December Council Meeting quiet

There was no one to speak at last month?s visitor/citizens forum at the regular monthly meeting on December 11 according to the draft minutes of the meeting but the council did discuss and take action on a number of items and heard from citizens via email.? {{more: continue …}}

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During the work session held at 5:30 p.m. there was a discussion of the presentation on the Winding Creek Erosion Study that included the creek from Bowman Springs Road to Kennedale Sublett Road. Find out more Erosion Master Plan for Winding Creek

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Action items …

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Regular session actions items included:

• approved the appointment of Council member Rockie Gilley as chair of the TIRZ;?
• approved the addition of 2 alternates position to the Utility and Infrastructure Board;?
• amended noise nuisances of City Code to start at 8AM on Saturday and Sundays;?
• approved a rezoning of 11 acres at 1109 and 1121 North Little Road for Restricted Commercial to Urban Village which would allow medium density housing;?
• and failed to take action on motion to approve resolution of support for an application to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs for a mixed use development at Kennedale Parkway and Sublett Road. The development is called The Village at Hammack Creek. It died for lack of second.?

Several citizens sent emails expressing their views on the proposed development The Village at the Hammack Creek.

• Lisa Cooper, 717 Timberline Street, stated via email her opposition to low income housing, and her support of seeking businesses in this area.
• Cheryl Pond, 606 Hilltop Court, stated via email her opposition to the Council considering mixed use low income apartments.
• Anthony Bichel, 908 Shady Vale Drive, stated via email his opposition to this proposed development because of the potential effects to the City and KISD.?
• Thelma Kobeck, 200 Valley Lane, stated via email her opposition to the Council supporting the developer?s application to the TDHCA due to the reduced rents and increased traffic; and urged the City Council and staff to review and revise the Comprehensive Plan.?
• Josh Altom, 1033 Estates Drive, stated via email his support of this Resolution and the related development, stating that it would be a housing option for public safety personnel and teachers. He also attached a statement from LeCretia Johnson who stated that she was born and raised in Kennedale, but as a single mother had left because of the lack of affordable housing.?
• Michael Strait, 509 Mansfield Cardinal Road, stated via email his opposition of this proposed development as well as the one on Little Road (Item G on this agenda).?
• Allen Ray, 1025 Winding Creek Drive, stated via email his desire for Council to table this item until more information is available about the financing.?
• Doug Elliott, 205 Hilltop Drive, stated via email his opposition to low cost family housing.
• Sarah Turner, 1000 Oak Hill Park, stated via email her opposition to affordable housing unless the schools, first responders, and businesses can support it.?
• Jennifer Cannon, 701 Sunrise Drive, stated via email her support of apartments in this location if they were high-end with retail and restaurants attached, but not if they were ?Section 8, HUD, or Government Assistance living?.?

Updates from council members:?

• ROCKIE GILLEY, PLACE 1, announced that he visited local businesses and toured the creeks of Kennedale.
• CHRIS PUGH, PLACE 2, announced that he attended the Christmas Tree Lighting and thanked the public works staff for their work at that event and the community for attending.
• LINDA RHODES, PLACE 4, announced that she attended the Christmas Tree Lighting and enjoyed meeting members of the Youth Advisory Council (YAC); and that she would be attending a TMCA training on January 24-25.
• JAN JOPLIN, PLACE 5, stated that she attended the Senior Center Thanksgiving luncheon; attended EDC, Council, Park Board, and P&Z meetings; and thanked the staff for their work on the Christmas Tree Lighting and the KPFFA for their Angel Tree Program; and that there was a ?Police Navidad? luncheon on December 20 at FUMC. Joplin then read a proclamation recognizing James F. Delaney Elementary for their ?Linda Huckabay Thanksgiving Food Drive?.

Pastor Nelda Barrett Murraine of FUMC Kennedale thanked the students, families, and staff of Delaney for their support of the FUMC Mission Store Food Pantry through this program.?

• Mayor Brian Johnson announced that he attended the Mayors Council meeting (which he chairs) and visited the Presbyterian Night Shelter; he noted the approval of the Tarrant County bond package, which included satellite health care locations; stated that the Commissioners Court recently approved the funding of a $10 million project to improve the portion of Sublett Road between Joplin Road and the Kennedale city limit; and that Kennedale Theatre in the Park had upcoming productions on Friday, December 14 and Saturday, December 15. Mayor Johnson then read a Proclamation designating December 22 as Arbor Day.