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May 28, 2007
Near-Nuclear Destruction of Colleyville Trees
Maybe I missed the shift in the City Council's/zoning position over
the last year or so, but the near-nuclear and almost instantaneous destruction
of acres of trees and old-growth in the Glade/Heritage development is
staggering.

I can remember watching presentation after presentation by developers
to the City Council promising how the trees and character of the green space
would be preserved. All this with hand-wringing from the City Council, some
zoning denials/redo's, concern over "density", and verbal assurances
from the developers that the rezoning would be a "good thing". I suppose
nothing in writing, and no teeth in enforcement.

Someone's taken their eye off the ball here, Colleyville.

The with the "Heritage/Glade Intersection" upgrade underway halfway to
Jackson (who knew intersections went this far?), it's pretty easy to
envision a 4-lane Glade road on the way... again.

And what rocket scientist picked the start-date on this
intersection project? Obviously one without Heritage Middle or
High School kids. Recommendation: tear up a school feeder for 5,000
students when school's out for the summer, guys, when the
intersection carries a fraction of the volume.

Sorry for the vent, but I suppose this area is as far from City Hall
and the Council's homes as you can get in Colleyville so it does not affect
their back yards.

DJ Williams
Colleyville

May 06, 2007
Tree City and Arbor Day Friends,

I am appalled at the near-total and complete devastation of the trees on the development property called The Reserve at Colleyville. 

The eastern section of this property was once designated by former City Engineer, James B. Foster, P.E. (now Public Works Manager in Plano, Texas) to be saved as an essential part of the Great Eastern Cross Timbers forest. It has evidently become too cumbersome for the City of Colleyville to search in their own archives for historical plans when rezoning, plats, and permits for wholesale tree destruction come before them. When Colleyville was awarded the Tree City, USA designation, the intent was that this forest particularly was included. 

Recently we citizens have witnessed an enormous increase in the slaughter of old growth trees to accommodate developments with near-zero lotlines and townhome tracts all across Colleyville. The townhome development north of Glade Road and another housing development on Sanders Lane both have scraped the earth clean of most of the trees. The City's version of dedicated "open space" often includes the street median islands and runoff water detention ponds with an aerated fountain in the middle spewing muddy water. 

People who have spoken to City Staff, Boards, Commissions, Mayor and Council members regarding these concerns have most assuredly been waved off with patronizing and easy dismissals. And that, when their concerns are even acknowledged at all. 

Recently I had a personal conversation with Deputy Secretary of Commerce David Sampson, who was in Grapevine. He mentioned that the best way to find out the veracity of issues is to "ground-truth" them. I urge you to look very hard for yourselves at the Reserve at Colleyville and other developments out here in Colleyville at present. "Ground-truthing" would reveal that having a set of Ordinances and For-Show-Only Boards to inventory/preserve our old growth trees are now structured to merely appear like the City has these intentions. 

Thank you for your time, 

Linda Baker

May 3, 2007  
 
Monica Sue WalshParks & Recreation Manager
5109 Bransford Road
Colleyville, TX 76034
 
Dear Ms. Walsh: 
The Foundation recently received a letter expressing concern that Colleyville has been designated a Tree City USA when thousands of native Eastern Cross Timbers were removed at The Reserve at Colleyville. 

Our response to the concerned citizen explained that Tree City USA status does not automatically mean that no trees will ever be removed for any purpose. Sometimes there are necessary reasons. The Foundation is concerned about the destruction of trees during development, but we also understand that tree removal during construction is occasionally unavoidable. We hope that the value of trees is fully considered in any decisions and that careful consideration is given to finding ways to save as many trees as possible. We also encourage that tree replacement is considered to make up for the loss any trees. 

I encouraged the writer to contact you directly with their concerns. 

We want you to be aware of this concern within your Tree City USA community. 
Sincerely,  
 
Jill ChaputProgram Coordinator
 
cc: Matt Grubisich

March 05, 2007
From: Sharon Eldridge
To: lindabaker@localnewsonly.com
Subject: FW: Colleywood Rock Cafe Brawl
Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2007 16:19:41 -0800 (PST)

The info given may not have been verbatim what happened, but as the
owners Mother,
it has had an awakening effect. The original goal for the
restaurant was to make it a place where a family could come to enjoy
good cooking and relaxation. Our endeavor was however over
shadowed, by our daughters alcohol issues. It is unfortunate that a
married owner, mother of 3 boys acts in this manner. As her
parents we find this behavior inexcusable.

Subject: FW: Colleyville Brawl
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2007 15:39:09 -0600

It would be nice if you had contacted the "accused" for their side of the story before printing this article. It is impossible to print the entire story when you don't know the whole story.

Thanks for the publicity.

Shaun Allen

February 23, 2007 @12:48 pm
Re: Brimer/Truett

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram featured an article that disturbed me about a couple of state representatives I previously trusted. Short and sweet, it appears these two have used campaign contributions, together with daily living expense allowances, to purchase residences in Austin. I doubt many, if any, contributors knew they were funding real estate holdings for these two. No wonder politicians are so mistrusted. I can only imagine what must take place at higher levels.

Jim Ivey

Political real estate: Renting from a spouse 
State Sen. Kim Brimer, R-Fort Worth
What: Condo, 903 sq. ft.
Where: Westgate Building
Rent Paid: $169,456 since 2000
2000 home value: $126,385
2006 home value: $258,216 

State Rep. Vicki Truitt, R-Keller
What: Condo, 1,218 sq. ft.
Where: West Avenue Condos
Rent Paid: $92,247 since 2001*
2000 home value: $179,000*
2006 home value: $199,364 
* Initial home value for Truitt from 2004; Truitt rent includes earlier payments for RV
SOURCES: Texas Ethics Commission; Travis Central Appraisal District