Dallas Homeowners League

Dallas Homeowners League Calls for Tighter Restrictions on Gas Well Drilling

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 22:19:05 +0000

The Dallas Homeowners League (DHL) voted on May
14th to support several changes to the Gas Well Drilling Task Force’s
recommendations that DHL believes are important to ensure the health and safety
of Dallas residents and the preservation of their
property and our shared natural environment. DHL understands that nothing in
life can be entirely safe, but for every activity, there are efforts that can
be made to reduce risk to a reasonable level. We believe that these changes are
necessary to reduce the risks associated with gas well drilling to that
reasonable level. Our preferred changes are as follows:

I. Ensure a
uniform protection of 1000-3000 foot setbacks from any location where Dallas residents live, work, worship and play, in order to
protect public health, property values and quality of life.

II. Maintain
the existing city ordinance prohibitions on hydro-fracking operations within Dallas park lands and flood plains, in order to prevent the
environmental degradation of these recreational areas and preserve their
potential for public enjoyment.

III. Establish
of an industry-funded Dallas office of gas drilling oversight with enough
trained personnel, equipped with the latest technology, to be able to
effectively regulate fracking operations in Dallas and provide help to
residents 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

IV. Require
fracking companies to provide the full list of toxic chemicals used for
drilling to Dallas’ emergency first responders, before an accident
takes place.

V. Restrict
water use for fracking operations during drought conditions, charging more for
water used in fracking operations since it can never be used again, and
preventing fracking companies from trucking Dallas water elsewhere for drilling
in other cities.

VI. Require
fracking companies to offset any climate change gas emissions in order to
comply with the Dallas Climate Action Plan.

These changes to the task force’s
recommendations are agreed upon by DHL, the North Dallas Neighborhood Alliance,
the Mountain Creek Neighborhood Alliance, and the Dallas Residents at Risk
Coalition. The Old Oak Cliff Conservation League has voted to oppose drilling
all together. These organizations represent over 180 neighborhood associations
within the city, which indicates how serious Dallas residents consider
this issue to be. DHL urges the City Council to recognize the broad-based
resident preference for tighter restrictions on drilling, and to support these
shared changes.

Proposed Changes to Gas Well Drilling Ordinance

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:10:27 +0000

On May 16th the City Council will hear a presentation from the gas well drilling task force they appointed to study the issue of gas well drilling within the city limits. After months of public hearings and discussion, the task force created a list of recommended changes to the ordinance. These recommendations will be what is presented on the 16th. Although the gas well drilling sites are limited by geology to the western and southwestern sections of the city, there are associated environmental, land use, and transportation issues that would have a citywide impact. Questions have been raised over the environmental affects of the chemicals used in drilling upon both the air and water, the proper distance sites should be from homes to ensure safety and appropriate noise levels, the damage heavy drilling trucks may do to streets, and the appropriateness of allowing drilling in city parkland.

DHL is monitoring the issue closely, and is looking to receive input from Dallas neighborhoods prior to the May 16th meeting in order to help us determine what, if any, position our members would like us to take on the issue. Please email your comments and concerns to dhl@dallashomeownersleague.org .

DHL will be at Oak Cliff Earth Day!

admin — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 02:08:19 +0000

The Oak Cliff Earth Day will be Sunday, April 22nd, from Noon to 5pm at Lake Cliff Park, and DHL is happy to be attending! Come out and enjoy the festivities, and talk with us in person at our booth!

2012 Capital Bond Program

admin — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 18:34:55 +0000

The city of Dallas is currently soliciting resident input on potential projects that should be included in the 2012 capital improvement program bond issue. Bond money is used to construct, repair, and improve city infrastructure and facilities such as roads, sidewalks, drainage improvements, libraries, etc. The process of developing the bond program began in February, and will continue until the Council votes on the bond issue in November. There are two scheduled rounds of public input. Currently, public input is being used to influence the city staff’s recommended plan. Once the recommended plan has been completed, there will be another round of comment on the plan in June. It is vitally important that residents and neighborhoods make their desires known in order to influence the make up of the program, especially since there will be a push by the city to use some of the bond money for economic development projects.

More information on the 2012 bond program, and access to the public comment form, can be found here.

DHL Supports Use of Chapter XIII for the Oak Cliff Gateway

admin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:48:52 +0000

DHL stands with its member organizations within the study area, the Old Oak Cliff Conservation League, the Kidd Springs Neighborhood Association, and the East Kessler Neighborhood Association, in supporting the use of Chapter 51, Article XIII of the city’s development in its entirety for the Oak Cliff Gateway study area (a roughly 800-acre area in northeast Oak Cliff). We are in agreement in regards to supporting the use of form-based zoning for the Gateway. However, the proposal currently being developed by the Oak Cliff Gateway Steering Committee does not include significant neighborhood protections that would buffer adjacent single-family homes from taller mixed-use buildings, nor does it include true form-based requirements that would govern the design of new buildings. Without these significant criteria, there are no guarantees that what is constructed will be pedestrian-oriented and in harmony with the surrounding neighborhoods. Article XII was created through a long process of negotiation and compromise amongst a diverse coalition representing neighborhoods, developers, realtors, and city staff. Only by using Article XII in its entirety will the interests of all parties involved in such an impactful redevelopment project be represented fairly.

DHL Holiday Social!

admin — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:35:15 +0000

DHL is pleased to announce the event information for our winter social! To avoid potential scheduling conflicts around Thanksgiving, the event will be held on Thursday, December 8th, from 6pm – 8pm. The event will take place at the wonderful restaurant Inforzato at 244 W. Davis St. in Oak Cliff. This year’s social will be a change from past years because instead of a potluck, the restaurant will be providing a selection of Italian appetizers and beverages, including salads, pasta, and pizza. Inforzato does not serve alcohol, but guests are welcome to BYOB ($5.00 cork fee applies).

What hasn’t changed from our prior socials is that the event will be a great opportunity to mingle with people from neighborhoods all over the city and share stories, information, and generally enjoy the holiday season. DHL will also talk about what has been accomplished in 2011, and would like to hear from our members what they believe the key issues for next year will be.

In addition to bringing alcohol for ourselves, guests are also encouraged to bring new or gently-used socks and scarves to be donated to The Bridge homeless assistance center in downtown. Winter is always a very difficult time for the homeless, and your donation of those winter clothing items would be greatly appreciated.

We look forward to seeing you at the 2011 winter social!

Proposed Changes to Alcohol Variance Rules

admin — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 20:03:54 +0000

At the October 26th meeting, the City Council will be voting to change the criteria for granting variances to businesses selling alcohol within 300 feet of protected uses such as schools, churches, and hospitals. The current rules allow a variance to be granted for a general merchandise or food store over 50,000 square feet. The first proposed change will allow a variance to be granted for a general merchandise or food store over 30,000 square feet. A second amendment would also allow the Council to grant variances from any protected use if the applicant has a wine and beer retailer’s permit with a food and beverage certificate, or if the applicant has a mixed beverage permit with a food and beverage certificate. Finally, the last amendment would allow a variance to be granted if the applicant has a certificate of occupancy for a restaurant without drive-in or drive through service.

DHL shares the concerns of some of our member neighborhoods about these changes which will permit more alcohol-selling establishments close to protected properties. DHL encourages our members to read the details of the proposed changes in the agenda for the October 26th meeting. It is item #41 in the agenda: “An ordinance amending Section 6-4 of Chapter 6 of the Dallas City Code to amend the standards for approval of applications for variances from the spacing requirements for alcohol permits.”

Members with concerns about the changes should contact their respective councilmembers as well as DHL. If a significant number of our members desire, DHL can coordinate a response to this issue.

DHL Fall Membership Event

admin — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 22:13:09 +0000

Thursday, September 22nd is our next member educational event. Rebecca Rasor, director of the City of Dallas’ Trinity River Project Department, and the volunteer group Groundwork Dallas will be highlighting the progress made in turning the Trinity River from an underutilized barrier to a regional recreational asset. The main focus will be on how the project will benefit Dallas neighborhoods, no matter where they are in the city, and how neighborhoods can get involved in supporting the project through volunteer efforts.

The program will start at 7pm. The location will be Southside on Lamar, which is at 1409 S. Lamar St. We will be using The Janette Kennedy Gallery on the first floor. The building is just south of downtown in The Cedars neighborhood, and is easily accessible via car or by the DART rail line from The Cedars station on the Red and Blue Lines. Here is a map to the building. Parking is available in Lot A, next to the Cedars Social Restaurant at Belleview and South Lamar.

2011 Boot Camp Recap

admin — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:23:43 +0000

The 13th Annual Neighborhood Leadership Boot Camp was a great success, thanks to your support! Attendance was good, and the donations we received allowed us to completely cover the event expenses. According to the evaluations, the Boot Camp was universally praised for its speakers, set up, and the opportunity to network with other neighborhood leaders. We are gratified that the event was so positive for our attendees.

We will be taking into account your comments from this Boot Camp to make the 14th Annual Boot Camp in 2012 even better than this one. We look forward to seeing you there!

DHL Wishes to Thank All of Our Generous Sponsors:

$500 Activist Level!

Hollywood/Santa Monica Neighborhood Association

Lower Greenville Neighborhood Association

Old Oak Cliff Conservation League

$250 Organizer Level!

Councilmember Angela Hunt

Casa Linda Estates Neighborhood Association

Viginia McAlester

$100 Volunteer Level!

Councilmember Ann Margolin

Councilmember Linda Koop

Councilmember Sheffie Kadane

Leslie Brosi

Ebby Halliday Realtors for White Rock and Lake Highlands

American Bank N.A.

Bachman NW Community Association

Norman Alston Architects

Peninsula Neighborhood Association

Twin Oaks Neighborhood Association

Taste of Greenville Avenue Event

Gay Hopkins

$50 Member Level

Councilmember Pauline Medrano

Donuts Generously Provided by

Krispy Kreme Donuts – 5118 Greenville Ave.

Coffee Generously Provided by

Starbucks Coffee – 1700 Pacific

(now open Saturdays and Sundays, 7am – 2pm!)

Information for Boot Camp Attendees

admin — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 22:34:38 +0000

PARKING

Parking is not available inside the city hall garage this year, due to security restrictions put in place at the start of 2011. Instead, DHL has reserved 160 metered parking spaces adjacent to city hall on Young St. and Ervay St. and the horseshoe parking lot on the south side of city hall. If these spots are filled, there is additional parking available in the underground library parking garage (north of city hall between Young and Wood – enter off of Wood St. north of the library), or in several pay lots within two blocks of city hall. There are other meters located near city hall, but please note that those meters have a two hour limit on them.

A map of parking options around city hall is shown below:

ADMITTANCE AND REGISTRATION

Attendees can enter city hall through the main lobby starting at 7:30am. Registration is in the Flag Room on the 6th Floor, immediately outside of the Council Chamber. Registration begins at 8:15.