Fire Hydrant Flushing
February 22, 2005
The Public Works Department has started a new FH Flushing Program as of today. Right now our water crew is flushing 5 fire hydrants in Lake Ridge. There will be flushing in a different part of the city just about every day. This flushing will be going on in a methodical manner in various parts of the city for a while.
Retailers happy in Cedar Hill
February 12, 2005
By LOYD BRUMFIELD, News Editor
Today Newspapers
A recently completed database indicated that some 595 businesses call Cedar Hill home.
According to feedback received by the Economic Development Corporation, the city is a good place for companies to call home.
“They all enjoy being here,” EDC Director David Miracle said. “They don’t have any serious concerns, and whatever concerns they have are issues that affect every business everywhere — labor issues, wage issues, things like that.” Read more
Civic group recognizes its heroes
February 12, 2005
By LOYD BRUMFIELD, News Editor
Today Newspapers
Taking care of the environment isn’t about just picking up trash, Lynn Lantrip said. It’s also about money.
Lantrip, president-elect of Keep Texas Beautiful, add-ressed a meeting of Keep Cedar Hill Beautiful board members and guests Feb. 1 at the Cedar Hill Recreation Center.
“I first started thinking about this in Houston,” Lantrip said. Some high-dollar Jap-anese developers visited the city some 20 years ago looking to build but came away aghast at a serious trash problem around the area.
“They left as fast as they could and said, ‘We would never consider developing in such a filthy place,’” Lantrip said. “So, that’s money. This is about economic development. You develop an interest in the environment and keeping things clean. Read more
Cedar Hill steps up business plan
February 12, 2005
By LOYD BRUMFIELD, News Editor
Today Newspapers
Now that business is booming in Cedar Hill, the city is working on ways to make sure existing companies stay happy here.
Toward that end, the Economic Development Corporation is reaching out in the form of a business survey and the formation of a Cedar Hill Manufacturers Association.
“The sexy part of economic development is chasing new businesses and getting them to come to our town, but we also want to make sure our existing businesses and retail outlets are taken care of,” Economic Development Director David Miracle said. Read more
Regional Rail and Economic Impact Seminar
February 10, 2005
Transportation, both road and rail, for our region with its expected growth from 5 to 9 million people by 2030, makes planning for the future imperative. Research and demographic studies support the fact that the type of development that is occurring today segregates land uses and forces people into cars. We cannot build enough roads, afford to finance new roads, or maintain existing road networks to handle the increase in our population. It is important for cities to begin planning for alternative transportation to better knit the region together.
The City of Lancaster and Operation Clean Sweep in cooperation with the Best Southwest Chamber of Commerce held a Regional Rail and Economic Impact seminar tonight. Program presenters were Mike Sims, and Alicia Hopkins of the NCTCOG and Dennis Wilson of Townscape, Inc.
Citizens Fire Academy
February 10, 2005
The Cedar Hill Fire Department will soon offer a free Citizens Fire Academy, a hands-on learning opportunity for residents to learn more about their fire depoartment. Its intent is not to train citizens to become firefighters, but to show them first hand the duties and responsibilities of firefighters.
The classes will held each Thursday from 6:30-9:30 from March 31 - June 3, 2005. Most of the classes will be held at the Central Station located at 1212 W. Beltline Road. However, there will be trips to offsite locations for “live burns” and tours. For more information, contact the Fire Department at (972) 291-1011 or online at www.cedarhillfire.net.
Mayor Miller Speaks About the Revitalization of Downtown Dallas
February 10, 2005
Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce event with Dallas Mayor Laura Miller. I attended as a representative of the City of Cedar Hill and a member of the Board of Directors of the Best Southwest chamber.
Mayor Miller’s address included the usual thanks and adulations to promenent local businesses. But one thing she said made a lot of sense. She spoke about the Trinity River Project. For those of you who don’t know, the TRP will help connect the Best Southwest to downtown Dallas. The centerpeices of the project are three bridges. The bride most important to Cedar Hill will have a unique design and will likely draw a lot of attention.
Project Gaining Momentum
February 4, 2005
By LOYD BRUMFIELD
News Editor / Today Newspapers
A proposed upscale shopping destination has the potential to solidify Cedar Hill’s place as a destination station in the Metroplex, but only if the concerns of area citizens are adequately met, members of the Cedar Hill City Council said at a public hearing Jan. 24.
“Within a week of hearing about this development, we started meeting with various homeowners and neighborhood groups, and we were really pleased with the feedback we received,” Mayor Rob Franke said in reference to “Uptown Village.”
The “lifestyle center,” developed by Dallas-based MG Herring Group, will sit on about 73 acres of land and stretch from Pleasant Run Road to the north, Highway 67 to the east and FM 1382 to the south.
If completed, it will be home to several upscale stores, anchor stores such as Dillard’s and Foley’s, and restaurants.
The council unanimously approved two measures to move the development forward, one instructing city staff on the preparation of a zoning change from residential to retail, and the other instructing staff regarding amendments to the city’s major thoroughfare plan and land use plan.
Several residents, many of whom voiced similar concerns about the development’s effects on traffic and drainage at a Planning and Zoning meeting more than two weeks ago, spoke before the city council.
“I get a double whammy on this one,” Paul Nielsen said. “I not only live on Cedar Hill Road, I also own a multi-tenant business on the east side of Highway 67 near Pleasant Run Road.”
As a businessman, Nielsen said he appreciates more traffic near his location, but he also sees its adverse effects.
“Traffic is bad enough now, and this is just with Target,” he said. “We haven’t even opened Best Buy.”
Most of the comments were positive, even those against the development. Many who spoke out against it said they thought the development was a good idea but weren’t sure if the city was prepared to deal with its impact on nearby neighborhoods.
“Our concerns were brought up repeatedly (at the P&Z meeting), the developer responded … and it’s my understanding that there are no small differences between us and the developers,” said Daron Wade, who represented a group of homeowners on Balfour Drive.
Wade said concerns about traffic on frontage roads near the development need to be addressed and urged the council to approve study of the thoroughfare plan only with the inclusion of revisions to a traffic impact study suggested by the planning and zoning commission.
The Herring group also needs to kick in money for road improvements that fall under the city’s domain, rather than the Texas Department of Transportation, Wade said.
Greg Gorman of Balfour Drive said he was pleased to hear comments that the needs of his neighborhood will be addressed.
“I represent 79 families in my neighborhood, and we’re the ones who are going to bear the brunt of these quality of life issues,” he said, adding that rapid development has caused significant erosion that has contributed to major drainage problems.
“We need to slow the water down,” he said. “We need to make sure all of our calculations are right. One miscalculation could result in my house being under water, along with several others.”
Gar Herring, one of the project’s developers, thanked residents for their concern.
“We agree with a lot of the comments,” he said. “We realize there are a lot of traffic concerns at Pleasant Run and Highway 67, and we’ve consulted with engineers on how to solve those problems.
“We want people to get in and out as easily as possible.”
Some of the funding for road improvements around the development are out of the city’s hands, most notably areas around Highway 67 and FM 1382, which fall under TX-DOT’s jurisdiction.
“There’s one thing we need to pay attention to: The widening of 1382 and 67 are way off of TXDOT’s radar screen,” Franke said. “We’ve had meetings to see if there’s a way these projects can be made a priority, but that’s still a long way off.”
Franke said he realized the project was “a lot to get our arms around” and is worth it if four areas of concern could be addressed:
• Can traffic problems be fixed?;
• Can drainage issues be fixed?;
• Can the city get something in writing from the developers as to the quality of the project?;
• Can neighborhood concerns be answered?
The property was zoned commercially from about 1983 to 1991, Franke said, and the city just didn’t see it developing that way when it looked at the comprehensive plan.
“The fundamental question the council has to ask is, ‘Is this project good for the city?’” Franke asked.
The overwhelming answer was yes.
Councilman Greg Patton paid a visit to a similar shopping plaza developed by Herring in Mobile, Ala.
“I spent the better part of three days there talking to the developers, going into the stores, talking with tenants and talking with residents,” Patton said. “By and large the comments were very positive. It’s a beautiful place, the amenities are top-notch, and it’s a very warm feeling being there.”
Councilman Clifford Shaw said working with the Bentle Branch homeowners group and Herring is a pleasure.
“They have our points and we have ours, but in the end we are all well-served,” he said.
Councilman Wade Emmert thanked everyone at the meeting for participating in the hearing in an amicable fashion.
“I’ve heard no criticism of the developer or the project, and I’m thankful for that,” he said. “I think the project can actually be a catalyst to solving some of these traffic problems.”
Councilman Daniel Haydin appreciated citizens getting involved in their city.
“I can remember when Cedar Hill had two police cars, and now look where we are,” he said. “I understand that sometimes change is a scary thing, but it has arrived.”
Loyd Brumfield can be reached at cedarhill@todaynewspapers.net.
Keep Cedar Hill Beautiful
February 2, 2005
Last night, Keep Cedar Hill Beautiful held its Third Annual Appreciation Reception in honor of citizens and businesses who work to keep Cedar Hill free from trash. Lynn Lantrip, the president-elect of Keep Texas Beautiful, was the guest speaker. He reminded us that a clean environment benefits us all through economic development and community appreciation. Local business sponsors such as Target, Rockfish, Macaroni Grill, Patton Insurance, were also recognized for their generous sponsorship of our clean up efforts.
I was honored to be re-elected as Treasurer. Sheri Borth was tapped to continue her role as President. Two new board members where elected, Fred Schallon and Mark White. Thank you Keep Cedar Hill Beautiful for all you do.
Welcome!
My name is Wade Emmert and I am a Council Member for the City of Cedar Hill. This web site is a way for me to share with you some of my thoughts about issues important to the City.
It is my sincerest goal to be a good steward of the citizens’ trust. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to serve you.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at Wade.Emmert@cedarhilltx.com or (214) 740-3164.