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#FortWorth City Council is getting started. That Lindwood apartment complex is back. Looks like about two dozen signed up to speak, split basically in half in opinion.
Council will extend the mask mandate to Dec. 1 #FWTX
Council will extend the mask mandate to Dec. 1 #FWTX
Wondering if people can tell when I'm yawning while wearing a maks. Hmmm.
It's becoming routine that the council have technical trouble with the software they use to run the meeting.
Council approves extending small business assistance.
I wrote about that last week.
https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article245044195.html #FortWorth #FWTX
I wrote about that last week.
https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article245044195.html #FortWorth #FWTX
Council approves extending the mask mandate to December.
Cary Moon is the lone no vote.
Cary Moon is the lone no vote.
Council also approves a disaster declaration to prepare for Laura, the hurricane or whatever it is now. Tropical storm again?
It's a formality to be prepared.
It's a formality to be prepared.
We're already onto the Lindwood item. Trucking along here. Daniel Haase is the first up, in support.
Not sure why I keep say "Lindwood" when it's just "linwood"
Here's the story from last week https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article245044215.html
Here's the story from last week https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article245044215.html
Haase notes that there is much in the area around Linwood that can be reached by foot, making it an ideal local for affordable housing.
Attorney Justin Light was up, basically noting that the zoning case simply follows the comprehensive plan for the area.
Darin Norman is up now, he's a consultant, calls the case "fatiguing"
Darin Norman is up now, he's a consultant, calls the case "fatiguing"
Jake Proctor, one of the co-owners of the prop., is up now.
He says Linwood has been a difficult neighborhood to work with, and he vowed not to work there again.
Then the city came up with a future land use plan and zoning requested here tonight has become "basically a given"
He says Linwood has been a difficult neighborhood to work with, and he vowed not to work there again.
Then the city came up with a future land use plan and zoning requested here tonight has become "basically a given"
At issue here is whether a lot should be rezoned for denser housing to make way for an affordable housing complex.
#FortWorth https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article245017625.html
#FortWorth https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article245017625.html
Ralph Abendshein, the other land owner is up.
He says he feels like he's losing his right to develop under the city's plan. the single family homes will be demolished regardless he said because they're uninhabitable.
He says he feels like he's losing his right to develop under the city's plan. the single family homes will be demolished regardless he said because they're uninhabitable.
He says regardless of what is developed there, whether it is the Azelea West project or something else, the lots must be rezoned.
He and Proctor have both said other developments in Linwood did not go through similar scrutiny.
"What would you have us develop instead?"
"What would you have us develop instead?"
Brandy O'Quinn, representing Saigebrook, is up now.
She's critical of Linwood neighborhood leadership for oppose the affordable housing even before the zoning came up.
She's basically accusing them of YIMBYism.
She's critical of Linwood neighborhood leadership for oppose the affordable housing even before the zoning came up.
She's basically accusing them of YIMBYism.
"This project is about providing quality housing for all... and in all areas of our city" he says.
Megan Lasch is up now. She's apologizing for now finding a middle ground with the neighborhood
"I've never seen anything quite like this"
She says she's not sorry for "proposing a good project in a good area" #FortWorth
"I've never seen anything quite like this"
She says she's not sorry for "proposing a good project in a good area" #FortWorth
She says they presented multiple site plans to the neighborhood, including that latest one which she believes meets most of the neighborhood concerns
Meghan Riddlespurger is calling in now.
She used to live in Linwood.
"I believe in our city's growth and I know housing is how we support the growth." Rapid growth is only going to continue, and become more dense.
#FWTX
She used to live in Linwood.
"I believe in our city's growth and I know housing is how we support the growth." Rapid growth is only going to continue, and become more dense.
#FWTX
Michael Maxvill is calling in. He's spoken before and lives down the street.
He continues to say parking and traffic should not be a concern.
"you can walk in the middle of the streets in Linwood" and invites council to walk with him to prove it.
He continues to say parking and traffic should not be a concern.
"you can walk in the middle of the streets in Linwood" and invites council to walk with him to prove it.
He says he believes his neighbors are worried about density and the city's comprehensive plan.
He says an email was circulated calling for mixed use with a restaurant and condos.
He's not sure how that would help traffic
He says an email was circulated calling for mixed use with a restaurant and condos.
He's not sure how that would help traffic
Eva Bonilla, Linwood president is up. She calls the development process "a mess."
She says the process was not transparent.
She cites Councilman Shingleton saying #FortWorth has no planned for density well
She says the process was not transparent.
She cites Councilman Shingleton saying #FortWorth has no planned for density well
She says the concept amounts to "packing people in like sardines"
She says she believes city staff have been helping the developers find loopholes.
She says she believes city staff have been helping the developers find loopholes.
Stacy Shores is calling in.
She says developers' tactics have been disappointing.
She's opposed specifically to the developer.
"I'm all for affordable housing but these projects are changing the character of neighborhoods
She says developers' tactics have been disappointing.
She's opposed specifically to the developer.
"I'm all for affordable housing but these projects are changing the character of neighborhoods
Sarah Strayer, also calling in, says opposition is not about who is coming to Linwood, it's about how many.
She's now talking about the Panther Island bridge for White Settlement, which has been delayed repeatedly. It's supposed to be done by the end of the year but she's not so sure.
Tracey Neilson is calling in. I think she spoke before because she said a "size 12 foot in a size 4 shoe" which i swear i've heard before.
She says Linwoods streets are unprepared for extra traffic
She says Linwoods streets are unprepared for extra traffic
Melissa Dunn is calling, she's the pres of the West 7th Street Neighborhood Alliance.
The alliance is concerned about safety and sustainability, she said.
She's also citing Shingleton saying he a problem with the density. #FortWorth
The alliance is concerned about safety and sustainability, she said.
She's also citing Shingleton saying he a problem with the density. #FortWorth
Jill Freer was up. She says Linwood is not downtown #FortWorth. While some have argued transit will help with density she notes the nearest bus only runs once an hour
Hugh Neilson is calling, argues no one would want to live in 80 units on a little more than an acre.
Most of the Linwood speakers are hitting the same point that the developer has not been transparent about the plan.
David Dodson is calling saying that affordable housing does not require a set number of bedrooms. Like others, he says developers are only interested in profit.
David Dodson is calling saying that affordable housing does not require a set number of bedrooms. Like others, he says developers are only interested in profit.
I'm having trouble keeping up with speakers because I'm also trying to write this story.
Rima Shrestha is calling, she says traffic is terrible. During peak hours its hard to turn onto carroll from the Linwood neighborhood.
#FortWorth
Rima Shrestha is calling, she says traffic is terrible. During peak hours its hard to turn onto carroll from the Linwood neighborhood.
#FortWorth
Council is making comments now.
Councilwoman Ann Zadeh, who reps the area, says it's the best place to build walkable housing that does require cars in the city. Two buses on W. 7th run ever 7.5 minutes.
Councilwoman Ann Zadeh, who reps the area, says it's the best place to build walkable housing that does require cars in the city. Two buses on W. 7th run ever 7.5 minutes.
Looks like we've lost the three remote council members. Zadeh is on her phone an in a uber delayed video. Council women Gyna Bivens and Kelly Allen Gray have disappeared.
This needs a super majority vote to move forward
This needs a super majority vote to move forward
Along with tech troubles for the remote council members, I'm having trouble with the city WiFi, which is great since everything is on the Internet.
As we wait for tech troubles to be resolved Mayor Price making jokes about Laura being a Herricane not a HISsicane since most hurricanes have womens' names.
Seems like they've almost got this problem solved.
Seems like they've almost got this problem solved.
Councilwoman Kelly Allen Gray says she's spent a lot of time driving through Linwood to get a feel for the traffic. She says it's not unlike the conditions in her neighborhood
"it's not a one off"
she also says children won't need parking
"it's not a one off"
she also says children won't need parking
Gray is noting that not long ago the council passed a rezoning in Linwood "in 5 sconds" the only thing different, she says, was that was townhome and this is an apartment complex.
Councilwoman Gyna Bivens says teachers, police, fire fighters would qualify for "workforce housing"
She's not impressed with personal attacks on the developer
She's not impressed with personal attacks on the developer
Zadeh says that the city has approved develop similar to this, including in Linwood.
Zadeh makes makes motion to approve. Bivens seconds
Price says she appreciates everyone's patience. She says every zoning case stands alone, not what happens before.
Price says she appreciates everyone's patience. She says every zoning case stands alone, not what happens before.
Azelea West fails. I didn't catch the full vote because it was by had but it look like Byrd, Moon, Price, Jordan.
Zadeh, Bivens, Gray in favor
Unclear on Shingleton and Flores #FortWorth
Zadeh, Bivens, Gray in favor
Unclear on Shingleton and Flores #FortWorth
I may have got that wrong. It was 6-3, missing the 7-2 super majority.
