Hello Folks - we've been quiet for a while waiting on the DALLAS DEVELOPER's next move. And there is movement as of this week. So here's our quick update from what we have learned.
1. A meeting was held on MONDAY NOV 17th between the 4 neighborhoods (Allandale, North Shoal, Balcones and NWACA) with the DALLAS Developer's consultants (DRENNER ET AL).
2. The "bribe" is on the table now and being formally WRITTEN UP for the 4 neighborhoods over the coming Thanksgiving holiday.
3. In response to the resolution the neighborhood coalition sent to the developer, they (the developer) are INSISTING (read: DEMAND) that their PUD ZONING BE GRANTED in exchange to the neighborhood folks accepting a little payoff ... a.k.a. buy-in money (in the form of a "community TRUST" fund) which will be SHARED by the FOUR neighborhoods. BUT, (there is always a "but") the TRUST will be managed by THE DEVELOPER and a TBD NEIGHBORHOOD "trust board of directors." Admittedly, the money being offered is a large, large sum; but it also has a stipulated CAP with no timeframe for when the total money will be available or the CAP reached.... (read: your expansion plan for DOSS won't happen for a DECADE while this developer slow-rolls us). It's important to NOTE: the money will be split by the four neighborhood groups, and thus, anyone thinking NWACA gets all the money is wrong. And you can forget that this money will come close to fixing the DOSS situation. And, BTW, no one is even advocating on behalf of MURCHISON -- whose crowding problem no one seems to care about right now... Lastly, it DARN SURE WONT FIX THE TRAFFIC problems that the project will CREATE (15K - 20K MORE CAR TRIPS per day is the developer's new traffic number) on our LITTLE CROWDED ROADS). The developer is only responsible for $1million in traffic assistance...this figure won't do anything about the bridges at Steck or Spicewood Springs/Anderson. Ohhhhhh!
But wait! We forgot to mention they "threw in" a few SWEETNERS ---
#1. They've added some "park space" on the Austin Oaks property (approx 2 acres) and
#2. New playground equipment and some landscaping for DOSS' is included as an immediate relief to the developer's inconveniencing of the neighborhood. The total investment for the playground is a generous $160,000. You can buy a lot of mulch and swingsets for $160K. Its cheaper than a wing. Meanwhile, the portables stack up and the kids eat lunch in shifts from 10 am to 2 pm at Doss and Murchison because our school cafeterias can't hold kids during normal lunch periods. Big sigh.
For all those who are resigned to giving in on the PUD here's a news flash: The rumored "WING" on DOSS paid for by the developer (in exchange for the PUD zoning you think you have to give him) is NOT possible with the TRUST money they're giving. $9 million dollars divided by four or even split in half won't build on what the schools need. And the $160K is nice for the playground, but its just sad to think you can sell out your neighbors and get a playground in exchange for 20,000 more cars a day on the roads.
ATTACHED are drawings of what the DEVELOPER proposes to "IMPROVE" DOSS... and a SKETCH of their little Austin Oaks PARK.
There are many details missing from the developer's "Offer" ... especially details about the traffic study not including the steck intersection, the total number of units planned (combined offices & residential), total retail space -- they are saying now 15 cool new restaurants will be included...but didn't adjust the retail figure, no renderings or 3D drawings to show elevation or height for looming perspective. Basically they are throwing our neighborhood under the bus and putting the 4 neighborhood associations in a very tight spot. If they agree to this...what does this say about the "values" of our neighborhoods and what they stand for? Acceptance and agreement on this little "offer" is yet to come... let's see what happens next. Write your neighborhood association president NOW if you want to let them know what you want them to do. Watch out for the "join and pay" requirement to be heard by the leadership.
1. A meeting was held on MONDAY NOV 17th between the 4 neighborhoods (Allandale, North Shoal, Balcones and NWACA) with the DALLAS Developer's consultants (DRENNER ET AL).
2. The "bribe" is on the table now and being formally WRITTEN UP for the 4 neighborhoods over the coming Thanksgiving holiday.
3. In response to the resolution the neighborhood coalition sent to the developer, they (the developer) are INSISTING (read: DEMAND) that their PUD ZONING BE GRANTED in exchange to the neighborhood folks accepting a little payoff ... a.k.a. buy-in money (in the form of a "community TRUST" fund) which will be SHARED by the FOUR neighborhoods. BUT, (there is always a "but") the TRUST will be managed by THE DEVELOPER and a TBD NEIGHBORHOOD "trust board of directors." Admittedly, the money being offered is a large, large sum; but it also has a stipulated CAP with no timeframe for when the total money will be available or the CAP reached.... (read: your expansion plan for DOSS won't happen for a DECADE while this developer slow-rolls us). It's important to NOTE: the money will be split by the four neighborhood groups, and thus, anyone thinking NWACA gets all the money is wrong. And you can forget that this money will come close to fixing the DOSS situation. And, BTW, no one is even advocating on behalf of MURCHISON -- whose crowding problem no one seems to care about right now... Lastly, it DARN SURE WONT FIX THE TRAFFIC problems that the project will CREATE (15K - 20K MORE CAR TRIPS per day is the developer's new traffic number) on our LITTLE CROWDED ROADS). The developer is only responsible for $1million in traffic assistance...this figure won't do anything about the bridges at Steck or Spicewood Springs/Anderson. Ohhhhhh!
But wait! We forgot to mention they "threw in" a few SWEETNERS ---
#1. They've added some "park space" on the Austin Oaks property (approx 2 acres) and
#2. New playground equipment and some landscaping for DOSS' is included as an immediate relief to the developer's inconveniencing of the neighborhood. The total investment for the playground is a generous $160,000. You can buy a lot of mulch and swingsets for $160K. Its cheaper than a wing. Meanwhile, the portables stack up and the kids eat lunch in shifts from 10 am to 2 pm at Doss and Murchison because our school cafeterias can't hold kids during normal lunch periods. Big sigh.
For all those who are resigned to giving in on the PUD here's a news flash: The rumored "WING" on DOSS paid for by the developer (in exchange for the PUD zoning you think you have to give him) is NOT possible with the TRUST money they're giving. $9 million dollars divided by four or even split in half won't build on what the schools need. And the $160K is nice for the playground, but its just sad to think you can sell out your neighbors and get a playground in exchange for 20,000 more cars a day on the roads.
ATTACHED are drawings of what the DEVELOPER proposes to "IMPROVE" DOSS... and a SKETCH of their little Austin Oaks PARK.
There are many details missing from the developer's "Offer" ... especially details about the traffic study not including the steck intersection, the total number of units planned (combined offices & residential), total retail space -- they are saying now 15 cool new restaurants will be included...but didn't adjust the retail figure, no renderings or 3D drawings to show elevation or height for looming perspective. Basically they are throwing our neighborhood under the bus and putting the 4 neighborhood associations in a very tight spot. If they agree to this...what does this say about the "values" of our neighborhoods and what they stand for? Acceptance and agreement on this little "offer" is yet to come... let's see what happens next. Write your neighborhood association president NOW if you want to let them know what you want them to do. Watch out for the "join and pay" requirement to be heard by the leadership.
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