Can someone clarify exactly what is proposed for parking for area? Is it a West Village type area, with internal parking and buildings right up to the street? Or is it an Old Town type development, with parking in front and the shops/apts set back?

I personally would like to thank the all of us who came out (took off time from work and other responsibilities of such) to be a part of democracy in action! Also, thank you to those council members who spoke out on the issue. “Thank you” to Angela Hunt especially, who has really put in the efforts at this point to “hear” the neighborhood!

I must admit that my husband and I walked back to work from the meeting feeling frustrated that we seem to have been misinformed at the last Ozona meeting about the purposes of the PD. I appreciated the council member next to Angela and the mayors concerns about the decision to move the project back to PD. But, are we now just caught up in a legislative nightmare that could have been easily fixed at the meeting this afternoon?

Here is what I got from the concerns expressed:

1) Worst case scenario – We won’t see this resolved in front of the city council until August because any random member of the opposition can pay $150 dollars to have this stalled in front of the planning commission and again in front of the city council. But it is important to note that Angela clarified to the room that the deal she has worked out with the developers will be supported by her from here on out. Does this mean we can stop taking off all these hours from work to attend the next 4 meetings, while we are stalled????

2) The developer will likely spend another $1.5M on an investment while it sits for the next 5 months tied up in legislation when the consensus has already been made to move on the deal Angela has cut with the developer. (Granted the developer “is a big boy”…. But what if financing falls through before then?????)

3) It was pointed out that all of the reasons why Angela wants a PD (height, density, setbacks, ect.) can be regulated most effectively by a Building Permit… Angela – please explain why a PD is needed at this point. I’m still confused; it appears that both the proposed Deed Restrictions and PD would have both ended us up in the court system (which I thought was your reason for the PD). I understood during the meeting that with a PD we (the neighborhood) can go after the owner with criminal charges if a PD restriction is broken and only civil charges if a Deed Restriction is broken. What else?

If you had passed this with Deed Restrictions today and Fairfield sold tomorrow, would this still have to go through a building permit? Would the risk have then been that the next owner can propose anything in a building permit that they want (as long as they follow the loose Deed Restrictions)???

4) This sets an awful precedent that Dallas is a city that makes progressive and council supported development wait in the face of millions of lost dollars. Waiting for what reason? At what cost? I’m not a developer, but I am in business and that sounds like a huge mistake. Uncertainty is the Death of Business Decisions…. Just look at our clumsy economy at this point. Everyone in my line of work is holding their breath in the boardrooms and currently making no decisions because there is still so much uncertainty in the market.

5) Speaking of Economy – We all know the economy is soft. Will Fairfield loose financing or commitments from retailers in the next 5 months? The Mayor seemed to feel strongly that this is a possibility. What will we be left with then?

Wow these are a lot of tough questions thrown out there. I’m interested to see your (Angela and the blog) responses. Unfortunately, the decision has already been made and I do acknowledge that we are now just playing Monday Night Quarterback.

And, what about that guy who yelled “CORRUPTION” during the meeting? That was awesome! …I was secretly hoping someone would get dragged out of there by security… Craziness I tell you! If you didn’t show up today; you missed a great meeting!

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Hello everyone! If you live in Angela Hunt’s district, in 75206 or 75214, we need your support! Please go to the website below and click on the tab “show support”, a letter will pop up and you just fill in the blanks and send it. Let’s welcome this 130 million dollar project into East Dallas! The hearing and voting will take place next Wednesday MARCH 26TH at City Hall. Thank you for your time.
http://www.signaturepointe411.com

When Angela Hunt asked if the neighborhood wanted the development like it is designed now, with teaser parking… I would say 65 percent of the people or more raised their hands.

I too am disappointed that the opposition didn’t bother to invite me to their meeting. The meeting at Ozona’s was pretty highly publicized through the various articles written about the project. I am closer to this project that just about anyone (less than 35 ft), and I didn’t even receive a flyer. So much for voicing the concern of the neighborhood… it is sad to me that my neighbors aren’t willing to invite me to a meeting regarding my home and to hear my opinion. Instead they go about blissfully ignorant that the whole neighborhood sees things the way they do.

Both sides want something new, right?