Well, good evening, y'all.

Welcome to the Arlington City Council meeting.

I'm going to go ahead and call the council session to order and invite Pastor Jason Nix from the Resurrection Global Methodist Church to come forward and lead us in an invocation.

Please stand if you can.

Almighty God, we pause at the beginning of this meeting to acknowledge that every community depends on wisdom greater than our own.

I believe you have a presentation for Chief Stedham.

Sorry, thank you.

Yes, my name is Christina Gomez.

I am the education and training coordinator for the North Central Texas Trauma.

Oh, sorry.

Oh speaking, hello.

My bad.

This is my first time as you can tell.

Yes, I am the training education and training coordinator for the North Central Texas Trauma Regional Advisory Council.

There are 22 regional advisory councils across the state of Texas.

Our mission is to support the emergency health care system by lowering morbidity and mortality across our 19 county region in the North Central Texas area.

One of NIPTRAC's many projects and initiatives is the Heart Safe Community.

This is a nationwide program developed with a set of criteria and guidelines designed to reduce the devastating effects of heart disease and improving outcomes of the sudden cardiac arrest emergencies by focusing on six specific areas.

Access to emergency care, emergency department, emergency medical dispatch, AED access and first response, of course, advanced life support, education, commu uh community awareness, and activities designed to reduce cardiac events.

And the sorry last is data collection and review.

A city that desires to become a heart safe community must apply to the program by submitting evidence of their efforts in each of these mentioned categories.

They must be evaluated, scored accordingly, and then finally endorsed by the NICTRAC board of directors.

The program requires a multidisciplinary collaboration and commitment of public and private organizations and EMS agencies or agencies across the entire community.

Achieving this recognition is no easy task.

So thank you for your commitment and health to the safety of your citizens.

It is truly our privilege to congratulate and recognize the city of Arlington as a heart-safe community.

Chief, y'all want to come on up and say a word and you gonna let those other two characters get up here at all or probably not.

Okay.

Especially want to check uh thank Chief Shanklin, Chief Durant, Lieutenant Miller, uh others that were involved in it.

What she didn't mention is we are the largest city in North Texas to have this designation, and it's a big deal.

So I think we're one of 14 cities in in North Texas to have it.

Um so it's a privilege.

We had it up until 2020, I believe, or 2021.

It's extremely difficult to keep once you get it.

Um so Chief Durand and his team, Chief Shanklin, they worked extremely hard to get it back, and so you know CPR classes, AEDs all over the city, um strategically located, and they've been used a lot since I've been here two and a half years.

Um I've given out numerous life-saving awards, not just to my members but to citizens, and that's that's really cool.

So thank you for this.

We appreciate it.

Y'all move the mic stand out of the way.

Come on, this ain't the first one.

There you go.

I got you, Mike.

I hope y'all notice the blinding speed by which I left from behind the diocese here.

That's how I expect y'all to talk tonight, quick and short like that, okay.

Uh Mr.

Buskin, speaker guidelines and general decorum, please.

Thank you, Mayor.

We ask that the citizens and other visitors in attendance assist in preserving the order and decorum of this meeting and to provide for attendance at and participation in the meeting without fear of intimidation, threats, or hostility.

Any person making personal, profane, hostile, slanderous, or threatening remarks, who uses vulgar or obscene language, who engages in any other actions that disturb or are calculated to disturb the meeting, or who becomes disruptive while addressing the mayor and the city council or while attending the city council meeting may be removed from the council chambers.

All speakers shall address the city council and not the audience or city staff and shall not call out individually named members of city staff or the public.

For speakers tonight, when your name is called, please come to the microphone at the podium and state your name and city of residence for the record.

Speakers may not use music, videos, other forms of media, signs or props.

During public hearings for zoning cases, the applicant will be asked to speak first and will be given five minutes to make a presentation.

Speakers in support or opposition of the item will be given three minutes each to make their statements.

The applicant will then be given three minutes for any rebuttal.

For all other items on the agenda, speakers will be given three minutes to speak.

If multiple speakers plan to provide the same or similar comments, the speakers may, if they so desire, designate one or more individuals to provide public comment on behalf of the group.

A bell will signal the end of each speaker's time.

In consideration of other speakers, please conclude your comments promptly when you hear the bell.

We ask that you address your comments to the mayor and council.

Thank you, sir.

Do we have any appointments to boards or commissions?

No, sir.

We do not.

Thank you.

Consideration of minutes, please.

Thank you, Mayor.

Minutes for consideration this evening or the afternoon and evening meetings from February 24th, 2026.

Thank you.

Council, do you all have any corrections or additions?

Seeing none, I have a motion from Councilmember Gonzalez, a second from Councilmember Pham.

Please cast your vote.

The motion passes.

Consideration of consent agenda, Mr.

Buskin.

Thank you, Mayor.

The consent agenda this evening contains 11-minute orders, two ordinances, and 10 resolutions.

The minute orders seek to authorize.

And for the Allen Avenue Sidewalk Project, Mayfield Road to Arbrook Boulevard.

Eight annual service contract for monitoring, mitigation, and reporting service of fats, oils, and grease.

9 and 10, per purchase of a fusion machine for the Arlington Water Utilities Department, and of mobile LED screen for the Parks, Recreation, and Culture Department.

11 purchase and installation of LED lighting at Vandergrift Park Complex.

The ordinances seek to authorize 12 zoning case SUP 25-11, 536 West Randall Mill Road.

13, fiscal year 26, assessment role and levy of assessments within the Anthem Public Improvement District and adopting a service and assessment plan.

The resolution seek to authorize 14 restated and amended certificate of formation of Arlington Inc., 15, 2025, Homeland Security Grants.

16 public right-of-way permitting and construction manual amendment.

17 Transportation Services Title VI program.

18, authorize the request for proposal procurement method for the sale of city-owned surplus property and selection of developer.

19, authorize the request for proposal procurement method for the purchase, installation, implementation, and maintenance of budget software.

20, Active Center and Texas Health Resources Sponsorship Agreement.

21, Arlington Family Apartments Resolution of No Objection.

22, resolution authorizing submission of a general and no litigation certificate.

23, confirmation of civil service commissioner.

Thank you, Mayor.

This concludes the consent agenda for this evening.

Thank you, sir.

Do we have any speakers on any of the items as they appear on the consent agenda?

Yes, sir.

We had one speaker in support of item 7.21.

James Staples.

Mr.

Staples.

Mr.

Staples.

No.

Okay.

Any other speakers, Mr.

Buskin?

No, sir.

No additional speakers.

We also had one non-speaker in support on item 7.21.

Thank you, sir.

I have a motion from Councilmember Galante, a second from Council Member Hogg.

Please cast your vote.

And the motion passes.

We're going to move on down to the public hearings 10.1.

Ms.

Thopel.

Thank you, Mayor.

Item 10.1 specific use permit SUP 25-10.

Is it a request to allow for a secondary living unit on a property zoned residential single family 7.2, RS 7.2 on 0.74549 acres located at 2102 Preston Wood Drive, generally located north of West Lamar Boulevard and west of North Fielder Road.

On February 4th, Planning and Zoning Commission recommended unanimous approval of this case with certain stipulations.

Since the Planning and Zoning Commission, the applicant has added 36 inches of brick to the bottom portion of the structure.

The brick will match the color of the primary residence.

The applicant was not able to move the location of the structure to the other side of the pool due to site constraints and wanting the secondary living unit to be closer to the driveway.

However, they have lowered the total height of the structure by lowering the pitch of the roof.

The original height of the structure was approximately 18 feet 4 inches, and they have now reduced the total height to 15 feet 8 inches.

Additionally, this morning I emailed you a memo with applicant's revised site plan with a slight adjustment of the location of the unit, a few feet closer to the driveway.

Please note that there is an opposition map in your packet.

A supermajority vote is triggered if at least 20% of the land within 200 feet of the zoning change submits a petition of opposition.

Currently we have 61.9% of the land within 200 feet that has submitted opposition to the zoning change or to this specific use permit.

A supermajority vote, again, at least three fourths of the city council is required to vote in the affirmative to approve this SUP.

This evening we have the owners, Shelley and Rick Chambers, who will be presenting the case.

Okay.

Hi everyone, uh Shelley and Ricky Chambers from Arlington, Texas.

We actually live at 2102 Preston Wood Drive here in Arlington.

We moved to this house for the specific reason to purchase and to build a tiny house for my mother who is elderly.

We lived in Interloken for the last 12 years, loved our home there, had no intentions of moving, but life happens.

Our parents get older and need help.

And so we bought this property because of the size of the lot.

We had checked with the city requirements before we purchased it to make sure that it was feasible.

And then we purchased the home.

So this is the house 2102 Prestonwood Drive.

This is basically the tiny house, what it will look like.

So that I also wanted to mention that the latest U.S.

Census results are that the over 65 age population is the largest population group and will grow substantially as all the baby boomers are getting older.

The over 85 age group is the fastest growing age group in the United States.

So providing housing that's appropriate for them is important for all of us to do.

So this house will be for my mom.

Ricky and I also have two handicapped physically handicapped adult children.

We anticipate that through the years they also may need some assistance.

It will be ADA compatible and very close to us so that we can take care of her and look out for her.

This community is very important to me.

My children went to Butler, Shaq, Lamar.

I worked for River Legacy Foundation for many years.

I have volunteered at River Legacy.

I volunteered for many political campaigns and every school board that's possible.

Anyway, Ricky and I married three years ago.

His wife passed away, and he has embraced this community as I have, and we want to stay here forever, which is why we bought a house here.

This is an aerial map of the property.

As you can see, it's a very large lot, it's over 30,000 square feet.

It is zoned RS 7.2, but really should be RS 20, I believe, which is for lots over 20,000 acres.

And in that request, um, in that situation, if it was RS20, um, the ADU would be um automatically approved from my understanding.

Um, but RS 7.2 also does give the ability for a single family residence in addition to accessory um buildings, etc.

As you can see, there's plenty of room on that lot to build a small structure.

This is another aerial view.

I'm running out of time, so we're gonna that's just our current property survey.

This is a picture of our house from the back.

Um the tiny house will go on the trees on the left side of the property, which is the best place for us to oh, yeah, right there, right where Ricky did.

So that's where we have it located.

This is the site map with the proposed um ADU.

Uh, we are putting in a pool right now, um, which is sort of in the center, um, right there, and then the ADU is right there along the south property line.

Whoa.

This is just the inside.

Um, it's gonna be about 750 square feet.

Uh, we did drop the roof line uh by three feet because the neighbor to our south um is not happy with the height of it, so we are trying to accommodate our neighbors.

Ah, okay.

Um that's okay.

You could scream now if you want to.

Ah, do you want me to flip through this or what?

No, ma'am.

No, ma'am.

That your your time's expensive.

Thank you for your time.

I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Sir, you did a great job.

Mr.

Buskin, any other speakers, sir.

Yes, sir.

We have six additional speakers in support and two speakers in opposition.

Um, our first speaker in support is Rebecca Chambers.

Ms.

Chambers.

After Rebecca Chambers is Jeff Carr.

Hey, good evening, council.

Thank you so much for allowing me to be here.

Um, I am a fellow resident of Prestonwood Estate, so I don't live right by them, but I do live in the area.

And I did feel compelled to share my experience and express support for uh Shelley and Ricky Chambers.

I'd like to quickly reference uh the email that I sent to the city planner back on February 3rd.

I said, I recently signed a petition presented for the chambers secondary living unit at 2102 Preston Wood Drive.

I would like to see if it's possible to retract my signature.

It has come to my attention.

That unit is for an elderly parent and not part of a rental concern.

If possible, please remove my name from the petition opposing the build.

I am confirming support of the unit.

It appears we were misinformed, and I do not want to hinder the chambers family, not related, but chamber also chambers, uh, from building a unit for their elderly mother.

I'm deeply disappointed that this issue was misrepresented as a possible rental unit.

So uh wanted to share that and just share that my husband and I we applaud the true reason for this build, which is taking care of family.

That is so important, and I again appreciate you letting me speak about this and hope that the family can proceed with their plans.

Thank you, ma'am.

Next speaker, Mr.

Buskin.

Our next speaker is Jeff Carr.

Mr.

Carr.

After Mr.

Carr is Bill Block.

I'm Jeff Carr.

I'm actually the contractor for the project.

Um usually with these type of deals, I try to make myself available for any questions that you guys may have.

Um but kind of in short, we've I've been working with them on this for a while.

And I do feel like they've made an effort to be a good neighbor by adjusting, adapting, fixing um the siding, lowering the height, um, going out and just trying to make sure everyone knows that this project is for family and it's it's not an Airbnb or a rental or anything like that.

Um so just kind of following up on everything that she said, and um some people had brought up some issues with potential drainage.

Um it sounds like it's it's not good there right now as it is.

So our thought is that by building this and getting engineering involved and moving dirt that um it can only help alleviate some of those issues as well.

Um but essentially just want to make myself available to you guys.

Um we were here a couple weeks ago with another case that was very similar.

Um, same exact case, large lot, 700 square foot.

Uh, we didn't have any issues.

Um, but on the construction side, if anybody, I don't know if you guys need anything from me, but happy to answer anything that you guys may not know.

Thank you, sir.

Next speaker, Mr.

Buskin.

Our next speaker is Bill Block.

After Mr.

Block is Joy Wells.

Good evening.

My name is Bill Block.

I live in Arlington, Texas, since 1964.

And I'm speaking for myself and my wife Sarah.

We've known the chambers, Shelley and Ricky, for about 30 years.

For many of those years, we were neighbors, and my wife and Shelly volunteered on lots of school committees, PTA, booster club, sports organizations, whatnot.

These people are the kind of people you want as your neighbors.

They're friendly, sociable, they keep their home and grounds in great condition and perfectly maintained.

Ricky keeps busy making repairs, maintaining and improving their properties.

As you know, the number of trips that she had to make to go back and forth to care for her mom.

And her medical, legal, and other needs are too many to count.

Her mom's dream was to move here, live in this small house, independently but with them in her final years.

They've done things the right way, they've consulted professionals, they followed the process, they followed the rules in this case.

These are good moral people, upright citizens, and their attentions with this house are noble, which is to care for their aging mother.

And who wouldn't want that?

I think we'd all want our children to do that for us.

So we're for this.

We think it's a good idea.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Our next speaker is Joy Wells.

After Joy Wells's Larry Trussell.

Hello, thank you so much for having us tonight.

I'm Joy Wells.

I live in Arlington.

Um, lived here since 1985.

I'm with my husband, Jim Wells.

I met Shelly 25 years ago.

So we're on the new uh end of the spectrum, but I did meet her in kindergarten, and it was a great time, and I knew immediately she was going to be somebody I was going to be friends with.

She is funny, she's smart, she's nice, she's genuine.

We've raised our kids together, whether I had kids in her grade or not, we still were friends over everything.

And the my funny story about Shelly is I met her in kindergarten, like I said, and I persuaded her at that time to run Project Celebration with me for the seniors of Lamar High School.

Bit in advance, but I knew I needed a good buddy to run that program with me, and I thought we would work well together.

Success, it was great.

My next thing is to say she is my neighbor too.

Um lived right around the corner from me, and her houses have always been beautiful.

Ricky does a great job with the landscaping, and um Christmas in our in our neighborhood is amazing, and their Christmas is beautiful, and I know they put it up at their new house as well.

They are good people, they are honest, they are genuine, they are smart, they do things the right way.

They didn't want to leave their home in Interlocken because they were by me, right?

But they knew that this is the best fit for her mother to come live with them, and she's always wanted a tiny house, and she and Shelly are very close.

Her name's Mama Miss, and she is a mess, but she is sweet and needs to be by her family.

Shelley's family all lives here in the Arlington area, her kids and her grandkids, and they need to be with family.

So I would appreciate you guys you know, voting the right way for this.

I think they've done it right, like they said before.

I'm not gonna you know keep talking about that, but we appreciate your wisdom in this, and uh thank you very much.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Larry Trussell.

After Mr.

Trussell is Kevin Clark.

Hello, my name is Larry Trussell, and my wife Sherry and I have lived in Arlington for the North Arlington for the last 36 years.

We live just outside the 200 square foot boundary uh of Ricky and Shelly's property.

And I'd like to say a few words, excuse me, on their behalf.

First and foremost, I see no issue with the request to build the proposed structure on their own private property.

My wife has known Shelley for 30 years, and we were neighbors with Shelly for many of those years.

She has always been a great and cooperative neighbor.

Shelley and my wife are constantly talking about gardening, home improvements, interior decorating, and I can certainly attest to the fact that they maintain care immaculate care of their houses and their yards.

Shelley and Sherry, my wife met as kindergarten room moms at Butler Elementary.

Our kids went to school together here in Arlington from kindergarten through 12th grade through the public school system.

Both Sherry and Shelley have been active participants in the local schools, having served on numerous school committees at every grade level.

That's grade school, middle school, and high school level.

As everybody has said, Shelley and Ricky are outstanding North Arlington residents.

They have followed the letter of the law for this project that will be located on their property.

They are building this house to provide an independent space for their elderly parent, Shelley's mom Judy.

Not only do I fully support their legal request to build this house, I also view this as the right thing to do, both morally and ethically.

Thank you for allowing me to speak on behalf.

Excuse me, of our good friends Ricky and Shelley.

Thank you, sir.

Our next speaker is Kevin Clark.

After Mr.

Clark is our first speaker in opposition, Laura Matthews.

My name is Kevin Clark.

I live in North Arlington.

My family moved to North Arlington in Prestonwood Estates in 1977.

I started seventh grade at Shackelford, went on to Lamar and UTA.

I have great memories of living in that Prestonwood estates.

Lots of families, everybody watched out for each other.

I currently live in the neighborhood.

I've owned four homes in the Prestonwood Estates, have lived there most of my adult life.

And your neighbors are your friends, they watch out for you.

They take care of your house when you go on vacation.

This is a great neighborhood that I've been in since I was 13, and I've known Ricky and Shelley for a few years, and they are the type neighbors that I wanted my neighborhood, and I think any neighborhood would want them in it.

I just wanted to express my complete and total support for them as neighbors and also for uh doing the right thing and uh trying to trying to take care of their elderly mother.

I think that's very admirable.

And uh again, I'm a neighbor of theirs and proud to call them neighbors that live around the corner from me.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Our next speaker is Laura Matthews.

After Miss Matthews is B.

Stein.

Good evening, Mayor and Council members.

My name is Laura Matthews, and I live directly adjacent to the lot requesting the special use permit.

My concerns focus primarily on the height, placement, and visual mass of the proposed structure, given the proximity to my property and its position on the highest part of the lot.

The structure proposed is to be 15 feet eight inches tall and located approximately seven feet from the shared fence line.

And because it is on the highest point of the property, the height and visual impact from my yard will be some significantly amplified, greater than what the measurements suggest.

Approving a structure of this scale so close to the neighboring property.

The neighboring property line could set a precedent for similar placement in other residential areas and may have a negative lasting impact on the city of Arlington.

The fact that 62% of the surrounding property owners oppose this structure reinforces the legitimacy of this concern.

Substantial visual presence created by height, elevation, and proximity significantly changed the character of my property and places a large accessory structure immediately adjacent to my property fence, to my fence.

Additionally, because the structure now aligns with the pool area and adjacent hard surface gathering areas, the placement concentrates activity along this portion of the property line, increasing activity and noise along the shared boundary, and further in intensifies the impact.

Another concern relates to the placement of the structure and how it has evolved during this entire process.

The location currently flagged does not match the original intent, and nor does it match the updated version that we received just last Wednesday on March 4th.

Yesterday morning, Mrs.

Chambers contacted me and indicated that the location where the structure is currently flagged is where they always had intended it to be, and that the planning and zoning committee was actually aware of this.

Later yesterday afternoon, I received an email that informed me that the plans changed again, and that the council would receive an updated memo this morning reflecting the new proposed location, which I would only be able to review here tonight.

With yet another updated plan presented tonight, it raises questions about whether the impacts of this placement being proposed have had an opportunity to be fully evaluated.

Given also the size and topography of the property, there are other locations where the structure could be placed and would reduce impact on neighboring properties and better separate it from adjacent yards.

I respectfully ask the council seriously consider whether the placement being proposed is truly compatible with our neighboring uh properties and established character we love.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Bee Stein.

Hi, I'm Beatrice Stein, and I've lived in North Arlington for over 40 years in Prestonwood specifically.

No one is here to disparage the Chambers family, they seem like lovely people.

The problem we have is that the majority of people in Prestonwood do not want an SUP built next door, next door, anywhere, because that would set a precedent for something that we don't want.

And the um the building of the SUP has been talked about with a lot of people.

We walked around, we talked to people, we didn't want it.

Ms.

Matthews has specific requests because she's gonna have to look at this building.

It is visible from the street.

And this area has been zoned as a single family neighborhood for as long as I've been there over 40 years, and the people of North Arlington press and do not want that changed.

We think that moving into a neighborhood that has been established the way it is, the way people want it to be for that many re for that many years, it's it's kind of um hard to understand that you would want to you would just move in there and then just do whatever you want with total disregard to what other people want.

The placement of the building is not good for the neighbors.

Seeing it from the street is not a good idea, it's not supposed to be allowed either.

And um there are plenty of places on that property that would have made a better site.

This house will be built on a hill.

The kids used to go to boggaining down there.

The neighborhood kids, that's they used to go to their house and use that hill down to put an elderly person behind a pool, and then down the hill, I would not want my mother there, and I would not want that in environment for her.

I think that that's um I I mean I I that's uh that's a problem.

Umce it's done, there won't be any recourse on remedying any problems that do occur.

And so um we would like you to take the time to think about the voices that have spoken in Preston Wood, who've a lot of a lot of us have been there a long time who just don't want to start a precedent of building um SUPs in backyards for any reasons.

Nothing sp against these people.

Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am.

Mr.

Busk and any other speakers.

No, sir.

That concludes our speakers on this item.

We did have four non-speakers in support and three non-speakers in opposition.

I do have an issue with y'all.

And that is you're not my neighbor.

Um I understand concerns of the neighborhood regarding the ADUs.

But what Trump said in my mind is the tremendous love and character that you obviously have as a family and taking care of your mother and your children.

And uh I uh for the life of me would not be able to oppose my approval of this, so I'll be voting in favor of approving this.

Councilmember Hogg.

Yeah, thank you, Mayor.

Um thank you for the residents who spoke.

Um you look at the history of our council.

Um this was proposed.

People tried to get us to give ADUs across the entire city.

Blank it across, and we've said no.

Um, we said no, we don't think that's the right path.

So we still have it by doing a permit, a special use permit, and it is to help make sure it's the best spot and best location and protect single family neighborhoods.

And that's what it's there for.

Um's approved some recently that are a little questionable, right?

They're it's a corner lot, no one's really gonna see it, but I think they've worked out pretty well.

Um the growing trend is that more people are building these to take care of their elderly family members, or as y'all have double-side elderly family or adult children who need extra support.

It's not uncommon.

Um this can't be a short-term rental.

It's not in the zone, it can't be allowed from that.

And I also understand the neighbors in opposition.

Because they're just trying to protect our neighborhood, they want to make sure the best.

And so, you know, sometimes we get these neighborhoods, I don't want to call them fights, battles, disagreements.

People think in different ways to do things.

But if I look at this property, and luckily a couple of friends of mine know the chamber, so I went out and actually got to visit their property and see it.

Um I did not expect to see as large of a property as what I saw.

I looked it up on Google Maps.

I said, looks pretty big, and it's larger.

And then you look, if this was at another location, it would be able to be approved without any council approval.

If this was a pool house, it would be allowed to be approved.

But because you put a bedroom in there, it had to go through the permit.

You've gone through the entire process, um, which I think the proper way you've done this.

I asked you a question when I got there.

What's the backside of their windows looking over into the neighbor's star?

No, there's some light windows at the top to let some light come through.

Um I looked at the neighbor's jar because I was concerned about Ms.

Matthews, I think, who's next door about what it is and seeing how it looks down.

And I I don't think it's probably not the ideal thing she wants to look at, and I understand that, but I don't think it's taken away from her property, which is what I'm very big on is protecting property rights and and single families.

So I I think it is you know, you could build an extension of the house that could be way worse on there, and you wouldn't have to go through all of the different processes with us.

You could just go through the permitting department um to get this done.

I think you've done it very high end.

I think it's a high quality project.

Um I think this is the type of things you should go in and honestly it's gonna help the property value of everyone around your entire community.

Um sorry you'll have to pay more property tax, all the neighbors, but it's gonna help your property value eventually when people sell neighborhood.

I think it's a good project, and I fully support it.

Councilmember Galante.

Thank you, Mayor, for the opportunity.

Um guess Councilmember Hogg says very well, and I'm just gonna um add on what he said.

Uh appreciate the time you guys gave it to me.

So I actually did my homework.

I visit uh Mrs.

Matthews there, and I went inside her property, take a look at everything, and I'm and I visit Rick.

Uh when I need a landscaper, I'm gonna call you Rick, okay?

Oh.

So anyways, uh I look at the two properties, uh, and like I said, you guys, uh I am your voice here.

I'm I'm the voice of the neighborhood.

Uh I see all the angles, all the the insights about the project, and I also uh visit uh Rake and his property.

Uh I spent time there, understanding.

Uh yes, um ADUs are in the rise, so um rental and and property prices are rising, and we're gonna see this more and more.

Uh and we wish everybody, including the ones that are in your position for this project, they also have the opportunity also to build their own ADUs there, going through the process, like Mr.

Ms.

M Mrs.

Shelley, right?

And and Mr.

Rick went through uh bringing in uh uh having us visit, talk to everybody.

I think it's the best uh uh solution.

Understanding the the your neighbor needs that can be your need in the future also.

And uh uh I'll be in favor of it, even knowing that we have a lot of opposition, but I will ask everybody to go and talk to each other.

Understanding what your neighbor needs, understanding what your neighbor is going through, and understanding that he has by right, he has by right, he applied, he went through the process of the zoning, which is really meticulous, right?

He had to show the drawings, has to uh show up, show up on the PZ, show up here today, right?

And uh I appreciate your time.

I I really do appreciate your time and uh and I congratulate the project.

And uh we have uh uh uh Clara we have to clarify the location of the house, and it was very good that I visit, right?

Then we had the opportunity to clarify what exactly what is gonna be.

And um and thank you for your initiative, and I hope everybody have the time to talk to each other.

And uh, if you have those projects in the future in the same neighborhood, they will have the same compassion and understanding with each other.

Thank you.

Councilmember Hunter.

Thank you, Mayor.

I want to thank you guys for bringing this project.

We get a lot of projects in, and you know, the fact that you want to take care of your mom, it really touches my heart, and I will be supporting this, so thank you.

Councilmember Boxell.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh, first, I before I make my comments, I wanted to ask Ms.

Thompel.

Um, the site plan looks like the house is further back, and then when I spoke with Ms.

Matthews yesterday, it looked like they had changed the location to closer to the main houses.

So I was a little confused about where it's situated.

So this morning I sent out an email with an attachment of the revised site plan showing that the houses closer to the pool and closer to the driveway.

Closer to the main house and the driveway.

Okay.

That's my understanding as well.

Okay.

Um well, I'm in favor of this project.

Um I think it's it think it adds to the neighborhood.

I think it is commendable to take care of your mom.

I took care of my mom for the last three years of her life, and um it was the hardest thing I've ever done.

It's also the best thing I've ever done.

Um I'm gonna be in favor of this, but I would say that the building design, it could be less bulky.

It could be a little bit more cottage-like.

It could have uh one of the dimensions could be smaller, where in other words, narrower than it is because it's kind of blocky.

I think it could be a little bit more sensitively done.

Um, and maybe think about that, make it a little bit more cottage-like.

Um the the bathroom is not ADA accessible, so you might want to think about that as well for your mom.

Um but I'm in favor of it, and I just hope that the neighbors could come to understand the need there, and it is something that's gonna become more and more need as we have an aging population.

So thank you.

Councilmember Gonzalez.

Yes, thank you, Mayor.

Uh, this is you know, this is important to everybody, the the homeowners in Preston Wood and family that bought the house, and uh it's really important for everybody.

So I I do uh you know, I I met with the um one of the people that were against it, and I promised I was gonna ask this question, and I think it's even more.

So um Mr.

Clark mentioned neighbors are your friends, and seeing all these negative no's, I mean, are you still willing to stay in that neighborhood and build it?

Because I mean I'm just surprised at all the negativity.

And it was good to see one person come in and said it was misrepresented.

And I'm hoping maybe that was part of the deal.

I don't know, but I was really shocked to see all these no's like okay, why?

What's going on?

So I mean are you still willing to come to the podium, please?

I'd be happy to address that.

Thank you.

I do think um that there was quite a bit of misrepresentation.

Um we have reached out to neighbors, we've walked the neighborhood willing to have anybody come over and see what we're doing.

We're not trying to hide anything.

Um we just right before the meeting, and I'm happy to provide it.

The Southwest neighbor right behind us, we send it their opposition.

Um, having they came to my backyard, backyard and looked at everything and have changed their minds.

They are here tonight, they're not speaking, but they did rescind their opposition.

Um I do think that most people were misled.

Um the two ladies who got up and spoke did walk the neighborhood, handed out flyers, said it was gonna increase crime, that we were going to have a um uh rental property, none of which is furthest from the truth.

We are simply trying to take care of my elderly mother and our own children.

Uh, we did the site plan, uh, the question about that.

It's all we've always had the same stakes, but when it was originally drawn, um it wasn't totally in the right spot.

So we moved it up.

We do want it closer to the street, closer to the end of the driveway for emergency personnel and vehicles and fire, should it be needed.

Also, our bedroom window looks right out on it.

Um, it is not that highest part of the land, the other it's the other side that is.

Um, but that has very mature oak trees that we do not want to disturb.

Uh that's why we all love our community is it's so hilly and trees, and we want to keep that character in place.

Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am.

Well, Councilmember Globe.

Yes, I'm sorry.

And you know what?

I mean, if you can take the advice from uh council member Boxall making it softer, I mean I mean when I see that it's like just this wall, look it's not gonna look absolutely.

You know, we already dropped it three feet.

We we we want to be good neighbors.

We are have always been good neighbors.

We want us to all like each other and live together in community.

Um that's why we've lived here for as long as we have and want to stay here.

Well, I truly believe God put us on the earth to work with each other and help each other.

So hopefully that this can get resolved.

You're gonna build it and then neighbors, I hopefully will understand.

We'll have everybody over to see it.

Yeah, Shelly, stay there, stay there.

Okay.

We'll be quick, Mayor.

I'll be short, like Raul on speech or height.

Y'all notice he sees he sees the look.

I'm like, come on, we gotta look at He did say keep everything short.

I remember you saying.

Just to clarify on the just to clarify on the rental rumors, and uh I think it would be wise if you address that.

There's some stipulations that uh the P the the PNZ approval was put it on.

GC, do you mind to uh list the stipulations?

That will clarify that the property would not be used for, would not be authorized to be used to be rented for somebody else that is not living in the house.

Please, G.

Correct.

Um so the ordinance exhibit B does include that the secondary living unit may only be used by family members or relatives and shall not be rented or leased.

Correct.

Yes.

We have no we wouldn't be spending this kind of money for a short-term rental property.

It would take I'm a banker.

It would take a decade just to break even.

Um and we are putting some brick, which was planning and zoning, asked us to do that.

So it's not all siding, which we have siding and brick on our house.

So it's gonna kind of replicate our house, a very small version of that.

We're happy to put up an eight fit fit eight-foot fence to buffer the south property if um it's requested or if our neighbor would like us to.

We did one, and that's not a cheap price, it would be about $10,000, but we'll be happy to do it if it will make um our neighbor to the south.

Uh, yeah, I'll love to offer for the neighbor that option.

That'll be great if you offer it.

Absolutely.

Council Member Fan.

Thank you.

Uh you want me to say that?

Yes, yes, yes, yes, Mr.

Mr.

Chambers, and Mr.

Chairman, thank you very much for bringing this project to uh city council.

Um for taking care of your uh agent motor.

That's uh that that's that's awesome.

There are not too many people who do that today for their parents.

And I understand that.

So now oh so I want to address Ms.

Matthew.

I sit down and talk to her.

She some neighbor got some concern, but after uh I saw some of the revise you done and thing that you have promised you're gonna do for this project.

So, Ms.

Matthews, I understand your concern.

Just try to work, get along with your neighbor.

And if one of these days you have to build one, I think your neighbor do the same thing.

We support you.

And for that reason, uh I'm going to support this project for the chambers.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I'm going to close the public hearing.

I have a motion from Councilmember Peel, a second from Council Member Odom Wesley.

Please cast your vote.

The motion passes.

Congratulations, y'all.

10.2, Ms.

Thhoppel.

Thank you, Mayor.

Item 10.2 uh specific use permit SUP 10-23R4.

The applicant requests a fourth revision to the to the existing specific use permit to add a 10,500 square foot maintenance building on the existing Liquitec property, located at 408 113th Street on approximately 2.34 acres of land zoned industrial manufacturing, IM, generally located east of 113th Street and south of East Randall Mill Road.

The site is currently developed with a one-story concrete tilt wall building and one metal building.

The site lies within the Great Southwest Industrial Park and is surrounded by industrial users on all sides.

Great Southwest Parkway and East Randall Mill Road, both major arterials are located in close proximity to the site, providing direct access to I-30 and nearby rail transportation.

The subject site is a liquid processing facility.

No, no, sorry.

Party's over.

Man, you better hope council doesn't do that.

Yeah, well, my name is Armando Garcia.

I'm with AG Design Group.

We're a group of architects, engineers, and uh landscape architects that together here with the general contractor and the ownership team are here to share our plan to modernize our liquid waste processing facility.

And um, we're seeking an update for our special use permit to support a new enclosed building that would allow us to upgrade our facility infrastructure, uh, improve our workflow processes and also support our sustainability goals.

And by improving our facility on our workflow, we'll be able to increase our our water quality output, reduce excess waste, and convert more recyclable materials.

So that's what I just went through.

There's a quick slides.

I'm gonna fly through some of these.

This this presentation is a little long.

Just some of the leadership team that's here tonight.

Um what we do in a nutshell, what what Liquitech does is they provide end-to-end services in uh grease trap hauling, liquid waste processing, use cooking oil recycling, and uh emergency disaster relief.

And here just shows kind of some of their some of their customers, like restaurants, hotels, uh corporate uh um government, like schools and municipal municipal buildings and others, such as like golf courses.

Um here's kind of their their service radius.

It's pretty pretty white and head here in North Texas.

Um so they have a lot of customers that they do work for.

It's a family company that's based here in Arlington.

Uh that was founded in 2010, and they've been here um ever since and uh want to be able to just upgrade their facility to stay stay in Arlington, but but have the most up-to-date technologies and infrastructures.

Um here's kind of where I'm gonna talk a little bit more.

Um yeah, the site's about 2.4 acres uh for liquid waste processing and hauling.

The the proposed building is about 10,500 square feet to allow for improved workflows, uh, which will make it safer, more efficient movement for trucks and equipment.

Uh working with the planning department here at the city, um, we've ensured we've um exceeded the minimum requirements as far as for parking.

We've uh provided upgraded landscaping and infrastructure for cleaner and better looking property.

Um you can see the site plan here.

Um we've provided a whole fire lane loop unobstructed around the the property around the building.

Um here's kind of that shows it's a one-story building for equipment storage and and a workshop.

Um it consolidates the activity to reduce clutter and improve the safety and circulation around the property.

Um faster maintenance keeps the service routes more reliable, and it's uh everything's designed to the most current safety and uh operating standards, and so the building like um the planner mentioned now.

Um the existing building is a concrete tilt wall building that we're adding to.

Um, and the proposed elevations here on the left, and the north, south, and east are all proposed to be um durable low profile profile metal panels.

Um and the only elevation facing the the public street, the west elevation, that one's kind of has an enhanced materials that together with the planning team, um, we're able to provide um, like I said, upgraded materials and uh cleaner aesthetic for for the the street-facing side of it.

Um the landscaping, we focused on um buffering, drainage, and long-term maintainability.

Um new trees and shrubs are being proposed at the at the public street just to provide screening and and kind of um hide some of the the cluttered or not clutter, but just hide some of the stuff people don't want to see from the street sometimes.

Um it's a better state layout, it's a better site layout, which is more efficient.

Circulation works a lot better for their for their needs.

Um we focus on the drainage and and just to sort of reduce the erosion and the uh and dust that can that can happen in these um and then just some of the benefits, kind of bullet points here, just improved processing workflow, greener operations, clear circulation, um importantly uh upgraded infrastructure and improved curb appeal um just to kind of keep us um keep the neighbors across the street and and everyone using 143 um.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Yeah, Mr.

Buskin, any other speakers on this item.

Yes, sir.

We had two additional speakers in support.

Our first speaker in support is Keegan Gardner.

Okay.

Um our next speaker in support is Aaron Nation.

Good evening.

I'm Aaron Nation.

I'm here in support just as the contractor, just to make myself available for any construction side questions y'all may have.

Thank you, Mr.

Nation.

Mayor, that concludes our speakers on this item.

We did also have one non-speaker in support.

Thank you.

I'll close the public hearing.

Whoop, Councilmember Gonzalez, you just popped up on my thing.

Did you mean to do that?

Yeah, I know.

I don't know how this is here.

I don't know why that's okay.

Can you can you come back up?

I have a couple of questions.

Yeah, are the owners here?

Okay.

They might be the ones that get to answer this.

So first of all, thank you for doing business in Arlington.

That's really important to all of us.

So it's kind of funny you said something that was in my head.

Uh, if you go to the staff report, if you can show the picture or staff, I don't know who does that.

Um, but you said the word clutter, and you know, when I saw some of the uh I'm real A-type, so I see those things.

Uh but when you look at the the 2025, um, if it's on page.

There's a lot of cars, there's a lot of um, it just looks like a lot of a tractor, it looks like there's a bunch.

So I I guess the first question is when people bring these, I guess that's for you all.

When they bring these things that need to the waste, I mean, what do they come in?

Containers, do they dump them off?

Do you they leave them there?

You can sit down.

I'll talk to them.

Sorry.

All right, my name's Keegan Gardner.

They come in uh uh vacuum trucks.

So they're about the size of garbage trucks, they've got a tank on the back.

We offload them, we treat it, and they go back out that exit there.

Okay.

And I I wish they would show the picture.

Why?

Because it sounds like I'm being picky, but if you can see the uh, you know, I see the photograph.

This is the aerial map.

Yeah.

Yeah, so you see all the trucks are kind of spreading out.

You can talk on the mic.

So the the additional parking will be to clean all this up.

So on the on the bottom here, you can see the those are our dewatering boxes.

We use those.

You're looking at the aerial map.

I'm looking at the aerial.

Those will be inside the new building.

Um, we'll have the parking all designed to where the trucks will have a designated parking spot along with a lane to come through.

It will clear up really that entire top side there by giving us more storage.

Our problem is we just have too many, so we need we need storage too.

Well, that's good to hear.

I mean, that's really it's a good problem.

Yep.

That's good for you.

Also, on the landscaping, there's a photo of it, and they show the the bear to be that green mesh stuff.

And there's barrels out there.

I mean, what are those barrels supposed to be there, or is that something that won't happen?

Um any barrels that were there.

Oh, those were for um we were getting sampled in our core wells that used to be uh oil change place, and so they're old samples that used to be there.

Those are not there, those are from the sampling company.

Well, I appreciate you doing this being difficult.

I just thought this is a good time to address it and to be a better neighbor.

So thank you all.

Yes, sir.

I'll be supporting it.

Okay.

Now I'll close the public hearing.

I have a motion from Councilmember Pham and a second from Councilmember Hunter.

Please cast your vote.

Motion passes.

Congratulations, Ms.

Thopel.

Thank you, Mayor.

Item 10.3 zoning case PD 25-14.

Is a request to rezone from entertainment district over Lake Community Commercial, EDO-CC, to a planned development for EDO-CC, plus a package liquor store in a 2400 square foot lease space on an approximately 0.86 acre site addressed as 1112 uh North Collins Street, generally located north of East Randall Mill Road and west of North Collins Street.

On January 14, the planning and zoning commission approved zoning K, this zoning case by a vote of 5-4 with the following staff considerations that that all illegal signage be removed at the site be brought into compliance with clean, visually appropriate and well-designed signage, and that the gaps in the shrubs along the North Collins Street frontage be filled in with more shrubs.

The applicant has agreed to remove all illegal illegal signage from his space and the site.

He is also providing additional landscaping, which includes five trees and additional shrubs.

The applicant will be painting the exterior of his suite and adding new compliance signage, lighting, and cameras.

This evening we have the applicant Robert Nunes from Alchemy Development Partners presenting their case for us.

Mr.

Nunes Good evening, Council members.

My name is Robert Nunes, and I'm I live in DeSoto.

I'm a former Mavs UTA.

Okay.

Uh can you go ahead and share them?

Um what I'm sharing with you guys here is a file that I send out to Clifford, and it was a landscape plan showing the the proposed uh improvements to the actual landscape plan.

He said that he could not include it in the presentation.

I'm not sure if it's there.

He said that it was just too big, so he could include it.

So I printed copies for each one of you guys.

And I also included some signatures that we got from some.

It was just some of the people that came to his store.

I'm sorry, come on.

This is Mr.

Kamlash, and he is a partner in the business that owns uh this this location.

They are currently operating as a convenience store.

Um they signed their lease in 2022, 23, and soon after they signed a lease.

Um their business was doing great initially, but then uh about a block away from their property, uh 7 Eleven opened up.

And uh it's a fueling station, so it brings a little bit more business than what these guys do, and they are a small, um a small, you know, mom and pop, they got two other stores, one in Fort Worth, one in Dallas.

But they're not they have they've been having a hard time competing with 7-Eleven, and so they try lowering their prices, they try bringing in new merchandise to see how we can compete with the existing, you know, with this company, but he's just his business just constantly gone down ever since last year.

It's been really tough for them, so that's when they began asking some of the customers what type of business do you guys think would be a good type of business?

Well, they kind of kind of settle on that idea, the idea of the package liquor, which was still sell convenience store items.

So still have some coolers for the normal convenience store items, but in order for them to sell the actual package liquor, we need a change in zoning here.

And so instead of saying, hey, let's just change the zoning completely, we're not asking for that.

We're just asking for us to go to a planned development so that every single zoning regulation, every single land use that is currently in place is staying the same exact way.

We're only adding, we're only asking to add this one land use.

And we're also abiding by some of the recommendations the the planning and zoning commission and the commissioners have asked us to do.

We will do a complete remodel of renovation of the existing space, which you can see right there this week.

Um trying to see if I can go to the next one.

Okay, so that is the site plan slash landscape plan there.

Um the main things is the trees.

We'll bring bring we'll be bringing in a row of trees on the front that currently we don't have.

And then the proposal is also to include roughly 50 feet of shrubs to enclose the shrubs area because right now it's bare and a lot of space and it just looks like one big gap in be in several spaces.

Um I don't know if you can see that on there, but if in the document that I send you, there's actually dimensions on there where each individual area we're gonna be adding new shrubs.

And so you can you can see that as well.

Uh, one of the other things that he will be bringing in is a renovation to the interior as well uh to make sure that we have ADA restrooms that meet accessibility requirements, and that in addition to that, you do have to apply for a renovation in order to do that because now you're converting a project from a convenience store to a liquor store or a packaged liquor store, which is similar, but the only thing is that now you can sell items like liquor items.

And so he has to renovate the space no matter what.

In fact, that's what we were just talking.

If you guys were to approve this, we we would intend to move forward with the within the next week or two to apply for the permit in order to get this renovation going.

Um the World Cup is coming.

And so that would be a good thing.

To get it done before that.

We don't want to be stuck when the World Cup is around, the permitting process is going to be a lot more difficult.

Okay.

This is the owner of the business itself.

He just came here with me because it feels a lot more comfortable in case you guys ask a question, they he's not.

Perfect.

Mr.

Buskin, do we have any other speakers on this?

Mayor, the only other card we had was for um Camelish, the owner.

You have anything to add that he didn't say that.

My name is Comnis Mondal.

I live in Irving, Texas.

And I've been living in DFW for the last 10 years, and I've been involved in doing business since 2090, 2019 in DFW area.

So stadium wine was open one to two years back when we signed the lease.

There was no 7 Eleven, nothing.

And when we opened the stores, 7-Eleven popped up nearby, just next light.

We start we started doing good revenue in the past few months.

Then our sales started to drop drastically.

We dropped our prices and everything, but we are not able to compete with the prices.

But even though we are kept our store open, we have a number of customers coming in and asking for liquor every day.

So we see this as an opportunity so we can thrive at this location.

Thank you, sir.

No other speakers, Mr.

Buskin.

No, sir.

Councilmember Hogg.

Yeah, thank you.

Uh Mr.

Mandel, let me uh let me ask you.

I'm sorry about your business decline.

Have you ever run a liquor store before?

I have a liquor store in Fort Worth uh 6249, Alta Mesa Blue Ward.

It's been over a year.

We opened up the liquor store.

And we have been doing uh successful business in Fort Worth, Texas.

So you've been running that for a year.

Are you there every day or you I'm there four days a week.

How many days a week do you plan to be in Arlington?

And I have a partner and uh who works in that store uh in Fort Worth, Texas, so he managed everything.

In our thing in Arlington, I'll be around three to four days.

I just live like 15 to 20 minutes away.

So I can be there every day almost.

Uh things, thank you, Mr.

Mandel.

And let me uh I I I'm not in support of this, and and I don't think I voted for a single liquor store since I've been up here.

I I just sit I read too many stats and I see what crime goes up.

I see what happens um to sinners when that happens, and I know um it's sometimes the easiest choice, but I don't think it's the best long-term choice for sinners.

Um I'm no teetotaler.

I've I'll go shop at a liquor store as much as anyone, but I I just don't believe it's the best thing for that store, especially on a major uh thoroughfare from people coming in, uh visitors across the board.

So I I will not be in support of this.

Councilmember Odom Wesley.

Thank you.

I just had a question about the shrubbery.

You said you were gonna replace the shrubbery.

Is that just in front of your business or is that in front of the entire strip mall?

The improvements that we're actually proposing include all throughout the there's uh a row of shrubs in the front, but there's several gaps that are just either they've died or they just never were in fill.

And so that was one of the things that planning department asked us, can you guys do that?

Anyways, I was already proposing some adding shrubs as well as trees in that area.

And so it's the whole the whole entire shopping center.

You can see it on that side plan and then the landscape plan that I provided you guys.

Is that the same thing true with the illegal signage?

Are you doing all the signings in the whole mall?

No, just the just your just his, yes, correct.

Okay.

He he he can't speak for the entire shopping center because he does it.

He only owns his shop.

And his shop, he will make any legal signage that is not there, he will remove it.

Thank you.

Councilmember Hogan.

Can I say something or hold on one second?

Did you pop back up purposely?

Oh, okay.

I just want to make sure I wasn't missing anything.

Yes, sir, go ahead.

I I did want to say uh councilman Mr.

Bowie.

Uh thank you for for your time.

I'm sorry that you don't support it, but um, I will say our client has that issue.

He's that he's dealt with that issue in Dallas where um he had it was a store that was not a liquor store, but it was a store near a lot of crime area area.

And what he did is he hires someone who actually has experience with safety securities, and then he pays them a little bit more, but he's also an employee of the store.

And in addition to that, he's bought multiple cameras to angles and areas where people used to hang out and they used to sell drugs back there.

And so now you can't do that because you got lights and cameras everywhere checking you out.

And then you got somebody in case that before they used to call the cops all the time.

Now they don't do that anymore because you have a guy who's actually expert dealing with people like that, intoxicated and so on.

So I understand.

Thank you for your time.

So I'm I'm not opposed to all liquor stores like Mr.

Hogg, I can I've been in my fair share of liquor stores.

Um what I'm opposed to is allowing run-down looking storefronts with large posters up in the windows and riffraff hanging out on the sidewalk and the curb outside of that.

I'm assuming from what you're saying, you're gonna be taking the same type of actions to keep that type of stuff from happening in this place and keep it pristine and pretty and attractive to people.

Now, this elevation is not showing necessarily the elevation of the suite itself, it's not necessarily showing what we plan on doing because one of the things that we're talking to Clifford is a lot of the new developments in the city of Arlington have that Austin Stone and then as well as some other type of siding or some sort of brick communicate.

That's what we're thinking about creating some sort of ban up here so that the the idea of an uplift is that this shopping the shopping center itself obviously is in good condition.

It hasn't been that long since it was built, but just the suite itself actually bring it up to to a more modern look to it, to more what we are actually building in the city of Arlington, which is a lot of these really nice design design places, and so that's one of the things that I was talking to Clifford about.

But although it doesn't show it necessarily because I don't show the actual stone on this one, it will be, and then part of it is cleaning all the all the tape on the on the storefront, all the glass and everything else.

So that's another thing.

And then all the landscape will definitely help.

I mean the last thing you're not gonna load up every though one of those windows with pictures of the case.

No, no, no, no, no, no.

Mad Dog 2020 or something.

You're not gonna be able to.

That's a bad business.

All right.

Ms.

Jan C.

Mayor, I just want to add that if there are changes that's going to happen to the elevation to the extent that uh the applicant is talking about, that should be reflected in the development plan.

This is a PD with the development plan.

It should be reflected, whatever they are asking.

Thank you.

They're thinking of doing.

Mr.

Galante.

Well, thank you for putting effort and try and trying to ring fast on your business.

Understand your small business, right?

And uh see the list here of people that you have in support.

Some of them are without the last names, uh, in the addresses, they are not clear if they for Narlington or not.

Uh so most of the customers who came into the store who were looking for liquor at that location, we asked them to sign.

Um maybe we they forgot to put on the address.

If we even went to each uh most of the houses nearby our restores and talked to each resident and asked them to sign if they are in favor of us.

So number of customers signed in the paper are the residents.

Then the customer coming to the stores.

But their address that do not reflect if they are residents for Narlington or not.

They can be well be visitors, right?

And it's too, you know, it's my one of my duties is to protect the interests of the neighborhood in the city, not visitors only, right?

Uh second thing, you you're saying that you're gonna improve the look, the look of this uh of the store in uh, you know, the elevations and everything.

I I mean I see here very simple elevation, very simple plan, uh, you know, uh no renders in anything.

You're here applying to turn around the business, right?

And I don't see the the effort uh a bigger effort on presenting this uh in in the way you be, you know.

So I just cannot approve something uh upon a promise, right?

So you show what you got how it's gonna be the final product, what your standards are, and then you make the job easier for everybody for yourself and for us.

Take that as a as uh as a comment, right?

So as a constructive comment, okay.

Could I say something?

Go ahead.

And Mr.

Galante, thank you for your time.

Um, if that is something that City Council would like to see, which is more rendering, actually, what this thing will look like, we will be more than happy if you guys give us another month to come back with these renderings and we'll be we'll have them ready.

But otherwise, we could have it in writing as part of the ordinance and plan development, meaning once you write it there in the plan development, I can't actually get a permit unless I'm meeting those requirements, meaning I will have to provide the city during the permit process.

I'll have to provide them everything that you're asking for before I can even build.

Anyone else, Mr.

Buskin?

Say what?

You want to talk again?

I'm just yeah, I mean, the I I hadn't seen anything but stone or anything happen.

I the only thing that we have from the applicant is that they will be painting the exterior of his suite and then the landscaping piece.

Well, sorry.

Isn't the land isn't the property owner gonna have something to say if that's there's that type of stuff being done out there?

So um I I don't know that you can just submit renderings of what it could look like without the property owner making those changes.

Before we apply, we had to get a permission from the property owner to do this.

And then when we when we you know, we actually spoke to him about adding items.

The first thing he says, am I gonna have to pay for it?

Well, was it no part of the development is these guys are actually willing to invest on actually adding this the shrubs and adding these trees to this property?

And so he's saying, Well, if I don't have to pay anything, as long as you get the permit approved by the city, then we're okay.

And he approved us coming to you guys asking for this plan development.

Okay, Mr.

Gonzalez.

Yeah, you came up, went down, came up, went down.

I know.

Well, I was gonna say one thing now after what he just said.

And you know what?

I mean, I I I feel sorry for you.

I know you know everything you talked about, but I feel like I mean it's just like sometimes it's better that I mean if if this doesn't pass, you can't come back for how long?

A year?

So I mean, I know you're in a hurry to hurry up because of the FIFA, but this really belongs to the it's the problem of the owner of this property, and getting you know, getting yours done is like he needs to fix up the whole thing.

And so I mean, I'm gonna vote against it just because you know I don't want to put you in that position because you're paying for all this stuff when it's really it's gonna be his asset, and rather than you put all this money into it, go somewhere else because you don't want to be with this landlord, it's not gonna take care of you.

I mean, I I just don't think it's fair, and I feel very sorry for you.

So that's just my opinion.

Yeah, but if you don't get through this, even I have to go through the lawsuit filed by landlord for breaking the lease, which will be hundreds of thousands of dollars for since I have lease for ten years.

So in this regard, I think I would like to take my chances and spend some on boostes and get this thing done and move forward.

If given the opportunity by City of Arlington, we'll comply with everything we have said here, and we'll do everything to fix this place up.

For the second time.

You've been uh in business in Arlington, that location would be a wide.

It's been two years and above.

And have a 10 years contract?

Yes, sir.

How many occurrences you have of violence and stealing or breaking in the store or some?

None of them.

None of them.

None of them.

Right.

I'll entertain the continuous motion of continuously if my colleagues are entertaining.

It's not up to you to entertain a motion for continuance.

If you want to make a motion, you can do it.

But we have a prior motion.

There's already been one made already.

Oh we've already heard the case.

Boxell, you you've moved on this thing.

Do you want to amend your motion in any way, shape, or form, or I I just want to jump in without the property owner here to commit to upgrading this entire shopping center and showing he's he's sucking money out of you, he's getting a free ride out of you.

Without the property owner as committed to this type of work as you are, this is not a good idea for anybody.

Without the property owner as committed to this type of work as you are, this is not a good idea for anybody, not for anybody in the city, not for you.

Uh I don't trust him for the fact he didn't come down here tonight with you.

It shows he doesn't care, just like he's shown he has not cared about this property for some time.

And um I'm gonna be against this, and I do not think we should continue it.

So we should vote it down tonight.

Okay.

I'm gonna close the public hearing.

I have a motion from Councilmember Boxell.

Mr.

Galante, are you wanting to amend her motion?

No.

I move I have a second from Councilmember Hogg.

Please cast your vote.

Mr.

Buskin, did you hear that?

Yes, Trey asked me a question.

Y'all be careful.

We are highly trained professionals in here.

Okay, we're gonna move on down to 11.1.

Spencer Slider.

Good evening, Mayor and Council Spencer Slider, your interim director of finance.

Before you tonight, item 11.1 is a resolution authorizing the execution of a trust fund event support contract with IndyCar Grand Prix of Arlington.

The event will take place over a three-day period this weekend and is expected to draw 80,000 visitors and have an economic impact of approximately 66 million dollars.

The proposed agreement allows the event to access state funds through the state of Texas major event reimbursement program for certain expenses incurred in producing the event.

The contribution, the city's contribution of 1.2 million dollars includes $500,000 from the Arlington Tourism Public Improvement District.

And I'm happy to take any questions.

Thank you, sir.

Mr.

Buskin, do we have any other speakers on this item?

No, sir.

We do not.

Thank you.

I have a motion from Councilmember Odom Wesley, a second from Councilmember Galante.

Please cast your vote.

Motion passes.

Congratulations, Mr.

Peel.

You hit the right button that time.

Okay, 12.1, Ms.

Thoppel.

Thank you, Mayor.

Item 12.1 is a consideration for a resolution to call for a public hearing for zoning case ZA 25-6 to change the zoning from residential single family RS 7.2 to neighborhood commercial NC on three tracks totaling 2.717 acres, generally located on the northwest corner of Kelly Elit Road and Interstate 20 High Bay.

On February 4th, the planning and zoning commission made a motion to approve this case, which failed by a vote of 4-4.

There are 20 letters of opposition included in this packet.

This evening we have the applicant Nikki Moore from MMA presenting their reasons for why the council should hear the case.

During deliberations, all commissioners expressed that neighborhood commercial was an appropriate use for the site, given its location along the hard corner of Interstate 20.

However, some of the commissioners considered the potential future zoning of the neighboring parcel just to the west.

That's addressed at 4248 West Interstate Highway 20.

When evaluating whether the applicant's property should be rezoned, four of the commissioners raised raised concerns that the property could potentially be developed as multifamily housing under Senate Bill 840, with the addition of the adjacent property that was not under consideration, which I might add is currently zoned RS 7.2 and would have to go through its own zoning case at a future date.

Given that my clients tracts only 2.7 acres, such development is unlikely.

The perceived risk to be more seemed more to be closely associated with the neighboring property to the west, which is not under consideration at this time.

So I respectfully request that the city council hear the case at a future meeting and make the final determination of our tie vote from PNZ.

Thank you, ma'am.

Mr.

Buskin.

Any speakers on this item?

Yes, sir.

We have three additional speakers in support of this item.

Our first speaker is William Beastle.

Mr.

Beastle Good evening.

My name is William H.

Bisso Jr., 2012 East Randall Mill Road.

I'm the real estate broker who's been handling this property for uh Mr.

Heelcher for many, many years.

We bought it thinking that this property might have a potential for residential development.

We showed it to many, many residential developers.

None of them wanted because it's just not big enough.

It's under three acres.

It doesn't make uh sense for for them to do it.

So the two we've had two um individuals that have put it under contract to do commercial.

One was gonna build an office building and the other was gonna build an educational building.

I just feel like this is the best use for commercial, and that's it.

Thank you, sir.

Mr.

Gonzalez.

I have a question for Ginsi.

Ginsi, the comment was made that the size of this lot that was sent a bill 840 that they cannot build.

Multifamily is too small.

Is that correct?

Uh it can be designed.

Uh it's up to the designer to work that out, I would say.

But just having that property, that alone could just be so has nothing to do with that other piece of property.

Yeah, it doesn't have anything to do with the other property.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Next speaker, Mr.

Buskin.

Our next speaker is Wayne Bergdorf.

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

Uh Wayne Burke Dorf.

I live in Arlington.

I've lived in Arlington 47 years.

I'm a commercial real estate broker and do mostly uh land brokerage.

I have no personal interest in this site.

I'm not the listing agent as Mr.

Beastle is.

I'm not related to the ownership.

Uh do live in the district, but not very not very close to the property.

I came tonight to watch another case, but uh saw this on the agenda, had seen some chatter on social media, and I just asked if I could speak.

Um I believe in common sense development.

Uh, spoke at this podium before for common sense development.

I think the clear highest and best use for this site is for neighborhood commercial.

Uh it's a heart why is this?

It's a hard corner at a freeway and a four-lane artery.

There's a traffic light at this location.

It's too busy and noisy for single family enjoyment for single family use.

Uh even if somebody wants to do an estate lot, it wouldn't be a popular estate lot location.

It's too small for multifamily or light industrial flex, and I believe it's it's too small to meet SB 840, so that that couldn't happen either.

I think that minimum is five acres if I recall.

Um it's ideally suited for neighborhood commercial, such as uh medical office, professional office, uh personal service, that type, those type uses.

And uh those uses are generally one-story, uh, lower traffic, and and and uh um and those are examples of up and down the freeway uh along that service road of such uses, and that would be that would be an ideal use, and the precedent has been set.

So I would please uh ask you to vote in favor of hearing this case uh for its zoning change.

Mr.

Gonzalez.

Uh yes, um, thank you, Mayor.

Gin Cent five acres, and this is 2.9.

So that's a different um that's SB 15 that requires five acres.

SB 840 doesn't have an acreage requirement.

I mean, I I agree with the gentleman saying that you know NC is perfect.

Um, but the state took a lot of our power away from us to say what it can or can't be so.

Um is local control is gone from the city on on pieces of property like that.

So I I just want to make sure that we're staying focused on the issues of appeals and not getting into the case itself.

This is just about making sure we're either approving or denying a request to be heard.

My mistake.

Okay.

Any other speakers, Mr.

Buskin?

Yes, sir.

We have one additional speaker in support, Rojo Mehuero.

Good evening, I keep it short.

Uh have the opportunity.

Uh oh 3704, Astoria Drive.

North Side of the District.

Uh opportunity to actually come as the area around it.

So he helped a little bit with the misinformation, running around some Facebook pages.

Uh, there are some residents that are very in favor of having this hearing.

So we do thank you, and we ask you to please vote in favor of it so they can have the opportunity to come and share their opinion.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any other speakers, Mr.

Buskin?

No, sir.

No additional speakers.

Thank you, sir.

I have a motion from Councilmember Odom Wesley, a second from Councilmember Gonzalez.

Please cast your vote.

The motion passes.

Congratulations.

Okay.

Citizen participation, Mr.

Buskin.

Thank you, Mayor.

Citizen participation gives the public an opportunity to make comments or address concerns regarding matters related to city business or affairs that are in the scope of the authority of the city council and which are not posted on the evening agenda.

However, please understand that the mayor and council are not permitted by law to respond to, discuss, or address the comment at this time as these items are not included on the posted council agenda for this evening.

The mayor and council may only ask clarifying questions and or direct staff to take appropriate action.

Speakers who have pre-registered will be given two minutes to make their comments, except that if 26 or more speakers have pre-registered, each speaker will be given one minute to make their comments.

Mayor, we had 11 uh 11 individuals register for citizen participation.

Our first speaker is Vanessa Strength.

After Miss Strength is Jimmy Burke.

Miss Strength, come on up, huh?

You're all right.

All right.

All right, y'all gonna get a new version of me.

This is not my first time up against it in the face of tyranny.

This is tyranny.

There's Pharisees over there that I got, man.

I got gang suckers following me.

Y'all gonna figure out how to do report.

And Matthew 624, Mr.

Christian.

It says you can't serve God and money at the same time.

You will love one and hate the other.

I am gonna be living at the at the levit and and put in the pizza place.

That man now that stole my service dog that y'all say was picked up poor day, whatever.

I've been with that dog since April 2022.

The world knows he's mine.

Two doctors know he's mine.

Y'all know he's mine.

That man that had some works on a veterinary at a veterinary place on Matlock uses resources to change the microchip information.

When I walk up and down Matlock with his name on there, the first cop that puts her hands on me is going to have to beat me to death this time because I'm fighting back.

Either way, I'm getting put to a slow death and atrocities and crimes against humanity all day long.

Good day.

Next speaker, Mr.

Buskin.

Our next speaker is Jimmy Burke.

Mr.

Burke.

You're all right.

Take your time.

Thank you again, Mayor and Council.

Uh homeless homeless to the American Dream Part 2.

And I again appreciate it because I realize my topic is broader than is what usually discussed here.

And I've been ranking my brain on how to manage my now minute and 45 seconds.

And I think a little bird's eye view of if we're gonna have the right premises to evaluate on how to fix this situation that at best is incomplete.

Then we gotta first arrange our mentality on those premises.

And I think a good way to do it today in my remaining time is who are we?

Individually and collectively.

And I, as a Christ follower, define my who and why by who Christ is.

Many people who have the same issue but don't have it for the same reason.

I think a good way to finish my time is a while back, there was a family with a lot of children, and they had a house fire, and they lost everything.

Interesting thing was that a couple hundred years ago, and it was the Wesley family, including Charles Wesley, who is one of the founding brothers of the Methodist Church movement.

Do they fit the assumption that we a lot of times have the homeless person now?

And thanks for bearing with me because it's you got to get somewhere in two minutes, but I think that's another step in the process of our mentality.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Our next speaker is Eddie Frisbee.

Mr.

Frisbee.

I live in Arlington, moved in here at 72, moved out for a little bit and back again.

They applied for a permit now for this house that has already been completed.

They've already done all the work on it.

I've been contractor, I do a lot of work for the city of Arlington, the in the housing department.

Actually, I met you about 20 years ago.

But the uh I know what the process is when you start any construction, you have to have the permit before you start.

They they were stopped twice, and finally they had to put a cease order on the door because they had tore it off two times.

Uh the first time that they had talked to the city uh about doing it, to my understanding, don't quote me on this, please.

They pretty well told them false information on what they were doing.

They've added rooms to it, they've added windows to it.

Uh the right now the yard.

I heard with the chambers, I feel sorry for them too, but I wish I would come and look at this address too uh and see what's going on there because there's nowhere for anybody to be parking in this circle to begin with.

You know, they're gonna be parking in their backyards.

I'm not really sure what they're gonna do.

The uh I'm not even sure if city council can do anything about it, but I know what the process of pulling a permit is, and they have not done it.

And I looked at the their drawings for this house, and they're not accurate either.

It doesn't show the electricity that they've added.

Uh they've built in the garage, they've done separated rooms into two rooms.

They're saying six bedrooms when the taxi of the thing.

Thank you, sir.

I'm gonna ask our city manager to make sure we get this turned over to our code enforcement folks to take a look at for it.

They've been they're keeping on it.

I know we're gonna have to keep keep on them.

So thank you for letting us know.

All right.

Next speaker, Mr.

Buskin.

Our next speaker is Robert Blake.

I didn't see Mr.

Blake in here tonight.

I don't see him.

Next speaker.

Next speaker is Stephen Daniels.

Mr.

Daniels.

Mr.

Daniels, next speaker.

Our next speaker is Brace.

Brace, no last name.

Next speaker.

Next speaker is Jeff Morris.

Mr.

Morris.

No.

Next speaker.

Next speaker is Jill Rorschach.

Ms.

Rorschick.

Next speaker.

Next speaker is Donnie Rorschach.

Next speaker.

Next speaker is Mary Ann Levine.

Next speaker.

Next speaker is John Paul Jackson.

Anyone else, Mr.

Buskin?

No, sir.

That concludes everyone we had registered for this evening.

Thank you, sir.

Council, do y'all have any announcements tonight?

Dr.

Odom Wesley.

Thank you, Mayor.

I just wanted to remind all of our residents that this is race weekend, and we have complete information on the city website regarding street closures and other helpful information.

So check the city website and uh be aware, be race aware.

That doesn't mean y'all get to get out and drag race down Matlock or anything either, okay.

Mr.

Harris, I'm speaking to you.

Uh Mr.

Buskin announcements, please.

Thank you, Mayor.

I'd like to remind our residents, Arlington City Council evening meetings are rebroadcast on Sundays at 6 p.m.

and on Wednesday and Saturday mornings at 6.30 a.m.

The council's afternoon work sessions are rebroadcast on Sundays at 1 p.m., Wednesdays at 1 30 p.m.

and on Saturdays at 6 p.m.

You can also watch the meetings online anytime at www.arlington tx.gov.

Thank y'all for coming out tonight with that city council is adjourned.

This is an opportunity to give people a chance to explore the world one drink at a time.