
IF WE THOUGHT WE COULD FINISH IN THREE MONTHS TO FIND A BUILDING AND MOVE, WE WOULD NOT BE HERE, BUT THAT'S NOT, AS HE SAID, THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE POSSIBLE.
SO THAT IT'S NOT AN ABSOLUTE STOP TO THE COMMITTEE; THAT WAS JUST A DEADLINE TO REPORT BACK TO THE BOARD.
THE NEIGHBORS, I WILL MENTION, A NEIGHBOR THAT' CATTYCORNER TO US IS OUR ARCHITECT.
THE LADY THAT WAS SPEAKING IS NEXT TO THE ARCHITECT, SO THERE'S NOT A DIRECT LINE OF SIGHT.
I HEARD THE REST OF THE CONCERNS, SO THE AFTER HOURS ACTIVITY, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WAS ON SITE A FEW WEEKENDS AGO EARLY AND SAW THE FOLKS WITH TARPS CUT THOSE TARPS DOWN, SAID, NO, YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS THAT SPOKE, SENT US ANOTHER MESSAGE ABOUT THE TARPS UP.
WE WERE BACK ON SITE SUNDAY MORNING AND THE POLICE WERE CALLED.
THERE WAS ONE ARREST AND TWO REMOVALS.
THE BENCHES MENTIONED THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED, THOSE BENCHES HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE AT LEAST 2014 THAT WE KNOW OF.
2018 WHEN WE HOSTED THE OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY COMMUNITY GATHERING, THOSE PICNICS IN FRONT WERE OUT THERE.
WE'VE HAD NEIGHBORS WALKING FROM DOWNTOWN LADY AND HER GRANDDAUGHTER THAT WALKING FROM DOWNTOWN TO THEIR HOUSE OVER BY KROGER THAT WOULD STOP AND SIT, GET A DRINK OF WATER.
THE RESTROOM IS SIMPLY EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS USE.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE ONE RESTROOM, FIVE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE HERE DAILY, PLUS UP TO 15 VOLUNTEERS; ONE RESTROOM'S NOT ENOUGH.
IT HAS NO OUTSIDE OPENING; IT'S NOT FOR USE OF ANY OF THE GUEST.
AND THEN AGAIN, CAPTAIN MCCULLY WILL BE OUT HERE AND AGAIN, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT IT'S CALLED, BUT LIGHTING CAMERAMEN, THOSE THINGS THAT WE WILL BE WORKING ON, LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, I KNOW YOU ALL ARE AWARE OF WE FOUGHT THAT ISSUE AT THE LIBRARY.
WE FOUGHT THAT ISSUE AT THE APARTMENTS.
SOME OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS OVER OFF OF GARLAND RD AND SHILOH, THEY FIGHT THE SAME
[02:15:04]
ISSUE, WHETHER IT'S A CAR WASH, A PARKING LOT, A CAR LOT OR A CAR WASH ARE GOOD SAMARITANS.THE COMMENT ABOUT THERE BEING TRASHED, I KNOW MOST OF Y'ALL ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE SITE.
THE BEST I CAN SAY IS THAT'S SIMPLY NOT TRUE.
OTHER THAN THAT, I DON'T KNOW IF OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS ABLE TO RAISE HER HAND, BUT HE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT IF THAT'S ALLOWED.
I HAVE ACTUALLY OPENED THE LINE ON THAT END.
OKAY, I'M GOING TO MUTE MINE, BECAUSE NOW WE'RE [INAUDIBLE].
AND IF YOU COULD JUST GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
OK, THIS IS PAM SWENDIG AND I RESIDE AT 638 COUNTRY VIEW LANE IN GARLAND, TEXAS, 75043.
I AM GRATEFUL TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS SOME CONCERNS AND TALK WITH YOU, COUNCIL, ABOUT THE WORK OF GOOD SAMARITANS.
THIS IS GOING ON MY EIGHTH YEAR IN MY OPERATIONS MANAGER ON HER SEVENTH YEAR AT GOOD SAM .
I AM BEYOND PROUD OF WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE DO IT.
HAVING GONE WITH MY NIECE TO A SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY WHEN SHE WAS PREGNANT AND HAVE RECEIVED A VERY COLD RECEPTION, I KNEW THAT'S NOT THE WAY I WANTED TO RUN THE FOOD PANTRY.
PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY, THEY COME IN, THEY NEED FOOD, THEY'RE GOING TO GET FOOD.
AND I WANTED IT TO BE A WELCOMING PLACE, THUS THE FLOWERS, THE RELATIONSHIP BUILDING THAT HAPPENS AT THE PICNIC TABLES BECAUSE FOOD IS WHAT BRINGS THEM HERE.
AND AS WITH ANYTHING IN WHICH PEOPLE SIT DOWN TO EAT AND THEY SHARE CONCERNS.
BEFORE COVID, WE HAD FAMILIES SITTING THERE WHO WOULD ACTUALLY TALK WITH EACH OTHER, FIND OUT WHAT THEIR NEEDS WERE AND TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER AT THE PICNIC TABLE.
BUT THE COOL THING IS GOOD SAMARITANS REMAINED OPEN.
MY STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, THEY SAID, YES, WE CAN'T.
HOW CAN WE CLOSE? WE HAVE TO PROVIDE FOOD.
AND THAT'S WHAT THEY DID IN 2020.
THE HOMELESS HAD NO PLACE TO GO, NO PLACE TO RECEIVE HYGIENE, FOOD, ANY KIND OF SERVICES.
AND I ADMIT I GET A LITTLE BIT TOO GENEROUS AND TOO GRACIOUS.
AND NOW I AM SAYING THAT I NEED TO PULL BACK.
I'VE STARTED IMPOSING STRICTER BEHAVIOR BECAUSE I WANT TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR TO MY NEIGHBORS.
AND I TALKED WITH BOTH NEIGHBORS THAT HAVE TALKED TONIGHT.
I DO WANT TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS.
I PERSONALLY PICK UP TRASH FOR TWO BLOCKS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S A CONCERN.
AND I'M HERE SIX DAYS A WEEK, IF NOT SEVEN.
SO I KNOW WHAT GOES ON BEYOND THREE THIRTY.
I'M SORRY THIS GOES ON, BUT I CAN'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR EVERYBODY'S BEHAVIOR.
BUT IF I'M HERE, I WILL ADDRESS IT.
AND IN THE MEANTIME, I THINK THIS IS A PRETTY NICE PLACE TO ENTER DOWNTOWN GARLAND.
I'VE HAD PEOPLE SAY THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A CAFé OR A PLACE TO EAT AND WE JUST NEED MORE STORAGE FOR OUR FOOD.
IT'S EXHAUSTING FOR MY PANTRY TO GO OVER TO FIRST STREET TO CUBESMART AND GET FOOD AND BRING IT BACK HERE WHILE PICKING UP TWENTY SIX RETAIL DONATIONS A WEEK.
THAT'S NOT GOOD USE OF OUR RESOURCES.
I MEAN, WE HAVE PEOPLE STANDING IN LINE.
THAT'S NOT HEALTHY, IT'S NOT SAFE.
IT'S NOT KIND TO OUR VOLUNTEERS.
WE DON'T WANT TO CLEAN UP AFTER ANYONE.
THAT'S WHY WE GOT A PORTA POTTY THAT WE PUT OUT ON THE GROUNDS BECAUSE WE HAD HEARD THESE CONCERNS FROM DOWNTOWN.
WE PROACTIVELY ARE PAYING FOR A PORTA POTTY TO BE CLEANED TWICE A WEEK.
WE ARE A HOLISTIC PRESENCE IN GARLAND.
I THINK WE CAN MAKE THIS WORK.
MY NEIGHBOR RIGHT NEXT DOOR HASN'T COMPLAINED.
THE NEIGHBORS BEHIND ME HAVEN'T COMPLAINED.
I AM DOING AND MY STAFF IS DOING WHAT WE CAN TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS AND WE'RE WORKING, I THINK, WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
SO I WOULD ASK FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF APPROVING US ADDING THE ADDITIONAL EXPANSION TO STORE FOOD AND HAVE ANOTHER ADA COMPLIANT RESTAURANT FOR MY EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS TO USE, AND WE LOVE SERVING GARLAND WE'VE DONE IT FAITHFULLY.
AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
[02:20:01]
THANK YOU.ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL, I THINK WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND THE APPLICANT HAS HAD SOME REBUTTAL TIME, SO WE'LL BRING IT BACK AROUND TO COUNCIL'S QUESTIONS.
SORRY, COUNCIL MEMBER AUBIN, YOU WERE IN THE QUEUE.
IN THE QUEUE, OUT OF THE QUEUE.
WITH REGARD TO THE KIND OF AFTERHOURS ACTIVITIES, I'M LIKE, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD INCLUDE IN THIS OR NOT, YOU KNOW, WOULD GOOD SAM BE WILLING TO I READ ONE OF THE COMMENTARIES THAT INDICATED PART OF THE PROBLEM IS DO THE POLICE HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO REMOVE SOMEBODY FROM THE PROPERTY AFTER HOURS.
WOULD YOU ALL BE WILLING, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S AN ISSUE OR NOT.
WOULD GOOD SAM BE WILLING TO PROVIDE BLANKET AUTHORITY FOR THAT SO THAT IF THERE'S SOMEBODY ON THE PROPERTY AFTERHOURS THAT THEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE PROPERTY.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S EVEN SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CONDITION ON ANY OF THIS, BRAD.
MR. NEIGHBORS, I TAKE IT FROM YOUR RESPONSE, THE ANSWER IS NO.
WE HAVE A PROGRAM SIMILAR TO THAT, WE DON'T USE IT ANYMORE.
WE'LL PROBABLY BE BACK TO COUNCIL, TAKING THAT PROGRAM OFF THE BOOKS.
IT'S SOMETHING WE DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THE [INAUDIBLE] ENOUGH THAT WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE THAT KIND OF BLANKET AUTHORITY WE NEED SOMEBODY TO BE THERE DIRECTLY MONITORING THE PROPERTY AND TELLING WHO TO TRESPASS AND WHO NOT TO.
REMEMBER, TOO, THE DA'S OFFICE NOT TAKING CRIMINAL TRESPASS CASES TO PROSECUTION ANYMORE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WOULD BE PREVAILING HERE AT THIS LOCATION.
YEAH, AND I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT EVERYBODY WHO'S ON THE PROPERTY AFTERHOURS BE CT'D.
I JUST DON'T KNOW THAT IF IT REQUIRES A 2:00 IN THE MORNING.
IF IT IF IT REQUIRES SOMEONE FROM GOOD SA TO MAKE THE CALL TO SAY, HEY, CAN YOU GUYS COME DOWN AND ASK THESE PEOPLE TO LEAVE, I'M NOT SAYING YOU'VE GOT TO CT'D THEM, BUT.
I SEE CHIEF BRIAN POPPED IN OVER THERE.
THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO AND WE CAN MAKE CONTACT AND IF SOMEONE IS CAMPING UNDER THE CAMPING ORDINANCE, WE CAN ADDRESS THAT AS WELL.
BUT CERTAINLY WHEN IT COMES TO CRIMINAL TRESPASS OR REMOVING PEOPLE FROM THE PROPERTY, WE WOULD NEED A RESPONSIBLE PERSON AT GOOD SAM'S, JUST TO BE THAT INITIAL WARNING, REQUEST FOR THEM TO LEAVE.
BUT I THINK A LOT OF THESE ISSUES WORKING WITH GOOD SAM'S AND WORKING WITH SOME OF THESE CPTED DISCUSSIONS, I THINK WE CAN ADDRESS A LOT OF THOSE LATE NIGHT ISSUES.
CHIEF BEFORE YOU POP OUT, PLEASE GIVE US THAT, WHATEVER THAT IS YOU'RE SAYING, CAN YOU EXPLAIN, THE CPTED, PLEASE? CPTED STANDS FOR CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN.
WHAT THAT IS, THAT'S THINGS LIKE LIGHTING, VISIBILITY AND AREAS THAT YOU COULD CAMP AND NOT BE SEEING, STUFF LIKE THAT.
IT'S ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN ISSUES THAT HELP REDUCE CRIME.
I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO RAMBLE FOR A LITTLE BIT, IF THAT'S OK.
WHY NOT? I APPRECIATE IT, MAYOR, COUNCIL, LOOK, I KNOW THAT PROBABLY ALL OF US HAVE DONATED EITHER OUR TIME OR MONEY TO GOOD SAM'S.
I KNOW THAT WE LOVE, RESPECT THE ORGANIZATION, THE MISSION.
SO THIS MAKES THIS CONVERSATION PRETTY TOUGH.
I KNOW THAT WHEN THERE'S A DISASTER OF ANY TYPE, ONE OF THE FIRST PHONE CALLS THAT I MAKE IS TO FIGURE OUT HOW GOOD SAM'S IS READY TO PROVIDE RELIEF, AND THEY ALWAYS ARE.
WE AS A CITY, WE'VE USED THEM TIME AND TIME AGAIN AS OUR SAFETY NET AND WHAT
[02:25:06]
WE'RE DISCUSSING HERE TODAY IS WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO ALLOW THEM TO EXPAND THEIR FOOD WAREHOUSE ON LAND THEY ALREADY OWN, WHERE FOOD WAREHOUSING IS ALREADY TAKING PLACE.AND IF WE LOOK AT THIS FROM A PURE LAND USE PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE NOT ENABLING ANYTHING NEW.
IF ANYTHING, WE'RE LETTING THEM DITCH A BUNCH OF TEMPORARY STORAGE OPTIONS AND WE'RE LETTING THEM BRING IT ALL UNDER ONE ROOF.
THE ANCILLARY SERVICES THAT THEY ALLOW NEAR OR ON THE PROPERTY ARE ALMOST IRRELEVANT.
BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN INCREASE OF STORAGE AREA FOR THEIR CORE MISSION, WHICH IS FOOD, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT REBUILDING THE PROPERTY TO ENCOURAGE THOSE OTHER USES.
AND SO I DON'T REALLY SEE HOW THIS DECISION TODAY WOULD AFFECT THOSE OUTSIDE SERVICES POSITIVELY OR NEGATIVELY.
THE PROBLEMS HAVE HAPPENED IN THE LAST TWO, SO.
IT'S HARD FOR ME TO SAY THAT EXPANSION OF THAT CORE USE WILL LEAD TO PROBLEMS. WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THE CORRELATION BETWEEN THE INCREASED CALLS FOR POLICE AND THEIR LAND USE, WHICH TELLS ME THAT THERE IS A GREATER INTENSITY OF USE SCENARIO, BUT THAT CORRELATION ALSO TRACKS WITH FIRST, A TORNADO THAN A PANDEMIC WHICH CAUSED ONE OF THE WORST GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION.
THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS NORMAL RIGHT NOW.
AND WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO PROTECT THE NEIGHBORHOOD, I'M REALLY WARY OF LAYING ALL OF THESE SOCIETAL ILLS AT THE FEET OF ONE ORGANIZATION DURING A TIME WHEN THAT BASELINE FROM NORMAL DOESN'T EXIST.
I'VE HAD A GREAT DEAL OF INCREASE OF HOMELESS ACTIVITY IN MY AREA NEXT TO MY HOME.
WE'VE HAD THINGS, THE CHIEF SAID, PETTY THEFTS, THAT'S BEEN AN ISSUE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, TOO, AND I DON'T LIVE ANYWHERE NEAR GOOD SAM'S.
THE DECIDING FACTOR FOR ME, I THINK, IS THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT WE THE CITY, WE'VE BEEN THE DRIVER FOR A NUMBER OF THESE ANCILLARY SERVICES.
EVERY SINGLE TIME WE HAVE A NEED FOR FOOD INSECURE OR TO HELP THE HOMELESS OR TO DEAL WITH THE DISASTER, WE ADD TO THEIR BURDEN.
NOW, A QUOTE, I USED TO USE PRETTY OFTEN IT WAS ACTUALLY MY EMAIL SIGNATURE, IT SAID I ASKED NOT FOR A LIGHTER BURDEN, BUT FOR BROADER SHOULDERS.
NOW, GOOD SAM'S HAS NEVER ONCE ASKED US TO LIKE THEIR BURDEN.
TODAY, THEY'RE ASKING US TO HELP THEM BROADEN THEIR SHOULDERS.
IF GOOD SAM'S IS WORKING TOWARDS CPTED OR ENVIRONMENTAL DETERRENTS OR WHATEVER WE WANT TO CALL IT, THEY'RE PULLING BACK ON THEIR SERVICE OFFERINGS, THEY'RE CONSOLIDATING ASSETS THAT THEY'VE ALREADY GOT AND PUTTING IT UNDER ONE ROOF.
AND I TAKE THEM AT THEIR WORD THAT THIS IS GOING TO IMPROVE.
THEY'VE NEVER LET US DOWN YET.
SO, MAYOR, COUNCIL, I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS REQUEST, AND I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS WILL JOIN ME.
AND IF ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO STEP UP, I'LL TAKE THE LAST PLACE.
SO ARE YOU MOVING TOWARDS A MOTION OR.
YES, BUT I SEE HANDS UP, SO LET ME BACK OUT.
I HAD I HAD COMMENTS TO MAKE IN ADVANCE OF A MOTION, BUT I CAN CONSOLIDATE THEM.
YEAH, THAT'S WHY I FIGURED I WOULD PUT THAT OUT THERE AND LURE THEM INTO RAISING THEIR HANDS.
I'LL BACK OUT AND COME BACK IN WHEN THEY'RE DONE.
COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
SINCE HE STARTED THE PHILOSOPHICAL APPROACH, I'LL FOLLOW MY ILLUSTRIOUS COLLEAGUE, COUNCILOR SMITH.
MY GRANDFATHER TOLD ME IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS TO ALWAYS TRY TO LISTEN WITH A THIRD EAR, AND I'M TRYING TO DO THAT WITH THIS.
THERE'S NO QUESTION OF, YOU KNOW, GOOD SAM, THEY'RE NOT FOLKS WHO HAVE TO CONVINCE SOMEBODY OF THEIR MISSION AND THEIR WORK AND THE IMPACT ON THE CITY.
THAT GOES WITHOUT QUESTION AND THE COMMITMENT AND THE SUPPORT THAT THEY HAVE FROM US INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY.
WITH THAT SAID, THE THIRD TELLS ME, BUT I'M ALSO LISTENING TO THE IMPACT, THE CONCERNS OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE INDIRECTLY IMPACTED IN AN ANCILLARY MATTER WHO LIVE NEAR THE SITE.
THAT'S A REAL CONCERN, THAT IS AND I KNOW THOSE ARE SOME CHALLENGES THAT ARE, FRANKLY, ABOVE MOST OF OUR PAY GRADES.
[02:30:01]
THE HONORABLE LORI DODSON WAS CORRECT THAT THIS IS NOT NEW IN DOWNTOWN, NOR IS IT NEW IN OTHER AREAS OF OUR CITY OF ADDRESSING THIS.BUT BUT I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO BALANCE HERE IS, YOU KNOW, IS TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS AND TRY TO CONTINUE WITH A STRATEGY TO RAISE THE COMFORT LEVEL OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEAR GOOD SAMS SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE THE PEACE THAT THEY'RE ENTITLED TO.
SO THAT'S WHERE I AM WITH THIS.
BUT I WANT TO ASK JUST ONE OTHER QUESTION, MAYOR, IF I CAN JUST FOR CLARIFICATION.
LORI DODSON, WOULD YOU TELL US AGAIN, I KNOW YOU SAID THAT AN AD HOC COMMITTEE HAS BEEN FORMED TO DO RESEARCH TO REPORT BACK TO THE FULL BOARD TO RECOMMEND OTHER POSSIBLE SITES FOR RELOCATION, AND CORRECT ME IF I DIDN'T HEAR THIS CORRECTLY, THAT NOTWITHSTANDING WHICH EITHER WAY THIS VOTE GOES TONIGHT, NO ONE IS GOOD SAM'S IS GOING TO STAY WHERE THEY ARE UNTIL ANOTHER SITE IS LOCATED.
SO WHAT I NEED CLARITY ON IS IF THIS ACTION IS APPROVED TONIGHT.
DOES THAT AD HOC SEARCH COMMITTEE STILL IN PLACE? AND ARE THERE STILL PLANS THAT EVEN IF THIS IS APPROVED TONIGHT THAT GOOD SAM'S-- SHE'S ONLINE, SO LET'S GO AND LET HER ANSWER.
SO, WILL YOU ANSWER THAT FOR ME? YES.
SO AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE NET SEVENTEEN HUNDRED SQUARE FEET, WHEN WE GET RID OF THE PODS AND BRING THEM TO OFFSITE STORAGE ON PROPERTY AND GET RID OF THE SMALL SHED, AT THE RATE THAT WE'RE OPERATING RIGHT NOW, WE'RE PRETTY MUCH GOING TO BE FULL.
SO THE BOARD HAS BEEN LOOKING AT POTENTIAL RELOCATION.
THE COMMITTEE THAT WAS FORMED WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR RELOCATION.
EVEN IF WE GET THE APPROVAL, BUILD THE BUILDING, WHICH IS NOT A GIVEN, THAT WOULD BE GOING BACK TO THE BOARD, WHETHER WE SPEND THE FUNDS TO ACTUALLY ADD THE EXPANSION.
I SUSPECT THAT WOULD BE DISCUSSED AROUND THE JULY TIMEFRAME WHEN WE COME BACK WITH POSSIBLE LOCATIONS.
THE BUILDING RELOCATION COMMITTEE HAS ITS CHARGE.
JASON COLLARD IS AS GOOD SAMARITANS BOARD MEMBER AND HAS BEEN ELECTED THE CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE.
I SERVE AS SORT OF THE EMPLOYEE, AS ROBERT A.
SMITH MENTIONED, HE'S A COMMUNITY REAL ESTATE OWNER THAT HAS CONNECTIONS TO HELP US LOCATE SITES, AND JENNY HOLIDAY, THE FACILITY DIRECTORS WITH THE CITY OF GARLAND, IS ALSO GOING TO HELP US OUT.
SO THAT COMMITTEE HAS ITS CHARGE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS HERE.
AND UNTIL WE MOVE, UNLESS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MAKES SOME CHANGE, THE FULL INTENT IS TO REMAIN HERE AND OPERATE UNTIL A REPLACEMENT SITE IS FOUND.
A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS AND HONESTLY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT FOR ME IS SOMEWHAT CONFLICTED OVER, BUT I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH'S COMMENTS.
YOU KNOW, A YEAR AND A HALF AGO OR SO, THIS COUNCIL DEALT WITH THE ISSUES REGARDING THE DAY LABOR CENTER.
IN SOME RESPECTS, THIS THIS DISCUSSION REMINDS ME A LOT OF THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD ABOUT THE DAY LABOR CENTER AND THE IMPACTS OF IT.
[02:35:01]
AND ULTIMATELY, WE DECIDED THAT IT WAS BETTER LOCATED, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY WAS DOING AND THAT WE WOULD BE BETTER OFF EITHER RELOCATING IT OR ENDING THAT SERVICE IF THERE WAS NO REAL WAY TO KIND OF AMELIORATE THE OFF SITE OR OTHER EFFECTS THAT IT WAS HAVING.SO I DEFINITELY HAVE ISSUES WITH THAT.
BY THE SAME TOKEN, THOUGH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HAD AN INFLUX ALL ACROSS THE CITY OF THE ISSUES PERTAINING TO HOMELESS FOLKS AND OTHER THINGS.
WE'VE SEEN PLENTY OF IT IN MY DISTRICT.
I MEAN, I THINK WE HAD, AT ONE POINT, WE HAD DETERMINED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN KIND OF A FIVE FOLD INCREASE IN OUR IN OUR HOMELESS POPULATION, AT LEAST IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE CITY.
AND SO ALL OF THESE THINGS KIND OF MASHED TOGETHER.
AND I APPRECIATE MR. DUCKWORTH'S RECITATION TO US.
KING'S INTERPRETATION IN HIS SPEECH REGARDING THE GOOD SAMARITAN, IN TALKING ABOUT NOT THINKING ABOUT WHAT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO US IF WE HELP, BUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE OTHER FOLKS IF WE DON'T.
BUT I THINK WHAT WE NEED HERE IS A, THE CITY'S PART OF THIS, WE'RE NOT TOTALLY DIVORCED FROM THIS.
AT SOME LEVEL, WE'VE FACILITATED THESE CONNECTIONS, PERHAPS EVEN ENCOURAGED THEM WITH THESE ANCILLARY SERVICES.
AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO KEEP THAT IN MIND.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US AS A CITY STEP UP AND TRY AND FIND SOME WAY TO KIND OF TAKE SOME PIECE OF THIS, SOME OWNERSHIP OF THIS AND REALIZE THAT WE NEED TO TAKE THE IF WE NEED TO GO OUT AND START AS A COUNCIL THINKING ABOUT WHERE WE CAN PROVIDE OR HOW WE CAN PROVIDE MORE SOCIAL SERVICES, WHETHER THAT IS JOBS LIKE THE DAY LABORER CENTER, WHETHER THAT IS SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED BY--I DON'T WANT TO SAY PROVIDED BY GOOD SAM', BUT PROVIDED BY THESE OTHER ENTITIES, YOU KNOW, I'D BE IN FAVOR OF THE CITY LOOKING FOR THAT KIND OF PLACE AND FOR SOMETHING THAT'S NOT IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
BY THE SAME TOKEN, I THINK THAT KIND OF PARTNERSHIP WHERE WE HAVE TO INVEST IN HELPING RESOLVE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE ANCILLARY SERVICES THAT ARE OFFERED.
I'D LIKE TO GET THAT'S NOT PART OF SOMETHING WE REALLY VOTE ON TONIGHT, BUT I'D LIKE TO GET THAT KIND OF COMMITMENT FROM THE COUNCIL THAT WE'RE GOING TO DIG IN ON SOME OF THIS STUFF AND LOOK AT MOVING SOME OF THESE ISSUES.
WE ALREADY HAVE IN SOME RESPECTS, YOU KNOW, OVER THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMUNITY WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM MORRIS.
WE HAVE LOOKED AT THESE ISSUES IN RESOLVING HOMELESSNESS ISSUES.
THE INNER AGENCY [INAUDIBLE] RECOMMENDATIONS AND WHATNOT.
AND I THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO THOSE THINGS.
BUT AS COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH SAID, I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT SOMETHING THAT HARKENS BACK TO THE CORE MISSION.
AND SO I DO SUPPORT THAT CORE MISSION.
I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYONE WHO DOESN'T SUPPORT THE CORE MISSION.
AND THAT SEEMS VERY CLEARLY TO BE WHAT THE POINT OF THIS IS.
AND SO I'D LIKE TO--I HOPE WE'LL HEAR A MOTION THAT'LL SUPPORT THAT CORE MISSION.
AND WE CAN, AS THE CITY, COMMIT TO ADDRESSING, ALONG WITH GOOD SAM', SOME OF THE ANCILLARY ISSUES AND PROBLEMS THAT THE FOLKS ARE EXPERIENCING.
MR. NEIGHBOR, IS THERE ANY KIND OF OPTION THAT WE HAVE HERE FOR ANY KIND OF I KNOW THEY HAVEN'T APPLIED FOR AN SUP, BUT CAN WE TURN THIS INTO SOME KIND OF SUP-LIKE CIRCUMSTANCED? IS THERE ANY WAY TO DO THAT WHERE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S OK, THIS NONCONFORMING USE IS OK FOR, YOU KNOW, FIVE YEARS OR SOMETHING, AND THEN IT REVERTS TO WHATEVER THE BASE ZONING IS.
NO, I MEAN, YOU COULD ALWAYS AGAIN, NOTHING'S PERMANENT.
YOU COULD ALWAYS CHANGE THE ZONING, BUT THERE'S NOT A TIME LIMIT THAT WE COULD IMPOSE LIKE THAT.
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH CONDITIONING THE MAJOR WAIVER.
AGAIN, THIS ISN'T REALLY A ZONING ORDINANCE CHANGE AS SUCH.
IT'S CALLED A MAJOR WAIVER UNDER THE DDC.
IT'S TO ALLOW, WELL, IT WOULD MAKE THIS A CONFORMING USE, BUT THE ZONING IS NOT CHANGING, BUT WE COULD CONDITION IT WHERE IT WOULD BE.
I DON'T KNOW OF ANY MECHANISM WHEREBY WE COULD PUT IN SOME REVERSIONARY
[02:40:03]
PROVISION TO MAKE IT BE SOMETHING ELSE.CHIEF BRIAN, JUST A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR YOU ON SOME OF THE OPTIONS THAT YOU LAID OUT REGARDING THE LIGHTING.
DO YOU KNOW IF THEY GO TO THAT APPROACH, YOU SAID LIGHTING, WOULD THAT BE MOTION DETECTED OR WOULD THAT BE CONSTANT ON AT DARK WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN? I THINK IT WOULD DEPEND ON THE AREA, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THEY'VE HAD SOME ISSUES ON THE PORCH AND WE'D PROBABLY ASK THEM TO LIGHT THAT CONSTANTLY.
BUT IF THERE'S SOME BACK CORNERS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT THEY MAY BE MOTION DETECTOR, WHEN WHEN PATRICK MCCULLY COMES OUT AND DOES A SURVEY, HE DOES A COMPLETE SURVEY OF THE SITE AND HE'LL ANALYZE EACH PART OF IT, THE BUILDING, AND HE'LL WORK THROUGH ALL THOSE SECURITY ISSUES.
AND SO IT PROBABLY WOULD BE A COMBINATION OF BOTH PUTTING CAMERAS UP AS WELL AS SIGNS, POSTING RULES, STUFF LIKE THAT.
THANK YOU, CHIEF; APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
I'M STILL STUCK ON MY INITIAL THOUGHTS OF WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THEY LEAVE AND WITH THIS MAJOR WAIVER REQUEST, AS WILL SAID IN HIS INITIAL COMMENTS, THERE'S TWO REQUIREMENTS FOR A MAJOR WAIVER.
ONE, IT HAS TO MEET THE INTENT OF THE DISTRICT.
AND TWO, IT HAS TO BE AN IMPROVED PROJECT, AN ATTRACTIVE CONTRIBUTION TO THE DISTRICT NOW .
I THINK WE COULD AGREE THAT THIS COULD BE AN ATTRACTIVE CONTRIBUTION TO THE DISTRICT, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN SAY THAT IT MEETS THE INTENT OF THIS DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT'S A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD ZONING DISTRICT OVERLAY IN THIS DOWNTOWN AREA.
SO IF WE'RE GOING STRICTLY BY THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE MAJOR WAIVER, I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS.
AND I KNOW, GOOD SAM, WE ALL SUPPORT THE MISSION, BUT WE HAVE TO SEPARATE THE MISSION, OF COURSE, NO MATTER WHAT THE APPLICANT WAS FROM THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR WAIVER.
ALL RIGHT, I THINK WE'VE GONE COMPLETELY AROUND THE HORN, BUT I'M GOING TO SAY ONE LAST CALL FOR COMMENTS BEFORE I PUT IT BACK TO DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM MORRIS.
I AM PREPARED TO SUPPORT THIS.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF ATTENTION AND RIGHTFULLY SO, HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE PEOPLE WHO COME TO GOOD SAM THAT YOU SEE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, TO THEIR CORE MISSION, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEIR CLIENTS ARE INVISIBLE.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US DO SOMETHING THAT HELPS GOOD SAM SERVE THOSE BETTER BECAUSE THEY AGAIN, THEY ARE INVISIBLE TO THE VAST MAJORITY OF FOLKS, WHICH THEREIN LIES THE PROBLEM AS FAR AS THE CORE MISSION OF A FOOD PANTRY.
AND I'M ALSO ENCOURAGED BY, YOU KNOW, THE ISSUES BEING ADDRESSED, LET'S FACE IT, FOLKS, WE'VE KNOWN THE ISSUE.
THE ISSUES HAVE BEEN OUT THERE FOR A WHILE.
THE AFTERHOURS ISSUES THAT, THE COMPLAINTS, THE FIGHTING, ET CETERA.
BUT IF WE'RE BRINGING IN SOMEONE TO SPECIFICALLY LOOK AT THAT FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE ARE YOU KNOW, IT IS OBVIOUSLY BEING ACKNOWLEDGED BY GOOD SAM.
SO WE'RE SHINING A LIGHT ON IT.
AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN RESOLVE SOME OF THESE--CAN WE FIX ALL THE WORLD'S PROBLEMS? NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
BUT CAN WE FOCUS SOME ATTENTION ON THE PROBLEMS HERE? I DO BELIEVE WE CAN.
AND I WILL TELL YOU, I SEE A LOT OF THE ATTENDEES ARE POPPING UP WITH THEIR HANDS UP.
AND WE HAVE MOVED PAST THAT PART OF THE DISCUSSION TONIGHT.
SO ANYWAY, I WILL BE SUPPORTING IT, AND AT THIS POINT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT BACK OVER TO DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM MORRIS.
AND YOU KNOW, AS ALWAYS, I'M SO EXCITED THAT IN MY DISTRICT ARE ALL THE EASY ISSUES THAT HAVE OBVIOUS SOLUTIONS LIKE THIS ONE.
SO I WANT TO JUST START BY MAKING A STATEMENT, A DISCLOSURE.
[02:45:06]
SO I'M A LONG TIME SUPPORTER OF GOOD SAMARITANS.I HAVE DONATED MY ENTIRE COUNCIL SALARY AFTER TAXES TO GOOD SAM EVERY YEAR I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL.
FEEDING THE HUNGRY AND CARING FOR THE POOR IS A VERY HIGH PRIORITY AND WILL STAY THAT WAY.
MY HUSBAND WAS ALSO INVITED LAST YEAR TO SERVE ON THE GOOD SAMARITAN BOARD, WHICH HE DECLINED DUE TO HIS WORK SCHEDULE.
SO I WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT FRONT.
I'LL ALSO SAY, ALONG WITH EVERYBODY ELSE, GOOD SAMARITANS, I HAVE NEVER HEARD A COMPLAINT ABOUT THEIR FOOD PANTRY SERVICES, NOT ONE.
AND LIKE MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO SPOKE TONIGHT, THEY SAID THEY SUPPORT THEIR CORE MISSION.
I WILL DISAGREE WITH COUNCILMAN SMITH WHEN HE SAYS THAT THE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE ANCILLARY SERVICES ARE IRRELEVANT, BECAUSE I'LL TELL YOU IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND BLEEDING OUT INTO THE SURROUNDING AREA, THIS IS NOT IRRELEVANT.
PEOPLE HAVE SENT ME VIDEOS OF PEOPLE WITH THEIR PANTS DOWN DEFECATING IN THEIR FRONT YARD.
OK, THIS I'VE GOT AN ELDERLY WOMAN WHO IS NOW SHE CAN NO LONGER WALK HER DOG BECAUSE PEOPLE KEEP RUNNING UP ON HER.
THIS IS NOT IRRELEVANT AND IT'S NOT IRRELEVANT TO THESE NEIGHBORS.
AND THIS NEIGHBORHOOD HAS GIVEN A LOT AND UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF THEM YOU HEARD TONIGHT SPEAKING VERY WELL OF GOOD SAM'S MISSION.
AND THESE ARE ALSO NOT PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING THINGS UP.
CHIEF BRIAN TOLD ME THAT THIS BLOCK AROUND GOOD SAM IS ONE OF THE BUSIEST BLOCKS IN THE ENTIRE CITY FOR POLICE CALLS IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS, ONE OF THE BUSIEST IN THE CITY.
THAT BEING SAID, I HAVE BEEN WRESTLING WITH THIS FOR WEEKS.
I HAVE HEARD FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THIS CASE MORE THAN, WELL, WAY MORE THAN ANY PREVIOUS CASES, I HAVE HEARD FROM AN UNBELIEVABLE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO SPEAK TO ME OFF THE RECORD, INCLUDING A LOT OF THEM THAT THIS COUNCIL KNOWS WELL, TO SAY, PLEASE DON'T LET THIS KEEP HAPPENING IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
A YES OR NO, NEITHER ONE IS GOING TO HELP THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND NEITHER ONE WILL SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS, BUT THERE IS A THIRD OPTION THAT PRESENTED TO US BY PLAN, WHICH IS TO APPROVE WITH CONDITIONS.
AND AFTER A LOT OF TIME, A LOT OF TIME, THAT IS GOING TO BE MY MOTION, THAT WE APPROVE THIS WITH CONDITIONS THAT LIMIT THE OPERATIONS ON THAT PROPERTY TO STRICTLY FOOD PANTRY OPERATIONS.
THAT WOULD BE THE COLLECTION, STORAGE AND FREE DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD TO THE COMMUNITY.
THAT WOULD BE FOOD TO BE PROVIDED FOR OFFSITE CONSUMPTION ONLY.
THAT WOULD BE ALL MOBILE OR TRANSITORY SERVICES, NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE COLLECTION OF STORAGE AND NONCOMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD, ALL THESE OTHER ANCILLARY SERVICES TO BE PROHIBITED AT THE SITE.
THERE'S A LIST THAT [INAUDIBLE] AMPLIFIED SOUND DEVICE IS PROHIBITED.
I WILL MAKE A FORMAL MOTION, AND UNLESS THOSE THINGS THAT IS THE FOOD PANTRY NEEDS STORAGE, IT NEEDS STORAGE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS RELIEF AND COUNCIL, THIS IS THE BEST AND FAIREST WAY I CAN SEE TO KIND OF SPLIT THAT.
AND I THINK COUNCILMAN AUBIN WAS ANGLING IN THAT WAY WITH LOOKING FOR A WAY TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THE AFTER HOURS THINGS IN A CONDITION.
THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS WE CAN'T FIX.
AND I HAVE ALREADY ASKED THE CITY ATTORNEY ABOUT VARIOUS OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT, TRYING TO SAY, OK, WHAT THINGS CAN WE ACTUALLY SAY AND REQUIRE? BUT I THINK TO APPROVE THIS WITH CONDITIONS THAT LIMIT IT TO ITS CORE MISSION, ITS CORE MISSION THAT WE ALL AGREE IS IMPORTANT AND WONDERFUL AND WELL EXECUTED, THAT WILL BE
[02:50:06]
MY MOTION.SO, MAYOR, IT'S UP TO YOU IF YOU WANT MORE CONVERSATION, I'LL BACK OFF AND THEN COME BACK.
I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE MORE TIME TO THE PUBLIC.
WE HAVE MOVED PAST THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION.
AND MR. CASTILLO, I SEE YOU KEEP PUTTING YOUR HAND UP, BUT WE HAVE MOVED PAST PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME.
MR. CASTILLO, AGAIN, WE HAVE MOVED PAST PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH A MOTION.
DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM MORRIS, I BELIEVE THE FLOOR IS STILL YOURS.
WELL, THEN, COUNCIL, MY MOTION IS TO MOVE FOR APPROVAL WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS, ONE, THE PROPERTY SHALL BE OPERATED ONLY AS A FOOD PANTRY CONSISTING SOLELY OF A SINGLE FACILITY PROVIDING THE COLLECTION, STORAGE AND FREE DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD TO THE COMMUNITY.
NUMBER TWO, FOOD IS TO BE PROVIDED FOR OFFSITE CONSUMPTION ONLY.
THREE, MOBILE OR TRANSITORY SERVICES NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE COLLECTION, STORAGE AND NONCOMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD SUCH AS BUT NOT LIMITED TO PORTABLE SHOWERS, LAUNDRY SERVICES, MEDICAL COUNSELING OR OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES ARE PROHIBITED.
FOUR HOURS OF OPERATION ARE MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY, HOURS OF OPERATION WILL BE WITHIN THE HOURS OF NINE A.M.
AND FINALLY, OUTDOOR AMPLIFIED SOUND DEVICES ARE PROHIBITED.
THAT LAST ONE BECAUSE OF SUNDAY MORNING SERVICES THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S NOT PERFECT, BUT IT'S THE BEST COMPROMISE I COULD COME UP WITH.
ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE, AND THIS WOULD BE FOR THE WAIVER AS WELL AS THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN WITH CONDITIONS, ONE, THAT THE PROPERTY IS BASICALLY ONLY USED AS A FOOD PANTRY, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE THE COLLECTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD.
TWO, FOOD FOR OFFSITE CONSUMPTION ONLY.
THREE, ANCILLARY SERVICES PROHIBITED ON SITE AND THE LISTING OF THOSE, THE ANCILLARY SERVICES THAT ARE NOT FOOD RELATED OR FOOD PANTRY RELATED.
FOUR, HOURS OF OPERATION LIMITED TO MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, NINE TO FIVE AND THEN.
FIVE, OUTDOOR AMPLIFIED SOUND PROHIBITED.
I THINK I CAPTURED THE ESSENCE OF THE CONDITIONS.
AND SO THAT IS THE MOTION BEFORE US WITH CONDITIONS.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS? I WILL SECOND THAT MOTION WITH THOSE CONDITIONS.
WE HAVE A MOTION WITH THE AFOREMENTIONED CONDITIONS BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM MORRIS AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS. I'VE GOT SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO POPPED UP IN THE QUEUE.
IN REGARDS TO CONDITION TWO, COULD YOU READ THAT BACK, PLEASE, SIR? CONDITION TWO IS FOOD IS FOR OFFSITE CONSUMPTION ONLY.
ALRIGHT, AND CONDITION FOUR IS THE HOURS OF OPERATION, CORRECT? CONDITION FOUR IS THE HOURS OF OPERATION BEING MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, NINE TO FIVE.
BECAUSE OUR DISASTERS DON'T FOLLOW SCHEDULES, I'D BE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR OFFICE HOURS OF OPERATIONS RESTRICTIONS.
I'D ALSO BE WORRIED ABOUT CONDITION, TOO, BECAUSE IF YOU'RE HANDED A BOTTLE OF WATER, IF YOU'RE HUNGRY AND YOU NEED SOMETHING TO EAT, I DON'T CARE IF YOU EAT IT RIGHT THERE, IF YOU TAKE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE AND EAT IT.
[02:55:01]
I GET THE REQUEST FOR THE NO AMPLIFIED SOUND; 'KIND OF FINE WITH THAT.I MEAN, WE'RE YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN OUT THERE WITH AMPLIFIED SOUND.
HECK, WE BROUGHT DJS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
LEADERSHIP GARLAND SHOWED UP AND PLAYED MUSIC WHILE THEY DID THEIR WORKDAYS.
THAT'S A HARD ONE TO GET BEHIND.
I UNDERSTAND THE INTENT AND THE MOTION IS WELL CONSTRUCTED.
DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN SUPPORT IT AS IS JUST BECAUSE OF THE SHEER AMOUNT OF FLEXIBILITY THAT WE'VE REQUIRED OF THAT ORGANIZATION.
I THINK I WILL PROBABLY VOTE AGAINST THIS MOTION AS IT'S BEEN MADE AND LOOK FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CHANGES TO THE CPTED TO HELP RESOLVE SOME OF THESE ISSUES.
AND GOING BACK TO COUNCILMAN AUBIN'S COMMENTS, I THINK IF WE AS A CITY CAN GET THESE THINGS GOING IN A DIFFERENT PLACE, THEN THAT'S GOING TO DO MORE IN THE LONG RUN.
MY PRIMARY CONCERN IS THE, PARCELING THROUGH SOME OF THIS OTHER STUFF, BUT IS THE HOURS OF OPERATION.
THE NINE TO FIVE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FOR A FOOD PANTRY AND MAYBE I'M NOT FAMILIAR ENOUGH WITH THE WITH THE ASSOCIATED CLIENTS, BUT I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MEET THOSE HOURS.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TO OR MAYBE BE FROM GOOD SAM' ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THE MOTION OR ABOUT HOW THAT WOULD RESTRICT THEM, IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT A LOT OF FOOD PANTRY BUSINESS WOULD PROBABLY COME ON SATURDAYS OR AFTER FIVE O'CLOCK.
BUT MAYBE I'M WRONG ABOUT THAT.
MAYOR? HOLD ON, 'GOT SOMEBODY ELSE IN THE QUEUE.
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY.
WHAT ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM DO WE HAVE FOR THESE CONDITIONS HERE? COULD BE, ALTHOUGH I KEEP SAYING IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S A ZONING CHANGE.
IT WOULD BE A ZONING VIOLATION.
I THINK THE--WE DON'T RUN INTO THESE MAJOR WAIVERS VERY OFTEN OR SOMETIMES THEY'RE VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
BUT AS FAR AS THESE CONDITIONAL APPROVAL, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO CHARGE IT BACK AS A VIOLATION OF THE TERMS OF THE MAJOR WAIVER.
I CAN'T SAY THERE'S A GOOD PRECEDENT FOR THIS, BUT WE HAVE SIMILAR DEVICES IN PLACE.
SO IF ANY OF THESE WERE VIOLATED AND CONTINUE TO BE VIOLATED, IT COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO REMOVING A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY OR WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE METHOD THAT WE WOULD--IT'D BE CITATION ENFORCEMENT.
SORRY, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM MORRIS.
JUST AS TO THE HOURS, THE HOURS LISTED HERE ARE ARE LARGER THAN GOOD SAM'S HOURS.
SO THEIR THEIR HOURS OF OPERATION OF THE FOOD PANTRY ON MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY, NINE TO FIVE THURSDAY AND FRIDAY NINE TO THREE THIRTY.
SO THESE ARE MORE GENEROUS THAN THAT.
HOWEVER, IN LIGHT OF COUNCILMAN SMITH'S COMMENT, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO AMEND THAT AND STRIKE THE DEFINITION OF HOURS.
SO AND I WOULD ALSO BE HAPPY ABOUT THE OUTDOOR AMPLIFIED SOUND DEVICES BEING PROHIBITED, EXCEPT BY SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT, WHICH IS HOW WE NORMALLY DO THIS.
SO IF THERE ARE EVENTS GOING ON, NOISE PERMITS HAVE TO BE APPROVED.
SO I WOULD BE FINE WITH REFINING THAT ONE IN THAT WAY AND AMENDING BOTH OF THOSE.
SO, YOU ARE OK WITH STRIKING THE HOURS OF OPERATION? YES.
AND YOU ARE PROPOSING TO ADD TO WHAT IS NUMBER FIVE CURRENTLY AS FAR AS THE OUTDOOR AMPLIFIED SOUND TO BE ALLOWED BY PERMIT AS WE DO IN ANY OTHER TYPE OF EVENT? YES.
OK, DOES THE SECOND CONCUR WITH THOSE AMENDMENTS? I CONCUR, MR. MAYOR.
[03:00:03]
ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL.I'LL GO THROUGH THE CONDITIONS ONE MORE TIME.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE UNDER THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS.
ONE, PROPOSED USE AS A FOOD PANTRY, WHICH OBVIOUSLY IS COLLECTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD.
TWO, FOOD FOR OFFSITE CONSUMPTION.
THREE ANCILLARY SERVICES PROHIBITED ON SITE THAT AREN'T CONCURRENT WITH FOOD PANTRY STRIKING THE HOURS OF OPERATION AND INCLUDING OUTDOOR AMPLIFIED SOUND PROHIBITED UNLESS UNLESS APPROVED BY A PERMIT.
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO AMEND STRIKING CONDITION TWO.
WHICH IS FOR OFFSITE CONSUMPTION.
AND ALL RIGHT, SO, WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION TO STRIKE ITEM TWO.
AND JUST BEFORE WE GET TOO MUCH FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD, COUNCILMAN SMITH, IS THAT THE ONLY ITEM OF THE CONDITIONS AS THEY'RE CURRENTLY PRESENTED THAT YOU HAVE AN EXCEPTION WITH? I UNDERSTAND THE CONDITION ONE IS SETTING THE CORE MISSION, CONDITION TWO, WHICH I MOVE TO STRIKE, CONDITION THREE IS ANCILLARY SERVICES PROHIBITED.
THE DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM REMOVED THAT AND AMPLIFIED SOUND IS BY NORMAL EVENT PERMIT ONLY.
THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE MOTION AS IT WAS.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WEREN'T GOING TO GO THROUGH THESE ONE AT A TIME.
OK, SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO AMEND THE CONDITIONS.
I THINK YOU'VE ALL HEARD ME READ THEM ENOUGH TIMES AT THIS POINT, SO THE CURRENT MOTION IS TO AMEND, WHICH WOULD BE TO STRIKE ITEM TWO FOOD FOR OFFSITE CONSUMPTION ONLY.
COUNCIL, IF YOU COULD PLEASE VOTE.
THE MOTION TO AMEND PASSES WITH DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM MORRIS IN COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS IN OPPOSITION.
SO THAT BRINGS US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION AGAIN, IS TO APPROVE WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS PROPOSED USE AS A FOOD PANTRY COLLECTION, DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD OFFSITE CONSUMPTION HAS BEEN STRUCK.
THE NEXT CONDITION WOULD BE ANCILLARY SERVICES PROHIBITED ON SITE THAT AREN'T RELATED TO FOOD PANTRY OPERATIONS.
THE HOURS OF OPERATIONS HAS BEEN STRUCK AND OUTDOOR AMPLIFIED SOUND IS ALLOWED BY THE TYPICAL PERMITTING PROCESS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY COUNCIL.
WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE.
AND THAT ITEM IS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY AND AGAIN, THERE ARE EIGHT COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM.
I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A HOTLY DEBATED, DISCUSSED ITEM AROUND THE COMMUNITY AND, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE ALL HAVE VERY STRONG FEELINGS FOR GOOD SAM.
WE ALSO HAVE VERY STRONG FEELINGS AGAINST SOME OF THE PUBLIC NUISANCE ISSUES.
AND I THANK THE COUNCIL, THE APPLICANT IN THE PUBLIC FOR [INAUDIBLE] HAVING A VERY GOOD DISCUSSION, VERY FORTHRIGHT.
MOVING ON TO ITEM 10 CITIZEN COMMENTS.
PERSONS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL MAY HAVE THREE MINUTES TO DO SO, AND THE
[10. Citizen comments.]
COUNCIL IS PROHIBITED TO COMMENT ON ITEMS DUE TO THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.MR. GARCIA, IF YOU COULD GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
OF COURSE, JOSH GARCIA 4029 MAYFLOWER DRIVE, GARLAND, TEXAS, THAT'S 75043.
[03:05:03]
THANK YOU, MAYOR.AS YOU ALL MAY KNOW, IT'S MAY THE FOURTH ONE.
I WANT TO WISH ALL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU.
I HOPE THIS DAY WILL ALL BE FILLED WITH SOME HAPPINESS AND SMILEY FACES TODAY.
SO I WISH YOU THE BEST OF THAT.
AND LASTLY, I WANTED TO SAY THAT YOU ALL DID A VERY GOOD JOB ON THE I LISTENED TO THE WINTERS PARK RIBBON CUTTING SPEECHES AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT MR. BRADFORD MADE A REALLY WELL SPEECH WHERE HE SAID THAT ABOUT THE TRAIL.
THAT WAS SO FUNNY WHEN HE SAID TRAILS, TRAILS, AND TRAILS.
I THINK THAT WAS--WE HAVE A LOT OF TRAILS, NOT ONLY TRAILS, BUT PARKS.
I THINK WE NEED A LOT OF PARKS, TOO, WHICH IS COMING UP AND EXCITING TO HAVE HERE.
SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT AND LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL THOSE PROJECTS OF THE BOND PROGRAM THAT'S COMING UP PRETTY SOON.
AND THAT'S ALL I HAD TO SAY, MR. MAYOR; I APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE AT 10:17, WE ARE ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.