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On
January 9, 2003 LNO reported on the issues surrounding
the rezoning of
4.268 acres located immediately behind some homes in the
Ross Downs subdivision. The property backs up to
several homes in Ross Downs and the citizens say they have
complained about the conditions for some time. The article
quoted, "Mr.
LeBaron told LNO that the property owner has been informed
that the city is expecting "major progress"
towards the clean up by January 15th."
Jim Graham, of Ross Downs supplied LNO with
the following email to the Mayor and city council members
dated January 20, 2003. Mr. Graham also forwarded a
number of photos of the conditions he has complained.
LNO has requested a response from Bill Lindley, City
Manager, however as of the posting of this article at 1:00
PM Jan. 21, 2003, no response has been received.
LNO's request was around the time
this article was posted, therefore his office has not been
given adequate time to respond to LNO. Upon receipt
of Mr. Lindley's response, LNO will post on this site.
Hodges Automotive provides some services not otherwise
available within the immediate area such as inspections of
motor homes. While not condoning the conditions of
the property, Mr. Hodges has a number of loyal customers
in the Colleyville area. Mr. Hodges performs
numerous mechanical duties, although he is hampered by the
loss of his right leg. One citizen, asking not to be
named because of the circumstances, stated that the city
should take consideration of the overall predicament and
obstacles faced by Mr. Hodges and seek a solution that
would be beneficial to all, including assistance in the
clean up. It was pointed out that Mr. Hodges has
stated he had sublet part of the property to another
individual that went out of business and left the junk
around his shop.
While Ross
Downs residents say they appreciate the difficulties
facing Mr. Hodges, the city has made a commitment and they
have a right to have ordinances enforced.
Bill Ingle, of Phifer and Associates has told LNO that his
client John Altman is anxious to begin work on the
property. Mr. Altman is requesting a PUD-C zoning
change on the property which is currently zoned AG.
Dear
Mayor Arp, Council Members and Mr. Lindley,
I am writing this in regards to the Hodges
Automotive
property on Colleyville Blvd. that has requested a
rezoning. After almost two months of
complaints to Steve
Perez, Code Enforcement, Barry LeBaron, the
Planning &
Zoning Commission, and you there has been
virtually no
progress in cleaning up the eyesore at Hodges
Automotive. I
am requesting the City Manager to set a deadline
for Hodges
Automotive to clean up the junk, debris, junk
vehicles and
non permitted buildings.
In his statement to LocalNewOnly.com after the
last City
Council meeting, Mr. LeBaron stated that "the
city is
expecting "major progress" towards the
clean up by January
15th." That promise is unfulfilled.
It has only been since that last Council meeting
that I've
been able to get Mr. LeBaron to acknowledge that
the
condition of the Hodges property was in violation
of city
codes.
Mr. LeBaron stated at the December 2 Planning and
Zoning
Commission meeting that the businesses that
operated on the
property were "grandfathered in".
Mr. LeBaron made that
statement after the public hearing was closed so
that I was
not able to rebut his statement.
I sent Mr. LeBaron an email on December 9th
refuting the
statement about the businesses being "grandfathered
in".
Mr. LeBaron never bothered to acknowledge receipt
of my
email.
When I purchased my lot and built my home in 1993
- 1994
horses roamed the property immediately behind my
home. The
nearest business on the property was Hodges
Automotive in
the center of the property. In the late
1990's the junk,
debris, outbuildings and junk vehicles began to
appear and
seemingly multiply.
Mr. LeBaron's position has been that aerial photos
from the
late 1980's show businesses operating at the
Hodges
Automotive site. I cannot address that but
have attached
aerial photos from the USGS dated January 1995
that do not
show any other businesses on the site.
Regardless of when
the businesses began to operate the property is
zoned AG
(Agricultural) and those businesses should not be
permitted
to operate there. No special use permits
have been issued
that I am aware.
It seems that Mr. LeBaron had never personally
visited the
Hodges Automotive location and viewed the area
adjacent to
the homes in Ross Downs where the offending
businesses are
located. He quickly stated at the City
Council meeting on
January 7th that the pictures I showed him of the
property
showed junk and debris that should not be there
and was not
"grandfathered in" (those photos are
attached). When I
questioned Mr. LeBaron about why he stated at the
December
2nd P&Z meeting that those businesses were
"grandfathered
in" he quickly stated that he didn't want to
talk about it
and walked away. I am very disappointed in
Mr. LeBaron's
conduct and speaking before he knew what the
facts.
I am completely disappointed by Mr. LeBaron's and
the city's
inability to get the Hodges Automotive property
cleaned up.
It has also come to my attention recently from
other
neighbors that numerous calls to Steve Perez and
Barry
LeBaron regarding nighttime noise from JEH on
Tarrant Lane
have not resulted in any change in the noise
levels or
activities at JEH.
Regards,
Jim Graham |
The
following photos were supplied by Mr. Graham, LNO was not
provided a date on these specific photos. Photos taken by
LNO for the January 9th article appear to be similar. |
