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Council listens to drilling concerns, approves medians master plan
By Chris Roark, roarkc@acnpapers.com
Flower Mound Town Council members found themselves listening to, and in some cases discussing, gas drilling issues Monday night as a result of a vote it took Jan. 21.
During the public participation portion of the meeting, six residents questioned the council’s decision to approve a rezoning that could allow for a centralized wastewater collection facility in town.
The facility would be allowed, providing the applicant meets all the requirements for a specific use permit in agricultural-zoned areas in town, though the pipeline system going to the facility could be allowed anywhere.
Then there was an unusual moment in which Mayor Jody Smith removed herself from the bench and spoke from the audience’s podium. There, she addressed council member Tom Hayden, who had brought two jars of dark-colored liquid to the Jan. 21 council meeting and claimed it was produced water from a drilling site.
“I’ve gotten several questions, comments and concerns from our constituents because when listening to the tape, they heard you mention fracking (fracturing) fluid,” Smith said. “I understand that when a well is fracked, fluids go down as a combination of salt and water, and what comes up is produced water. So the concern from our constituents was they weren’t sure what fracking water was, and (the jars) were marked ‘toxic.’ So the concern was it was tragically unsafe for it to be here.”
Hayden said he would respond, but Smith said an e-mailed response to her would be better since the council technically isn’t allowed to respond during public participation. Later, Hayden told The Leader that he would use his three minutes during public participation at the next council meeting to answer her question.
When the public spoke, feelings on the Jan. 21 vote were mixed.
“Eighty-plus people spoke that night, and I heard person after person object to this,” said resident Tony Robson. “You made a decision that went against the popular vote. You didn’t represent us. You heard us, but you didn’t listen to us. I’m asking that you be conscious of how you protect our environment and our families by not inviting accelerated growth of gas wells in our area.”
Others praised the council for its decision. One resident shut down the notion that the byproducts of drilling cause diseases, such as cancer.
“These wells have been here a long time,” said resident John Todd. “And I don’t see those workers getting sick and dying.”
Another resident said the council’s job is to obey the laws of Texas, which include allowing residents to access their mineral rights.
When the public participation wrapped up – but not before a short but sharp exchange between council member Al Filidoro and a resident – the council took action on a variety of items, including approving a resolution to adopt the Median and Right-of-Way Design Guidelines.
The guidelines are a combination of the town’s existing master plan and the environmental initiatives of the town’s SMARTGrowth program. Consultants sought out areas that needed attention, such as landscaping and streetscaping.
“Foremost to the plan that takes prominence is the town’s gateways,” said consultant Tim May of Teague, Nall and Perkins. “These are very important components to the plan as this sets the tone for people coming and going into the town. For visitors of the community, we’re trying to make that first impression or that last impression.”
Among the components of the plan are guidelines on gateway monuments.
“With the monuments, we came up with something that not only reflects designs that are already in the town but also something that’s really scalable,” May said.
Median landscaping is another component of the plan as major intersections into Flower Mound will be the focus.
May said the plan focuses on using natural and native plants in the landscaping efforts. With the town having three different environmental zones – blackland prairie, floodplain and cross timbers -- the plan has three different plant material lists to use, plus a list of plants that can be used anywhere.
“Part of the reason we took the environmental approach is to make sure we put the right plant in the right place,” May said. He added that doing so can be cost-effective in the future and makes for a more sustainable landscaping design.
The plan also outlines cul-de-sac improvements. May said an appealing cul-de-sac is a good way to bring the community together.
“This is tailor-made for Flower Mound,” said council member Mike Wallace. “It goes along with the idea of what is already in Flower Mound, but it takes it to the next level.”
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