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August 9, 2026 – Volume 9 Number 32

HIGHLIGHTS:

* City Council decides to approve the townhome modifications to the UDC; delay the sign ordinance modification in order to further adjust.

* Low-income townhomes public hearing for P&Z this Monday, August 10; city council on Tuesday, August 18.

* Low-income apartments coming to the KISD. The Arlington City Council approved the second reading of the zoning ordinance.

SCHEDULE:

Monday, August 10: P&Z meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, August 11: KKB (Keep Kennedale Beautiful) meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, August 11: Parks Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, August 13: Board of Adjustments meeting, 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, August 18: City Council meeting, 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, August 25: EDC Board meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, August 27: P&Z meeting, 6:00 p.m.

KNOW WHAT YOUR CITY IS UP TO...

Your City Council

The city council met this past Tuesday, August 4. That agenda packet can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3891/files/agenda/10778 . The meeting may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyyW3naxJ5E . All council members were present. They evidently decided to conduct the regular session first, then the work session, and finally the executive session.

The original agenda had the budget workshop, then a call to order, public comment, two public hearings, three items for individual consideration, and an executive session.

(16:56) The recording started with the first public hearing in progress. The first public hearing was regarding proposed changes to the sign ordinance in the Unified Development Code (UDC). The posted information can be found starting at .pdf page 60 of the above packet link. Staff believes the current ordinance may be too restrictive.

(19:56) The second public hearing was regarding townhome regulations in the Unified Development Code (UDC). The posted information can be found starting at .pdf page 78 of the above packet link. The advertised changes have to do with parking, garages, and alleys. There were no speakers.

(20:04) The first item of individual consideration, Ordinance 26-799, was related to the first public hearing and the sign ordinance. The posted information can be found starting at .pdf page 90 of the above packet link. The council voted to DELAY until the next council meeting to further update.

(44:38) The second item of individual consideration, Ordinance 26-801, dealt with the second public hearing and townhome regulations. The posted information can be found at .pdf page 98 of the above packet link. It was approved, 4-1, with Glover opposed, with modifications to correct the printed ordinance.

[Interesting: About 53:03, Mr. Glover asks, “The only question I have is this being driven by any potential upcoming development coming down? Has a developer coming in and said, “Hey, I want to build this, but...”” Staff's response was, “We do have one development in town, I prefer not to discuss specific applicants in a broad ordinance request, but we do have one developer who's indicated that this rear parking area is problematic to the extent that it may challenge his project moving forward...”]

[Commentary: So, it seems like staff is willing to change the UDC just to accommodate a developer's wishes... Couple that with the speaker (in progress) when this meeting's recording began; She was representing a company that is definitely wanting the modifications to the sign ordinance. This is when you need to know whether “your council” is working for you and your best interests and not just for developers.]

(55:28) The third item of individual consideration was the proposed YMCA contract (lease). The item was NOT ready to be discussed yet.

(1:02:40) The budget workshop on the FY2026-27 Budget (staff report , workbook draft , capital forecast). This all begins at .pdf page 3 of the packet link above. The proposed budget is based on no change to the property tax rate. They added the new assistant city manager position, starting January 1.

(1:37:00) In executive session they planned to discuss boards and commissions appointment status. They returned about 1:44:46. They made an appointment to the Animal Control Board, approved, 4-0.

Leftovers:

We have taken the .pdf Investigation Report and converted it to text (far from 100% perfect) and tried to make improvements at: http://www.arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_13.html .

Previous Analysis:

Results: The evidence does NOT confirm…

See the November 9, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Witch Hunt?

See the November 16, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Jeff Nevarez interview – Our Part I

See the November 16, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Jeff Nevarez interview – Our Part II

See the November 23, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Was the Investigation Hi-jacked by the City Attorney and City Manager?

See the November 30, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Pay to Play Scandal

See the December 7, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Wandell Investigation Files

See the December 14, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Lack of Accountability/Afraid to Speak

See the December 21, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Griffith vs. Hull – “The Threat”

See the January 4, 2026, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Chamber Vote

See the January 11, 2026, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Hiring Austin Degenhart

See the January 18, 2026, Kennedale Observer for more details.

City Manager has Favorites?

See the January 25, 2026, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Our Commentary

See the February 1, 2026, Kennedale Observer for more details.

“No Shame” Griffith

See the February 15, 2026, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Last Week

The city council met on Tuesday for more budget discussion and some potential Unified Development Code (UDC) updates.

This Week

On Monday P&Z will meet for a public hearing on the zoning change for the low-income townhomes coming to Kennedale.

Keep Kennedale Beautiful (KKB) will meet on Tuesday (agenda). The Parks Board will also meet on Tuesday (agenda).

The Board of Appeals (BOA) will hold a public hearing on Thursday.

Public Hearings

On Monday, August 10, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PZ26-13, a planned development for townhomes along 509 Corry A Edwards to 506 North Road.

On Thursday, August 13, the Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on BOA26-03 regarding a special exemption at 404 E. Kennedale Parkway.

On Tuesday, August 18, the city council will hold a public hearing on PZ26-13, a planned development for townhomes along 509 Corry A Edwards to 506 North Road.

On Tuesday, August 18, the city council will hold a public hearing on PZ26-04, amending the sign ordinance.

On Tuesday, August 18, the city council will hold a public hearing on budget (https://classifieds.mcclatchy.com/marketplace/fortworth/advert/-Notices_237575).

On Tuesday, August 18, the city council will hold a public hearing on tax rate (https://classifieds.mcclatchy.com/marketplace/fortworth/advert/-Notices_237576).

EDC

The Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Board is scheduled to meet Tuesday, August 25.

P&Z

P&Z will meet for a special meeting Monday, August 10. [These low-income townhomes are important.] The agenda packet for the meeting can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3916/files/agenda/10796 .

The first public hearing is for PD26-13, the low-income townhomes at 509 Corry A Edwards and a portion of 506 North Road. The information for this case starts on .pdf page 13 of the above agenda packet link. They wish to develop 59 townhome units (varying between 1074-1352 sq. ft.). [density 11.8 units/acre]

One staff report “observation” is, “The proposal indicates a moderate level of density with a design far more compatible to a traditional small-town area than would be true for a more conventional/modern apartment complex.” [LOL, these are townhomes, they are supposed to have less density than an apartment complex. The fact is the 11.8 units/acre density exceeds Kennedale's Unified Development Code (UDC) standard of 8. The hard sell is on...]

The second public hearing is for a replat at 439 Mansfield Cardinal Road. The information for this case starts on .pdf page 43 of the above agenda packet link.

Other News....

Zoning Low-income Townhomes

A public hearing for low-income townhomes (PZ26-13) is scheduled to be on P&Z's special meeting agenda for Monday, August 10 and the city council meeting for Tuesday, August 18. According to the public notice, the addresses are 509 Corry A Edwards and a portion of 506 North Road.

TAD Rates

Tarrant Appraisal District has published the tax rates (October 2025) for the county. Kennedale has now dropped to the eighth highest municipality. [https://www.tad.org/content/rates/2025TaxRates.pdf ].

Top eleven of 41 (everyone else is < 0.65)

1. Everman 1.0260800

2. Sansom Park 0.8457840

3. Blue Mound 0.8138000

4. River Oaks 0.7439910

5. Burleson 0.7218000

6. White Settlement 0.7147780

7. Forest Hill 0.7004660

8. Kennedale 0.6961900

9. Pelican Bay 0.6762930

10. Fort Worth 0.6700000

11. Grand Prairie 0.6600000

KISD Low-Income Apartments

On August 4 the Arlington City Council approved the second reading of the ordinance for the low-income apartments along U.S. Highway 287 (approximate address 6700 and others). These apartments will be in the KISD. Lance Murray of the Arlington Report has an article after the item passed P&Z at: https://fortworthreport.org/2026/05/22/affordable-housing-pre-k-development-clears-arlington-zoning-hurdle/ .

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The “Investigation” Report

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Senior Tax Freeze Missing

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_10.html

Hammack Creek Apartments Disaster