Citizens
against forced annexation web site
Citizens
against forced annexation web site
This web site is to be a place where people who would like to see the City of Killeen, Texas be more responsible in their annexations can meet and share ideas.
If you are interested in the Ward 3 City Council race - please add your thought or at least read up on:
http://www.centextalk.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=42
NEWS!
Please note a get together is being held:
Howdy Neighbors –
You are invited to a Bar-B-Q on Thursday, April 9 at 6:00pm to meet the candidate the Donut Hole “negotiators” feel will best represent us on the City Council – John Doranski. This will be at the home of Col. Don Clay, at the corner of Stagecoach and Onion Roads. Please RSVP to 254-526-5791 or Bill.King.TX@gmail.com so that we can make sure we have enough Bar-B-Q.
Mr. Doranski is not a developer and will keep the interests of the Donut Hole and District 3 in mind when making decisions. In addition, he will not have to excuse himself from voting on issues critical to us due to a conflict of interest.
Also at the Bar-B-Q will be a Candidate for District 2, Dick Young and a Candidate for District 4, Ernest Wilkerson. While you cannot vote for Mr. Young or Mr. Wilkerson both are sympathetic to what happened to us with the 1200 hundred garden homes on Featherline. We believe supporting them will help us maintain the quality of life in the Donut Hole. We also believe that a City Council without developer ties will help prevent more condensed housing developments, four-plexes, and strip malls in the Donut Hole.
To see what Mr. Doranski and his District 3 running mates are saying we invite you to go to Http://www.centextalk.com and read the message boards. All the district Candidates are on that forum.
In recent elections the City Council members were decided by a fraction of the eligible voters. Just taking the time to make your voice heard on May 9 you can make a differenc. If every one of the 300 Donut Hole households, vote in a block we can obtain a District 3 Council Member that will listen to us and vote according to our wishes.
If you have questions, please contact Bill King at 254 289-6699 or by email at Bill.King.TX@gmail.com. We welcome your comments.
Please join us on April 9 at 6:00pm, to meet Mr. Doranski, Mr. Young, and Mr. Wilkerson. Come see why these candidates will help Killeen benefit ALL taxpayers.
Concerns for the future of the Donut Hole include:
If you can’t make the Bar-B-Que, please VOTE on May 9. (Early voting will begin April 27)
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January 16, 2009:
W&B Development obtained approval from the City Council to put in 381 homes on the 87 acres.
There will be a homeowners association and they have restrictions - they can have no garage conversions, there is a non-monotony agreement and the developers will make sure that all houses are at least 1200 sq ft to name a few of the restrictions.
The next item on our agenda is that we need to work toward not letting "business" zoning into the donut hole. We have had several developers already want to put ineven more high density housing and large business zoned areas. This in the long run will deteriorate the housing in our area and make it less desirable to live here.
November 16, 2008:
Good Day Friends and Neighbors,
I just want to keep you informed of what is happening with W&B Development and the City Council. As you may already know W&B Development now has the approval of the Planning and Zoning Commission to re-zone from Agricultural to R1 all the land he owns at Featherline and Stagecoach Roads. This means that we need EVERYONE to show up at the next two City Council meetings to share our opposition. Due to the fact that W&B Development has split the requests it means two trips to the City Council Meetings at 6:00pm on Tuesday, November 18 and Tuesday, November 25.
Tuesday, November 18 the rezoning request for the second and third phase of the proposal by W&B Development will be decided. On Tuesday, November 25 the rezoning request for phase one from Agricultural to R1 will be on the agenda. Since both of these passed the Planning & Zoning Commission it will require a 50% vote to deny the re-zoning. Your efforts to contact the City Council members prior to these meetings and your attendance are the only way we can make any impact.
We need to continue our mantra that we do not want development there until the roads are ready for it, that safety is a major concern. Remember widening Stagecoach is not yet funded and our best estimate 5 to 10 years from now.
Now about Planning & Zoning and the “land use study of the donut hole”.
As the per the letter you received from the City of Killeen the next Public Hearing will be on Monday, November 24 at 6:00pm. What we learned at the past meeting is that land owners can change the zoning designation on their land. I still believe it is important to support keeping Agricultural zoning in the donut hole. This issue is scheduled to be finalized at the City Council meeting on December 9 at 6:00pm.
About the speed limit on Stagecoach– this issue is not yet on the City Council agenda.
Here is a recap—where your presence and voice can make a difference.
Tuesday, November 18 6:00pm – City Council Meeting on W&B Development re-zoning request
Monday, November 24 6:00pm – Planning and Zoning Commission Land Use Public Hearing
Tuesday, November 25 6:00pm – City Council Meeting on W&B Development re-zoning request
Tuesday, December 9 6:00pm – City Council Meeting on Donut-hole Land Use
Thank you,
www.stopkilleenannexation.com
Killeen City Council
Larry Cole |
(254) 289-7012 |
|
Scott Cosper |
(254) 526-2167 |
|
Billy C. Workman |
(254) 338-8337 |
|
Kenny Wells |
(254) 681-4977 |
|
Juan Rivera |
(254) 338-4304 |
|
Fred Latham |
(254) 526-4093 |
|
Otis Evans |
(254) 526-7613 |
Recent letter to the KDH Editor: (Saturday 9/27/2008)
September 24, 2008 -
We believe the following in "blue" to be true. Please watch this space as we will need (if this remains true) a number of people to show up at the P&Z meeting on the 6th - we hope to encourage them to again refuse R1 and go with something less dense.
W & B Development has requested that the pending rezone case (for Oct. 14th) be withdrawn from consideration. This new rezone request basically starts the entire process over again. Once the P & Z has made their recommendation (either to approve or disapprove) at its October 6th meeting, the City Council will have an opportunity to vote on the matter at the October 28th meeting. If the P & Z should recommend disapproval of the applicant’s new rezone request, it would require a ¾ City Council vote to overturn that recommendation.
September 18, 2008 - open letter to Mr Cole from Don Clay (with permission):
Larry;
You served a long time on the P&Z. You know to what depths requests like this one are reviewed and evaluated by the P&Z. Their purpose is to take all that work, time, and effort off of the back of the City Council. The P&Z made a recommendation to the Council in the best interest of the citizens of Killeen. There vote wasn't even close. What's the problem.
When 100 citizens showed up at the Council meeting, to hear and participate in the Council's debate on this issue, their presence and actions must have carried a lot of weight with all of you. By a show of hands these citizens all agreed with the recommendation of the P&Z. "Disapprove the rezoning request" Why then would anyone on the Council disagree? Delaying that obvious decision has raised a lot of suspicion and is precedent setting for the City of Killeen.
In reference to your E-mail "A few of points to consider:"
1. The quality of the proposed housing has never been an issue. Whittis, the two builders, and Juan Rivera tried to make it one. (brick versus brick veneer). Our concern has always been the density of the proposed project. They have to build to code and you really can't require more.
2. A Bond Issue will be required to improve Featherline and Stagecoach Roads to four or five lanes to meet the requirement of over 400 more cars departing the proposed development at the same time to meet a military formation at Fort Hood every morning. As explained by Mr. Barrio at the last Council meeting, that is an impossibility and will result in serious accidents and deaths. Children riding bikes or roller skating in the streets to the Lions Park would also be endangered. We need sidewalks and bicycle lanes along these streets no matter what type of development is constructed. There certainly should be a plan. There is no way that these streets can be improved "by the time the subdivision is ready for construction of houses" as you stated. All of those cars will also be returning home at about the same time every day.
3. You also stated:
" 9) I and the staff or working on a land use plan for the Do-nut Hole that will be presented in Oct/Nov.
10) The staff or a consultant will develop a land use plan for the City that will designate specified land uses for specific areas of town. This plan will recommend areas for different types/value/quality houses. We need to have areas that will support all income levels of the community. This will be a year or two year long project.
11) I don’t think the City can hold development until this plan is completed. "
4. The City Council can take any action that they deem necessary in the best interest of the tax paying citizens of the City. That is why we elect you. It is your duty.
5. The City of Killeen has City Limits. By law the city also has extraterritorial jurisdiction surrounding the City limits. That gives the City specific rights relating to actions in this area that will have affect upon the City and it's citizens. When we negotiated a land use study to be conducted following our annexation into the City there was no restriction upon the size of the area to be studied. As is true with the City and it's extraterritorial jurisdiction the residents of the Donut Hole are affected by actions taken on property immediately adjacent to the Donut Hole. Certainly those areas should be included in the land use study that the City agreed to perform and that you are working on right now.
6. Mr. Whittis knew what he was doing when he purchased Bill Yowell's land for this development. He is a business man and knows that there is risk in all business. He didn't do a market survey to determine the concerns of all the property owners in the vicinity of his development. He could care less. He didn't consider how over 400 cars would egress his development at the same time each morning and travel over 2 lane roads to get to Fort Hood. He just relied on "the good ol' boys network" to continue business as usual. Cram his request for high density homes down the throats of the P&Z, the City Council, and all of the property owners in the neighborhood. I don't feel sorry for him at all!! I have never heard such a bunch of "BS" coming out of the mouth of a supposedly professional business man as that he stated at the last council meeting.
a. "I have workers scheduled to begin construction. If you don't approve my request they will be out of work."
b. "If you don't approve my request the poor soldiers and their families won't have anywhere to live."
7. It is time to slow this train down and take stock in what we are doing. Suspend all zoning requests within the City from Agriculture until the City wide comprehensive land use plan has been completed and hearings have been conducted. That is the professional way to run a city and correctly plan for it's growth.
8. Mr Whittis will have no problem selling his property to a professional developer who will construct quality homes in accordance with the land use study. He may have to wait awhile but that is the risk that he took. That's business.
September 18, 2008 - Open letter to City Council Members from Dick Young (used with permission):
Dear City Council Members
in ref to mr whitis land development plans for yowell ranch. as stated by don clay it is and has always been about density.
please use your power of the vote to put the brakes on this development until your land use committee has a chance to study this area in detail.
if you remember the experts we hired to place the p/d where it is cited the fact that we don't want to put the headquarters near high density housing and that was why we didnt place it on the property behind the conference center where we already had the land. and now we are doing just what they said not to do. either we are crazy or just dont care.
the area around the new p/d would be ideal for a new center city and as we grow south we are gonna need a new town center. if we dont plan we fail. just like on rancier and old 190 we left it to the developers and without a land use plan we got what we have today.
attached it pics of the way we should create separation and landscaping around these puds. something pleasing and functional.
i believe you are right ray shanna will be aboard and his history says he is good at his job and does development right.
you said that your study would involve alot of meetings over a short time and as far as i know not one meeting has been held reguarding this development. stand your ground turn it down and lets put all the heads together and get a final outcome that works for all.
the fact that no r1 has been turned down is history is just that history that you didnt write, the history of tomorrow can be witten by your actions and who is to say how it will be recieved. but we are elected to make the tough decisions and to do what it right for all not just the favored few. i know you will do what is right.deep inside you really want to make a difference and i truly believe given freedom of choice you want to vote for a better killeen and if the good ol boy developers have to make small changes in the way they do business so be it.
Richard 'Dick' Young
September 16, 2008 - We have received the email below from Larry Cole - He asked that we share it. If possible - please show up for the Workshop listed in the paper this afternoon at 4 pm. It is in the LARGE CONFERENCE ROOM uin the Utility Collections Building, 210 West Ave C. We need your support to stop this development.
Here is Mr Cole's email:
Reminder, The Council will discuss the Whitis subdivision again this evening at 4pm in the Utility Collection Building.
A few of points to consider:
1) If the P&Z is upheld, the developer will most likely ask for a straight R-1 zoning, which to my knowledge has never been disapproved by the P&Z or the Council.
2) With straight R-1 zoning you have no control over quality other than the minimum Code requirement; thus you may get low quality houses.
3) With a PUD/HOA you/the City has more control over quality of housing within the subdivision.
4) The developer says that he can get same density with R-1 as R1-A. So it might be better to have a PUD with minimum R-1 requirements.
5) The street will most likely be improved by the time the subdivision is ready for construction of houses. There is a plan.
6) Infrastructure is planned for and will be in before house construction starts.
7) There is a new school (high school, I think) planned for the area to the southeast of where the new PD Hgs is going in.
8) At some point in time the area will be developed.
9) I and the staff or working on a land use plan for the Do-nut Hole that will be presented in Oct/Nov.
10) The staff or a consultant will develop a land use plan for the City that will designate specified land uses for specific areas of town. This plan will recommend areas for different types/value/quality houses. We need to have areas that will support all income levels of the community. This will be a year or two year long project.
11) I don’t think the City can hold development until this plan is completed.
I have said I will not support R-1A, I’ll stand by that commitment. I may support a PUD of some type. I want to know what happens to the common areas of the subdivision if the HOA fails. I want to know the type/quality of houses to be built.
I want to see the infrastructure plan and its timing.
PLEASE PASS ALONG TO INTERESTED PARTIES.
Larry Cole
Councilman at Large
August 27, 2008 - Last night's meeting (August 26) gave us some amazing images. The City Council was supposed to vote up or down supporting the P&Z on refusing to grant a re-zoning request for R1A in the new development on Featherline. Instead - they voted to DELAY THE VOTE for 30 days. This means that we must all plan on attending the meeting when it will come up again. We are extremely disappointed that the council chose to do this - they made no plans to do a study, they made no plans to compromise or to have us work with the developer. They simply chose to delay their decision for 30 days. We strongly urge you to contact your city council members and register your displeasure with this decision.
August 21, 2008 - some of you may have heard a rumor that the developer was "pulling" the request for re-zoning - this is NOT true - it is still on the schedule and we need all residents of the area to show up and be counted. Thanks
August 13, 2008 - If the developer can talk the City Council into approving his zoning over the P&Z's rejection on August 26 at the City Council meeting then all we have fought for is naught. I believe that they have to have a three fourths majority to override the P&Z comission's rejection. We MUST have a strong showing at the August 26th City Council meeting please.
August 12, 2008 - More Good News! Thank you first of all for those who came to the meeting tonight - your presence was duly noted and appreciated by all of us. Please check back here regularly to keep updated on the progress. We will have at least one representative on the land use study (that is the plan at this point).
August 11, 2008 - Good news - the planning and zoning commission has voted to deny the re-zoning request. While this is good news for us, we still need everyone to show up at the City Council meeting tomorrow night. We need to request that the City Council do the land use study that was promised to us before they allow any re-zoning to occur. PLEASE show up tomorrow night and bring your friends.
August 6, 2008 - Last night at the City Workshop Bill King spoke to the City Council about "reasonableness" and how having an additional 1200 houses (2400 plus cars every morning and night on Stagecoach) and the 2400 children that this would bring to the neighborhood (at least three more schools in the area) would affect our area. His request was that the City do the "land use survey" that was promised in our annexation agreement before allowing re-zoning. This is going to be considered by the City Council.
We are still on as a "citizen's petition" for the City Council meeting on August 12. Please plan on coming to this meeting for a show of support. (The meeting will be at City Hall at 6 pm)
July 29, 2008 - A developer is currently seeking approval for zoning to R1A for 82 acres in the Featherline area. He plans to put 430 house (no typo there) in the first phase of this development. The lots will have 45 foot lot lines - with a 5 foot easement on each side this will make the houses 35 feet wide (no room for a two car garage). We are asking for all interested parties to show up at the next planning and zoning commission meeting in two weeks to express your dissatisfaction with this re-zoning and plan.
Note - there are three phases to this project - after the third phase there will be around 1200 additional homes in this area.
Issues to think about are:
1. these residents will have to have their children walk to school along Featherline and WS Young to get to Saegert Ranch Elementary school.
2. water pressure
3. inadequate road capabilities to handle the at LEAST 800 additional cars per day in this area
4. population density - is this really what Killeen sees for this area as appropriate?
April 28, 2008 - In conversations with Connie Green it was asked if the "backflow prevention" testing was going to be required by the City. The answer is yes - who ever is doing your backflow testing now should continue to do it and submit the results to the City (after the purchase of the West Bell Water Supply Corporation occurs).
April 16, 2008 - we have been working with Jim Butler at the city to finish up getting in all the street lights at intersections. They have now all been ordered.
April 8, 2008 - In a discussion with Connie Green the following came up: the City has decided to hold the drainage fees until the donut hole residents are all on City of Killeen Water (note that this is probably going to happen in the next 90-120 days). If you have paid anything on this fee it will be credited back to your account.
April 7, 2008 - If you drive on Stagecoach you should slow down- the police are enforcing the 35 mph speed limit.
Note - we understand that the City is purchasing the West Bell System for the donut hole in the next 90 days or so.
There is a drainage fee assessed to all Killeen "customers". This was not mentioned to the negotiators and was not in any of the information given to you. The City is working on figuring out how to handle this in a better manner.
From the City Attorney - posted WITH her permission 2/22/2008
I understand there is some confusion about the county's current election and the City's upcoming municipal election. The early voting occurring now is for the county and federal elections, not the City's election. In fact, the city is still accepting applications for a place on the ballot. As we discussed at our meeting at the Shilo, the City's filing deadline doesn't end until 5pm on March 10th. Early voting for the City's election will be April 28th through May 6th. Election day is May 10th. All people annexed in December and January will be able to vote in the City's election, barring the highly unlikely event that the Department of Justice fails to approve our recent annexations. In the history of the City, the DOJ has never failed to approve an annexation. The only time that would happen is if it appears that the annexation occurred to skew the voting population, or to disenfranchise a particular voting group. That is obviously not the case in our annexations, especially considering Killeen's diverse population.
Thursday February 7, 2008 - The negotiations committee met with Connie Green and selected city officials to discuss the donut hole status. The meeting went very well and was positive.
Here is some information that you may want to know about:
1. the city is working on purchasing West Bell Water supply. There currently are NO PLANS for any costs to the current recipients and no current plans for any increases in the water cost.
2. Your homes and land will be based on Bell County's valuation of your property as of January 1, 2009. Your first tax bill will need to be paid in October 2009.
3. You should have received some information already from the city. In it you should have received a notice that you are eligible for city garbage pick up NOW. You should call either way and let them know that you are or are NOT going to use the city service and if you are not going to use the city service you will be asked who will be picking up your trash. Current LAWS in Texas force the city to have SOMEONE that is picking up your trash.
4. The city of Killeen is now responsible for police, ambulance and fire protection of the donut hole. Please call the appropriate department if you need help.
5. If you have a business (any kind of business) it is recommend that you call the city and set up a survey to document your non-conforming use. You have one year to do this.
6. We are eligible to vote in the upcoming election and to RUN in the election if you so desire.
7. If you wish to burn trash you MUST call the city and get a permit - this is FREE and someone will come to your property to bring you your burn authorization.
8. Street lights will be put in at EVERY intersection in the donut hole within the next 6 months.
9. Animal Control is now the responsibility of the city of Killeen.
10. We had earnest discussions about Stagecoach, Cunningham and Onion regarding traffic, sidewalks and width. The city is looking into these issues.
11. Regarding building permits - if you STARTED your building before the donut hole was annexed you can finish it without a permit. BUT - if you are starting it AFTER the annexation you MUST get a building permit.
12. If you have an 18 wheeler you may not park it on the right of way.
13. Fire Marshall number: 501-7667
14. Connie Green's number 501-7700
15. Fire Station 8 will be going in at East Trimmier and Stagecoach in 270 days - the firemen are already hired.
16. Fire Station 10 is at Stagecoach and Trimmier
17. James Butler - Director of Public Works - 501-7620
18. Andrew Allemand - City Planner - 501-7632
19. Earl Abbott - Building Official - 501-7605 (code enforcement - permits - non-conforming use)
January 30, 2008 - The vote has been taken and we are "annexed" - Connie Green states that we in the donut hole are eligible for City services as of January 28, 2008. The members of the negotiating committee will be meeting with the city staff next week and we will get a message out to you all regarding what is happening.
We will be taxed on October 2009 (yes that is a nine!)
You will be receiving an official notice in the mail (according to Connie Green) about the annexation. Thanks
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September 1, 2006 - The negotiators have signed off on a service plan with the City of Killeen. The City has agreed to make the service plan effective for 15 years instead of the ten that is usual.
Frequently Asked Questions (Word Document)
July 1, 2006 - Of critical import - you do NOT have to do this to avail yourself of the protection, BUT - it will certainly make it easier if you have any issues - when our area is annexed you can request FREE OF CHARGE a "non-conforming certificate of occupancy". This means that you can have the City come out and document what you are doing on your land (parking trailers, raising goats, running a business...). Once you have this document then what you are doing is SPECIFICALLY allowed and cannot be revoked by the City at a later date. They cannot claim that you changed what you were doing because your certificate will prove that you were doing it when annexed. Again - this is a FREE service by the City as they waived any fees to the donuthole.
June 28, 2006 - This is the FINAL negotiated service plan. We are going to post things that the City agreed to that are not part of the service plan - these are items where they explain how things will happen under the service plan according to their rules and regulations. Statements by the City
June 23, 2006: June 22 the Killeen Daily Herald published an article that had numerous problems with it, but the most egregious was that "voluntary annexation" that they claimed we were about to do. This is totally false and incorrect. We considered a voluntary annexation at one time if the City would make some concessions, but they did not so we withdrew that option. We are now proceeding under a FORCED or INVOLUNTARY annexation plan. The law provides that they can annex us involuntarily and that is what is happening. Remember, just because you see it in print in the paper does not make it so.
June 17, 2006 PROPOSED SERVICE PLAN - this is not finished - there are a couple more things to get in but basically this is the proposed service plan so far.
We have reached what we think should be the final negotiated agreement with the City and would like to talk to you about it. The reason for the urgency is that what ever plan is in place on June 30th is the one that the city will go by. Our only option for any change after that date is arbitration. We need to make all the possible changes to the plan before June 30th.
Send your letters or email how you feel to all members of the city council. Please plan on showing up for the next meeting, we need you there!
If you send an email to the head honcho address at the bottom of the page, we will add you to our email list and make sure that you are aware of what is going on.
Looking for Texas laws on annexation? (Chapter 43 pertains to annexation) City of Killeen Web Site
Bell County Commissioners phone numbers: Tim Brown: 254-933-5102 John Fisher: 254-933-5104
The five negotiating committee members:
Don Clay - Ben Wickersham - Ray Boland - Ross Caviness - Bill King
Killeen Daily Herald Discussion Forums on Killeen
To send the person in charge of this web site an email
click here
headhoncho@stopkilleenannexation.com
09/28/2008