Friday, November 26, 2021

The Week of November 29th - December 3rd, 2021 in the City of Waxahachie

Hello Friends!

    I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  While there are no city meetings posted for this upcoming week, I did want to make an announcement that I do not plan to seek re-election to the Waxahachie City Council in May 2022 in order to spend more time with my family.  I will serve the remainder of my term until a successor has been elected.  I really love this city and the people in it, so I will still be involved at some level.  Plus, I'll still make myself available for questions after my term ends.  It has truly been an incredible experience to have had the honor of serving you, the residents of Waxahachie.  Thank you so much for allowing me to have this opportunity!
 
    For more information on the May 2022 election, you can follow the City Secretary's page on the city website here: https://www.waxahachie.com/departments/city_secretary/elections.php  Usually in mid-December, the City Secretary's office will put out a packet for those interested in running for Council with all the information you need contained within it.  You simply have to stop by City Hall once they are available and pick one up.

    I hope that everyone has a wonderful weekend and week ahead!  

Your Friendly Councilmember,

Melissa Olson, CMO
(text) 817-507-5162
molson@waxahachie.com
at 1 comment:

Saturday, November 20, 2021

The Week of November 22nd - 26th, 2021 in the City of Waxahachie

 Hello Friends!

    First of all, I want to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! As posted on the City's official Facebook page - City Offices will be closed on Thursday,
November 25 and Friday, November 26, in observance of Thanksgiving Day. For non-emergency needs during this time, please call the Waxahachie Police Department at 469-309-4400. For emergencies, please dial 911. 
 
    So far for this week, we only have the Planning & Zoning Briefing and Meeting on the city's calendar. You can always refer to the city's calendar here: https://www.waxahachie.com/calendar.php
 
 
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Tuesday, November 23, 2021
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6:00 PM - Planning & Zoning Commission Briefing Session
Council Conference Room, City Hall
401 S. Rogers St.
 
 
This briefing is being held to discuss items for the 7:00 PM regular P&Z meeting.  Citizens are welcome to attend this briefing in person.  It is not live-streamed at this time. 
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7:00 PM - Planning & Zoning Commission Regular Meeting
Council Chamber, City Hall
401 S. Rogers St.


5 - Consider request for a plat of The Fitzgerald, for 184 unit apartment complex just East of 240 Park Place Blvd.  This land was zoned for multi-family use many years ago.  The applicant is meeting the requirements for the plat and therefore the commission must approve the plat.  Staff is also recommending approval.  (If you wish to address the commission regarding this case, you must do so during the public comments portion of the meeting, since this is only a "consider request" on the agenda rather than a public hearing.)  Even though many may not want this complex to come to fruition, it is unfortunately one of those things that we must approve if they meet the requirements.  It should, however, be the last of the apartments built in the area of Park Place and Garden Valley Parkway.

12 & 13 - Public Hearing on a request for a Specific Use Permit (SUP) for a Starbucks located just South of Butcher Rd. and East of Hwy 77.  Staff is recommending approval per comments.

14 & 15 - Public Hearing on a request for a SUP for a Hospital (Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility) located East of the intersection of Indian Drive and Brown Street.  The ClearSky Rehabilitation Hospital is a facility that will provide care for patients recovering from stroke, heart attack, brain injury, spinal cord injury, orthopedic conditions, cancer and pulmonary conditions.  Staff is recommending approval per comments.

18 & 19 - This Public Hearing has been continued a couple of times, but it will be coming before the commission at this meeting.  It is a request for a Zoning Change from Future Development to Planned Development - General Retail located along Broadhead Road in between Howard Junior High and the Knights of Columbus facility.  For several reasons, staff is recommending denial.

For more details of any of these cases or others not mentioned above, please refer to the agenda packet, linked above.  This meeting is open to the public to attend, but will also be live-streamed at the following link: https://www.waxahachie.com/government/city_council/city_council_meeting_live_stream.php
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That's all for this week's newsletter!  I hope everyone has a wonderful week ahead and a great Thanksgiving!

Your Friendly Councilmember,

Melissa Olson, CMO
(text) 817-507-5162
molson@waxahachie.com
 
at No comments:

Saturday, November 13, 2021

The Week of November 15th - 19th, 2021 in the City of Waxahachie

Hello Friends!
 
    It's so beautiful outside, I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!  We started out by going to the Veteran's ceremony at the Civic Center this morning and it was just a beautiful tribute.  We came home, had lunch and then went to one of the city parks near our home.  I'm pretty sure I've said before, but it is such a blessing to live here!  
    We only have the City Council briefing and meeting on Monday posted for this upcoming week, but please refer back to the city's calendar on the website to see if any are added during the week.  You can find that here: https://www.waxahachie.com/calendar.php
 
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Monday, November 15, 2021
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6:00 PM - City Council Briefing Session
Council Conference Room, City Hall
401 S. Rogers St.
 
 
This briefing session is being held to discuss items for the 7:00 PM regular meeting.  It is open to the public to attend, but it will not be live-streamed.  If you want a chance to address Council, please do so during the Public Comments portion of the 7:00 PM meeting.
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7:00 PM - City Council Regular Meeting
Council Chamber, City Hall
401 S. Rogers St.
 

5f - This is an item that showed up on the agenda for review by the WCDC last week and was unanimously approved at that meeting.  This is a request to allow for a private sanitary sewer easement within Waxahachie Sports Complex property.  Staff has no concerns regarding this request.  I found it to be an odd request, so I spoke with city management about it and they explained that it just allows the applicant, in this case, Mr. Singleton, the ability to have easement access so that he can tie in to the sewer system and be able to develop/sell/whatever his property.  If he messes anything up (ie - sidewalks) in the process of the sewer connection, he would be responsible for making repairs and fixing anything of that nature.  So, at first, this request seemed weird, but it isn't anything to cause concern.

12 & 13 - This is the P&Z case for the industrial complex that has applied to rezone lane near Settler's Glen.  The applicant has requested a continuance to the 12/20/21 Council meeting.  That means that Council won't hear any testimony or discuss the case at this Monday's meeting.

** 23 - Consider proposed ordinance adopting Historic Residential Design Guidelines.  I'm still in the process of reviewing the guidelines book that I received yesterday, but it looks to be a great thing to protect our historic homes.  I am speculating here, but I bet that the city could put a copy of them on the city's website for ease of access for homeowners looking to do any work to their historic homes once they are approved.  It would most likely be here on the website if they are to do that: https://www.waxahachie.com/departments/heritage_preservation/index.php  In the meantime, there is a plethora of great information in that link regarding our heritage preservation.  If you wish to speak on this item (although there's not much to go off of in the packet) you must do so during the Public Comments portion of the meeting, since this is not listed as a public hearing.

** 25 - Consider proposed ordinance regulating the operation of golf carts on public roadways.  There have been several citizens who have been interested in this.  You can read the proposed verbiage and summary in the agenda packet, linked above.  If you'd like to address Council on this item, please do so during the Public Comments portion in the beginning of the meeting, as this is not listed on the agenda as a public hearing.  I would love your feedback.

There are many items on this meeting's agenda, but I think I covered those that have garnered the most interest.  Please review the agenda packet link above for full details on every item.

This is a public meeting and is open to residents to attend; however, it will also be live-streamed for your convenience.  The link to view the live-stream is: https://www.waxahachie.com/government/city_council/city_council_meeting_live_stream.php

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That's all so far for this week!  I hope everyone has a great rest of your weekend and a wonderful week ahead!

Your Friendly Councilmember,

Melissa Olson, CMO
(text) 817-507-5162
molson@waxahachie.com
at No comments:

Saturday, November 6, 2021

The Week of November 8th - 12th, 2021 in the City of Waxahachie

Hello Friends!
 
    There is so much coming up in the City of Waxahachie!  The CVB has posted their 2021 Waxahachie Holiday Event Listings here: https://www.waxahachiecvb.com/p/events/waxahachie-holiday-event-listings-2021  I highly recommend going through and marking your calendars for those events that you don't want to miss. One of my favorites is the Christmas Parade and Community Tree Lighting, but there really are so many great events coming up!  
 
    We have several meetings this coming week, so let's get started.  As always, please refer back to the city's calendar to see if there are new meetings added throughout the week (which rarely happens, but is possible.)  https://www.waxahachie.com/calendar.php
 
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Monday, November 8, 2021
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8:30 AM - Firemen's Relief & Retirement Fund Regular Meeting
Waxahachie Fire Station No. 2
1601 Cleaver Street
 

6 - Discuss and consider TEXPERS membership renewal

7 - Discuss and consider changes to TEXPERS Bylaws

11 - Discuss and consider investing with State Street Institutional Index Fund

There are several items on this agenda.  You can see them in their entirety by clicking on the agenda packet link above.  This is a public meeting and you are welcome to attend.  This meeting will not be live-streamed.

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Tuesday, November 9, 2021
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3:00 PM - Waxahachie Community Development Corporation (WCDC) Regular Meeting
Council Chamber, City Hall
401 S. Rogers St.

 
3 - Reorganize the Board
 
*** 5 - Consider request to allow for private Sanitary Sewer Easement within Waxahachie Sports Complex property.  The attached contract states that the city would allow for this easement in exchange of $10 for the .45 acres of land for the easement.  I don't know about you, but that seems crazy to me -- although I do concede there may be unusual circumstances which merit a transaction of this kind. I will be interested to hear how the request is presented. Also, it looks like the land owner who is requesting it has the same address as Citizens National Bank.  The proposed contract is located in the agenda packet, linked above.  That is all the information I have on this item at the moment. *** 

8 - Consider award and supplemental appropriation for the synthetic turf improvements project phase 2.  Transforming the ball fields to turf has significantly increased their usability and is bringing tournaments in to Waxahachie - which is great for our local businesses and hotels.

There are many interesting items on this agenda.  You can see them all in the agenda packet linked above.  This meeting is open to the public to attend in person, but will not be live-streamed.
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4:00 PM - Mid-Way Regional Airport Board Regular Meeting
Upstairs Common Area of Mid-Way Regional Airport
131 Airport Dr., Midlothian, Texas


5 - Introduction of New Board Member, Jennifer Chelwick

6 - Discuss Future Development of the Airport

7 - Update on Phase 1 and 2 of the Security Fence Project

8 - Consider Moving forward with the Runway Rehabilitation Project

This is a public meeting and residents are welcome and encouraged to attend; however, it will not be live-streamed.
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5:15 PM - Impact Fee Capital Improvements Advisory Committee Regular Meeting
Council Conference Room, City Hall
401 S. Rogers St.
 
 
4 - Reorganize the Committee
 
6 - Presentation to discuss Impact Fee revenue and expenditures for the 2020-2021 fiscal year
 
This is a public meeting and you are welcome to attend.  It will not, however, be live-streamed.
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6:15 PM - Planning & Zoning Commission Briefing
Council Conference Room, City Hall
401 S. Rogers St.
 

This briefing is being held to discuss items for the 7:00 PM regular P&Z meeting.  It is open to the public to attend, but is not live-streamed at this time.
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7:00 PM - Planning & Zoning Commission Regular Meeting
Council Chamber, City Hall
401 S. Rogers St.

 
We have a long agenda this evening, so I'm only going to highlight a couple of cases that might be of interest.
 
*** 9 & 10 - The public hearing for ZDC-155-2021 (the Jackson Wynne Industrial Complex near Settler's Glen) will be continued to the Tuesday, 12/14/21 P&Z meeting at 7:00 PM.  This means that the P&Z commission will not hear testimony nor make a decision on this case on Tuesday, 11/9, as we had previously thought.  I know a lot of residents have been interested in this case, so if you can please help me spread the word about the continuance, I would really appreciate it. ***

*** 28 & 29 - Public hearing on a request by Quickway Signs for an Electronic Message Sign use located at 505 W. Marvin Ave, for the First United Methodist Church.  Normally, sign hearings don't generate much opposition; however, due to the historic nature of this neighborhood, there has been an outpouring of opposition to this case.  Staff is also recommending denial.  You can read the letter from the Church's pastor in favor of this sign, as well as the reasons folks are recommending denial, in the agenda packet above.  ***
 
32 & 33 - Public hearing on a request for a zoning change from a future development zoning
to planned development -general retail, located East of Howard Junior High School, along Broadhead Road. Staff is recommending denial of this project.  While the elevations that the applicant has presented are great, the layout of the entire project is really awkward, in my opinion.  It would also take out most, if not all of the mature trees on that lot, and replace them with townhomes overlooking the Sports Complex trail.  If they simply wanted to do the general retail piece there, and leave the rest of the lot wooded, that would be a lot more palatable, but as presented, it feels like they're just trying to cram too much into that space.  Especially being adjacent to a middle school, I really don't think that this is a good plan at this time. I'm glad that staff is recommending denial (which is not something that I say very often at all).

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Thursday, November 11, 2021
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City Offices will be closed on Thursday, November 11th, in observance of Veterans Day.  For non-emergency needs during this time, please call the Waxahachie Police Department at 469-309-4400.  For emergencies, please dial 911.

Thank you - today and every day to our Veterans and their service to our country.



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Saturday, November 13, 2021
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10 AM - 11:30 AM: Ellis County Veterans Ceremony
Waxahachie Civic Center

While this is not a city-sponsored event, this patriotic musical program is a really moving tribute to our Veterans.  All patriots are welcome, veterans and non-veterans.

For those who use Facebook, here is a link to the event: https://fb.me/e/2qzxD1u0u
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I hope that you have a great rest of your weekend and a wonderful week ahead!!
 
Your Friendly Councilmember,
 
Melissa Olson, CMO
(text) 817-507-5162
molson@waxahachie.com





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