Saturday, May 21, 2022

The Week of May 23, 2022 in the City of Waxahachie


 
Hello Friends!

    Here are a couple of items I wanted to mention before getting into next week's meetings:

    1.)  Tuesday, May 24, 2022 from 7a - 7p is Election Day for the Republican and Democratic Party Primary Runoffs.  There are only 3 voting locations in Waxahachie (although you can vote anywhere in Ellis County)
 
            A - Farley Street Baptist Church (Gym): 1116 Brown St.
            B - First United Methodist Church (Fidelis Hall): 505 W. Marvin
            C - Park Meadows Baptist Church (Foyer): 3350 N. Hwy 77
    
     So far, only 2.82% have voted during Early Voting.  Here's the link to view the Daily Report for Early Voting: http://www.co.ellis.tx.us/DocumentCenter/View/15958/PrimaryRunoffDailyReport?bidId= 
     
    Republican Party Primary Runoff Election generic sample ballot: _220524_REP SampleBallotGeneric.xlsx (ellis.tx.us) 
 
     Democratic Party Primary Runoff Election generic sample ballot: _220524_REP SampleBallotGeneric.xlsx (ellis.tx.us)
 
    Any additional information on this election can be found on the Ellis County Elections website under upcoming elections: Upcoming Elections | Ellis County, TX Official Website 
 
    2.) Please mark your calendars for the City of Waxahachie RUNOFF Election on Saturday, June 18, 2022.  More information to come on this at a later date, once information is updated on the Ellis County Elections website.

    3.)  From the City of Waxahachie's Facebook page regarding upcoming construction in Gingerbread Village:
 
Starting MONDAY MAY 23, Andale Construction will begin making asphalt road repair in the Gingerbread Village subdivision off of Brown St/US287.
As result, the streets listed will be restricted:
• Audra Avenue from Brown St/US287 to cul-de-sac
• Etta Avenue from Brown St/US287 to cul-de-sac
• Myrtle Avenue from Brown St/US287 to cul-de-sac
• Modene Avenue from Marian Avenue to End
• Morene Avenue from End to End
• Annette Lane from Audra Ave. to Morene Ave.
• Mary Avenue from Etta Ave. to Morene Ave.
• Marian Street from Brown St/US287 to Modene Ave.
Please note that the order in which the streets will be executed is up to contractor and can be followed via their website at www.HA5info.com. Please expect delays and/or find alternate routes. Please contact us with any questions or concerns at 469-309-4300 or email us at publicworks@waxahachie.com.
 
    4.)  Please check back on the City's calendar to see if any other meetings have been added after this newsletter goes out! You can do so here: https://www.waxahachie.com/calendar.php
 
So for this upcoming week, Tuesday is the day to be at City Hall! 
 
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Tuesday, May 24, 2022
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11:00 AM - City Council SPECIAL MEETING
Council Chamber, City Hall
401 S. Rogers St.
 
 
3 - Public Comments
 
4 - Convene into Executive Session to deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of Municipal Court Associate Judge as permitted by Texas Government Code, Section 551.074.
 
As you might recall, the Council just recently had a special meeting regarding this/similar issue on May 9, 2022 and here are the minutes from that meeting which show what actions were taken after a fairly lengthy (almost an hour) Executive Session: https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/document-uploads-001/uploads/video/minutes_file/171302/CCM20220509S.pdf
 
5 - Reconvene and take any necessary action.

This meeting will be live-streamed; however, most of the discussion will be done in Executive Session which will NOT be live-streamed.  Once Council reconvenes to the Chamber after Executive Session, they may or may not take action, at which point the live-stream should be up again.  You can access the live-stream at this link during the meeting: https://www.waxahachie.com/government/city_council/city_council_meeting_live_stream.php  Also, as this is a public meeting, you are welcome to attend.
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5:30 PM - IFCIAC: Impact Fee Capital Improvement Advisory Committee Regular Meeting
Council Conference Room, City Hall
401 S. Rogers St.

 
3 - Public Comments
 
5 - Hear and accept the April 2022 Mid-Year Impact Fee Report.  Impact fees are authorized under Chapter 395 of the TX LGC (Texas Local Government Code) and empower municipalities to levy a charge or assessment against a new development in order to recoup the costs of capital improvements or facility expansions attributed to the new development.

The agenda packet linked above has some fantastic information regarding major infrastructure projects throughout the city.  Infrastructure demands are usually a concern for residents, so I would highly encourage all to read the report in the agenda packet regarding these projects.

This is a public meeting and you are welcome to attend, but it is not live-streamed at this time.
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6:00 PM - Planning and Zoning Commission Briefing Session
Council Conference Room, City Hall
401 S. Rogers St.
 
 
This briefing is being conducted to discuss items for the 7:00 PM regular P&Z meeting.  
 
The briefing session is the meat and potatoes of the P&Z information and that is a great meeting to attend if you are able to.  Unfortunately, it is not currently live-streamed.  
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7:00 PM - Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting
Council Chamber, City Hall
401 S. Rogers St.
 
     
Here are a couple of cases that you might find interesting.  Hold on to your hats, though! This is a night of denials (thought not ALL are denied).  I don't think I've seen so many on one agenda before.
 
9 & 10 - This one is particularly interesting because you don't normally have much discourse on small monument sign, but this one has a lot of opposition.  It is a Public Hearing on a request for Specific Use Permit (SUP) for an Electronic Message Sign within a Single Family-2 (SF-2) zoning district located at 505 W. Marvin Avenue (First United Methodist Church).  The applicant is requesting to relocated an existing ground monument sign 50' south of the existing location.  The applicant is also requesting to add a 16 sq ft (2' x 8') electronic message sign to the design of the new sign at FUMC.
 
This case may sound familiar as the applicant submitted an SUP application back in October of 2021, but due to the overwhelming opposition at that time (11 letters of opposition and 1 of support) and the staff recommendation for denial, the applicant withdrew the application prior to the P&Z hearing.
 
Now to this application and public hearing: While it appears the applicant's sign will be meeting the City's regulations for signs, staff has some concerns especially with regard the the proposed electronic sign being located in an area with multiple historic structures.  In addition, staff as received 13 letters of opposition and 2 letters of support within the 200' Notification Buffer. (Note: 2 of the opposition letters were provided by the same property owner.) Furthermore, staff has received 3 letters of opposition and 3 letters of support for the proposed use outside of the 200' Notification Buffer.
 
Staff is recommending denial of this SUP.  You can read even more details in the agenda packet above.
 
11 & 12 - Public Hearing on a request by Tim Jackson for a Zoning Change from an SF-2 zoning district to a PD-SF-2 zoning district located at 800 Sycamore St. The applicant is requesting a zoning change to allow an existing accessory structure 800 Sycamore St. to be used as a rental dwelling unit.  Staff has received 6 letters of opposition to the proposed zoning change.  Due to staff concerns including multiple safety issues and the possible negative effect on neighborhood character, staff is recommending denial of this case.
 
13 & 14 - Public Hearing on a request for SUP for Electronic Message Sign use within a Planned Development located at 2374 W. US Hwy 287 BYP, Cowboy Church. Staff is also recommending denial on this one, but it appears the concerns are mostly aesthetic in nature.  The staff report mentions the proximity to residential uses due to Montclair Heights subdivision which was recently approved, but I really think that's a stretch since not only is Montclair Heights a distance in excess of 400' from the sign, but it's still just dirt.  This is not the same situation as the electronic sign request for FUMC because the surrounding neighborhoods are entirely different. *** I think that Waxahachie needs to be very careful of how closely they are regulating everything and the reasons why they are choosing to regulate things in this manner.  I get the idea behind trying to regulate aesthetics in the city, but at the same time, when is the city stomping on property rights?  I think this might be one of those. ***
 
15 & 16 - Request for a Zoning Change from (Multi-Family) MF-2 to a PD-MF-2 located Southwest of John Arden Drive along Alliance Blvd.  The purpose of this request is for a zoning change from a zoning district for residents ages 55 years and older to a Planned Development Multi-Family-2 zoning district which would allow residents of all age groups.  On December 17, 2018, City Council approved Ordinance # 3073 for ZC-18-0192, resulting in the current zoning of a Planned Development MF-2 which allowed for multiple-family use for those aged 55+.  The applicant as committed to leasing 20% of total units to people aged 55+ during the initial lease-up, but is unable to commit to that percentage in perpetuity after the development has stabilized.  Due to the 2018 approval of the prior PD Ordinance, and the increase of multi-family projects proposed within the city, staff believes it is necessary to have the age restriction and recommends denial of this case. 
 
I agree with this call by the city staff because one thing the city has to take into consideration, especially with multi-family uses, is the impact on WISD.  How many new students will each multi-family development add to an already strained system?  Doing the 55+ multi-family pretty much eliminates any stress to WISD and also serves as a place which is hopefully more affordable for our seniors who are looking to downsize from their current houses.

This is a public meeting and you are welcome to attend.  The meeting will also be live-streamed starting at 7:00 PM at the following link: https://www.waxahachie.com/government/city_council/city_council_meeting_live_stream.php
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Whew!  I have the feeling I've left something out, but I can't think of it.  lol  
 
I hope everyone has a FANTASTIC weekend and a wonderful week ahead!
 
Your Friendly Neighbor,
 
Melissa Olson
olsonfortexas@gmail.com
(text) 817-507-5162
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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