AUTOMOBILE ZONING CHANGE
The council approved a zoning change at 275 University Drive, located on the corner of University Drive and Bristol Road near White Settlement Road, on the western edge of the Linwood neighborhood. The change allows for the sale of automobiles at the site, whereas it was previously used for storage.
Tesla plans to open a charging and service location at the building which it will expand by 6,500 square feet. Sales will also be allowed at the site, but at the moment Tesla is not allowed direct sales in the state.
There will be six service bays inside the building. Presenter Shana Crawford also said the pole sign on site will be removed, and the only proposed signage will route truck deliveries through the property.
Crawford also told the council that a minimum of a six-foot privacy fence will be built for separation from the neighborhoods. An access gate will deter cut-through traffic from Wingate Street to Bristol.
“We have addressed concerns brought up by the neighborhood associations,” she said. “We intend to keep all trucks on site and not in the neighborhoods.
“We believe Tesla will be a great addition to Fort Worth.”
District 9 Councilwoman Ann Zadeh recommended approval with a change to include outside charging stations.
NEEDLES AND ART
Peanut butter and chocolate. Baseball at night. And now … acupuncture and art.
The council approved a zoning change at 2900 8th Ave., just east of Cleburne Road, to allow the property to include both an acupuncture clinic and an art gallery/studio. The art gallery will be open to the public.
A representative of the Ryan Place neighborhood had some concerns with the site plan. However, after the applicant met with the neighborhood, a letter of support was given by the Ryan Place Improvement Association.
BOTANIC GARDEN UPDATE
The council authorized an amendment to the license and lease agreement with the Fort Worth Botanical Society Inc. for the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, relating to deposit of revenue and special events.
In November 2016, the council accepted the Fort Worth Botanic Garden Strategic Plan from EMD Consulting Group LLC and referred it to City Manager David Cooke and his staff to develop strategies and polices for implementation. The plan establishes several key goals, including the reorganization of support groups and the increase of private support for the garden
The society is a long-standing support group for the Botanic Garden. Since 1973, the society and the city have had a series of agreements in which the society has operated the Japanese Garden and performed other designated functions.
The society leases the Gardens Restaurant and contracts for its operation. The current agreement also gives the society permission to use the Botanic Garden for programs and events.
The society deposits all funds collected into a specially restricted account that it manages solely for the operation, expansion and improvement of the garden.
In September, the society voluntarily transferred $642,978 from the restricted fund to the Botanic Garden Special Revenue Fund. These funds include all money the society held on behalf of the city under the terms of that agreement.
The Botanic Garden special purpose fund was closed, leaving only the unrestricted operating account. This agreement will be amended so all revenue generated at the Botanic Garden including revenue from the restaurant and gift shops will be deposited with the city into the Special Revenue Fund.
Beginning April 1, the city and the society may enter into separate agreements for conducting special events in the Botanic Garden, including the Plant Sale, Art in the Garden and the Japanese Festival. The society will have non-exclusive rights for other areas in the Rock Springs Building, including certain designated office space and the north entrance joint usage area, and a portion of the “triplex” storage building.
When the primary term of the agreement expires on April 1, there will be two optional six-month renewal periods.
The city plans to seek proposals for management of the restaurant after the society’s contract expires.