Chandler City Council denies rezoning request; amends forum
By Cathy Krafve

Before a standing room only crowd of concerned citizens, the Chandler City Council voted to retain the current residential zoning on the property directly across from the entrance to the Phoenix West Subdivision.

After discussion that included four citizens who addressed the rezoning issue during the public forum segment of the meeting, council members voted unanimously to approve the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Committee to refuse Rodney Hull's request to change the lot at 427 Kickapoo from Residential (R-1) to Business (B1 with a special 6.B permit).

As the crowd gathered, Hull announced he would be willing to sell the lot for $20,000 and asked if anyone was interested in buying it.

Mayor Joye Rains began the meeting by asking Councilmember Marshall Crawford to pray, then opened the public forum segment allowing citizens to voice concerns about the rezoning issue.

Melissa Lehman, Freda Harden, and Roland Lambert spoke on behalf of the subdivision's perspective, raising concerns that included safety and traffic issues, along with other homeowner concerns.

Hull, the fourth speaker, raised issues that included the problem of limited areas available for business growth in Chandler. "Please do not cut off the 315 corridor," he said, adding that "I have exhausted my means to sell it as a residential lot."

While expressing sympathy for homeowners, council members also discussed again the need for Chandler to plan for business, as well as residential areas. "We have a lot of rooftops and we need business, " said councilmember Ann Hall, "We can't depend on property taxes alone."

Rains addressed the issue of safety and traffic, reminding the crowd that TxDot is the governing authority on all matters, including speed limits, traffic lights and right-ofways, pertaining to FM 315 and Hwy 31.

The fifth open forum speaker was Howard Taliaferro who spoke in favor of open forum, one of the other items on the agenda that night. He encouraged citizens to take advantage of their right to participate in the pro- cess of local government. "Sometimes, we're the only ones sitting here, looking like step children," said Taliaferro, referring to the fact that usually only a few people attend the council meetings.

The council voted to make a slight adjustment in the guidelines for open forum by including the idea that "sign up will start thirty minutes before the meeting and the person must sign up personally, " as suggested by Councilmember Gene Giger. Speakers are currently limited to three minutes and five slots are available for citizens to sign up to speak at each council meeting.

In other business, the council voted to begin allowing citizens to pay city fees and bills with credit and debit cards, contracting with RBSLynk for that new service.

The date for this year's budget workshop was set for Thursday evening, August 2, 6:00p.m. at Chandler's City Hall.

City Administrator Jim Moffeit explained a plan to package several street improvements together in order to be able to get better bids. A variety of improvements may affect Old Tyler Road, Cades Cove Road, Ridgeway, Kidd Drive, Sunnyside Drive, Ridgewood Drive, Charmwood, Kickapoo, Bosque, Sabine, and Brazos. The council approved the engineering fees required for the next step in the process.

The final plat of Griffin Estates, Phase 1, was approved, including some modifications clarifying set-backs and responsibilities for greenbelt maintenance.

The council voted to renew the contract with Henderson County Tax Office as Chandler's collection agency and to approve a legal document required by Oncore, formerly TXU's pole and wires division, needed to document the way they deliver street light service.

The GASB financial report, the previous meeting's minutes and the June police report were all passed without discussion.

Before adjourning the meeting, Rains acknowledged Police Chief Reeves and the work of the police force. She also, thanked the citizens who attended the meeting and urged them to continue their participation in city government.

Besides Rains, Crawford, Hall, and Giger, other councilmembers in attendance were Coy Ellis and Barbara Reeves. Along with Moffeit, City Secretary Shirley Parmer was also in attendance.