Summary: Over twenty Willow Park Citizens attended the 23 January 2024 Council Meeting, to listen and speak about the rezoning of the Willow Park Church of Christ from residential to commercial. However, the Council began by postposing the rezoning action for a future date. However, Citizens still spoke. WPC will continue to follow this rezoning issue.
Latest Update: 02 February 2024; posted 23 January, 2024
• Council debates rezoning, Former Church of Christ property discussed, The Community News, 25 January 2024 [Includes quotes from Willow Park Citizens.]
Select #Tags for additional articles: #DevelopmentNorth #Civics
Neighbors around the Willow Park Church of Christ, postponed rezoning before it began. Citizen participation protects Citizen rights.
Over twenty Willow Park Citizens attended the 23 January 2024 Council Meeting, to hear the City Council consider the rezoning of the Willow Park Church of Christ (Ranch House Road and Sam Bass Drive) from residential zoning to commercial zoning.
However, BEFORE the action Agenda Item 2 Public for Hearing for this rezoning request, Bryan Grimes, City Administrator, announced the City was recommending the action item be postposed indefinitely until the City could research and consider the many emails, the petitions, and the speakers and attendees at the Council Meeting.
Your Willow Park neighbors worked together to make their voices heard.
At 4P before the Council Meeting, the City received a petition with enough signatures to trigger the need for a "super majority" of Council members to vote for the rezoning in order for it to pass. Grimes indicated that some the concerns, "certainly do have merit."
In addition Grimes indicated the City Staff was recommending the action item be "postponed because of the way the agenda item was posted."
Nine (9) Citizens still spoke during the Public Hearing emphasizing their concerns and considerations for the rezoning. [5:37 mark in the FB video.]
Their concerns include the following:
Concerns listed in the Citizen petition, detailed in Message from home owners on rezoning WP Church of Christ from residential to commercial at 23 January 2024 Council Meeting.
Increased Business Traffic
Uncontrolled bright lighting shining into the neighborhood
Bright and Moving Electronic Signage
Parked service vehicle and trailers
Overnight/Weekend parking of vehicles
Unsightly Dumpsters
Possible Wedding parties (traffic, noise and lights)
No current renovation design prepared by the developer including number of offices or redesign of the outside of the building.
Additional Speaker concerns.
Neighbor notification. Only neighbors within 200 feet were notified by City letter, but the rezoning change would affect many more neighbors; need for rezoning change posted on sign in front of property that is requesting the rezoning. In addition the City meeting agendas are only posted at 6P of the Friday previous to the City meeting.
Safety of children in the neighborhood and at the Cross Timber Baptist Church preschool. No way to manage the types of office(s) that will occupy the commercial office building.
Office cameras that may surveil neighbors.
Offices that may be in use 7/24.
Additional traffic will be new additional traffic not familiar with area.
Change in neighborhood ambiance and purpose, which will affect property values.
Owners and occupants future sales to new owners. (The City suggested the process of a Planned Development.)
Visit the Willow Park Civics Blog > Index, Willow Park Church of Christ Rezoning for details, history, and future information on rezoning issue.
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