President's Message
Page 2 Previous Page
I received notice about this because it required a change of zoning in order for the city to put this facility in this location, or any location. After receiving the notice, I sent emails to the neighborhoods of East Fort Worth informing them of the "garbage dump" (perhaps a bad choice of words but that is the way it appeared to me) about to be constructed in one of our most active neighborhood commercial districts. As a result, a great many questions are being asked regarding this project and why there has been no public input regarding it. Without the notification and resultant public outcry, we would be well on our way to having a "household garbage drop-off station" as our very visible neighbor.
Additionally, as we got further and further into this proposal, we discovered that NONE of the businesses directly adjacent to this proposed drop-off station were informed about it. We were told that the "property owners" were "notified" , but no evidence exists that they were. Woodhaven Neighborhood Association, Woodhaven Development and the Brentwood Oak Hills Neighborhood Association were told of the impending project but were not told that they could have a say in it's placement or operation. Nor were they told initially that household "garbage" would be accepted at this facility.
What has happened to date? The zoning change request (PD/SU) went before the Zoning Commission on May 14th and was denied by them because they deemed the project to be inconsistent with the surrounding neighborhood commercial district and because our own Planning Department stated that this particular "use" at this location was an "extreme exception" to our citywide Comprehensive Plan, and therefore was an incompatible "land use." The applicant (Transportation and Public Works) has 12 days in which to file an appeal and request a public hearing. As of this writing it is my understanding that they have filed the appeal and will come before City Council on June 3rd to be denied or accepted. If accepted the hearing will be scheduled for (probably) June 10th.
Why are the folks involved pushing so doggedly for the project to go forward at this EXACT location when other more suitable sites are available in East Fort Worth .AND most of the neighborhoods in East Fort Worth are against it? I don't know the answer to that perplexing question. Perhaps that question, among many others could be answered if this entire process could be brought out into the light of day and it certainly should be. I would urge each and every business member to write our entire City Council and our City Manager and let them know about your concerns regarding this whole process.
It is the opinion of the Board of Directors for this organization that this entire process of selecting sites for these "drop-off" stations (citywide) be coordinated with and through the Planning Department, as they are the land use experts in Fort Worth and are best equipped to involve the entire community, and select sites that can be suitable to all concerned. Remember, next time it could be next door to YOUR BUSINESS and you may be faced with the choice of moving or some very expensive legal services.
REMEMBER .YOUR VOTE AND OPINIONS COUNT. STAND UP AND BE PROUD . SPEAK UP AND BE HEARD!! GET INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS!!!
—Louis McBee