HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985-05-02AGENDA
CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS
REGULAR BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENTS MEETING
THURSDAY, MAY 2, 1985 AT 6 :00 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS - 413 MAIN STREET
II. OATH OF TRUTH
III. NEW BUSINESS
A. Board of Zoning Adjustments to conduct a
public hearing relative to BZA 85 -11 submitted
by Drees Homes and consideration of same.
B. Board of Zoning Adjustments to conduct a
public hearing relative to BZA 85 -18 submitted
by Moffat Construction Company and consider-
ation of same.
C. Board of Zoning Adjustments to conduct a
public hearing relative to BZA 85 -19 submitted
by Roger Vinson and consideration of same.
IV. OLD BUSINESS
A. Board of Zoning Adjustments to consider Appli-
cation BZA 85 -09 submitted Mr. Fred Brodsky
relative to waiving Section 69.L., Vested
Rights, which reads as follows: "Any person,
firm or corporation claiming a vested right to
commence and complete a specific proposed
development who does not file an application
for a determination under this Section 69,
within six (6) months of the effective date of
an amendatory ordinance rezoning his property
so as to prohibit his proposed development
shall be deemed to have waived his right to
seek such a determination."
V. MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS AND /OR DISCUSSION
VI. CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES
Board of Zoning Adjustments to consider the
minutes of the meetings of March 7, 3985.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 6252 -17, V.A.T.C.S., AS
AMENDED BY CHAPTER 227, ACTS OF THE 61ST LEGISLATURE,
REGULAR SESSION, THE REGULAR BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENTS
MEETING AGENDA WAS PREPARED AND POSTED ON THIS THE 24TH
DAY OF APRIL, 1985 AT 5 :00 P.M.
4�a RL,.,j N60 &V
Cit Secretary
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS
of the
BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENT
of the
CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS
at the
COUNCIL CHAMBERS - 413 MAIN STREET
GRAPEVINE, TEXAS
MAY 2, 1985 - 6:00 p.m.
In re :
CLAIM OF VESTED RIGHTS
by
MR. FREDERICK BRODSKY
DAVID C:HANUE - (:ER'1iYiEL) SHURTHAND REPORTER
618 COPPER RIDGE - RICHARDSON, TEXAS 75080
214-234-0110 or 231-9723
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
P R E S E N T
Board of Zoning Adjustment:
Mr.. Doug Lamb, Chairman
Mr. Gary Tischler
Mr. Ron Troy
Mr. Bill Waldrip
City Staff:
Ms. Joy Carroll, Planning and Zoning
Administrator
Mr. Tommy Hardy, Director of Community
Development
Ms. Adrienne Leonard, Assistant City Attorney
Air. John Boyle, City Attorney
Also Present:
Mr. Arthur Anderson
Geary, Stahl & Spencer
Counsel to the Applicant.
Mr. Fred Brodsky, Applicant
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
is
16
17
18
is
20
21
22
23
24
25
.3
MR. LAMB: Under old business, Board of Zoning
Adjustments to consider application BZA 85-09
submitted by Mr. Fred Brodsky relative to waiving
Section 69-L, vested rights, which reads as follows,
any person, firm or corporation claiming a vested
right to commence and complete a specific proposed
development who does not file an application for a
determination under this Section 69 within six months
of the effective date of an amendatory ordinance
rezoning his property so as to prohibit his proposed
development shall be deemed to have waived his
right to seek such a determination.
Mr. Brodsky, you are here. Would you, or your
attorney, like to start off?
MR. BRODSKY: Basically we have been --
MR. LAMB: Excuse me, would you step around
here? We have a Court Reporter here and it would
make it a little easier if you would come over here
to this podium so it would make it easier for him
to hear you and to make notes.
MR. BRODSKY: Sure. The request was made,
primarily, because we were not aware of the six
month limitation, but, too, and I think more
importantly, we have been in constant negotiations
and discussions with the city at all levels to
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
4
attempt to work out resolutions to a. variety of
situations affecting the 131 acres that I own. At
the time we were going through these negotiations
it was our hope that we could have these finalized.
These were going on throughout the six month period.
As we got further into it it became more
complicated because of the utilities situations and
because of the 2499 proposed right-of-way, it was
actually at the suggestion of the City of Grapevine
that we made application under vested rights, and
at the time we took that out we were not aware of the
vested rights provisions and made our application
and only found out subsequently that we had exceeded
the time limit.
So, I am. respectfully requesting that this be
waived so that we can then be enabled to go ahead
and proceed with the vested rights procedure.
MR. LAMB: When exactly did the city suggest
to you that you file under your vested rights?
MR. BRODSKY: I would say that it was about
three weeks prior to the actual application. As a.
matter of fact, I waited for that meeting in which
the Mayor would be involved and the City Manager
was involved and the Director of Public Works and
Dr. Wilkerson who is also in attendance who was at
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
5
that meeting, I waited and picked up the application
that afternoon and submitted it promptly, as far
as the procedure was concerned.
MR. LAMB: Tommy, do you have a date on that
meeting?
MR. HARDY: No, sir, but I can recall the meetin
I was in attendance at that meeting. I'm sure that
those there didn't realize the deadline clause in
the ordinance. It never came up for discussion in
the body of the ordinance. The case was filed
soon after that.
MR. TROY: Prior to that meeting was there
discussion concerning the vested rights issue or
the ordinance?
MR. BRODSKY: No, sir, not as far as vested
rights were concerned. Again, we were proceeding
under the ordinance and, as a matter of fact, at
the request, again of the city, I was asked to draft
a different zoning ordinance for my property and the
Rosewood property because we were jointly trying to
resolve differences because of the new zoning laws
and we did that and submitted it to the city and
that was then under review.
If I remember correctly, and Tommy if you
remember the dates you can correct me, we submitted
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
C
that around August of last. year.
MR. HARDY: Uh-huh.
MR. BRODSKY: It took somewhere until the
latter part of the year, about two or three months
until, we received comments back from the reviewing
parties, Tony Wiles and the city staff, and that was
the bulk of the delay during the period of time.
We prepared the ordinance after discussions
with different elements of the city staff and in
accordance with what we thought at the time was
the intent of the city staff as far as that property
was concerned. This was done, again, very timely.
The delay really occurred because the review process
of the ordinance that was prepared, and. I don't
remember the exact date that we got the comments back
but it was somewhere in the area of two or three
months after we submitted the zoning ordinance.
MR. LAMB: Tommy, I ask again, is that delay of
two or three months, we're trying to determine
actual factual. issues here, the delay of two or
three months, did it in fact occur after the
ordinance was submitted for review, as far as you can
tell? I'm asking you as a representative of the
city staff, do you have a recollection in that area?
MR. HARDY: John, were you at that meeting?
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
is
16
17
18
is
20
21
22
23
24
25
7
MR. BOYLE: No.
MR. HARDY: First of all, let me kind of give
you the status of all that has occurred with
Mr. Brodsky's case, all that I can recall. During
the rezoning process his tract was reheard again,
as were some thirty -odd tracts were at the request
of property owners, and I think even the city
readvertised some because of problems encountered
in the public hearings.
The best that I can recall, the comments to
Mr. Brodsky on redrafting another ordinance, and
I believe that Tony Wiles was the one that made the
suggestion that the tract was big enough that
possibly it needed an ordinance of its own, and
that's where the ordinance that you submitted, not
the ordinance, but the requirements, that you
submitted evolved from, and Mr. Wiles reviewed those
things and he wasn't in favor of what was written
at all and neither was Planning & Zoning, to the best
of my recollection.
After we met with Mr. Brodsky some months ago
it was very soon after that he came and filed his
case. As a matter of fact, if I remember correctly,
within a week or two weeks.
MR. BRODSKY: That's right.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
s
MR. HARDY: He took an application with him
and was back very quickly after the last meeting
we had with him, Mr. Hancock, and I think the Mayor
sat in on part of it.
MR. BRODSKY: Yes, sir.
MR. LAMB: Do you have something?
MR. ANDERSON: Yes, we have the date that it
was returned from Tony Wiles as November 6th and
the date of submission being July 2nd.
MR, TISCHLER: The date of submission of the
ordinance?
MR. ANDERSON: Yes, to Tony Wiles,
MR. BRODSKY: It. was four months, three -and -a -
half months, even longer than I thought.
MR. TISCHLER: Would you repeat the dates?
MR. HARDY: The date of the memo, the memo is
date stamped November 6th, 1984, but there is not a
date on the memo from Mr. Wiles.
MS. CARROLL: That date is the date it was
received in our office.
MR. TROY: November 6th?
MS. CARROLL: Correct.
MR. HARDY: So I really don't know what the
date of the memo was. What was the date that I
sent it, Tommy?
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
e
MR. HARDY: July 2nd.
MR. TROY: Who is Tony Wiles?
MR. HARDY: He is the professional planner
that the city hired from Rustin, Virginia. He is
the one that helped us all through the rezoning
process and is still a consultant to us.
MR. BOYLE: Mr. Chairman, I would like to
suggest to Mr. Hardy that the record clearly
reflects the date that the ordinance was passed
zoning the subject property and the ordinance
number and a certified copy of the ordinance. Then,
the record reflects the date the application was
filed under Section 69 relative to vested rights in
the zoning ordinance. Then, I was just a little
confused about the amendatory ordinance. I think
it. just needs to be clear as to what that was in
relation to, was that in relation to some -discussions
where there were some discussions with the city
about the possibility of amendment to the existing
ordinance that actually zoned their property, just
so the record clearly reflects actually what each
of these are.
MR. LAMB: Okay, we can do that. Do you have
a copy of the ordinance?
MS. CARROLL: Yes, a certified copy of the
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
is
is
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
10
ordinance will be entered into the record, and
the date of that ordinance zoning this property was
June 7, 1984, and I have the application.
MR. BOYLE: The number?
MS. CARROLL: The number of the ordinance is
84-31, and the date that he submitted the applica-
tion for vested rights, the vested rights case,
is February 6th, 1985. 1 mean -- yes, sir, February
6th.
MR,, LAMB: Now, the two pieces of paper that
you have in front of you are?
MR. HARDY: I guess that. basically what
Mr. Boyle wants into the record is that before the
zoning the property is Il, light. industrial?
MS. CARROLL: Correct.
MR. HARDY: And the city rezoned the tract to
HCO, Hotel Corporate Office, and the submission by
Mr. Brodsky, there was never a classification put
on that. It was just -- to the best. of my recollec-
tion, and correct me, Mr. Brodsky, if I am wrong,
it was a new ordinance that was drafted up with
various requirements that differed tremendously
from the HCO ordinance adopted.
MR. BOYLE: This is a matter of discussion,
a proposal by Mr. Brodsky in information that was
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
submitted under date of November of 1984, is that
correct, a proposed, either amendments to the HCO,
or --
MR. HARDY: No, sir.
MR. BOYLE: -- a new category?
MR. HARDY: A new category.
MR. BOYLE: And then a possibility of their
property being zoned under the new category, is
that just about --
MR. BRODSKY: Yes, sir. It was suggested to
us that it would be more appropriate because of
the location of the property and the combination
of both Rosewoods property and mine being a. critical
mass of about 262 or 263 acres, that it would be
appropriate that consideration of a different
classification be given to that location because
it. was proximate to the airport.
As a matter of fact, the ordinance that we
proposed was entitled AMU, which was Airport Mixed
Use, to reflect a different character from a
downtown character of the city itself. So, I might
point out that we were rezoned in June, June 7th,
and I submitted my modification, proposed modificatio
less than thirty days after we were rezoned. Then,
it took four months for Tony Wiles to come back with
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
is
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
12
his comments. So, during the time frame that we
would have ordinarily come back with another alterna-
tive, we were in discussions with the city to try
to work out the differences, the bulk of that time
being taken up by a review process of what we had
in fact submitted, again, at the suggestion of the
city.
I might also ad,d, if I may, just for some
background, that we have been working with the
City of Grapevine for in excess of three years in
order to accomplish something that is mutually
beneficial and satisfactory, as far as my property
is concerned. I have owned the property for one
month less than five years. So, this is not
something that is very new or that I am trying to
accomplish in a very short period of time. We have
been working with the city and have had meetings at
all levels with the city for over a three Year period
of time in order to get something that you are
comfortable with and that we are too, and that. was
just a continuation of this entire process.
MR. HARDY: One point I want to bring out.
To my knowledge, there was no city input, no city
staff input, into your proposed zoning district,
that I can recall. It was drafted by your staff.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
13
MR. BRODSKY: Not directly, that's right. The
people who drafted that however, Tommy, were the
HOK planning group, which in fact had done a sixteen
month feasibility study for us on the property and
during that study had certainly discussed at length
with city staff a variety of alternatives as far
as planning the property was concerned. You are
right, there was no direct input into that, that
was done, really, by my own people, but those people
had been part of the planning process over a
fifteen or sixteen month period of time, during
which they had received the input of the city staff.
But there was no direct input into the creation of
that, other than the meeting where we had certain
general guidelines laid out, that's right.
MR.. WALDRIP: Mr. Brodsky, I think that you
stated that in this meeting that you had with the
city that the city was the one that suggested to
you that you file for vested rights. I'm interested
in knowing some background about why it was
suggested and, you know, where did that basis come
from?
MR. BRODSKY: Perhaps Dr. Wilkerson might be
able to answer that a little bit better than. I can,
but I will do the best that I can. There is,
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
14
certainly in the process that the City of Grapevine
has gone through rezoning your entire community, a
lot of different opinions, I would say, on the
best way to proceed in different areas.
We were having some very philosophical discus-
sions in terms of the fact that there is no
residential property around this property at all,
the fact that the transportaion infrastructure is
highly developed with the extension of 635 and of
114 and with the development of 121 and with some
long range plans for Anderson -Gibson Road, or
Thweatt Road, in addition.
The idea was to create a viable commercial
area which would be of benefit to the City of
Grapevine from a tax base point of view which
wouldn't interfere with the interests of the
home owners associations and home owners groups.
That triggered, to my understanding and background,
a lot of the rezoning that actually took place, but
these properties are located out near the airport.
and away from any residential areas, totally. There
are none within, I don't know what the distance
would be, but certainly a good ways, and it is
buffered by the flood plain, the country club and
by 121 on the eastern boundary. So, we found our
s
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
is
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
15
in these discussions dealing with a variety of
alternatives because the zoning ordinance is more
specific now than it was under the old zoning
ordinance where light industrial Il was really a
broad based category that would enable me to do
almost anything with very few restrictions on the
property. We were having difficulty sorting through
all of the varieties and all of the alternatives
and possibilities.
So, in order to solve two problems which are
very much linked together, perhaps, but in my mind
they very much were at the time, how do we help
2499 proceed, which I felt was in everybody's
interest and in the area's interest also, and
not have the details of a particular zoning request
which had tremendous possibilities in terms of
variety associated with it as a stumbling block.
If memory serves me right, after going through
a lot of these discussions with Tony Wiles, Jim
Hancock, Maytor Tate, it was Mayor Tate at that
time who suggested that a way around this, in order
to consider it at a different level., would be
through the vested rights process. I felt that
that was a very positive move to get us off of
talking about all of the many possibilities that
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
is
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
16
existed with two different philosophical interpre-
tations and get on with us going ahead and then
presenting to the city aplan, which we would have
to come in for in any case at the time that we
actually wanted to go ahead and develop the property,
get off the detail, if you will, of AMU versus HCO,
and then allow the studies to proceed as far. as
2499.
That's my recollection of how this all evolved
during the course of this one particular meeting.
Tommy, is that --
MR. HARDY: That is exactly how I remember it,
but there is only one point. I don't recall a plan
being required tinder Il Light Industrial requirement.
MR. BRODSKY: Well, my recollection of part of
our discussion was that we would in fact, you know,
submit a master plan for the site because we were
willing to put on certain restrictions as to the
development of the site, again, that the city would
be comfortable with.
Again, my recollection is that we talked about
a one-to-one coverage ratio in terms of the
buildings themselves as being part and parcel of
that. In other words, that 131 acres consists of
about 5.1 million square feet and we wanted the
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
17
right to build buildings, exclusive of parking, of
just a one-to-one ratio and we would go ahead and
present. that to the city for their approval. Anyway,
that is my recollection of how the whole thing came
about.
MR. TROY: What was the date of this,
approximate date of this, meeting?
MR. BRODSKY: It would have probably been three
weeks prior to the submission of that, because it
took us about three weeks to develop the ordinance
itself. So, I would assume the latter part of
June, right after the actual zoning ordinance was
passed.
MR. TROY: No. Referring to the meeting where
Mayor Tate suggested that you filed under the vested
rights.
MR. BRODSKY: Yes, sir., I think it would have
been, again, the latter part of June.
MR, HARDY: It would have been, I know, no
more than three weeks prior, closer than. one or two
weeks. He was back very quickly with the zoning
case.
MR. TISCHLER: They are talking about., probably'
January. This is from the November meeting.
MR. BRODSKY: Unless I`m getting confused, we
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
18
submitted the AMU, or our proposed zoning ordinance,
if I remember the date right, in July. So, it would
have been about three weeks prior to that that this
meeting took place at which time we talked about --
you're right., I am confused. It would have been
about --
MR. HARDY: I can explain why such a long
period of time elapsed from the time that he
submitted his proposed zoning district until the time
that Mr. Wiles came up with a recommendation.
During that time we were going through a lot of
massive changes, a lot of work as far as tying up
loose ends on zoning cases and what have you, amend-
ments to districts that we had. P&Z said at that time
that it would be interested in looking at what
Mr. Brodsky submitted but that they had other work
that was going to take priority but it had to be
done before they could get to that. They were
satisfied with the HCO district but if he wanted
to submit that they would look at it after they got
through with everything else. It wasn't that it
sat on a desk, they just had a lot to do at that
time.
MR. TROY: But shortly after someone suggested
to you that you file under vested rights, you filed
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
19
under vested rights?
MR. BRODSKY: Yes, sir. It was rather prompt.
MR. TROY: It was sometime in June?
MR. BRODSKY: Yes.
MR. TISCHLER: Prior to that time you were not
aware of the six month requirement?
MR. BRODSKY: No, sir, we were not.
MR. TISCHLER: If I remember correctly, you
stated that at the time that the ordinance was
originally passed, which was July -- June 7th, you
received a certified letter or were given a, copy of
the new ordinance at that. time?
MR. BRODSKY: I don't remember to be honest
with you. I'm sure we did.
MR. HARDY: I would be surprised if you did.
MR. WALDRIP: But it was available for public
review?
MR. HARDY: Yes. We don't send out copies.
MR. TISCHLER: I have the impression that it
was sent out by a certified copy, or was sent. out
to the people. So, at that time you would have not
known. about vested rights, unless somebody notified
you about that?
MR. BRODSKY: That's right, and the first time
that. I became aware of it was when it was suggested
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
to me at the meeting, because I had no prior
knowledge of it. So, I plead ignorance, actually.
MR. WALDRIP: I would like to hear Mr.Boyle's
comments, counsel comments, about what type of
precedent could be set by amending this six month
requirement.
MR. LAMB: Or, are we waiving it in this case?
MR. BOYLE: Yes. I will address that and
respond to it. I would like to point out that the
basic ordinance that you are dealing with was amended
I believe, in April of '84, wasn't it, Tommy?
MR. HARDY: Yes, sir, I believe it was.
MR. BOYLE: Keep in mind that when that was
amended that was when the HCO category was cretaed,
April of '84, and Section 69 relative to the
determination of vested rights was created within.
the same ordinance.
So, when the city went to rezone the properties
including Mr. Brodsky's under the amended ordinance,
when the notices went out., they went out to Mr.
Brodsky and every other owner in the city, it
stated what the category was, and in order to apprise
yourself of what that contained within the category i
was necessary for you to review the basic ordinance
as amended that contained the HCO. That same
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
is
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
21
ordinance contained the requirements relative to
vested rights.
So, from the standpoint of not only just
public, general public awareness, or being knowledge-
able of something just as a matter of law because
it was passed, when your property is zoned for a
substantial period of time and is being rezoned to
a particularized category, such as HCO, I would
suggest that any previuos owner would review the
ordinance for the opportunity to make any testimony
or make any comments.
Now, the ordinance itself, Section 69, one
other point, it was mentioned concerning the
specified plan, and Mr. Hardy is correct that the
Ordinance Il does not require that. However, under
Section 69 and the question on the substance of this
matter that you will be required to address, reques-
ted to address, is whether or not, one, is there
a vestad right, and if you find a vested right you
have the ability to authorize by an action of this
Board the issuance of a building permit for a
specific proposed development. That is out of
Section 69. So, in order for you all to act under
this, if you are going to grant posit,-;-ve relief, if
you are going to so find, then it would be necessary
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
22
for you to make a motion for the issuance of a
building permit for a specified and specific
proposed development so that you would have that in
front. of you. That is the essence of it. Now, if
i�
MR. WALDRIP: One other thing before you get.
past that. Isn't there a specified time period that
we can grant that, that building permit?
MR. BOYLE: You would have the ability to
place that into --
MR. WALDRIP: I was thinking that there was a
time limit restriction under which that building per-
mit would only be good for, a limited amount of time.
MR. TISCHLER: That is not the problem tonight,
though.
MR. WALDRIP: I understand that.
MR. BOYLE: I don't see that, I don't recall
that in Section 69. Tommy, do you recall if there
is any such provision?
MR. HARDY: I think that there is in the Zoning
Board of Adjustments if you look back into the
jurisdiction.
MR. BOYLE: That it would have to be exercised
within?
MR. HARDY: Yes, sir, yes, sir.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
23
MR. WALDRIP: Yes, sir.
MR. TROY: Under Section K?
MR. WALDRIP: That. was what I was referring
to.
MR. BOYLE: Thank you. That's right, it would
be necessary to commence within the one year period.
MR. TROY: But that's it.
MR. BOYLE: What?
MR. TROY: That's it, it's open-ended. All you
have to do is start, just start.
MR. BOYLE: According to this. I believe that
within your authority in making a derision on this
you would have the ability, when it talks about
specific proposed development, to put reasonable
parameters in there, in addition to that.
Concerning the question before you, it is my
judgment that L, and I have reviewed this with
Marlon Smith, special zoning counsel, and Mr. Niles
who has worked with the city on the whole rezoning
process, that L essentially calls for you to make a
decision based on the facts presented. If you make
a decision that the applicant waived then this
provision L would be applicable. Now, it is my
judgment, and I would at least suggest that you have
the ability to hear this, to hear all of the
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
is
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
24
evidence presented by the applicant and by the
city staff and by any other interested party, and
then withhold a final judgment. on that decision until
you have heard the whole case. At such time as you
have heard the whole case then you can make a final
decision on L, that portion of it, was there a
waiver. The question here is not ca.n you waive. I
see nothing here, and I'm not prepared tonight to
give you a legal opinion, but I cannot find anything
in the ordinance that gives you any authority to
waive, you the authority to waive the process, but
you are sitting in a quasi judicial. position or
capacity and you have the ability to make a decision
on this just as you do on all of the balance of this
information and all of the balance of these
,questions that are posed to you.
It would be my suggestion and recommendation
for you to consider, you wouldn't have to do it this
way, but one way you could do it is and the way that
I would recommend, and Mr. Smith agrees, that you
do hear this out and you hear it in its entirety and
then you reserve any findings or any final decision
or opinion on this until you have heard the --
MR. LAMB: The facts of the case?
MR. BOYLE: -- the facts of the case, and then
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
25
you essentially make one, as in a court of law, one
judgment. In the one paragraph you address this
question and in the other paragraph you find that
there is or is not in your findings a vested right.
Through this method, and assuming that for the
sake of discussion, nothing more, not of a threaten-
ing nature, assume that the party, the applicant,
is dissatisfied with your decision, that goes
directly into District Court and appeals all your
decisions, which you all are aware of, goes directly
into District Court. If it goes into District Court
with a full development of all the facts you don't
get it over there and then have them saying well,
fine, but we disagree with your findings on L, or
we find it invalid or unconstitutional and we remand
it back to you to have a full hearinq. All you have
done there, in my opinion, is incorporate a potential
lengthy delay. If you heard both aspects of it and
then that is appealed in court then the Court can
look at it and agree with you on L, assumina for a
moment that you concluded that the applicant waived.
If they didn't or they found it illegal and you went
on to say, you wouldn't be in court if the city
found a vested right., but assuming that they found
no vested rights, you could go through and say that
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
is
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
we have heard the case on the merits and we have
concluded that there are no vested rights. Then you
have the whole case there and it can be heard at
the same time.
So, that would be my recommendation. That is
not the only way you can do it, you. could do it the
other way, just go forward and make a decision on
this. I think that from a precedent standpoint,
in response to your question, the Zoning Board of
Adjustment case stands totally and completely on
its own merits. Keep in mind that this is a method
authorized under the law where a non elected, non
legislative body makes decisions of essentially a
nonlegislative character and this is why the
authority is significant. The courts will look only
and precisely at the facts before them. Whether you
have made the right decision or the wrong decision
on the last eight cases --
In other words, if you allowed him to go
forward on this it is possible that if you allowed
it to be heard and found no waiver this indicates
that you waive but you found, for whatever reason,
that. you exercised equitable powers like a court of
law, but you found no waiver and even if the Court
disagreed with you, for the next eight cases this
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
is
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
27
would cause you no legal problems. You will get
it heard, it will be reargued to you, I can assure
you that, but it doesn't constitute any legal
precedent that you would be bound on.
MR. WALDRIP: That was my question.
MR. LAMB: Marlon had talked to us about
carrying this along with the case, and if I under-
stand that is the same thing, in fact on Sections
L and K and J of the ordinance, as we go through
the case, not to make a determination tonight and
leave out the rest of the fact circumstances.
MR. BOYLE: That would be our recommendation,
yes, sir.
MR. ANDERSON: Chairman Lamb, could I follow
up on what Mr. Boyle said?
MR. LAMB: Surely.
MR. ANDERSON: I agree with part of what he
said and disagree with part of what he said, and
I agree with John on the precedential value. I
would also like to point out that that from my
understanding the entire city was rezoned in June
and there haven't been any rezonings by the city on
property since that time. There is one tract,
Tommy, correct me if I am wrong, but there is still
one tract to be rezoned by the city, and this is the
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
28
only vested rights application submitted to date.
So, if any in the future come in I think it is going
to be that much more difficult under the equity
theory that many more months after the deadline to
go ahead and refile.
I disagree, we went through an extensive
discussion at the public hearing in April regarding
the putting of the horse before the cart. In other
words, it seems kind of, not ludicrous, but it seems
that a lot of legal fees and. time have been spent
by my clients, if you all agree with me, you know,
a good faith investment backed expectation that you
would be able to develop under your zoning, but.
however, irregardl.ess of that, no matter how good
your facts are if it is decided at this point, even
though we have already had two public hearings,
that the six month time period should not be waived
therefore we are not going to allow you to have the
type of projects that you are anticipating.
I think that in terms of what has gone on
beforehand, and we did address this before, Mr. Boyle
has not contacted us about this particular line of
reasoning at this point, but. we would really
respectfully request that, you all make a decision
today, just for our own peace of mind, so we don't
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
29
have to keep worrying for another month.
MR. LAMB: Mr. Boyle, any comment?
MR. BOYLE: Well, in the capacity of City
Attorney, that is our advice to you, that in your
quasi judicial capacity that this is your proper
procedure. He is not saying that it is not a proper
legal procedure. He is just saying that they had
their druthers they would druther it be the other
way. This was our recommendation to you and you do
have those other alternatives.
MR. WALDRTP: I think that another fact that
needs to be brought out along those lines is that
in our last public hearing, you were here, Mr.
Anderson, and I believe we asked a lot of questions
about the background of this that you were not
familiar with.
MR. ANDERSON: Yes, sir, that's correct.
MR. WALDRIP: And, that was one of the reasons
that we put it off until tonight so Mr. Brodsky could
be here to provide us with that information.
MR. ANDERSON: That's correct.
MR. LAMB: Any further questions or discussion?
MR. TISCHLER: Am I correct in saying that you
are asking right now not. for a determination on the
six month filing period but a decision on the entire
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
30
case?
MR. ANDERSON: No, sir, we haven't even
started into that question yet. I didn't want to
give that impression. No, sir, we would just like
a decision on the six month period so we can know
whether to proceed with our regular case according
to the guidelines set forth in the ordinance.
MR. BRODSKY: We are certainly willing and
really looking forward to appearing on the 28th to
make our case as to why we think we are vested
because of everything that has gone on over a period
of time. Obviously, because of the judicial nature
of that hearing, it's a new process for everyone
that is going to be an expensive presentation.
I'm not sure that fairness enters into this
because it is judicial in nature, but to get to the
end of that and then have the Board to say, well,
we agree that you have done sufficient work, Mr.
Brodsky, and you have worked in good faith to develop
this project and you have spent a considerable
amount of money to date, but we find, you know,
you waived your six months. It was my understanding
the last time that we agreed that we would address
this point first, and then you would judge us on our
merits, which I am more than happy to proceed with
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
31
because I think we have proceeded over a substan-
tial period of time with the same project and
invested a lot of money and time to get something
that is very substantial to this point.
MR. LAMB: I will entertain a motion at this
time .
MR. TISCHLER: I make the motion that we do
grant the waiver of the time for filing of this
vested rights case.
MR. LAMB: I have a motion. Do I have a
second? If I can get a second we will have further
discussion before the motion is voted on.
MR. WALDRIP: I`ll second.
MR. LAMB: Apparently you have some reservations-,
MR. TROY: This will enable us to hear the
entire case for information and more insight into
the situation as follows the city's suggestion.
After we hear the entire case we can decide on the
whole thing based on the facts.
MR. LAMB: Do you not feel that there was
enough information presented tonight to make a
decision as to whether or not. within a. reasonable
period of time Mr. Brodsky submitted his application
or that he was basically not aware of the ordinance?
MR. TROY: I think there was information
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
32
submitted and we know a lot more now than we did
four weeks ago, but. I still see merit in waiting
to hear the entire case.
MR. LAMB: Did you feel that there was
sufficient evidence, or information, in this --
MR. WALDRIP: I think there was sufficient
information, but I still think there is a major
problem in going back to the intent of what the
vested rights ordinance was. The six month period
was put in there for a very specific reason, and
that was that if someone was involved in a specific
planned development that the six months would be an
abundant amount of time for them to file an
application stating that they had vested rights.
I think it was limited to six months intentionally.
The fact that it was, you know, that it was even
after the six month period, apparently very close
to the end of it, when it was even suggested that
this ordinance may apply and they -- I can't see
that the intent was there that they had the vested
rights all along.
MR. TROY: Sorry, I couldn't hear you.
MR. WALDRIP: I can'tsee that the intent that
they felt like that the vested rights situation
was applicable. I think the situation was that. if
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
is
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
33
it was applicable it would have been caught early
in the rezoning process and I don't think that the
six months process would have expired.
MR. BRODSKY: Mr. Chairman, if I may?
MR. LAMB: Sure.
MR. BRODSKY: When we asked for copies of the
zoning ordinance, Tommy, that ordinance was not
all bound in a nice neat folder. It was still in.
the process of being put together at that time.
When we asked for the ordinance as it applied to
us we only got a copy, and that's my mistake, and
that is why I am here asking for an exception.
We only got a copy of the actual HCO ordinance
itself and not a total ordinance of everything that
went along with it. Had I received that it would
have been a different story, but I just didn't..
We got a copy only of the pages that applied
particularly to the BCO ordinance. Had we known
about it, and being a prudent businessman, and
Mr. Boyle is absolutely correct., I would have taken
as a precaution protective measures during these
discussions to protect my vested. rights interest
from a timing point of view.
You know, we're talking about a project. that
has been going on a long period of time. Obviously
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
34
if I had been aware of it, that's what I would have
done, as a prudent businessman. In that sense, I
agree with Mr. Boyle, but the copies that were given
to us of the ordinance as it applied to my particular
piece of property, we only received the HCO section
itself.
The timing was such that, I understand the
requirement for the six months itself, but again I
would just like to highlight that. most of the bulk
of that. six month period of time while this was going
on, we were sort of in limbo, but on a continuing
dialogue basis with the city in an attempt to
resolve our situation.
If I may ask Dr. Wilkerson who was a party to
a lot of the discussions to comment, he may be
able to provide you with some additional information
that could help in your deliberations.
MR. TISCHLER: I have felt since we have
started this thing, I don't think there has been
enough communication between the city staff and
Mr. Brodsky, because there is some stuff that I
didn't get until the last meeting, especially the
one item which was the date that he purchased the
property. That should have been submitted with the
application originally. When I asked Tommy about it
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
35
I received it.
So, it appears to me that there is a.
communication problem between the city and Mr. Brod-
sky, and to me it is a very important case. I do
not want this thing to die right here. I would like
to see the whole thing.
MR. LAMB: I would like to make a comment since
I haven't really and I intended to. In a sense
of fairness, something you may not be aware of,
Mr. Brodsky, but I will explain it to you. There
are only four of us here this evening and. that
constitutes a quorum. All four of us either have
to vote for something or it doesn't fly. Three to
one will not make it. I believe that is one of
our circumstances.
MR. HARDY: I think that is only on variances,
is it not?
MR. BOYLE: No, on anything.
MR. LAMB: Anything before this Board, okay,
it takes all four of us. There are two members that
are absent. In a sense of fairness we would have a
real problem in making a decision that is adverse to
the property owner when we don't have what. I feel
constitutes a full membership circumstance.
Point two, if I were standing in your shoes,
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
36
and that is where I am trying to put myself at this
point, approaching these circumstances as a reason-
able and prudent businessman I would have done
something like filing the vested rights first and
then proceeded to amend the ordinance and the like.
That is, as a businessman with an interest in
doing whatever I have to do to make my business
work. In that regard I understand that with a lack
of communications it would be very easy, with all
the things that are going on involved with a zoning
circumstance to have this circumstance overlooked.
I was most interested in the fact that you just
mentioned that you only received the HCO versus
a copy of the entire ordinance. Now, that doesn't
remove the circumstance from when the fact that the
ordinance was passed and made a part of public
record.
MR. BRODSKY: Accept that, yes, I accept that..
MR. LAMB: You know, it's there and ignorance
is no defense in this circumstance.
MR. BRODSKY: Sure.
MR. LAMB: My own feeling is and I share the
feelings here that I would like to see us proceed
with the case. I would like to see us be able to
set this aside at this point and say, let's get
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
37
on with it, and let's make a determination on the
basis of fact on the situation involving the
property itself. Now we are dealing with a piece
of paper that was or was not filed within that
time limit. I would like to get into the case.
We have heard little bits and pieces of how we
might adjudicate that circumstance from Mr. Boyle
who has given us some rather valuable insight, and
we have had that insight over the past two or
three months.
My personal feeling is that I would like to
see this thing given a chance to be heard. I
recognize that it is going to take time and cost.
money, but I think it will be in most instances
time and money well spent from both sides of the
fence, both from the city's standpoint, as well as
from the developer's, and my recommendation is
at this point, for you guys information, is to
allow to waive the situation to allow them to
proceed with the case.
MR. ANDERSON: Mr. Chairman, if I may add just
one quick point?
MR. LAMB: Yes.
MR. ANDERSON: One thing that is really
important, I think, is that this ordinance is new.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
38
I mean, our firm does a lot of zoning all over the
state, and I have never seen this type of ordinance.
Mr. Brodsky does development around the metroplex
in different areas and in terms of something to be
kind of looking out for in something that should,
you know, catch your eye, it's the first time I've
ever seen this sort of thing done. Marlon Smith
has even made representations that he has never seen
it done in Texas, that it is an Illinois concept.
So, in terms of, you know, unless you have
heard through the grapevine or it was pointed out
in a hearing or something like that, in that sense,
it. is something that is new and very unique. I can
understand, putting myself in Mr. Brodsky's shoes
until he had actually heard of it from a city
official that the ordinance existed or even that
there was a six month time period.
MR. TROY: Mr. Brodsky, I believe that your
attorney mentioned last time that you had changed
attorneys.
MR. ANDERSON: We were just not involved. We
have only been retained relatively recently.
MR. BRODSKY: Until this became a judicial.
process -- I don't usually use attorneys for zoning.
I appear myself, and as a matter of fact, I did that
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
is
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
39
through this whole process with the City of Grape-
vine in this particular case.
When the vested rights thing became a very
formal judicial process was the time that I retained
the law firm to help me with it because I'm not an
attorney, but normally I don't use attorneys for
zoning cases, because I feel like I can make my
case myself as I am the guy really doing the use
of the property for a particular purpose.
Mr. Chairman, would you be kind enough to let
Dr. Wilkerson come forward? He had expressed an
interest in doing that, and it may help with your
understanding.
MR. LAMB: One moment. Would you like to hear
the testimony?
MR. WALDRIP: Yes, I think that would be fine.
MR. LAMB: Dr. Wilkerson, if you would stand
I will swear you in.
(Witness sworn.)
DR. WILKERSON: If I may, let. me give a little
background on myself. I don't know many of you
fellows, although I have lived here forty years.
I came here in the latter part of 1946 and
practiced here until 1971. This is not a recorder.
This is a cardiac monitor. When I was your age, I
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
40
didn't think I had a heart.
The information I'm going to give you is a
little different.. I'm not going to be dealing in
dates and so forth. I'm just going to give you
some background. I have attended most of the meet-
ings Mr. Brodsky has had with the city, not in his
interest, but in the interest of the same people
you represent, the citizens here in town.
In 1952, or shortly before then, the Corps of
Engineers destroyed all of our roads north and
south and replaced it with one over the dam which
they would capriciously close to find out how mean
we were, whether we were going to make them open
it again. The city saw fit to repeatedly make them
open it back up. The merchants over here would
suffer as a result of it, a great many other things
would suffer, the kids going to school in North
Texas, so forth and so on.
So, my connection with the case started in
about 1950 trying to see to it that other govern-
mental agencies didn't destroy our rights here as
Grapevine citizens. Then, the connection with
Mr. Brodsky and the reason that he was advised to
file the vested rights request was because we were
at an impasse with him. We started out., the City of
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
is
is
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
41
Grapevine applied for the road below Grapevine dam
in November, probably of '82, and we were granted
a five lane facility north and south. But, there
was a catch to it, we had to provide the right-of-way
Well, we had provided it over in Denton County and
we had provided it over in Tarrant County and
Tarrant County was to come up with the funds in
case we got on high center and we discovered, the
new commissioner discovered, that they had emptied
the right-of-way fund and put it in the general fund
and spent. it. Although we have letters saying that
they would take care of it, there is not any money.
So, we had then to turn to the property owner
and say, your agreement to furnish the two hundred
feet. across your property and the connection to the
highway, we're going to have to ask you to give it
all., and so, he said, fine. Then, we proceeded
along for months and months planning, and I might
add, I can bring you a stack of engineering drawings
and so forth about. three foot thick that the city
did not pay for. I did.
You may wonder what I'm doing. Well, it's been
a hobby of mine. I was permitted to survive this
long and I can't take it with me. I'm going to try.
I'm doing some of these things for my own benefit,
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
42
but also for my friends and thousands of ex -patients
and so forth.
Okay, we then got a tremendous kick in the
head when the highway department decided that the
interchange, they were going to pay for three sides
of it, but the side that Grapevine was involved in
in taking a north -south road off of there was not
going to be funded through the normal highway fund.
I don't know if you all are familiar, but Farm to
Market Roads, you have to supply all of the right-of-
way to the highway department.. You are not permitted
to get any federal matching funds and you are not
permitted to have any state matching funds, they
will only pour the concrete. So, we said, okay,
fine, and we went to Mr. Brodsky again and said,
Fred, we need sixteen or seventeen more acres, I
have forgotten the exact number, and he jumped up
and down and did fourteen handsprings and finally
said, all right, all right, let's get on with it.
Then, we had the hearing out here. Some of you
ma.y have attended, the highway department at the
concourse and several of us again did, or paid, for
the engineering to have that done and they, as a
matter of fact, used our maps, the highway department
did. This facilitates and speeds it up. If you
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
43
don't it goes on endlessly.
Okay, the next thing that occurred, the
highway department figured out. that they really
hadn't gotten enough land. Now, Fred was being
asked to give out of a total of --
MR. BRODSKY: One hundred thirty acres.
DR. WILKERSON: Out of one hundred thirty
acres he was being asked to give about thirty-six
of it.. He has got frontage out there on 121 and
he doesn't really, I keep telling him that he needs
it and it should be done, but engineering -wise
he has a state highway so he really doesn't abso-
lutely need this road. Now, Grapevine and the two
adjacent counties here need that road. We need it.
far more than he does. He has been very cooperative,
and when they came back for that last bite, I would
say January or February, three or four months ago,
then we were making a proposition to a man for some
more, we needed more, and yet we had taken or
changed, not taken, we had changed his zoning up
so that his original engineering designs and
everything were no longer valid and his entire
project was going to have to be shuffled. and shifted
to fit on the land.
The citizens of Grapevine here need a road that
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
44
cannot be produced unless we can persuade Fred to
walk a few extra miles that he normally had not.
walked. He met, you know there is another room
at the end of that door there, and I don't know
how many times we were in there trying to work out
and try to get some additional land from him, not
only him but from various others that owned
property down there. They would not accept any
alignment except. through Fred's property. I tried
to shuffle it. We stood on our hands and jumped up
and down and so forth trying to work out some other
way to position that road to go across the thing
north.
Now, I don't want to keep you all here all
night, but starting in the morning and until when-
ever I will start bringing you stacks of maps and
drawings and aerial photos showing that indeed we
tried to put it some other place besides across him.
It wasn't possible unless we wanted to dig up
millions of dollars to compensate the people on
beyond Fred who had agreed to this alignment.
So, I .realize that this is a tangent from your
discussion here, but a lot of times I have served
on the other side of the bench and a lot of times
we hear a bunch of cold facts and numbers and we
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
4.5
forget that what we are really sitting up there for
is to try, as best we can, to serve the interests
of the residents of the town in which we live. If
you will give me a sufficient amount of time I don't
think there is any question that I can convince you
that we are fortunate to have somebody that would
keep yielding, because I have worked on roads out
of Grapevine all my life and it is sometimes an
extremely difficult position because some people
won't give you the time to die, and they won't give
you land at all. And he has, you know, given and
given. I think that he has demonstrated that he
has the best interest of this community in mind.
You go down to Safeway after we are through and get
ahold of the manager and ask him what it cost him
this last time that the dam was closed, and in turn
it costs the community in sales taxes and so forth.
We simply cannot. -- the traffic is getting
greater and greater and greater around here on every
opportunity we have to deal with the highway depart-
ment. The city gave the highway department their
guarantee that they were going to do this. We based
that guarantee on the county's guarantee that. they
were going to pay for it, and we have the letter in
the file, but, you know, we are now at a deadend. If
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
is
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
46
anybody can show me how to solve the road problem
I'll shake hands with Mr. Brodsky. I don't need him
any more. But, we have diligently, night after night
and spending hundreds of our own dollars, our own
money, people that you never see up here, we get
together and back some of these things. None of us
have any property along the route, but we earnestly
hope that you can figure out a way to satisfy
Brodsky so that he will then satisfy the requirements
of the town. Thank you, sir.
MR. LAMB: Thank you, Doctor.
MR. BRODSKY: Mr. Chairman, in summary, from
my point of view, if I might, had I filed my vested
rights application on a timely basis during the
six month period then we would be where I am
suggesting that we really should be and that is to
hear the case on the merits. All I'm asking for,
respectfully, this evening is the right to go into
that hearing which is being done under the auspices
of the rules and regulations prepared by the
Council for the City of Grapevine without an
additional point hanging over our heads as to
whether in fact I have or have not waived my rights
under the six months or not.
I think that I have shown by the testimony and
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
47
by the facts that during that six month period of
time that there were other things going on and we
were trying to accomplish somewhat the same thing.
I didn't follow the rules and I didn't follow the
procedure, I didn't file within the six months,
I didn't know about it. I don't have an excuse,
but I wasn't aware of it and otherwise I would
have done it. I'm asking for your approval to
have me go into that hearing on the 28th with a
non -waiver of my six months liability so that we
can go ahead and hear the merits of the case as
to whether I am vested or not in my project.
MR. LAMB: We have a motion on the floor to
allow the case to proceed. Is there any .further
discussion? To make sure we understand what we
are doing, Mr. Brodsky is asking under Section L,
where it is determined because of a late filing
that he is deemed to have waived his rights to seek
a determination, that we waive that section in this
case and in this case only.
MR. TROY: Can we make that decision?
MR. LAMB: That is correct. I will call for a
vote at this time in that there appears there is
no further discussion. All in favor of this motion
raise your right hand. Opposed. The motion carries.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
is
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
48
We'll see you on the 28th.
MR. BRODSKY: Thank you, very much, gentlemen.
MR. HARDY: I want a clarification of the
motion. The motion is to waive that section?
MR. LAMB: In this case to allow him to make
a presentation. Is there a problem?
MR. HARDY: I just want to make it clear that
you have not done as recommended by the attorney.
MR. LAMB: That is correct.
MR. HARDY: You have waived the section
entirely, was that your motion?
MR. TISCHLER: That's right. What the attorney
mentioned to us at the last meeting was that we have
to waive the six months filing requirement and then
we could hear the case. We could not hear the case
unless we waived the six month requirement. period.
MR. HARDY: No, that's not what --
MR. LAMB: Then, tonight John said we could
carry it with the case.
MS. LEONARD: That's what Marlon Smith said
last time also, that you could carry it with the
case.
MR. LAMB: It was my understanding that we could
carry it with it., if we so desired.
MS. LEONARD: Right.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
is
is
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
49
MR. HARDY: Is that the way the motion was?
MR. TISCHLER: That's what I meant to say.
MR. LAMB: Whoa.
MR. TISCHLER: My understanding of what
Marlon Smith said was that we couldn't do anything
unless we waived the six month requirement, and then
he said, if I remember correctly, that once we
waived the six month filing requirement, then we
could hear the case in its entirety and make the
determination as to whether or not he had. the
vested rights. Am I correct in this?
MS. LEONARD: We would have to go back and
look and see what he said, but my recollection is
that he said we could carry this decision on the
waiver with the case, meaning that you could carry
the waiver issue and not make a decision on it,
but go forward and hear the case, the merits of
the case, and then make a decision on the entire
matter. If you decide that they had waived then
you would not need to go forward and make a
decision on the vested rights because they wouldn't
have a right to have that determination made.
MR. TISCHLER: Boy, am I confused now.
MR. HARDY: That is exactly as I recall what
Mr. Boyle was recommending.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
MR.
TROY:
He
was recommending tabling --
MR.
LAMB:
He
recommended carrying it with
the case.
MR. HARDY: Right, and that is not what I was
hearing with the motion.
MR. TISCHLER: I am really confused. As I
understood, we couldn't even hear the case unless
the six month filing requirement was waived.
MR. HARDY: No, I don't recall that. Mr.
Smith, as Adrienne said, he said it was to the
advantage of the city to carry that section and
make the final. determination after you had heard
all the testimony as far as the facts.
MS. LEONARD: I think that what he said was
that you couldn't make a decision on the vested
rights unless you made the determination he had
not waived his rights.
MR. LAMB: What we were doing tonight was
making a determination that. he had not waived his
rights. That was the whole purpose to this
situation tonight.
MR. TISCHLER: If he has not waived his rights
then --
MR. LAMB: We go ahead.
MR. TISCHLER: Then we go ahead.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
IS
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
Sl
MR. LAMB: Fie has not waived his rights, that's
what we just decided. We now ao ahead with the
case.
MR. TROY: Is that clear?
MR. HARDY: Then --
MR. LAMB: Then we proceed with the case.
MR. HARDY: What you're doing is you are
setting it aside.
MR. LAMB: For this case. That's why Bill
asked for the precedent side of this case, is there
a precedent being set if we do this now, if we
have other cases and everybody says, well, wait a
minute now, you did this for them. That's why he
asked that question..
MR. HARDY: Okay, I think that. Adrienne needs
to clarify this, I want you to be aware that you
are going against the recommendation of the City
Attorney.
MR. LAMB: We understand that. I don't think
there's any question. We discussed it. In that.
case, I believe we are finished with that particular
business. We can have discussion after the meeting
if there is anything else.
MS. LEONARD: I will clarify that our recommen--
ation is that you just carry this decision forward.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
52
We were not making a recommendation as to how you
should decide.
MR. LAMB: I think that we all understand
that. On the 28th here, the hearing is set here
for the 28th of this month at 7:00 o'clock.
MS. CARROLL: 7:30, I believe.
MR. LAMB: 7:30? Let's make sure we have the
right time.
MR. TISCHLER: 7:30.
MS. CARROLL::30.
MR. LAMB: 7:30. Thank you, Mr. Brodsky.
MR. BRODSKY: Thank you.
(Proceedings ended.)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
53
STATE OF TEXAS X
X
COUNTY OF TARRANT X
This is to certify that I, David Chance,
reported in shorthand the proceedings had at the
time and place set forth in the caption hereof,
and that the above and foregoing 52 pages contain
a full, true and correct transcript of said
proceedings.
Given under my hand and seal of office on this
the day of A.D., 1985.
-r
David Chance, Certified
Shorthand Reporter in and
for the State of Texas,
#1006.