Friday, Jun. 27, 2008
Grapevine Zoning Change Irks Some Residents
City Receives Opposition Letters from Property Owners
By Scott Price
Staff Writer
The Grapevine City Council on Tuesday approved a change in zoning for land along North Main Street that the property owners said was not needed.
The land is west of North Main Street between Peach Street and Banyan Drive. City officials said the land was rezoned to a zero-lot-line district to comply with the city’s master plan and to prevent commercial or multifamily development.
The vote was 6-0-1. Darlene Freed abstained from the vote because she owns nearby property.
The city received letters in opposition from the 10 property owners in the affected area.
Joyce Rethmeier, who has resided on Peach Street for 12 years, said she lives in a duplex and didn’t want the change in zoning.
"Why are we in such a hurry?" she asked the council. "It’s my home, and I don’t want change all the time."
Rethmeier said the drainage issue in her neighborhood is what needs to be addressed.
"Start with the little things before you try to take everybody’s land," she said.
Ron Stombaugh, Grapevine Planning and Development manager, said the city is not trying to take the property.
"They [property owners] won’t be affected at all," he said.
Mathew Fleeger, who owns land on North Main Street, said he did not understand the need for the change in zoning.
"We are concerned," he said. "None of the property owners were included in the discussion. We are not in favor of it. As the petition shows, none of us in the neighborhood are in favor of it."
After the council approved the change in zoning, Fleeger was frustrated.
"Obviously, the City Council had no regard for what the citizens wanted," he said. "This substantially limits the use of the property."
Richard Pemberton, owner of Pemberton Fine Custom Homes, owns property at North Main Street and Peach Street and wanted to build town homes in the neighborhood. Fleeger said he was in favor of the town homes plan.
"I just feel the highest and best use is multifamily," Pemberton said. "In the latter part of my building here in Grapevine, I hope to make an architectural statement."
In other action:
Chris Coy was sworn into Place 5 on the Grapevine City Council. He won the seat in a runoff election.
Mayor Pro Tem Ted Ware decided not to run for re-election to Place 5 this year. Ware said he was "very pleased" with the voters’ choice in selecting Coy. At Tuesday’s council meeting, Ware was given a proclamation by state Rep. Vicki Truitt and Mayor William D. Tate.
"I know that people have relied on your judgment and wisdom, and that will be missed," Truitt said.
Council members elected C. Shane Wilbanks as mayor pro tem.
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