Hammack Creek Apartments Disaster

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It is funny how the people in the cheap seats could see what was happening, but the people in charge??? to busy patting themselves on the back I guess...

 

 

So what happened: Fall 2018 & Winter 2019: the developer proposed a mixed-use development with commercial, low-income apartments, and townhomes. The council approved the resolution of support (February 2019) after the developer threatened lawsuits against the city and one of the council members (she abstained for the vote) allowing Mayor Johnson to break the tie to approve. [What an extremely poor job of leadership, partnering with someone who is going to threaten to sue you whenever they don't get their way.] We were told that citizen opposition e-mails ran at a 5:3 ratio (62.5%). Fast forward to July for the zoning case [this is negotiation time and the poor Kennedale leadership proved unable to perform]. There was no commercial piece and they wanted “straight” urban village “UV” zoning. This was approved by the Brian Johnson, Josh Altom, Chris Pugh, Sandra Lee, and Chad Wandell council. Very predictably, what was promised was not built. The townhomes near Mr. Elam's property were not built. Kennedale got extra tall with an extra floor, 100% apartments, built within UV limits and according to what we have been told, with the poor staff (George Campbell and Melissa Daley) built into the roadway right-of-way. If you are going to approve this, the developer should have been locked into a planned development “PD” and not given a free run of whatever they wanted in “UV”. This was an extremely poor decision by that 2019 council. [You can put restrictions on a “PD” but cannot put restrictions on a straight zoning.]

 

A portion of the July 14, 2019 Kennedale Observer prior to the July 16 vote on "UV" zoning for the Hammack Creek Apartments:

Your #2 argument is UV zoning vs. a Planned Development (PD) eliminates control over how the development progresses.

With UV zoning, no development plan approval by the city council is required; the development only needs to meet the UV zoning requirements. This developer, or a following developer, will be able to execute any plan that meets UV zoning with no city council approval of a development plan.

However, with a PD the city council and the developer must agree on development plans. Plans are approved or disapproved by the city council.

Why would the city council give up its right to control how many apartments and what goes on this land, especially in regard to traffic? Why is the city council and city staff so eager to relinquish all approval authority to a developer who has already shown it will bully the city to get what it wants??????

Can we agree that this project and/or zoning at this intersection will create a traffic headache? Which (UV or PD) provides more planned control of the problem vs. just plopping the problem in the city's lap, at what cost? PD defines the points of entry/exit and might allow the city to persuade the developer to contribute to costs, vs. UV where the developer just has to develop a plan that meets the UV criteria and the city cannot disapprove it [gives the developer all the power].

Can we agree that the larger this project is, the bigger the potential traffic headache? Which (UV or PD) gives the city any say in approving the plans and therefore the size? PD would require each phase to be approved by the city council. With UV, as long as the project meets UV zoning requirements, NO APPROVAL from the city council is required. Is this really the best way to operate a city? Why would the city council give up their right to approve plans? Are checks and balances really being implemented?

Can we agree that in the best interest of the citizens, the city council should NOT just give away 100% control of this project? After the lawsuit shenanigans in February, isn’t it better for the city and the city council to have some control in the development? PD would require each phase to be approved by P&Z and the city council. With UV, as long as the project meets UV zoning requirements, it needs NO APPROVAL from the city council. Allowing this project to be zoned UV instead of PD gives OM Housing the legal rights to “bully” the city on just about ALL aspects of this project.

 

Summary: So what was developed was all allowed in "UV" zoning. Kennedale got apartments on top of apartments. What was proposed and never developed: the commercial piece, townhomes, and lower density apartments. This disaster is ALL on the Mayor, Brian Johnson, Council Members Josh Altom, Chris Pugh, Sandra Lee, and Chad Wandell, and the staff of George Campbell and Melissa Daley. Again [I have been told] that the inept staff also allowed the developer to build in the roadway right-of-way. WHAT A DISASTER!!!