December 2, 2024 Newsletter
December 2, 2024 – Volume 18 Number 49
Highlights:
* P&Z to have five zoning case public hearings on Wednesday.
* 2025 Citizen Bond Committee recommendations become public.
Taxpayers' Funds at Risk:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_83.html
City Council grades:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_39.html
AISD Board grades:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_1.html
Citizens Defending Freedom vs. AISD
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_14.html
Arlington is a city where citizens are relegated to being spectators, rather than players on the field. The SPECTATOR helps citizens know what is happening on the field. Only a few of the in-house team members are allowed to play ball in Arlington. The SPECTATOR helps citizens understand the game.
GAME SCHEDULE:
Wednesday, December 4: P&Z meeting, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm. (Work session at 3:00pm.)
Tuesday, December 10: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)
Thursday, December 12: AISD Board meeting, AISD Administration Building, 690 E. Lamar Boulevard, 6:30pm. (You must be signed up online by 3:00pm if you wish to speak.)
Saturday, December 14: Interlochen Christmas Lights event begins.
Tuesday, December 17: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)
Wednesday, December 25: Christmas.
Wednesday, January 1: Happy New Year.
From THE LOCKER ROOM
Arlington City Council Update
The city council did not meet last week. Their next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, December 10.
May 2025 Bond
I was under the impression it was to be about $180 million and all for streets. The 2025 Citizen Bond Committee came up with $198 million, of which only $137 million is for streets. The other pieces include $49 million for public safety [we are already funding a big item in north Arlington] and $12 million total in three smaller pieces for Parks, Libraries, and City Hall.
This is being presented to P&Z: https://legistarweb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/attachment/pdf/3004280/CBC_Recommendation_to_Council_Exhibit_A.pdf .
# # # # # # # # # # # #
Economic Development Corporation (EDC)
We are not sure about the next meeting.
Deal Fell Through???
The online October 11 Star-Telegram had a public notice for a public hearing to be held at the October 15 meeting. That evening when the agenda was posted there was no public hearing. The November 19 meeting now has NO public hearings. Did the deal fall through? This was for a performance agreement with Parkway Lamar Partners regarding improvements for the Whole Foods Market for $310,000. Is Whole Foods Market leaving? Or was it too easy and now they are seeking a bigger deal?
Upcoming Public Hearings
On Wednesday, December 4, P&Z will hold a public hearing to consider the proposed capital improvements of the 2025 Citizen Bond Committee.
On Wednesday, December 4, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-10 on 9.792 acres at 300 East Stephens Street. They wish for a planned development of RMF-22 [more apartments]. If approved this will go to the city council on January 7.
On Wednesday, December 4, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD23-37 on 5.390 acres at 1600 E. Pioneer Parkway. They wish for a planned development for mixed use with 48 apartments. If approved this will go to the city council on January 28.
On Wednesday, December 4, P&Z will hold a public hearing on ZA24-8 on 6.26 acres at 7005 Calendar Road. They wish to change the current residential estate (RE) zoning to residential single-family 7.2 (RS-7.2). If approved this will go to the city council on January 7.
On Wednesday, December 4, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD21-9 on 0.743 acres at 108 Hosack Street. They wish for a planned development RM-12. It is currently zoned RM-12 and MF-22. If approved this will go to the city council on January 28.
On Wednesday, December 4, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-29 on 1.629 acres at 2809 N.W. Green Oaks Boulevard. They wish for a planned development for community commercial with a car wash. If approved this will go to the city council on January 7.
On Tuesday, December 10, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD16-3R1 on 1.806 acres at 1211 W. Harris Road. They wish to add “flex” to the current PD options.
On Tuesday, December 17, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD24-21 on 1.210 acres at 1531/1537 W. Randol Mill Road. They wish to add a planned development with neighborhood commercial “NC”.
On Wednesday, December 18, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-17 on 1.832 acres at 2007 N.W. Green Oaks Boulevard for a planned development for community commercial (CC) including a wireless communications tower. If approved this will go to the city council on January 28.
On Wednesday, December 18, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-19 on 1.802 acres at 401 E. Rogers Street for a planned development for residential medium density (RM-12, usually town homes). If approved this will go to the city council on January 28.
On Wednesday, December 18, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-30 on 5.195 acres at 7708 Cooper Street for a planned development for residential single-family 5 (RS-5). Since this is a PD, it suggests that they do not meet all the standards; the lots are probably smaller than allowed by RS-5. If approved this will go to the city council on January 28.
On Wednesday, December 18, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-31 on 0.940 acres at 347 N. Bowen Road for a planned development for light industrial including automotive repair (major). If approved this will go to the city council on January 28.
On Wednesday, December 18, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-33 on 0.322 acres at 525 S. Bowen Road for a planned development for residential medium-density (RM-12). Since this is a PD, it suggests that they do not meet all the standards; the lots are probably smaller than allowed by RM-12. If approved this will go to the city council on January 28.
On Wednesday, December 18, P&Z will hold a public hearing on SUP24-8 on 5.406 acres at 2020 S. Watson Road. They wish for a special use permit for gas well drilling. If approved this will go to the city council on January 28.
On Wednesday, January 8, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-5 on 0.459 acres at 901 W. Abram Street. They wish for a planned development of higher density RMF-22. The previous PD has expired.
On Wednesday, January 8, P&Z will hold a public hearing on SUP24-9 on 0.521 acres at 3007 E. Abram Street. They wish for a communication tower.
???, the Economic Development Corporation Board will hold a public hearing for $310,000 for a performance agreement with Parkway Lamar Partners regarding improvements for the Whole Foods Market.
???, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-23 for community commercial with a package liquor store (2574 sq. ft.) at 2425 N.E. Green Oaks Boulevard.
P&Z Commission
The next P&Z meeting will be this Wednesday, December 4. They will give the public an opportunity to comment on the 2025 Citizen Bond Committee's work and five zoning case public hearings. The agenda can be found at: https://www.arlingtontx.gov/common/pages/GetFile.ashx?key=ryU6AWrb .
The 2025 Citizen Bond Committee (recommendations).
Zoning case public hearing #1 is for PD24-10 (300 E Stephens Street). They wish for a planned development of RMF-22 [324 more apartments (down from 331)] on 9.782 acres (staff report). They wish for three gigantic four-story buildings with nine deviations.
Zoning case public hearing #2 is for PD24-37 (1600 E. Pioneer Parkway). They wish for a planned development for mixed use with 48 apartments (staff report). Back in September we had to listen to chair friend, Sue Phillips, go on “forever” supporting this.
Zoning case public hearing #3 is for ZA24-8 (7005 Calendar Road). They wish to change the current residential estate (RE) zoning to residential single-family 7.2 (RS-7.2) on 6.26 acres (staff report).
Zoning case public hearing #4 is for PD24-9 (108 Hosack Street). They wish for a planned development of RM-12 on 0.743 acres (staff report). There are five deviations.
Zoning case public hearing #5 is for PD24-29 (2809 N.W. Green Oaks Boulevard). They wish for a planned development for community commercial with a car wash on 1.629 acres (staff report).
AISD School Board
The AISD School Board is scheduled to meet on Thursday, December 12.
TEA Accountability Data:
In 2020, the AISD was tied for the highest M&O rate of all the school districts in Tarrant County. Since then, there has been NO tie. The AISD HAS the highest M&O rate in Tarrant County. [school district tax rates]
Top 5 of Tarrant County's 21 ISDs M&O Rates
1. Arlington ISD $0.812800
2. Birdville ISD $0.786900
2. Fort Worth ISD $0.786900
2. Godley ISD $0.786900
2. Mansfield ISD $0.786900
Of Tarrant County's 21 ISDs - Lowest Tax Rates [The rest are above $1.1300]
1. Grapevine-Colleyville ISD $0.923300
2. Carroll ISD $0.961700
3. HEB ISD $0.968900
4. Fort Worth ISD $1.062400
5. Keller ISD $1.085200
6. Azle ISD $1.097900
7. Arlington ISD $1.103500
8. Lewisville $1.117800
9. Northwest ISD $1.117900
Teacher Salaries
This Dallas Morning News article by Talia Richman includes a table of teachers’ salaries: https://linkst.dallasnews.com/click/37453808.141842/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGFsbGFzbmV3cy5jb20vbmV3cy9lZHVjYXRpb24vMjAyNC8xMS8xMi9ob3ctbXVjaC1kby10ZWFjaGVycy1tYWtlLWluLW5vcnRoLXRleGFzLz9zYWlsdGhydV9pZD02MjY4MTI3OTRmNzU3ZjY0YmFlM2NhZGY/626812794f757f64bae3cadfB77e4f4f7 . [Arlington ISD easily pays the highest salaries, creating ISD inflation.]
Press Box
Other News
Interlochen Christmas Lights
The “official” Interlochen Christmas Lights event begins Saturday, December 14 and goes through Wednesday, December 25. This has the Arlington Police controlling the traffic flow throughout the event.
Head Scratcher
So, there are many companies moving from California to Texas, but then there is Dickies, which has been in Fort Worth for 102 years, going to California.
HELPFUL CONTACTS
The Spectator: www.ArlSpectator.mysite.com
to be added/deleted to/from the mailing list e-mail: ArlSpectator@yahoo.com
We can be found on Facebook at ArlSpectator.
Taxpayers' Funds at Risk:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_83.html
City Council grades:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_39.html
AISD Board grades:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_1.html
City of Arlington website: www.arlingtontx.gov
e-mails of mayor and council:
.................... first.last@arlingtontx.gov
mayor = jim.ross
district 1 (north) = mauricio.galante
district 2 (sw) = raul.gonzalez
district 3 (se) = nikkie.hunter
district 4 (west) = andrew.piel
district 5 (central/east) = rebecca.boxall
district 6 (all) = long.pham
district 7 (all) = bowie.hogg
district 8 (all) = barbara.odom-wesley
AISD website ....................... www.aisd.net
McMurrough............ - sarahforaisd@gmail.com
Fowler ................... - fowler.aisd@gmail.com
Mike .................. - larrymike.aisd@gmail.com
Wilbanks .......... - david@wilbanksforaisd.com
Chapa ...................... - chapa.aisd@gmail.com
Richardson ... - brooklyn.richardson.aisd@gmail.com
Haynes ................... - haynes.aisd@gmail.com
TEA Accountability Data:
ARC Political Watch Committee Reports
includes coverage of Mansfield ISD and national, state, county, & city
Texas Legislative Online:
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/Home.aspx
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