Forest Hills Association

COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

Mar 06, 2001

Community Affairs Committee Report, part 11 (Co-chair: David Payne) 2/22/2001



1. Pending Zoning Change : In August of 2000, 1 requested to receive a "courtesy notification" of all pending zoning changes of our neighborhoods' MAPSCO map number (37) as well as the adjacent eight segments (A7, 36, 27, 38, 26, 28, A8, and A6). Since then, I have received 17 notices that presently are, or have been before the City Plan Commission for consideration. Only one indirectly affected our neighborhood: A request filed 12/13/2000 asking for removal of the "Dry Overlay" for the business located C@ 9211 Garland Road (Caf6 Lago restaurant). I spoke with the planner for that project and he explained that they were a bona fide restaurant and were requesting to sell wine and beer with meals, like Chili's does. I will continue to monitor applications and report them in the newsletter.

2. Code Compliance Partner program- we are entering into a City Sponsored program of increased code inspection for our
neighborhood. We have identified one vacant home and one sub-standard garage, as well as multiple alley issues that need to be addressed. The Code Compliance Inspectors will be doing a systematic alley sweep that will eventually cover all the alleys in our neighborhood. They will be notifying homeowners with over-grown vegetation, bulky trash or construction waste, etc., in their alley and asking them to bring their property into compliance with the city ordinances. The Code Compliance District manager will be reporting to me monthly and giving me a status report on these projects. If you personally report or have any additional City Code problems (but not Building, Municipal Development or Health Code) you feel should be added to this list and tracked, please forward them to David Payne @ 214.327.4811.

3. Building Code Violations: we are tracking new and remodel construction projects that would be affected by the new setback ordinance for our neighborhood (Ordinance # 24269 dated 5/24/2000, amended Ordinance #24421 dated 10/10/2000 to included the 6 properties around the cemetery) and are actively checking for conformance to the proscribed setbacks. One project @ 8531 San Leandro Drive was in for permit one day before the ordinance took effect, but another property @ 8554 San Benito Way was mistakenly allowed to proceed, but then received a "stop work order" once the error was reported (their garage extends past the setback). It is my understanding that while the project was initially allowed, they will not be allowed to continue construction, and the garage must be removed. They could apply for a variance, but they would be almost certainly denied. Also, please be aware of the following site requirements for all construction: a) A sign must be posted before beginning a project, readable from the street, with the name and telephone number of the General Contractor and the phone number at City Hall should any complaints arise: b) Silt fences are required for all new construction areas: c) No work can occur at the site before 7AM or after 6PM, including Saturdays d) streets and alleys must be cleared of dirt and mud, and litter and waste must be contained to site. Call 311 and report all violations of this nature, 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.

4. Pedestrian crossing at Garland Road: It was discussed at the January board meeting that, except at the traffic lights, it was getting increasingly difficult for pedestrians to cross Garland road (mainly at Breezewood and St. Francis) to the Lake or the Arboretum. I spoke with Traffic Engineering, who passed me to Traffic Control, who then passed me to Neighborhood Traffic Control. Traffic Control explained that they have not done traffic counts since 1989, and that all the traffic lights from 1-30 to 635 are all timed in "signal progression" and sequenced to allow for "platoon movements" of autos, and cannot be easily changed. They think that traffic has increased, and that "fill-in" traffic was responsible for no gaps appearing between light pulses. Neighborhood Traffic Control sent out someone on 2/14 to look at traffic, and they reported they could not help us. Their department deals with road humps and additional signage, and we were not eligible for either. They directed me back to Traffic Control, who will address the signal intervals @ San Rafael and Lakeland. They will not do an updated traffic count, but they will begin studying the crossing to see if an increase in signal times will help. They will call back in about 2 weeks with an update.

5. Far West nightclub issue: (corner of Garland/Gaston in the old Buddies/Wi n n -Dixie space) there were several anecdotal reports of problems concerning parking and traffic problems around the club, speeding through the neighborhood at closing time, and one unreported traffic accident. I contacted the Dallas Police Department, who forwarded me Officer A.J. Klein who gave me following background. The Chief Bolton and Officer Klein met with the club Owner, Manager and lawyer last year to discuss problems that the surrounding neighborhoods were having with the Club. The problems were identified as being related to live music nights: the PD will now provide an increased presence and monitoring of the parking area, especially during closing hour. In addition, the Code Compliance Department cited them for trash in the parking area and alley, and the Fire Department will be monitoring for occupancy limits and fire code violations. Officer Klein told me to pass this mantra on to our neighborhood: "if it's not reported, it's not recorded."

6. St Francis Bridge Project: I met with the Project Manager in the City of Dallas Public Works Department about this project. They had met with the adjacent and affected neighbors in a Public Meeting at Alex Sanger before beginning this project per policy, but were happy to share the scope and progress to date with me. The project was mainly to improve drainage on Barabee by raising the road bed approximately 4'-0". They also relocated the affected gas, water, storm and sanitary sewer. They also had some underground electrical work around the adjacent area, and reinforced the St. Francis Bridge slope protection. They are estimating the end of March/first of April for completion, if the weather holds up (and it hasn't). If you want to see the drawings, see me after the meeting.

7. Graffiti: there have been a few reports of graffiti in the areas around our neighborhood. It is a city code requirement that the property owner remove all graffiti from structures or surfaces visible from beyond the property lines. To assist them with this, the city has equipment to remove graffiti available for loan at no charge to the property owner. Call 311 to report all graffiti. If you want to understand the symbols, call 214.670.GANG. The Gang Unit Police Officer said that there are about 100 known gangs who tag, but not to feel threatened by it. They will discuss the meaning of the symbols if you call and ask.