PALS Board Meeting, July 10, 2008

Notes from the PALS Board Meeting Minutes, July 10, 2008:

Consider recommending approval to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Town Council acceptance of a proposed conceptual schematic master plan for the undeveloped park properties located within Gerault Park and Bakersfield Park including the land tracts formerly titled as Wilson, Carmel, Ruff, and Braden.

Larry O’Flinn and Michael Martin from Dunaway Associates, L.P. presented the conceptual schematic master plan for the undeveloped park properties. This presentation is on file at the Park Maintenance office.

Mike McCall opened the meeting up for public comment. Anyone that desires to make a comment, speak in favor or opposition will need to come forward to the front podium; please identify yourself and give your address. Speakers will be allowed 3 minutes.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Elizabeth Covington 2845 London Lane: The first thing I would like to say is the staff and the subcommittees have put in a tremendous amount of time and work on this. I have been at the meetings and I commend you. They want to preserve as much of nature as possible, the staff and subcommittee ask endless questions and spend enormous amounts of time walking, thinking and working on this. To the Parks Department I say ya’ll are great; Jack and his staff for putting up with some of us. To the original Parks Board, thank you for securing this wonderful piece of property. I am here to say this is a great work, I approve everything on it. Everyone knows of my obsession with the dog park, I want it badly, my dog wants it badly, our neighbors do; but this whole concept is something I think future generations will be so proud of and look back on these people and say thank you, I say thank you to our board and staff. Larry and Michael you have done a wonderful job; you have seen things that the rest of us walking that property couldn’t see, and now we can. I am very proud to say that I am from Flower Mound and that I know some of the best people around.

Amy Brown 921 Rosemary Drive: I live in Baker’s Branch my home backs up to the future Botanical Gardens. The biggest concern we have right now is the existing Park, Arts and Library Services Board Meeting Minutes farmhouse and outbuildings vacated by Mr. Wilson. I know there is money in budget and there is something on the calendar to get that bid out and cleaned up. Right now we have kids in the neighborhood that are back there messing around. We have heard there is a hazardous materials problem, the Fire Department trains back there and leaves their garbage behind and as a neighborhood we would like that cleaned up as soon as possible. We are concerned for the safety of our children as well as any health hazards that may exist. I also would like to see a greater buffer between our neighborhood and the botanical gardens; if we are not going to enclose it I would like to see something go up that is going to separate us from the foot traffic. You will be able to get into this park anywhere because there will not be an enclosure. I feel like there needs to be consideration for the families that live right there. I am very concerned that there will be a lot of foot traffic that will access to the back side of our fences into our homes; there is not going to be any policing of when people can be out there. I am very concerned. Thank you.

Kim Chance 740 Teakwood Drive: I would like to thank all involved in working on this proposal I think it will be a phenomenal addition to our town and something we will all be proud of when it finally comes to fruition. I am a member of the Greater Lewisville Early Childhood PTA which is part of the National PTA Organization that works with children birth to age 6. Our group is mostly Lewisville and Flower Mound residents. We make outings to the Dallas Arboretum and the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens because of their wonderful opportunities to provide nature and education to our young children. Our group as well as other Flower Mound residents will be thrilled to have something like this right here in our town. I am particularly interested in the proposed all inclusive playground area for children; this part of the proposal is an opportunity to go above and beyond and provide a truly exceptional playground that will help draw our children closer to nature. Many children today have what is termed a Nature Deficit Disorder; children just don’t spend as much time outdoors as they did when we were growing up. I think that by providing a really exceptional playground it would help to get some of the children outdoors. Highland Village and Coppell have fort-like playgrounds that include mazes and tunnels which have a more natural feel than the metal and plastic playgrounds we have in Flower Mound; these parks were built with volunteer efforts and sponsorships. I would like to see a park like this that is also handicapped accessible so all children can enjoy it; also I would like to see an educational focus towards nature in the playgrounds, this could include posters of local birds and a button they could press to hear the song. I have provided the Town of Flower Mound with a $5,000 dollar check from Pantene to specifically go towards putting up educational components in a local park to help children learn more about nature. In addition, I have obtained over 100 signature of citizens who support a park like this and feel the community would step up to make this happen with both financial contributions and time commitments. Flower Mound has an estimated 62,000 residents with 28% of those residents being under the age of 15. We need to look at what we can do as a community to get our children spending more time outdoors and connecting with nature.

Kathleen Craig-Silvia 901 Rosemary Drive: When I originally started coming to the meetings all I wanted was the natural land. I didn’t want the dog park, I didn’t want anyone to change anything; I have come a complete full circle. I cannot believe how well you guys have listened the sub-committee and staff; they truly listened to what we wanted back there. I was afraid that there would be lighted tennis courts so I came to every meeting. I am concerned as far as the security issue there is a lot of us who are not there all day long; it is very easy and in about 15 seconds you can climb the back of our fences. I wondered if the Town might be able to put up a fence against our fence or some kind of a deterrent. I am concerned about the wild life getting into the trash at the picnic areas; if you could address that I would appreciate it.

Jennifer Speer 817 Rosemary Drive: I would like to thank all of you have done such a great job; you have really listened to what we had to say. This will increase the value of our homes. I am concerned about the safety and the fact that someone could possibly hide in the trees; a fence that separates us would be greatly appreciated. I am also concerned about the hazardous materials still on the property. I am also concerned about people parking on our street and accessing the park.

Paul Stone 709 Lake Bluff: WOW, Mayor DeLuca council bought the land where Bakersfield Park is. I am very impressed with the inclusive nature of this facility. It is amazing to get to something that maybe adults will get to use. The thoughtfulness that went into the ideal of an inclusive playground, the dog park, I want to go on record that I support the dog park. This is a plan; failing to plan is planning to fail. This is a wonderful thing and you should be very proud of and I certainly support it.

Jack Jones addressed the questions asked in the public hearing.

John Thomas: This project is one of the most exciting things we have done. We are tying to very active areas together, Bakersfield and Gerault. I cannot think of any park in the area that will compare to this. When Spinks is complete this will be a major entry to town and what an entry that will be. We need to stay on top of the fire station planning and try to get more meeting space. I would like to see bat friendly bridges; that would add another feature to the area.

Angie Cox: Is there lighting? Is there fencing around the dog park? Will we have to hire additional staff for the gardens? Water rationing? I love the idea of a Kid’s Kastle type playground. Has the noise from the Amphitheater been addressed? I don’t think we need more concessions at Bakersfield. I would like to see more practice fields for soccer. Will the entry way to Bakersfield going to be changed?

Jack Jones addressed the questions asked by Angie Cox. This is just the first design phase; the details will be worked out at a later date.

Jim Emerich: I would like to thank the sub-committee for all the hard work they put in. I am glad Mayor DeLuca and Town Manager Van James had the foresight to purchase the land between the two parks.

Mike McCall closed the public meeting.

A motion to recommend approval to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Town Council acceptance of a proposed conceptual schematic master plan for the undeveloped park properties located within Gerault Park and the Bakersfield Park including the land tracts formerly titled as Wilson, Carmel, Ruff, and Braden was made by Wayne Farley and seconded by Jim Emerich.

FOR: Elizabeth Lumpkins, Norma Krueger, John Thomas, Annette Weir, Denis Toth, Angie Cox, Wayne Farley, Jim Emerich

AGAINST: NONE

ABSTAIN: NONE

The next PALS Board meeting is scheduled for August 14, 2008, but the Town Council has scheduled a special budget meeting in the Council Chambers. The alternate PALS Board meeting date is August 28, 2008, but the Town Council has scheduled another special budget meeting in the Council Chambers.

Comments: Hooray! PALS Board approved the conceptual plan! Next the Planning and Zoning commission must vote to approve it and then it moves to Town Council for approval.