Jun 10, 2025 Planning and Zoning Commission

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>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING FOR THE CITY OF ROWLETT ON TUESDAY JUNE 10TH , 2025. IT IS , WE WILL GO THROUGH THIS FIRST, AS AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 551 .071 OF TEXAS GOVERNMENT CALLED THE MEETING MAY BE MEETING AND CLOSED FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR SEEKING LEGAL ADVICE FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY, ON ANY AGENDA ITEM THE CITY OF ROWLETT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO RECONVENE, RESOURCE TO REGULAR-SEASON OR CALL TO EXECUTIVE SESSION OR ORDER BUSINESS AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO INTERNMENT. PROCESS FOR PUBLIC INPUT . IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON YOU MAY COMPLETE THE CITIZENS INPUT FORM ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE BY 3:30 P.M. THE DAY OF THE MEETING , ALL FORMS WE FORWARDED TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION PRIOR TO THE START OF THE MEETING. FOR IN PERSON COMMENTS REGISTRATION AND INSTRUCTIONS ARE AVAILABLE INSIDE THE DOOR CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS. IT IS 7:00. WE CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER. NEXT ITEM IS A CITIZENS INPUT. THREE-MINUTE COMMENTS WILL BE TAKEN FROM THE AUDIENCE ON ANY TOPIC, NO ACTION CAN BE TAKEN BY THE COMMISSION DURING CITIZENS INPUT. I REQUEST IF YOU HAVE INPUT FOR ITEM , FOR ONE OF THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS A PUBLIC HEARING, YOU HOLD OFF UNTIL THAT TIME. DOES ANYONE HAVE COMMENTS THEY WANT TO ADDRESS TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION? SEEING THEN I

[3. CONSENT AGENDA ]

THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION ARE OR A CITIZEN MAY REQUEST ITEMS BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. ITEMS ARE CONSIDER ACTIONS TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MAY 27TH, 2025 REGULAR MEETING. DOES ANYBODY WANT TO PULL THAT? HEARING ON. I WILL TAKE A

MOTION. MR. HERNANDEZ? >> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. SECONDED BY MS. WILLIAMS, ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? HEARING NONE WE WILL GO AHEAD AND CALL THE BOAT.

YOU WANT TO DO IT AGAIN? OKAY. MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF MAY 27TH, 2025 BY MR. HERNANDEZ AND SECONDED BY MS. WILLIAMS. NO DISCUSSION. LET'S CALL A VOTE. DO YOU WANT US TO RAISE OUR HANDS? PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WITH ONE ABSENT.

[4A.Take action on the Kirby Addition Final Plat submitted by Nataraj Gangadharappa, TrustedDoors Developments Inc., on behalf of property owner DallasWest1 Holdings, LLC. The property is located at the southeast of the intersection of Kirby Street and Skyline Drive, consisting of 0.25 Acres of the William Crabtree Survey, Abstract 347 in the City of Rowlett, Dallas County, Texas. ]

TEXAS. >>

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>> COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? THANK YOU , MS. MUSSER . THIS BEING A NEW PLAT WE WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. MS.

WILLIAMS ? >> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PLAT WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS. ONE, THE APPLICANT SHALL EITHER CREATE A PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT OR ENTER INTO A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT TO ENSURE ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR MAINTENANCE AND PERPETUITY OF STREETSCAPE OPEN SPACE TRAIL SYSTEM FENCING, IRRIGATION, COMMON AREAS , AND THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED SEWER LINES. FPC 1.7.3 . CONDITION 2, THE APPLICANT SHALL CREATE A PROPERTY OWNER'S ASSOCIATION TO PROVIDE FOR THE REVIEW MAINTENANCE AND ENFORCEMENT OF DESIGN STANDARDS AND TO PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PID BOARD , IF APPLICABLE , FOR ADEQUATE RESOURCES FOR CARE AND WHERE APPROPRIATE , THE RE-CONSTRUCTION OF THE COMMON ELEMENTS AND AMENITIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTS. FPC 1.7.3.

>> DO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE THE PLAT WITH TWO CONDITIONS , AS STATED BY MS. WILLIAMS? A SECOND BY MR. POLLARD. OKAY. WE WILL GO WITH THAT. A SECOND BY MS. WILSON, ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? SEEING THEN WE WILL CALL THE BOAT . THAT PASSES, 6-0, WITH ONE ABSENCE. MOVING ONTO ITEM

[4B.Conduct a public hearing and make a recommendation to City Council on a request by Artuan McGee, Evolving Texas, on behalf of property owner, Angela Chen, Lakeside Townhome Land Holdings LLC, to 1) Rezone the subject property from Planned Development (PD) District for Limited Commercial/Retail (C-1) to Planned Development (PD) District for Multi-Family Attached Residential Townhouse (MF-TH); 2) Approve a Concept Plan to construct 35 Townhomes; 3) Amend the Comprehensive Plan; and 4) Amend the official Zoning Map of the City. The property is located generally south of Miller Road and west of Navigation Drive, consisting of a 2.323-acre tract situated in the Charles D Merrell Survey, Abstract No. 957, in the City of Rowlett, Dallas County, Texas. ]

TEXAS. MS. MUSSER? >>

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>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS, QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? SEEING NONE

. IS THE APPLICANT HERE? >>

>> DO THEY HAVE A PRESENTATION? >>

>> OF THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. I GUESS I SHOULD ASK FIRST, COMMISSIONERS , DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT?

[00:15:03]

>> I WILL DEFER MINE UNTIL AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING.

>> OKAY. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, AT THIS TIME WE WILL GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. MR. --.

>> HER FIRST SPEAKER IS ALLISON BLACKBURN, 8213 NAVIGATION

DRIVE. >> HI, EVERYBODY. I HAVE NOT LIVED IN ROWLETT LONG , ABOUT THREE YEARS. I AM DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM WHERE --

>> THANK YOU, MS. BLACKBURN . MANY OTHER SPEAKERS?

>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS THOMAS LIPSCUMB , 8200 -- NAVIGATION.

>> STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR RESIDENCE AND HE WILL HAVE THREE

MINUTES. >>

>>

>> THANK YOU, SIR. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOHN

THRASH, 8202 PORTSMOUTH DRIVE . >>

>> ONE MOMENT, SIR. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND THE CITY OF RESIDENCE AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES.

>>

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>> THANK YOU , MR. THRASH , MR. >> OUR LAST SPEAKER SIGNED UP IS DAVID ENGEL 8301 NAVIGATION DRIVE .

>>

>> ONE MOMENT, PLEASE, CAN YOU PLEASE RESET IS THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. DAVID ENGEL, 8301 NAVIGATION DRIVE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.

MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN LIVING AT THIS HOME IN ROWLETT FOR 13 YEARS , HAVE ENJOYED IT VERY MUCH. I WILL TRY NOT TO REPEAT TOO MUCH OF WHAT YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD FROM THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS BUT THE ISSUE OF SAFETY AND TRAFFIC IS DEFINITELY REAL.

THE ONE THING THAT I DID NOT HEAR THE OTHER SPEAKERS TALK ABOUT. WE TALKED ABOUT THE NO LEFT TURN ONTO THIS PROPOSED COMPLEX. OUR STREET THOUGH, I THINK I NEED TO MENTION. IT IS LIKE A HIGHWAY SOMETIMES FOR PEOPLE CUTTING THROUGH IN A HURRY TO GET TO DOLL ROCK. INSTEAD OF GOING DOWN MILLER AND TURNING RIGHT TO GO SOUTH THEY WILL CUT THROUGH NAVIGATION ON THEIR WAY TO WORK IN THE MORNING AND AT THE SAME IN THE EVENING.

THEY COME UP AND TURN IN OUR STREET AND INSTEAD OF TURNING LEFT ON MILLER, ANYWAY JUST A CONCERN TO ADD TO THE TRAFFIC FROM THE OTHER COMMENTS YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD. THE FIRST THING I THOUGHT OF WHEN I SAW THE PROPOSAL WAS HOW IN THE WORLD ARE YOU GOING TO GET 35 ANYTHING ON THE STREET? HAS BEEN ANSWERED TONIGHT FOR ME WITH , LIKE WAS THAT COME WITH THE VARIANCE OF THIS REQUEST OF THIS EXCEPTION AND THE REQUEST OF THAT EXCEPTION, I DO NOT LIKE ANY OF IT. IT IS PRETTY OBVIOUS THEY'RE TRYING TO CRAM AS MANY, AS MUCH PROFIT AS THEY CAN INTO ONE TWO ACRE PIECE OF LAND. SO , IF YOU'RE GOING TO APPROVE ANY OF IT, I HOPE YOU DENY ALL THE BUT CLEARLY THERE IS WAY TOO MANY ASKS ON THE TABLE, PLEASE LET US DO EVERYTHING? THAT IS NOT THE CURRENT LAW REQUEST US TO DO. THOSE LAWS ARE THERE TO PROTECT EVERYONE. THEY WANT EXCEPTIONS ALL OVER THE PLACE. WE HAVE HAD EXPERIENCE IN ROWLETT OF MAJOR PROJECTS BEING STARTED AND THEN THE BUILDER GOES BANKRUPT AND WE ARE STUCK WITH, YOU KNOW, WHO KNOWS WHAT FOR HOW MANY YEARS. ANOTHER CONCERN, THIS IS NOT PROVABLE BUT IS A CONCERN ABOUT STARTING THIS PROJECT NOT FINISHING IT AND JUST HAVING AN EYESORE FOR HOW MANY YEARS, WHO KNOWS . THE TREES RIGHT NOW THE BORDER THIS PROPERTY, KIND OF PROTECT OUR STREET , NAVIGATION, THE NEED TO STAY, THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL AND IT GIVES A BUFFER. AS ALLISON SAID IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE COMMERCIAL OR STARBUCKS OR OTHER THINGS THERE.

WOULD LOVE FOR THOSE TREES TO STAY IN A MATTER WHAT GETS DONE.

THEY ARE TRYING TO REMOVE THOSE IN ANY KIND OF TOPOGRAPHY THAT WOULD BE AESTHETICALLY PLEASING. ROWLETT IS A PRETTY CITY AND I WANT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY. THE CHILDCARE CENTER RIGHT THERE WAS

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>> YOUR TIME IS UP. >> SORRY. I THOUGHT IT WOULD

HAVE PLENTY OF TIME. >> WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION? SIR? COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND CITY OF RESIDENCE. AND THEN YOU WILL NEED TO FILL OUT ONE OF THOSE REQUEST FORMS THAT YOU ARE PASSING BY THERE ON THE TABLE .

>>

>> --, PORTSMOUTH DRIVE. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS MY PARENTS, THEIR ELDERLY , IN THEIR 80S AND THEY BOTH RESIDE AT THAT RESIDENCE, FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS NOW. AT THEIR AGE AND CONCERNED ABOUT THE NOISE, THEY ARE RETIRED AND THEY BOTH LIVE THERE EXCLUSIVELY , GIVEN THEIR HEALTH, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT CEMENT TRUCKS AND ALL OF THAT , 200 FEET FROM WHERE THE BREAKFAST. I'M SURE IT WILL HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND POSSIBLY EVEN SHORTEN IT. BY THE NOISE AND ALL THAT, THAT IS MY CONCERN. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. IF YOU WOULD PLEASE FILL OUT YOUR FORM THERE.

WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION? SEEING THAT I WILL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING VARIED.

COMMISSIONERS . MR. POLLARD? >> TO THE APPLICANT. WE GOT AN APPLICANT REPRESENTATIVE.

>>

DEVOLVING TEXAS. >> SO, YOU HAVE A LIST OF REQUESTS FOR CHANGES, NOT MEETING THE CURRENT CODE THERE .

WHY A REQUEST FOR ALL OF THESE REDUCTIONS FROM THE CURRENT

MINIMUM CODE? >> IT MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE SPACE , TWO ACRES AND WE ARE TRYING TO GET 35 UNITS IN THERE.

WE ARE TRYING TO OPTIMIZE WHAT WE CAN WITH THE 35 UNITS WE

WOULD LIKE TO DEVELOP. >> OKAY. WHAT POSITIVES DO YOU BRING TO THE TABLE WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT FOR THE CITY AND THE

CITIZENS ? >> CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION

AGAIN? >> WHAT POSITIVES DO YOU BRING, YOU ARE ASKING ALL OF THESE REDUCTIONS FROM THE CODE AND THE ANSWER IS, BASICALLY THERE IS NOT ENOUGH SPACE FOR WHAT WE WANT TO PUT THERE, SO, WHAT ARE THE POSITIVES FOR THE NEIGHBORS

AND THE CITY AS A WHOLE? >> WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO LIVE IN ROWLETT, THERE ARE A LOT OF FAMILIES THAT WANT TO LIVE IN THE CITY OF ROWLETT. WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY. WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS UPSCALE THE AREA BY DOING THIS HIGH END TOWNHOMES , NOT DOWNGRADING THE COMMUNITY. MAKING THIS PLACE MORE SAFE, SO OTHER FAMILIES CAN ENJOY TO BE PART OF THE AREA.

>> OKAY. WHY ARE YOU GOING THREE STORIES AND SET OF TWO STORIES?

>> TYPICAL TOWNHOMES, SIR, ARE USUALLY THREE STORIES. THAT IS WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DOING NOWADAYS , IN DEVELOPING, AND TRENDING. WE FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING THREE-STORY BUILDINGS AND

UNITS. >> DO YOU MIND IF I ASK

QUESTIONS? >> I'M FINISHED.

>> SO, LIKE YOU SAID, THIS IS A SMALL PIECE OF PROPERTY, 2.23 ACRES . DID YOU GIVE ANY CONSIDERATION TO TRY TO BUILD SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY MET THE REQUIREMENTS OF OUR CODE ON THAT

TO .23 ACRES? >> YES, WE HAVE.

>> AND WISE THAT ON FRONT OF US? >> IT WOULD NOT BE FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE TO DEVELOP SOMETHING LIKE THAT , BUT WE DID CONSIDER THAT, THE FUTURE LAND USE WAS MULTI-FAMILY. CONSIDERING THE

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>> OKAY. THAT CONFUSED ME. BUT IF THAT IS YOUR ANSWER, WE WILL GO WITH IT. OKAY, MR. HERNANDEZ .

>> A GENERAL COMMENT ON THIS. IT SEEMS, TO BE FAIR TO WHAT THEY ARE PROPOSING, IT'S IN A DECENT ENOUGH IDEA, JUST I DON'T LIKE THE SPOT THEY'RE ASKING IT TO PUT IN. THE GENERAL AREA IS ALREADY SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE WOULD TRY TO SHOVE IN THAT MANY UNITS. I UNDERSTAND ABOUT FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS FAR TOO MANY UNITS FOR WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED AND THEN THE NUMBER OF UNITS DROVE ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT REQUESTS. THE OTHER THING I HAVE A VERY MAJOR CONCERN WITH IS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE SPOKEN OUT AGAINST IT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY AT ALL, IF YOU SENT OUT, TRY TO POSSIBLY HAVE MEETINGS WITH THE COMMUNITY. IT SEEMS LIKE THERE WAS NONE.

>> REACTION DID HAVE A MEETING, SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU. WE HAD A MEETING, THIS WAS ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO.

>> OKAY. >> DID YOU HAVE ANY PARTS THE

PATIENT? >> YES, I WAS THERE.

>> YOU WERE THERE. WAS ANYBODY ELSE THERE?

>> WHAT YOU MEAN? >> WAS THE NEIGHBOR THERE? HOW

MANY PEOPLE? >> I CANNOT REMEMBER, SIR.

>> BUT YOU WERE THERE ? OKAY. >> IT SEEMS TO ME THAT EVEN WITH THE MEETING, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS JUST ONE MEETING OR NOT BUT IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT OBVIOUSLY DID NOT SIT WELL WITH EVERYBODY THAT IS ALREADY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BASED ON THOSE WHO PUBLICLY SPOKE. AS WELL AS THOSE WHO SUBMITTED. IT IS DIFFICULT TO THINK THAT THIS IS A GOOD IDEA FOR THIS AREA.

POSSIBLY, MAYBE A BETTER IDEA LIKE OFF THE MAIN HIGHWAY OR SOMEWHERE THAT IS MORE, ALREADY BEING BUILT UP AS A MULTI-FAMILY

BUT HERE I DON'T THINK SO. >> MY NAME IS SANTOS CATALANO .

IS THAT OKAY? >> NO.

>> I'M SO SORRY. >> MS. WILSON . SIR, I WILL LET YOU ADDRESS SOMETHING RIGHT AFTER THE PERSON WHO HAS ALREADY

ASKED ME TO SPEAK. >> OKAY.

>> I HAVE THREE CONCERNS. I'M GOING TO ECHO, AS FAR AS TRAFFIC, I HAVE DRIVEN THAT AREA FOR THE PAST THREE OR FOUR WEEKS AND I WANTED TO STUDY THE FLOW. I HAVE TWO COLLEAGUES TO LIVE IN THAT AREA. TRAFFIC IS A SIGNIFICANT CONCERN . FOR A MORTGAGE OWNER, SOMEONE WHO IS INVESTED IN LIVING IN ROWLETT , I'M TOTALLY AGAINST IT. THE THIRD QUESTION IS THIS, WHEN YOU SAID YOU ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO THEM IT WAS A YEAR AGO. IMAGINE IF YOU WERE A HOMEOWNER , THE WAY YOU CAME ACROSS LIKE , IF YOU SAID YOU ENGAGE THEM, DID YOU DO A SIGN IN SHEET TO KIND OF SEE LIKE THE NUMBER OF HOMEOWNERS THAT WERE IN THE AREA VERSUS THE ONES THAT ACTUALLY ATTENDED THE MEETING? WHEN IT

COMES TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. >>

>> WAS THAT POSSIBLY A PART OF THE MEETING? TO JUST KIND OF ASSESS TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE IN ATTENDANCE? YES? NO?

>> YES. >> OKAY, ALL RIGHT. THAT IS ALL

I HAVE. >> SIR.

>> THINK YOU AND I APOLOGIZE. THE NAME IS SANTOS CATALANO THE ARCTIC FOR THE PROJECT I WANT TO ADDRESS SOME OF YOUR CONCERNS. I LIKE TO START BY SAYING THAT YES, WE DID HAVE A COMMUNITY MEETING AND YES, WE DID A SIGN IN SHEET AND HAD ABOUT 20 PARTICIPANTS AT THE TIME. A LOT OF THEM WERE PRESENT RIGHT HERE.

I WANT TO ADDRESS SOME OF THEIR QUESTIONS ABOUT DENSITY AND FUTURE ZONING FOR THESE PROPERTIES. MULTI-FAMILY. SOME OF THE COMMENTS WE GOT AT THE MEETING , SOME OF THE RESIDENTS WANTED US TO MAKE THIS INTO A PRIVATE, GATED COMMUNITY, WHICH WE ARE FULFILLING . ANOTHER REQUEST WAS TO NOT HAVE SHORT-TERM RENTALS, WHICH WILL NOT BE ALLOWED IN THIS COMMUNITY. WHAT WE ARE CREATING IS A HIGH-END COMMUNITY WITH INDIVIDUALLY PLOTTED LOSS THAT WILL BE FOR SALE. THEY ARE GOING TO BRING PRIDE IN HOMEOWNERSHIP AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE RENTERS HERE. THE FUTURE ZONING FOR THIS PROPERTY IS

[00:35:02]

ALL THE WAY UNTIL 10:00 P.M. EVEN IF YOU ARE GOING TO ANOTHER TYPE OF COMMERCIAL PROJECT , A RESIDENTIAL PROJECT LIKE THIS NOT BRING NEARLY THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC. I KNOW WE ARE HAVING A FEW ASKS FROM THE CITY IN TERMS OF CODE. WHAT WE ARE HAVING TO DO FOR THIS PROJECT IS THAT WE ARE-TO MEET SINGLE-FAMILY CODE AND WE ARE ALSO HAVING TO MEET MULTI-FAMILY CODE AND THOSE WERE THE ASKS FROM YOUR DEPARTMENT, FROM ENGINEERING AND FROM FIRE.

THAT MADE OUR LOT SMALLER BECAUSE WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT RIGHT-OF-WAY IN THE MIDDLE . THESE ARE GOING TO BE HIGH-END TOWNHOMES, THEY ARE GOING TO BE INDIVIDUALLY PLOTTED. I THINK A PROJECT LIKE THIS WILL BRING SIGNIFICANT VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY VERSUS HAVING A COMMERCIAL PROJECT WHERE IT IS GOING TO BRING SIGNIFICANT TRAFFIC. I UNDERSTAND NOW THAT MILLER ROAD HAS BEEN EXTENDED THERE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE TRAFFIC THESE DAYS BECAUSE THERE IS ALSO A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CONSTRUCTION TO THE WEST SIDE OF US. I DON'T THINK OUR DEVELOPMENT ALONE IS GOING TO BE THE MAJOR PROBLEM THAT YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BUT RATHER THE REST OF THE DEVELOPMENT THAT IS GOING ON , YOU KNOW, TO THE LEFT OR TO THE WEST OF MILLER ROAD. I THINK OUR PROJECT IS VERY IN TUNE WITH WHAT I THINK AS AN ARCHITECT WOULD WORK. I HAVE BEEN AN ARCHITECT FOR 20 YEARS AND THAT IS WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND AS TRANSITIONING FROM COMMERCIAL TO THE SINGLE-FAMILY AND WE JUST WANT TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR AND PROVIDE A QUALITY PRODUCT, WHICH WE ARE. WE HAVE NICE EXTERIORS AND WE HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY. I THINK THIS PROJECT WILL BE A GOOD FIT AND CREATE A LOT OF VALUE FOR THE CITY OF ROWLETT.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. MR. POLLARD? >> DO NOT LEAVE YET.

>> OH, SORRY. >> YOU CANNOT JUST GIVE US YOUR

OPINION AND WALK OFF. >> THE TWO THINGS OFF OF WHAT YOU SAID. YOU SAID THIS IS GOING TO BE OWNERS AND NOT RENTAL, HOW

CAN YOU GUARANTEE THAT? >> THAT WILL BE IN THE HOA THAT NO SHORT-TERM RENTALS ARE ALLOWED.

>> WHAT ABOUT LONG-TERM RENTALS? >> YOU KNOW, VINCENT IS PROBABLY BETTER TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION, I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS AN OWNER THEY WILL HAVE A SON OR DAUGHTER LIVING THERE OUT OF COLLEGE AFTER, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU PUT THAT IN THE HOA BUT THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO BE A RENTAL COMMUNITY.

>> MY DAUGHTER JUST RECENTLY MOVED INTO TOWNHOME IN GREENVILLE . THE OWNER SOLD IT TO A GENTLEMAN IN CLEANUP, HE RENTS IT. MY DAUGHTER RENTED THE PLACE. THEY HAVE AN HOA. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GUARANTEE THAT THIS DOES NOT BECOME RENTAL PROPERTY

AFTER THE FIRST OWNER ? >> RIGHT, HAS TO BE WRITTEN IN THE DOCUMENT OF THE HOA. THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT BYLAWS THAT COME WITH THE HOA , THAT IS A REQUIREMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO INCLUDE.

>> THE SECOND THING THAT I HEARD FROM YOU THAT I KIND OF QUESTION , YOU MENTIONED THIS WAS GOING TO BE A MULTI-FAMILY AREA ,

WHERE DID YOU HEAR THAT? >> THE CITY OF ROWLETT HAS A FUTURE ZONING PLAN FOR FUTURE ZONING OF PROPERTIES AND SHE DISCUSSED THAT EARLIER, GO AHEAD.

[00:40:05]

>> TO CLARIFY, THE CURRENT ZONING IS NOT MULTI-FAMILY, THE CURRENT IS PD WITH LIMITED COMMERCIAL/RETAIL. FUTURE LAND USE MAP REFERENCES BACK TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WHICH IS A 15, 20 YEAR VISION FOR THE CITY THAT WE GET PUBLIC INPUT FOREIGN BASED OFF PUBLIC INPUT WE BUILD A FUTURE LAND USE MAP. IT CANNOT BECOME MULTI-FAMILY WITHOUT AN ACTION BY CITY COUNCIL THE REZONING CHANGE. BUT BY STATE LAW WE ARE REQUIRED TO CHANGE THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP AT THE SAME TIME WE CHANGE THE CURRENT ZONING , IF THE PROPOSED ZONING DISTRICT DOES NOT MATCH THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP. THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP DOES NOT MEAN IT WILL EVER BECOME MULTI-FAMILY, UNLESS ACTION IS TAKEN BY PNC

AND CITY COUNCIL. >> AS CHAIR AS OF THE LAST COPY OF THE PLAN OF 2018 AND 2019, I DON'T RECALL THAT EVER BEING

MULTI-FAMILY. >> THAT IS WHAT THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP CALLS FOR IN THAT AREA.

>> I DON'T RECALL THAT POINT >> THAT IS WHAT IT SHOWS NOW. ON OUR CURRENT FUTURE LAND USE MAP WE HAVE.

>> THANK YOU. THAT IS IT, MR. CHAIRMAN.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? THANK YOU. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION . MR. POLLARD ?

>> I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DENY THE REQUEST OF THE APPLICANT.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION TO DENY, DO WE HAVE A SECOND ? MS. WILLIAMS? SECONDED. THE MOTION TO DENY THE APPLICANT. ANY DISCUSSION ?

>> -- IS THAT CORRECT? >> NO. IT IS, YES.

>> OKAY. I AM PARTIAL TO THIS AREA. I DON'T LIVE THERE . THE FIRST NINE YEARS THAT I MOVED HERE FROM '89 TO VERY EARLY '99 , I LIVED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS JUST TO YOUR EAST OR EXCUSE ME, JUST YOUR WEST , ABOUT HIS BESIDE A -- ELEMENTARY, I LIVED ON THE CORNER OF PRYCE AND AUBURN. MY OLD NEIGHBORHOOD , I DRIVE THROUGH IT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE AND IT HAS GONE DOWN. THAT WAS A REALLY NICE AREA WHEN MY KIDS WERE GOING TO -- IN '89 AND THROUGH THE '90S. I GO THAT WAY QUITE OFTEN. THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT THING FOR THAT SPOT. I AM NOT SURE THAT ANYTHING WILL FIT IN THAT NARROW OF AN ELONGATED AREA, IN FACT I WAS THE FIRST DRIVEWAY OFF THE ALLEY THAT GOES DOWN BEHIND THIS PROPERTY AND THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT THING. NO CUSHION BETWEEN IT AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD , EVEN THOUGH A LOT OF THOSE HOUSES ARE TWO STORY, THIS IS THREE STORIES, TALK ABOUT LOOKING DOWN INTO THEM. THIS IS JUST WRONG.

>> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? I WILL JUST SAY THAT THIS IS ONE OF MY STICKING POINT SENSIBLY COMES IN AND ASKS TO DO SOMETHING IN OCCURRENCE WITH THE CODE WITH THE FOLLOWING VARIATIONS AND IN THIS CASE THERE ARE EIGHT VARIATIONS, SO , MY QUESTION WOULD BE, WHY DO YOU EVEN HAVE A CODE? SO, I MEAN, THAT TO ME IS UNFORGIVABLE . ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS? OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY MR. POLLARD.

>> THE FLOOR. GO AHEAD . STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE.

>> I AM ANGELA CHEN , I LIVE IN SOUTHLAKE AND I AM A BROKER .

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I DID NOT REALIZE THAT I HAVE TO SUBMIT A REQUEST BEFORE I CAN SPEAK TODAY, YOU KNOW, SO, I DO APPRECIATE THAT EVERYONE GAVE ME A CHANCE TO SPEAK. OKAY.

[00:45:03]

I'M A BROKER, I HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE DEVELOPING DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS AND YOU KNOW PROJECTS AND TO PUT COMMERCIAL THERE IS ACTUALLY WILL BRING A LOT, A LOT MORE TRAFFIC TO THE AREA. THIS IS ONE THING. THE SECOND THING IS THAT, LET'S SAY IF WE PUT A GROCERY STORE THERE THEN YOU PROBABLY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL WHO WILL GO TO THE GROCERY STORE, YOU KNOW? IT MAY BE SOMEONE FAR FROM THERE AND JUST PASSING THROUGH, FOR THAT REASON A RESIDENTIAL PROJECT FOR THAT LOT IS WAY BETTER THAN COMMERCIAL AND THEN THE SECOND THING IS THAT IF WE STUCK COMMERCIAL THERE IT ACTUALLY , FOR ALL OF THESE RESIDENTIAL AREA, THE HOUSES NEXT TO IT , BEHIND THE ALLEY , THIS IS COMMON SENSE IN REAL ESTATE. BECAUSE OF THE TRAFFIC , BECAUSE OF THE NOISE , BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY , WHO WILL VISIT THE COMMERCIAL LOT , USUALLY THE RESIDENTIAL HOUSES, THE VALUE WILL DROP A LOT. SO, THAT IS THE REASON WHEN WE DESIGNED THE COMMUNITY, WE ALWAYS HAVE COMMERCIAL AND THEN THE RETAIL AND THEN WE HAVE LIKE MULTI-FAMILY AND SINGLE-FAMILY .

THIS WAY IT WILL CREATE THIS COMMUNITY WHICH WILL SUIT EVERY REQUIREMENT TO BE A GOOD, NICE COMMUNITY. THAT IS THE REASON WHY WE WOULD LIKE TO PUT A COMMUNITY THERE BECAUSE ROWLETT IS BOOMING. ROWLETT IS GROWING SO FAST AND THEN WE HAVE A LESS AND LESS LAND THAT IS SUITABLE TO PUT A NICE COMMUNITY. THAT IS THE REASON THAT IF WE PUT THIS COMMITTEE THERE IT WILL INCREASE THE WHOLE VALUE FOR THE AREA. BECAUSE THE LOCATION IS JUST SO FANTASTIC. I AM ALSO GOING TO ANSWER SOME CONCERNS THAT THE NEIGHBORS HAVE. ONE OF THEM IS WHAT HAPPENS IF THE PROJECT CANNOT BE FINISHED? THIS IS A VERY REASONABLE QUESTION. FROM HERE WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT WE ARE VERY EXPERIENCED, MY TEAM IS VERY EXPERIENCED AND WE HAVE A TEAM, THEY WILL CONTROL THE BUDGET AND THEY WILL BE TOTALLY WATCHING THE FINANCIALS FOR THE PROJECT AND WE WILL DEFINITELY FINISH THE PROJECT. THE TIMELINE FOR US IS WE ARE GOING TO FINISH IT IN TWO YEARS. THERE IS ANOTHER CONCERN THAT THERE ARE TREES THERE. RIGHT NOW THEY ARE BETWEEN THE LOT AND THE COMMUNITY AND THEN HERE I CAN DEFINITELY PROMISE THAT WE ARE GOING TO KEEP THE TREES THERE BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY NICE, THEY ARE TALL, THEY'RE GOING TO CREATE A BARRIER BETWEEN THE MULTI-FAMILY ONE AND THE RESIDENTIAL ONE. LET ME SEE. OH, REGARDING THE NO LEFT TURNS OUT OF THE COMMUNITY. I AM NOT VERY SURE BECAUSE WHEN WE DESIGNED THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT IF WE WERE ACTUALLY ALLOWED TO PUT A LEFT TURN /RIGHT OUT OF THE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE THIS IS PART OF THE CITY PLAN FOR THE ROAD. BUT OF COURSE IF IT IS NECESSARY , IF IT WILL HELP THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, WE ARE OKAY IF WE PUT A LEFT TURN , RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE COMMUNITY, THIS WAY THE TRAFFIC WILL NOT GO TO THE RESIDENTIAL AREA AND THEN TO DO THE LEFT TURN . I THINK, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE ONE THING. OKAY. DEVELOP THIS

[00:50:02]

WE ARE NOT GOING TO CREATE A TRASH PROJECT THERE , SO EVERYONE IS LIKE, OH, NO, WE DON'T WANT THAT KIND OF PLACE THERE. WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS WE TRY TO PUT A VERY BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY THERE. WE ARE GOING TO BRING NICE OWNERS TO THE COMMUNITY , SO THEY CAN HAVE A CHANCE TO ENJOY THIS BEAUTIFUL PLACE IN ROWLETT. REGARDING ALL OF THESE EXCEPTIONS THAT IS BECAUSE LAND IS RARE RIGHT NOW IN ROWLETT , THE ARCHITECTURE, THE ARCHITECTURE ACTUALLY BEING VERY CREATIVE , THEY ARE TRYING TO MAXIMIZE THE LAND AND AT THE SAME TIME THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO BUILD THIS DUTIFUL FUTURE HOMES FOR THE HOMEOWNER. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR LISTENING TO ME, I DID NOT REALIZE I ACTUALLY GOT A CHANCE TO SPEAK TODAY AND SO , HOPEFULLY WHAT I SAID HERE MAKES

SOME SENSE. >> THANK YOU. -- COMMENTS WILL PREVAIL BECAUSE WE HAVE COMMITTEE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS

WE LIKE TO FOLLOW. >> YES, DEFINITELY. WE DEFINITELY WILL FOLLOW THESE REGULATIONS, RULES , FOR

WHATEVER THINGS RIGHT NOW. >> THE PROJECT IS PRESENTED TO US DOES NOT DO THAT. THANK YOU.

>> OKAY. YEAH. YEAH. >> WE ARE DONE. OKAY, THANK YOU.

>> ANY COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO DENY THIS APPLICATION, SECONDED BY MS. WILLIAMS. WITH NO FURTHER DISCUSSION WE WILL GO AHEAD AND CALL THE VOTE. THAT PASSES, 6-0, TO DENY THE APPLICATION. MOVING

[4C.Conduct a public hearing and make a recommendation to City Council on an ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance by amending Chapter 77-301 to add Private Social Club and Poker Lounge as new uses to the Table of Allowed Uses and amending Chapter 77-1103 to establish use-specific standards. ]

>>

>> THERE WE GO, THE MICROPHONE HAS BEEN WEIRD TONIGHT. AGENDA ITEM 4C, ANOTHER NEW USE WHICH WE RECENTLY WENT THROUGH THIS FOR THE ZIP LINE FOR THE DRONE DELIVERY SYSTEM, THIS IS THE SAME TYPE OF REQUEST, JUST A DIFFERENT USE. THE APPLICANT APPROACHED CITY STAFF IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR TO OPEN A NEW PRIVATE SOCIAL CLUB AND POKER LOUNGE . THE PROPOSED USE IS NOT FOUND IN OUR USE CHART AND IS CONSIDERED A NEW OR UNLISTED USE. WHEN THAT HAPPENS THE EPIC AND HAS THE RIGHT TO REQUEST IT GET ADDED TO OUR USE CHARTS AND ANY SPECIFIC REGULATIONS AS WELL AND IT GOES BEFORE PNZ IF A RECOMMENDATION AND CITY COUNCIL AND THAT IS WHAT THE REQUEST IS FOR TONIGHT . FIRST, AMENDING CHAPTER 77- 300, THIS MEANS A MEMBERS ONLY ESTABLISHMENT INDIVIDUALS CAN GATHER FOR SOCIAL, RECREATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES IN A SECURE AND REGULATED ENVIRONMENT. THIS IS THE PROPOSED USE CHART THAT THE APPLICANT PROVIDED, THEY ARE ASKING THAT IT BE ALLOWED IN C2, M2 VIA A SPECIAL USE PERMIT, NOT ALLOWED BY RIGHT AND WOULD STILL REQUIRE TRANSMITTING RECOMMENDATION AND COUNCIL ACTION AND THE PROPOSED USE CHARTS FOR OUR FORM-BASED CODE. IT WOULD BE ALLOWED BY SPECIAL USE PERMIT IN THE URBAN VILLAGE AND THE URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD ZONING DISTRICTS FOR THE FORM-BASED CODE. THEY HAVE ALSO PROPOSED A NUMBER OF YOU SPECIFIC REGULATIONS THAT WILL ACCOMPANY THIS. THE FIRST OF THE OPERATIONS OF ANY PRIVATE SOCIAL CLUB AND POKER LOUNGE SHALL COMPLY WITH ALL APPLICABLE STATE AND LOCAL LAWS INCLUDING THOSE RELATED TO PRIVATE CLUB OPERATIONS, ENTERTAINMENT VENUES AND GAMBLING. INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO TITLE CHANGE '47, GAMBLING OF THE STATE OF TEXAS PENAL CODE. THE SECOND YOU SPECIFIC REGULATION IS THAT AN INDIVIDUAL HAS TO BE A MEMBER IN ORDER TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE GAMES AND TOURNAMENTS. AN

[00:55:03]

>> THANK YOU. READING MY MIND. NUMBER SIX, I WANT CLARIFICATION ON THAT. DOES THAT INCLUDE LIKE BYOB ESTABLISHMENT?

>> SO, IF YOU WANT TO MODIFY THAT TO PROHIBIT BYOB, UNLESS THAT IS PART OF THE SUV, YOU ARE WELCOME TO CLARIFY THAT LANGUAGE

DEFINITELY. >> THANK YOU.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THE APPLICANT IS HERE TONIGHT AND THEY ARE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS AS WELL.

>> MR. POLLARD ? >> OKAY. IF I READ YOUR CHART, ONE .1 TABLE OF ALLOWABLE USES IN THE APPENDIX , BY AN SU P IT WOULD BE ALLOWED IN AN URBAN VILLAGE OR NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT IS

RESIDENTIAL. >> URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE FORM-BASED CODE IS MIXED-USE AND HAS A LOT OF ALLOWED COMMERCIAL USES. URBAN VILLAGE TENDS TO BE MORE THE COMMERCIAL SIDE AND ALLOWS A LOT OF HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL. URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD IS NOT AS HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL BUT IT DOES IN THE FORM OF TOWNHOMES AND IT DOES ALLOW FOR COMMERCIAL USES BUT BOTH ARE MIXED-USE TYPES DISTRICTS.

>> A BUT IT DOES ALLOW RESIDENTIAL?

>> BOTH DO TECHNICALLY, YES. >> IN THE TABLE BEFORE THAT WAS?

>> THERE WE GO. >> OKAY. MR. HERNANDEZ? OKAY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? THE APPLICANT IS HERE. DO THEY

HAVE A PRESENTATION? >> I DON'T BELIEVE SO BUT THEY

ARE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS, ANY

QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? >> I GUESS I DO. WOULDN'T YOU

KNOW. >> MR. POLLARD.

>> TO THE APPLICANT , WHERE DO YOU FEATURE PUTTING YOUR UNIT ?

>> WHEREVER WE ARE ALLOWED, IN THE CITY OF ROWLETT , SO , THE COMMERCIAL DISTRICT WOULD BE IDEAL , THAT WOULD BE IDEAL FOR

US. >> YOU DO NOT HAVE A PREFERENCE, KIND OF AN IDEA , I WANT TO PUT IT UP ON 66, UPON BOYD , UPON ROWLETT ROAD OR DALROCK OR WHEREVER.

>> AT THIS POINT WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH THEM AT THE CITY AND WE ARE JUST IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING IT APPROVED BEFORE WE START

TRYING TO FIND A SPACE TO LEASE. >> IDEALLY THOUGH I WOULD ASSUME YOU WOULD WANT SOMEWHERE TO BE MORE HIGHER TRAFFIC, WILL BE SOMEWHERE ALONG 66 , THE HIGHER TRAFFIC AREAS.

>> DO YOU HAVE A SOCIAL CLUB OR POKER LOUNGE ANYWHERE ELSE?

>> MY BUSINESS PARTNER DOES. >> I'M SEAN CALLAN, ALLEN, TEXAS. WE HAVE A ROOM IN BURLESON, TEXAS JUST NORTH OF

JOSHUA . >> ANY REASON WHY YOU DECIDED ROWLETT WOULD BE A NICE CITY TO OPEN UP A SECOND ONE?

>> ROWLETT IS A VERY BEAUTIFUL CITY . BASED ON A LOT OF THE DATA WE FOUND THERE ARE A LOT OF CURRENT SOCIAL CLUBS AND POKER ROOMS. 8% OF THOSE Z.I.P. CODES ARE IN ROWLETT , -- IN THIS

AREA. >> HOLD ON A SECOND. YOU NEED TO REPEAT THAT FOR ME BECAUSE I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE I UNDERSTOOD

YOUR STATEMENT. >> SURE. OUT OF 350 , SORRY,

35,000 MEMBERS , -- >> OH, THE MEMBERS .

>> IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS, 8% OF THE Z.I.P. CODE, SORRY.

>> SO, 3500 MEMBERS OF WHAT? >> OF POKER ROOMS IN THE DALLAS

[01:00:06]

COUNTY, DFW, FORT WORTH AREA. >> OKAY.

>> THERE ARE ABOUT EIGHT POKER ROOMS CURRENTLY THAT EXIST IN DALLAS COUNTY, DALLAS, FORT WORTH, JOHNSON COUNTY.

>> THAT IS WHERE THESE 3500 PEOPLE GO?

>> CORRECT. 8% OF THOSE HAVE THE Z.I.P. CODES OF ROWLETT AND ROCKWALL, MEANING THEY ARE PASSING THROUGH OUR COUNTIES HERE TO GO INTO THOSE AREAS. WE WOULD LOVE TO KEEP THAT BUSINESS IN THE ROCKWALL /TRAN01 AREAS.

>> AND WHY WOULD YOU LOOK TO KEEP THEM IN THIS AREA? BECAUSE I'M THINKING WE MIGHT NOT LOVE THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY, I UNDERSTAND THAT. THERE ARE A LOT OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE PROVIDED NOT JUST BY THE SOCIAL CLUB OR BY THE LEADERS, WE HAVE DEALERS, WAITSTAFF, MEMBERS THAT ARE IN GREAT STANDING ALLOWED TO STAY HERE. A LOT OF OUR MEMBERS IN OUR CURRENT CLUB IN BURLESON HAVE ASKED US TO PLEASE COME CLOSER TO THEM. THAT WANT TO BE IN DALLAS COUNTY, THAT I WANT TO DRIVE , THEY BELIEVE THE TRAFFIC IS TERRIBLE TO GET THERE. THEY WANT TO STAY CLOSER TO HOME, WHEN THEY ARE DONE AT WHATEVER TIME THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO GET HOME AND GET CLOSER TO THEIR FAMILIES AND NOT HAVE TO DRIVE SO FAR AND NOT HAVE THAT COMMUTE. IT IS REALLY ON BEHALF OF A LOT OF OUR MEMBERS THAT WANT TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND . SADLY, I LIVE IN ALLEN, TEXAS.

ONE OF OUR BUSINESSES IS IN BURLESON. I LOOK AT LOCATIONS IN ROWLETT TO LIVE, 20 MINUTES FROM ALLEN TO ROWLETT IS A LOT CLOSER THAN ONE HOUR AND 20 MINUTES TO BURLESON. FOR ME AS WELL, I KNOW DOESN'T HELP THE CITY BUT UNDERSTAND THERE ARE A LOT OF MEMBERS THAT COMPETE AND PLAY WITH US THAT REALLY WOULD LOVE

TO BE IN THIS AREA. >> AND YOU KNOW, YOU SAY THIS IS A PRIVATE SOCIAL CLUB AND A POKER LOUNGE. WHAT IS THE SOCIAL

CLUB PART? >> OUR CLUB MEMBERS , SORRY? GO

AHEAD. >> THE SOCIAL CLUB , WE ARE NOT ONLY PLAYING POKER WE ARE RUNNING CHESS TOURNAMENTS AS WELL, THERE IS NO GAMBLING WITH THE CHESS TOURNAMENTS, THAT IS KIND OF THE SOCIAL PART OF IT TO WHERE WE WILL HAVE CHESS TOURNAMENTS, CHEST TRAINING AS WELL AND THAT IS WHERE THE SOCIAL ASPECT OF IT COMES IN AS WELL.

>> IT IS A LOCATION WHERE PEOPLE CAN GET AWAY AND I KNOW OUR OTHER ROOMS THERE ARE A LOT OF NETWORKING EVENTS. WE DO A LOT OF COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING FOR FIRE AND POLICE IN OUR AREA AS WELL. WE WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT. OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD NOT CHANGE OUR BYLAWS, WE RUN BACKGROUND CHECKS OF EVERY SINGLE MEMBER, EVERY MEMBER IS A GOOD STANDING MEMBER AT WILL AND WE HAVE THE RIGHT AS A BOARD OF OUR SOCIAL GROUP TO SUSPEND, EXPEL OR ELUDE MEMBERS ON ANY SORT OF ACTIVITY , NEGATIVE

ACTIVITY THAT IS HAPPENING. >> THANK YOU. MR. POLLARD ?

>> DID YOU SAY THAT YOU ALSO HAD A PLACE AT JOSHUA? THAT I

UNDERSTAND THAT? >> JUST NORTH OF JOSHUA.

>> IN JOHNSON COUNTY? >> YES, SIR.

>> ONE IN -- AND ONE IN JOHNSON? >> WE ARE JUST SOUTH OF TARRANT COUNTY IN JOHNSON COUNTY. BURLESON.

>> OKAY. TO BE POINT BLANK , WHAT IS THE INCIDENT RATE OF HAVING THE POLICE CALLED FOR DISAGREEMENTS, SHOOTINGS ?

>> AS LONG AS WE HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED .

THERE HAVE BEEN NO COMPLAINTS ON MEMBER VERSUS MEMBER. THERE HAS BEEN A BROKEN DOWN VEHICLE OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES UP POLICE HAVE BEEN CALLED , BANDED VEHICLE IN THE PARKING LOT.

THERE HAS NOT BEEN ONE INCIDENT OF POLICE BEING CALLED FOR MEMBER ON MEMBER OR MEMBER ON VISITOR SITUATION.

>> DO KNOW IF ANY OF THE OTHER HOUSES THAT ARE AROUND?

>> I DO NOT. BUT I CAN PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION IN THE NEXT

MEETING FOR YOU. >> TO BE QUITE HONEST AND CANDID IT DOES NOT TAKE MUCH FOR EVERYBODY TO HAVE A DISAGREEMENT OVER A POOL GAME OR POKER GAME OR ANYTHING AND THEN START

[01:05:02]

>> MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BEEN PLAYING POKER FOR 15, 20 YEARS NOW. WE HAVE NOT SHOT EACH OTHER YET. I WILL TELL YOU I HAVE VISITED ALMOST EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE POKER ROOMS THAT IS CURRENTLY IN DALLAS AND THEY ARE EXTRAORDINARY , BEAUTIFUL PLACES. I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU ALL PLAY POKER BUT THEY ARE RUN VERY WELL. THEY HAVE SECURITY ON SITE, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD HAVE AS WELL BUT NOT ONE TIME HAVE I EVEN HEARD OF AN ALTERCATION HAPPENING IN ANY OF THOSE POKER

ROOMS THAT I VISITED. >> OUT OF CURIOSITY YOU SAID YOU VISITED QUITE A FEW IN DALLAS COUNTY , HOW MANY YOU THINK ARE

THERE? >> I WANT TO SAY THERE ARE 8 TO

10 OF THEM . >> FOUR IN DALLAS COUNTY AND --

>> I VISITED POKER HOUSE, TEXAS COURTHOUSE HAS TWO ROOMS NOW, THERE IS SHUFFLE 214, SEVERAL IN THE AREA OVER THERE THAT I

VISITED. >> THANK YOU. --?

>> WHILE GAMESMANSHIP CAN BE HEATED IN ANY SORT OF SPORT THERE IS A LEVEL OF RESPECT FOR OUR MEMBERS , THERE IS A POLICY ON THE DRESS CODE AND HOW YOU INTERACT WITH OTHER MEMBERS.

BEING SUSPENDED FOR BEHAVIOR THAT IS AN APPROPRIATE AT HOME OR ON THE TABLE IS EXACTLY THE SAME. THERE WILL BE NO GUNS ALLOWED, NO WEAPONS ALLOWED IN OUR FACILITIES BUT REALLY WHEN SITUATIONS , WHEN COOLER HEADS DON'T PREVAIL WE DO HAVE FOR MANAGERS THERE THAT ARE ABLE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION TO CALM THE SITUATION DOWN BUT IT REALLY IS NOT PERSONAL. IT IS MORE OF , IT IS SITUATIONAL YOU GET EXCITED ABOUT A CERTAIN SITUATION OR OUTCOME. A LOT OF OUR MEMBERS ARE GREAT UPSTANDING PEOPLE, BUSINESS OWNERS, LAWYERS, DOCTORS, DENTISTS , EVEN BLUE-COLLAR GUYS. I WOULD CALL A LOT OF THE MY FRIENDS, THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE. SO, TO BETRAY THAT LINE, I DON'T SEE THAT OFTEN AND I LOVE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR MEMBERS. IF THE SITUATION DID OCCUR THERE WAS A FIGHT OR AN ALTERCATION THEY WOULD ABSOLUTELY BE SUSPENDED AND WRITTEN UP. WE WOULD CONTACT THE AUTHORITIES AND LET THEM KNOW BUT AGAIN IN ALL THE YEARS WE HAVE BEEN OPERATING THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED AND THAT IS A WONDERFUL TESTAMENT.

>> JUST REALLY QUICK BEFORE MISSED -- MS. WILSON ASKS HER

QUESTIONS. >> GO RIGHT AHEAD.

>> WHAT IS THE BUSINESS MODEL ON A CLUB LIKE THIS? YOU SAY YOU DON'T TAKE ANY CUT ON THE POKER GAMES OR ANY OF THAT, IS IT JUST PURELY MEMBERSHIP FEES THAT FUND ?

>> BASED ON TEXAS CODE WE CANNOT TAKE PROFITS FROM THE GAME ITSELF , ANY WAGERING THAT OCCURS HAPPENS BETWEEN THE MEMBERS ON THEIR OWN, WE JUST FACILITATE THAT. WE DO HAVE MEMBERSHIP FEES, FOUNDING FEES, LIFETIME MEMBERS, VIP MEMBERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THAT IS ONE SOURCE OF REVENUE AND THE OTHER PIECE IS WE RENT THE SEAT, ESSENTIALLY AND BY RENTING THE SEAT IT ALLOWS MEMBERS TO PLAY AND SIT AND PARTICIPATE IN THE

GAME. >> YOU DON'T TAKE THE GAMING MONEY BUT YOU CHARGE THEM TO SIT THERE.

>> YES, SIR, WE CHARGE A REASONABLE FEE TO SIT.

>> THANK YOU. LOVE TO LEARN STUFF. MS. WILSON?

>> WILL THEY SORT OF STOLE MY CODE OF CONDUCT QUESTION BUT I DID WANT TO ASK THOUGH AND I'M WONDERING, I GUESS YOU GUYS WILL BE IN PARTNERSHIP BUT ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL OWNERS OR MEMBERS THAT WILL BE IN BUSINESS WITH YOU GUYS?

>> FINANCIALLY WE WILL HAVE THREE PARTNERS . OUR FAMILY, THEIR FAMILY AND ANOTHER MEMBER WHO WILL BE A THIRD OWNER . AN ORGANIZATION. WE WILL HAVE MULTIPLE BOARDS IN OUR ROOM THAT DRIVE PLAYER PERSONALITY OR ADVISORY COUNCIL TO BRING MEMBERS IN, APPROVE MEMBERSHIPS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. WE WILL HAVE BOARDS AND OTHER GROUPS. IT IS NOT JUST WHATEVER WE SAY GOES KIND OF A SITUATION, IT IS COMMUNITY RAN BY HER SOCIAL

CLUB. >> THE LAST QUESTION I HAVE, ARE THERE ANY OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT ARE INVOLVED BESIDES WHAT YOU MENTIONED WITH YOUR CLUB? DO YOU THROW PARTIES OR STUFF LIKE THAT

>> THERE MIGHT BE EVENTS OUTSIDE OF CHESSON POKER THAT PERTAIN TO

[01:10:03]

>> THANK YOU. >> MR. HERNANDEZ .

>> I AM CURIOUS, DO YOU HAVE OTHER SOCIAL CLUBS THAT GET

INVITED INTO YOUR STOP IN? >> OTHER SOCIAL CLUBS LIKE?

>> LIKE THE ONE THAT POPPED IN MY HEAD WOULD BE LIKE MOTORCYCLE

CLUBS, FOR EXAMPLE. >> WE HAVE NOT CONSIDERED IT.

OUR INITIAL DESIGN HAS SPACE TO SIT DOWN AND NETWORK. THAT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. WE HAVE NOT INVESTIGATED THAT WE WOULD BE

OPEN TO THAT VERY MUCH SO. >> IS YOUR INTENTION EVENTUALLY

TO ASK FOR A PERMIT FOR ALCOHOL? >> WE WOULD CONSIDER THE PERMIT FOR ALCOHOL BUT WE UNDERSTAND MOST OF OUR LOCATIONS , OUR LOCATION IN BURLESON , WE HAVE BEEN ONE YEAR WITHOUT. WE WILL ASK THE CITY FOR THAT PERMIT IN ABOUT THREE MONTHS BUT WE HAVE BEEN GREAT WITHOUT IT. IT IS BYOB CURRENTLY , THE MEMBERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN. WE PROVIDE ICE AND CUPS AND THINGS LIKE THAT BUT MEMBERS BRING THEIR OWN AT THIS TIME.

>> A GENERAL COMMENT. ALSO TO COMMISSIONER POLLARD, ONE OF THE THINGS I THOUGHT ABOUT WHEN YOU ASKED ABOUT POLICE IN SUCH , I DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW IF THAT IS ANY DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER COMPETITIVE SPORT. YOU HEAR IT ALL THE TIME ABOUT PARENTS GETTING INTO ARGUMENTS AND FIGHTS AT BASEBALL GAMES AND SUCH, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A FAIRLY MAJOR DIFFERENCE THERE . THE OTHER THING I WAS THINKING ABOUT HERE IS I THINK THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY HAVE THE ORDINANCE IN THE BOOKS BECAUSE IT DOES NOT EXIST NOW. IT MAY EVENTUALLY COME UP FOR RECONSIDERATION AT SOME POINT AND THIS IS NOT A BAD TIME TO BASICALLY GO THROUGH WITH THIS AND MAKE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS WE WOULD HAVE NOW. THAT WAY WHEN THEY COME BACK TO US IF WE DO NOT LIKE THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT THEY MAY REQUEST THEN WE CAN GO FROM THAT POINT. BUT AT LEAST THIS ALLOWS US TO DEFINE THE ACCEPTABLE USES AND PUT IT INTO THE DEVELOPMENT CODE GOING

FORWARD. >> TO TOUCH ON THAT, MR. HERNANDEZ, WE ARE FLEXIBLE TWO HOURS OF OPERATION AS THE COMMITTEE DEEMS FIT AS WELL AS ANY OTHER REGULATIONS WE WOULD

BE HAPPY TO ABIDE BY THOSE. >> A FRIENDLY REMINDER THAT YOU CAN ADD ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS ON TO EACH INDIVIDUAL SUP PERMIT AND I ENCOURAGE THEM TO APPROACHES IN A WAY WHERE THIS IS THE OVERALL, ALL THE RULES FOR ANY USER THAT MIGHT COME THROUGH AND THEN AS INDIVIDUAL USERS COME YOU CAN TACK MORE ON.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE CLARIFY THIS IS JUST TO GET THAT IN THE BOOKS, WHATEVER YOU OUT HERE WILL HOLD TRUE FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT USERS.

>> I CANNOT ASK THE QUESTION I WAS THINKING ABOUT.

>> YOU HANDLED IT REALLY WELL THOUGH.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COMMISSIONERS , I WILL ENTERTAIN

A MOTION . SORRY? >>

>> ALL, I AM SORRY. WELL, EVERYBODY LEFT. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS TIME. IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO US WHO HAS NOT ALREADY DONE SO? SEEING OR HEARING NONE , WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

COMMISSIONERS , I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION , SO WE CAN DISCUSS

THIS, MR. HERNANDEZ? >> I WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION TO PROVE THE REQUEST TO MODIFY , LET ME SEE HERE, HOW IS IT, MAKE THE REQUEST TO AMEND THE ZONING ORDINANCE AND THE TABLE OF ALLOWED USES FOR THE PRIVATE

SOCIAL CLUB AND POKER LOUNGE. >> WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, MS. WILSON SECONDS IT. ANY DISCUSSION? MR. POLLARD ?

[01:15:13]

>> MR. HERNANDEZ, WOULD YOU, IN HER MOTION, CONSIDER REMOVING URBAN VILLAGE AND URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS, SINCE THEY HAVE RESIDENTIAL AREAS WITHIN THOSE CATEGORIES , REMOVING THOSE .

THAT WOULD LEAVE IT IN --. >> WOULD THAT NOT REMOVE THAT FROM LIKE THE DOWNTOWN AREA? WHICH IS ABOUT THE ONLY PLACE THAT I WOULD , BUT I THINK I WOULD WANT.

>> THIS PARTICULAR CASE TO APPROVE IT BUT WHEN THE ITEM CAME ACROSS IT WOULD BE AN SUP AND WE COULD THEN TAILOR THAT PARTICULAR SUP IF IT IS IN FACT IN A MORE RESIDENTIAL THAN COMMERCIAL

AREA. >>

>> I GUESS THE ANSWER IS NO. AND YOU KNOW , WHAT IS THAT?

>> I SAID I FIGURE THAT. >> AND I MEAN, URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD, URBAN VILLAGE, IT IS GOING TO GO AWAY ANYWAY, THIS

FORM-BASED CODE, SO. >> AT SOME POINT WE HOPE.

>> IF YOU WOULD STOP DRAGGING YOUR FEET.

>> I DON'T KNOW, I THINK IT IS IN THE APPROPRIATE USES. IF IN FACT WE WANT ONE . I DON'T KNOW IF I WANTED IN MY M2

NEIGHBORHOOD BUT WHATEVER. >> SO, MR. CHAIRMAN, I WILL MAKE IT, , SO THE APPLICANTS KNOW AT LEAST WHERE I STAND ON THIS. IT SOUNDS LIKE THEIR BUSINESSES MORE LIKE WHAT YOU THINK OF A

CURRENT BINGO HALL . >> THEY DON'T PLAY CHESS AT A

BINGO HALL. >> NO, BUT SIMILAR IN THAT THEY HAVE IT WELL-MAINTAINED AND POLICED VERSUS THE SMOKY HOLE IN A WALL SOMEWHERE AND THEY VERY WELL MAY HAVE A GOOD BUSINESS MODEL BUT THIS IS BROADER THAN JUST THE APPLICANTS , IT APPLIES TO ANYBODY , AT ANY TIME THAT WANTS TO COME HERE. I AM NOT SURE I WANT TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD WHERE WE HAVE , AND YOU ARE RIGHT , WE SAY IT ALL THE TIME ON THE NEWS, AT A BASEBALL GAME THE PARENTS GET HEATED AND GET IN A FIGHT AND SHOOT EACH OTHER BUT I JUST DON'T WANT TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD.

>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS ? MS. WILLIAMS?

>> TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS ENHANCES THE WELFARE, THE SAFE THE , THE MORALS OF THE ROWLETT COMMUNITY .

>> I THINK THE SAFETIES YOU KEEP THOSE 3700 MEMBERS CLOSER TO HOME , I THINK THAT IS WHAT 8% OF HOWEVER MANY THE NUMBERS HE SAID. I AGREE WITH YOU THOUGH. IT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS, BUT WHERE THEN AGAIN DOES IT , THIS IS WHERE THE QUESTION IS MORALS

[01:20:08]

>> THAT IS WHAT I'M STRUGGLING WITH.

>> OKAY, MS. WILSON? NO, NO, WE WANT TO HEAR. YOU PUSHED A

BUTTON. >> NO, I WAS JUST LISTENING TO WHAT COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS WAS SAYING BUT IT WILL NOT REALLY STOP THE INDUSTRY AND WHEN THEY SAID THEY HAD SORT OF I GUESS, ASSESSED THE PEOPLE WHO LIKE PARTICIPATING IN IT, IT PROBABLY IS SAFER BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO DRIVE A LOT OF MILES TO GET THERE AND SOME MIGHT END UP DRINKING IF NOT THERE THAN SOMEWHERE ELSE GETTING BACK HOME OVER HERE. I DON'T THINK WE WILL KEEP THAT FROM OCCURRING BECAUSE THEY WILL FIND A NEIGHBORING CITY AND EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T LIVE IN ROWLETT, IF THEY MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THEIR APPLICATION , THEY CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN , THAT IS JUST MY OPINION.

>> THE FIRST THING I THOUGHT OF WHENEVER I READ THIS OF A PRIVATE SOCIAL CLUB, I HAVE LIVED OUTSIDE THE BIBLE BELT AND I KNOW WHAT A PRIVATE SOCIAL CLUB IS.

>> HEARING THE PRESENTATION FROM THE FOLKS WHO ARE MAKING THIS OR ASKING FOR THIS TO OCCUR , I ALSO THINK ABOUT THAT WE HAVE A CIGAR LOUNGE ON MAIN STREET WHICH IS A BYOB ESTABLISHMENT WHICH IS A DARK, SMOKY HOLE , I ONLY KNOW THAT BECAUSE , NEVERMIND. BUT , YOU KNOW, I AM INCLINED TO GO AHEAD AND LIKE COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ SAID , LET'S PUT IT ON THE BOOKS BECAUSE EACH ONE WILL COME IN FRONT OF US WITH AN SUP THAT WE CAN THEN FURTHER CONTROL OR PUT SOME GUARDRAILS ON . TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE . I DON'T KNOW. I AM NOT STRUGGLING WITH MORALS, I KNOW WHAT MINE ARE. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I KNOW MR. POLLARD IS STILL LOOKING FOR HIS. MR. POLLARD?

>> I WILL JUST TELL YOU , MR. CHAIR , THIS WAS NOT A SOCIAL CLUB AS SUCH BUT I GUESS YOU LOOK BACK ON YOUR OWN KNOWLEDGE OF THINGS AND YOU WILL BE INTERESTED IN THIS , WHERE I'M FROM ORIGINALLY THERE IS A PLACE CALLED THE CHECKMATE CLUB AND IT WAS TWO DOORS OVER FROM CITY HALL BELIEVE IT OR NOT AND AS IT TURNED OUT THE MAYOR WAS HALF OWNER AND SO WAS THE POLICE

CHIEF . >> THEY HAD LAWN ORDER THERE.

>> THEY DIDN'T, THAT IS THE FUNNY PART ABOUT THE WHOLE THING AND I HANDLED AN EXPLOSION IN THE BACK ROOM. ARKANSAS STATE POLICE CAME IN , AS WELL AS ATF AND SOME OTHERS BECAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION AND AS IT TURNED OUT IT WAS ILLEGAL GAMBLING GOING ON IN THE BACK, AGAIN WITH THE MAYOR AND THIS WAS A MAYOR, COUNCIL FORM OF GOVERNMENT, THERE WAS NO CITY MANAGER , THE MAYOR RAN THE TOWN AND THE POLICE CHIEF AND PLESSY COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY FRIEND TO PROSECUTE THE MAYOR IF HE DIDN'T RESIGN AND DID NOT RUN FOR RE-ELECTION AT ANY POINT IN TIME AND THE POLICE CHIEF HAD TO BE FIRED AND HE LOST HIS LICENSE OF COURSE. BUT WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND THAT IS WHY SAID THESE FOLKS MAY BE ALL WELL AND GOOD BUT THIS GOES PAST THEM DO EVER COMES IN , IN THE FUTURE AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT

[01:25:03]

OF KNOWING THE DARK SIDE. >> BUT SEE, THAT IS JUST IT, WE ARE TAKING IT OUT OF THE BACK ROOM AND PUTTING IT IN THE FRONT

ROOM. >> MAYBE.

>> SEEING NO OTHER COMMENTS. WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ SECONDED BY MS. WILSON , TO APPROVE OR MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR AN ORDINANCE ON THE ZONING TO AMEND CHAPTER 77-301 DAD PRIVATE SOCIAL CLUB AND POKER LOUNGE AS NEW USES ON THE TABLE OF ALLOWED USES.

LET'S CALL THE VOTE . CLAIMANT 4-2. 4-2, WITH ONE ABSENT AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.