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The e-mails to the editor are posted unedited, LNO does not correct spelling or diction errors.  The information contained has not been verified by LNO.  While LNO policy dictates that letters may not be of such a nature to be personally offensive to what may be considered family values, LNO assumes no responsibility, liability or endorses any particular letter.  The letters do not necessarily reflect the opinion, philosophy or beliefs of LNO, LNO staff or anyone with an interest in LNO. Dissenting views are not only welcomed but encouraged with the goal of uplifting knowledge, communication and understanding of all sides of issues in the cities covered. 

To view previous e-mails to the Editor, Click on Date:

April  2001 May  2001 June  2001  July 2001 August 2001 
September 2001  October 2001  November 2001 December 2001

Time Stamped 11-29 01 6:04 PM

In response to Ms. Zimmerman’s letter of 11/19/01…

The comments I initially made were in reference to the Villas development, that’s all I was really addressing.

I empathize with their efforts to protect their homes from ordinance violations. The ordinances are there to give structure to the developer’s plans and if they are followed by the developer then a permit is issued, regardless of who he is, which conforms to the design parameters that are currently in the process being laid down in our city right now. If the developer does not perform in the end then the city can at times help enforce those obligations if the city manager takes the situation seriously enough and our prior city manager left a lot to be desired in that department.

I did not mean any disrespect to the Remington homeowners when I mentioned that a group of homeowners from Caldwell’s Creek were at P&Z protesting the Nine Acres development, (because of what they are angry about in their own neighborhood and potentially agitating the Remington homeowners into action), but if their protesting didn’t in anyway arouse, instigate or motivate your neighbors then I apologize to all that I made the inference that they did.

With regards to the ‘camp’ I am in… that comment does not accurately apply to me since I have actively supported candidates from both ‘camps’.

In the end, I support those whom I believe can get the best job done.

Regarding Mr. Thibodeaux’s L.T.T.E. of 11/17/01,

It is true; I have no intimate knowledge of the concerns of the Caldwell Creek’s residents. But I do wonder, wasn’t Mr. Thibodeaux a resident of CC before he became a councilman and the problems that exist today were also in existence before he became a councilman and mayor pro tem and continued throughout his tenure and still the problems persist today, curious?

I know one campaign objective of his was to rid the city of the city manager Bob Stripling for a multiple of reasons and I’m guessing one was his lack of policing the CC ordinance violations that were of issue at the time. Obviously Mr. Stripling completely seduced Mr. T since he didn’t follow through with that promise plus the CC problems persist today and I say the seduction was complete because Mr. T wrote a most flattering article about him here in LNO.

With regards to his suggestion that I develop ‘quality’ projects in our town, well Mr. T was no help there either when it was critically needed. Our 33,000sf Plaza Real’ shopping center development is four years behind schedule because the John McCain realignment was never given the focus that was needed to get it done and without the realignment in place our center would have failed because the ingress and egress would have been tragically unsafe for the patrons without a controlled intersection that a new McCain realignment would provide. While he was councilman nothing was done to help the project or the realignment to be realized.

Only now, and under the current Mayor, city council and the new city manager is the realignment moving forward and the development of the Plaza Real’ back on track as well as a number of other ‘quality’ projects.

As to the rest of his statements regarding me personally, I sent him a private note.

Sincerely,

Kipp Whitman

Time Stamped 11-19-01 12:48 PM

Dear Editor:
Lets  try  this  one  last  time,  shall  we?   Kipp Whitman's 11/17 statements regarding  Remington  Park  and  the rezoning recently granted to Raman Chandler  indicate that he was not present at the council meetings in which Remington Park
residents  addressed  the  matter  publicly.   If  he  was,  he obviously wasn't listening.   His  statements  reveal  a  gross  lack  of  understanding  of  our neighborhood's  desires  in  this  matter.   He  apparently  cannot believe that
Remington  Park  would  object  to the villa home proposal (although he does not  indicate  that  he  has  actually  spoken  with  a  majority  of  Remington Park homeowners  on  the subject).  Notwithstanding Whitman's beliefs, the plain fact
is  that  Remington  Park  residents  did not, at any time, object to Chandler's  residential proposal on the mere basis of it being a villa home development.  We  did,  however,  object to numerous ordinance violations present in the proposal,
and  believe  that  Chandler  should have been held to stricter compliance.  (Is Whitman  aware,  for  instance,  that  the  setback  of  the villa homes will be non-cohesive  with  that  of  Remington  Park?)   Of  course  we  do not want to listen  to the musical sounds of trash trucks every morning, delivery trucks all  day  long,  or  have the desire to smell stale garbage wafting its way into  yards  and  homes, but this was NOT a matter of having to make a choice between
such undesirables and Chandler's proposed ordinance violations.  To portray this issue as such an either/or proposition is ridiculously inappropriate.

Regarding  the  commercial  portion  of  the  property, Remington Park residents assert  that it should not have been granted CC2 zoning, but should be developed  under  strict  PUD-C  controls.   It  was  insulting for council to grant vague,
open-ended  zoning  to  the developer and then attempt to appease residents with talk  of  a  possible  future  overlay  that may or may not take effect prior to commercial  development.   The  Highway  26  Task  Force Committee may indeed be
striving  to  implement high standards in city development, but to my knowledge, nothing  that  they  have  accomplished  thus  far  would  prevent  construction beginning  next week on something as objectionable as another gas station or dog
kennels just around the corner from our neighborhood.

Whitman asks whom HOA President Putnam spoke for at the P&Z meeting.  Subsequent developments render that question moot (and to continue to ask it demonstrates a lack  of understanding and a myopic fixation on only a portion of events).  Once again,  the fact that the MAJORITY of Remington Park residents signed a petition to  protest the Chandler rezoning request delivers the unmistakable message that the  MAJORITY  of  Remington Park residents did NOT support Chandler's proposal. (1)  We  favored  residential development, but the villa home proposal contained unacceptable  ordinance violations, and (2) CC2 zoning on the commercial portion of the property is overly broad and undesirable for the area.  I cannot state it
any simpler than that.

Whitman's  implication  that  disgruntled  Caldwell's  Creek homeowners agitated Remington Park residents and goaded us to action is absurd, and is indicative of a  lack  of  respect  for,  understanding of, and commiseration with Colleyville
homeowners who seek to preserve and protect their property values.

One  last  time:  The  Chandler  rezoning fiasco was nothing more than council's acquiescence  to  the  desires  of  a  wealthy,  campaign-backing  developer and disregard  for  less politically-influential residents.  Then again, considering
which camp Mr. Whitman resides in, it's not surprising that he doesn't get it.

Jenifer Zimmerman
Remington Park

Time Stamped 11-17-01 6:20 PM

Dear Editor:

“Who’s on first…etc… "Another Kipp Whitman developed high-end retail service station or dog kennel?"

Mr. Whitman has earned a well deserved reputation for his contribution to Colleyville's  commercial retail, especially if your concept is more dry cleaners, service stations or kennels.

However, Whitman is no expert on the concerns of residents in Caldwell's Creek.  Caldwell's Creek residents witnessed the difference when Mayor Arp was absent from council versus when she utilized her unique persuasive powers on council the following meeting to ram through a "carte blanche" commercial zoning for Raman Chandler.  Of course, none of these residents have every made financial profits from business dealings with Chandler as has Mayor Arp.

The only fact is these residents have had to utilize the court system to protect their property rights because the Colleyville City Council has refused to enforce its own ordinances in our subdivision.  

Mr. Whitman , the developer, has been overheard on many occasions pleading for understanding that his political "meddling" is driven because of "threats" from elected officials.  Therefore, one can only conclude his attempt to demean the honest concerns of the good residents of Caldwell's Creek is just one more of his acts designed to capitulate to local power brokers.

If Mr. Whitman is so concerned about our city, why not say in public what you say in private?  Why not spend time developing quality retail, rather than getting zoning to make a quick buck on another service station?

Mr. Whitman, you have ever right to support anyone, even if your motives have been brought in question by your own comments.

However, please do not attempt to meddle in the matters of our subdivision, we are trying to resolve matters in Caldwell's Creek and we most assuredly are not looking for your unique brand of integrity or input.

Nelson Thibodeaux
President
Caldwell's Creek Homeowners Association

Time Stamped 11-17-01 11:48 am

Dear Editor:

“Who’s on first…etc…” Abbot and Costello  

In response to Linda Baker’s letter to the editor of 11/06/01 …

“……Likewise, the same kind of "don't ask, don't tell" zoning was bestowed on Kipp Whitman's Precinct Line and LaVaca Trail site after neighbors screamed blue murder about his proposed dog kennel plat.  He then refused to name the businesses on the second try”. Linda Baker

Sorry Linda but you are big-time mistaken; our Lavaca Property received the very much controlled zoning of a PUD-C not the requested zoning. Second, the contract with the “no name/ don’t tell” multi-billion dollar international company forbid us from telling who they were and thirdly…. “…neighbors screamed blue murder about his proposed dog kennel plat”.. ONLY ONE neighbor, a cattle farmer to the east and the Mayor of Hurst, the property neighbor to our south “screamed blue murder”…

It was only the TWO of them who opposed (plus council) the 42,000 SF, 2.5 million dollar state of the art dog kennel that was to be built in the flood plane area at the back portion of our Property!

And in response to Ms. Zimmerman’s letter, also of 11/06/01 , I have to take just one more whack to the dead horse…

“The fact is that the majority of the residents of Remington Park opposed the rezoning request submitted by Raman Chandler, not because of who Mr. Chandler is, but due to excessive violations present in his proposal for high-density housing, as well as the inappropriateness of open-ended CC2 development for the area.  If Mr. Whitman has any doubts whatsoever about the validity of my statement, I have a petition of protest and opposition signed by the majority of Remington Park homeowners, and I would be happy to provide him with a copy so that he may understand what Remington Park really wanted.  Our petition was presented to the city council; however, council chose to completely dismiss our desires for development of the property adjoining our neighborhood.  If Mr. Whitman believes that the majority of Remington Park residents view Ms. Gasper's support and endorsement of Chandler 's proposal in a favorable light, then he is sorely mistaken”. Jenifer Zimmerman

I heard Robert Putman, Remington Park Homeowners Association President, when he said at the P & Z meeting that the HOA supported the zero lot line housing that Mr. Chandler proposed. (That was the issue I was addressing in my letter to the editor 11/05/01 )

Who does Mr. Putman speak for?

I really cannot believe that a beautiful subdivision like Remington and the homeowners therein whose lots abut Chandler’s property would want to look across their rear yards at the backside of a shopping center, or listen to the musical sounds of trash trucks every morning, delivery trucks all day long, or the have the desire to smell stale garbage wafting its way into their yards and homes … I find it very hard to believe the owners of those mega-thousand dollar homes would want the aforementioned over the villas.  

Additionally, if council passes the recommendations of the Hwy 26 Task Force Committee the commercial that does comes to Chandler’s area will be the result of our committee of eighteen Colleyville citizens and will be of a quality that is in keeping with the style and direction of development that the city has always desired but never has been able to achieve before now.

What I do know for fact is that a body of disgruntled Caldwell Creek homeowners who spoke against the development, miles from their homes, assisted greatly in agitating the Remington homeowners by ‘using’ the Remington homeowners in an attempt to advance their own disagreements with Chandler.

In regards to your feelings about Ms. Gasper, you should take the time to meet and talk with her about your concerns. If you do and come away without the regard for her that I hold, then beat the dead horse one more time.

Sincerely,

Kipp Whitman
Colleyville

"There are some politicians who, if their constituents were cannibals, would promise them missionaries for dinner."  H. L. Mencken

Jo Ann Gasper is running for election to the Colleyville City Council as an independent person. Her opponent Mr. Newton has claimed that Mayor Donna Arp "hand picked" Mrs. Gasper, and all the issues he has raised to date have to do with Donna Arp and not the candidate  Jo Ann Gasper.

To set the record strait, it was I, not Donna Arp, who first suggested to Jo Ann Gasper that she should run for the city council seat.

After personally experiencing her grilling at a P & Z meeting and then watching her as Chairperson of P & Z, where she has proven to be a generous, intelligent and very well prepared questioner of those who appear before the board. Her vote of confidence for our project was not at all in sympathy with the current councils, who later turned down our development, but truly served to show me her
independence.

As for Mr. Newton, he continues to harp on about Mayor Arp who is the Mayor and not running for City Council. He should really focus on the opponent and what she stands for and debate
the issues that are relevant to the future of the city and not who her 'friends' are, as he mistakenly assumes.

Ms. Gasper's campaign materials have only stated what Mr. Newton was responsible for during his time in office and do we really want to return to that kind of blah of development or
non-development again? He needs to address the needs of the city and how he would get us there.
Anyone who has taken the time to study the candidates, meet them, speak to
them, must recognize the unqualified level of intelligence and interest that Ms. Gasper has for our city and note her experience which enhances her ability to serve the needs of Colleyville and its
citizens more effectively than her opponent.

Politics are always one side against the other, but in this case, it is for the benefit of our city. Both candidates care about the city, both have similar points of view, but only one will be effective on council and make things happen, and that one is Jo Ann Gasper.

Additionally, and an issue that has been hammered to death by Mr. Newton, was her support of the development of the 'buffer housing' that will backup to Remington Park. Her vote for the project was a vote to support the high value of those homes instead of a decrease of those values of which commercial development immediately in their backyards would have inevitably caused. Newton's opposition to this development is solely about who the developer is not about what is best for the residents of Remington.

I like Richard Newton and I believe he did a decent job on council and as mayor, but in reality, his time has passed. The ability of the city to grow in the direction he envisioned in the past is over, it is a new ballgame now and his vision does not fit the direction of growth that we are headed. I, for one, do not want a city full of four lane roads or gas stations on every corner, (odd thing for me to say since I developed 50% of them in Colleyville). I do not want a lube shop on every block, as we do have in the southern end of our city for which we should thank Mr. Newton, I assume.

Jo Ann Gasper has elected to run on a positive platform of information and facts while stressing her managerial background, her service on the Planning and Zoning Commission, and her positions on
current issues such as widening Colleyville Boulevard in a cost-effective and attractive way while keeping disruption during the project to a minimum level of inconvenience.

She has stated her opposition to tax increases, as does her opponent, plus her support for targeted tax relief, which means lower taxes, which her opponent has not even addressed as yet. Lower taxes... well, I am sure we are ALL for that one!

Electing Newton is no different than putting a gelding out to stud.. nothing is going to happen; it is a wasted vote.

Jo Ann Gasper will get things done and done fairly and for the benefit of our town, not just one 'group'!

Sincerely,

Kipp Whitman
Colleyville

I had to go to the bank and, for us that involves negotiating the horrible, built-up median in route 26. Since I have almost been run over twice trying to get over there, this reminded me clearly that we definitely don't want to elect any more of Donna's lackeys who will only rubber stamp whatever she wants.

Clifford Holliday

Tom Hart
Colleyville