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[Item 001]

[00:00:50]

>>> THE CITY COUNCIL DID GO AHEAD AND PROVE THAT SPECIAL EXCEPTION 6-0. THE NEXT ITEM PLANS AND COMMISSION WAS THE PHASE FIVE AMENDMENT.

THIS WAS BEFORE THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION THERE'S MUCH DISCUSSION REGARDING VARIOUS PROVISIONS.

THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION DID RECOMMEND APPROVAL WITH VARIOUS CONDITIONS SUCH AS FRONT ENTRY GARAGES SHOULD BE LIMITED AND THERE SHOULD BE SCREENING BETWEEN THE EXISTING RESIDENTIAL DWELLINGS TO THE EAST OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY WITH A 6-FOOT CEDAR FENCE.

THAT WAS APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL.

THEY DID ALSO AMEND THE APPROVAL OF PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION TO ALLOW FOR 65% FRONT ENTRY PER THE APPLICANT'S ORIGINAL REQUEST. ON THE NEXT ITEM THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION DID NOT HEAR BUT IT DID GO BEFORE CITY COUNCIL WAS A TEMPORARY BADGE PLAN FOR MOCKING BIRD PHASE TWO.

I BRING THAT TO YOU TO LET YOU KNOW WHERE THAT IS IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS. THEY DID RECEIVE APPROVAL OF THAT AND THEY'LL START MOVING FORWARD.

THE NEXT AMENDMENT THEY WANTED TO AFTER THAT WAS BROUGHT BACK IN DECEMBER AFTER THEY DROVE THEIR PLANS EVEN MORE FINITE THEY WANTED TO ADD ON APPROXIMATELY 750 SQUARE FEET.

THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION VOTED TO APPROVE THAT REQUEST AND THE CITY COUNCIL DID GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THAT.

THE FINAL ITEM WAS THE SECONDARY DWELLING UNITS THAT THEY MEET THE MINIMUM STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH THAT A SECONDARY DWELLING UNIT WOULD BE PERMITTED BY RIGHT.

IF THEY WANTED ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT IT WOULD COME BEFORE A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT TO GET ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS. PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL AND CITY COUNCIL DID GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THAT. SO NOW WE SHOULD SEE LESS SECONDARY DWELLINGS COME BEFORE YOU AND IF THEY DO IT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE ASKING FOR SOMETHING OUTSIDE OF THOSE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS. THOSE ARE ALL OF THE CASES THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION OR BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL IN THE LAST 60 DAYS.

THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION HAS ALSO HEARD.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

THE NEXT ITEM IS CITIZENS TO BE HEARD FOR THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION. I SEE NO CITIZENS PRESENT.

IS THERE ANYBODY SUBMITTING ONLINE, SEEING NONE WE'LL MOVE

[Item 003]

ON TO AGENDA ITEM THREE WHICH IS TO CONSIDER THE MINUTES FOR OUR MAY 19, 2020, MEETING. HAS ANYONE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THOSE AND DO I HAVE A MOTION?

>> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER BATES. AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER OSBORN. ALL IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. >> ALL RIGHT.

[Item 004]

THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA NUMBER FOUR IS TO CONSIDER AN ACT UPON THE REQUEST FOR A PRELIMINARY PLAT FOR PARKS OF SOMERCREST BEING SITUATED BETWEEN THE SOUTH JENKINS

SURVEY. >> THEY ARE REQUESTING APPROXIMATELY 13.38 ACRES WHICH WOULD CONTAIN APPROXIMATELY 56 RESIDENTIAL LOTS. THE PROPOSED MEETS ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN THE ORDNANCE.

STAFF DOES RECOMMEND APPROVAL. NO PUBLIC HEARING IS REQUIRED AT THIS TIME. AND I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

>> DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE STAFF?

[00:05:03]

>> ALL IN FAVOR. >> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? >> THE MOTION PASSES

[Item 005]

UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS NUMBER 005 TO CONSIDER AN ACT UPON A PRELIMINARY PLAT LAKES OF SOMERCREST BEING 38.98 ACRES OF LAND ALSO SITUATED WITHIN THE

SOUTH JENKINS SURVEY. >> THANK YOU.

THIS IS FOR THE PRELIMINARY PLAT OF LAKES OF SOMERCREST BEING APPROXIMATELY 38.98 ACRES. THE PROPOSED PRELIMINARY PLAT DOES MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS IN PLANNING DEVELOPMENT NUMBER 34 ORDNANCE AND MEETS ALL OF THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS IN SECTION 212 AND THE SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS OF CITY OF MIDLOTHIAN. STAFF DOES RECOMMEND APPROVAL AND I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.

>> THIS DOES NOT REQUIRE A PUBLIC HEARING.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? I SEE NO ONE TO MAKE COMMENTS. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BATEMAN. I'LL SECOND THAT.

ALL IN FAVOR. >> AYE.

[Item 006]

>> THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS NUMBER 006.

>> WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR ANOTHER DATE FOR THIS TO MOVE

FORWARD. >> DO I WITHDRAW BEFORE I MAIC THE ANNOUNCEMENT OR DO I MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT?

>> AND OUR VICE CHAIR IS GONE. >> I THINK SINCE THE MANAGER -- I THINK WE'RE RESCHEDULING, I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO WORRY

ABOUT -- >> OKAY.

>> WHAT IF WE DON'T RENOTIFY -- >> YOU CAN'T.

BECAUSE WE WON'T HAVE, HE HAS TO SAT DOWN BEFORE WE CAN EVEN CALL THE ITEM TO TAKE ANY ACTION TO DO ANYTHING ON IT WHICH MEANS WE'RE LOSING MORE. YEAH, I KNOW.

[Item 007]

>> NEXT ON THE AGENDA -- THE CITY OF MIDLOTHIAN'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN BY PROVING THE ADOPTION OF THE 2020 DOWNTOWN PLAN AS AN ADDENDUM TO THE 2018 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR

THE CITY OF MIDLOTHIAN. >> GOOD EVENING, HOPE EVERYONE IS DOING WELL. I THINK IN MAY OF 2018 THE CITY COUNCIL AS WELL AS THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION ADOPTED THE 2018 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. I THINK IT WAS PROBABLY A TEN YEAR UPDATE SINCE THE PREVIOUS ONE.

IN THAT IT CALLED FOR A COMPREHENSIVE AMENDMENT TO THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN. WE PROBABLY IN LAST YEAR 2019 GOT THEM INVOLVED WITH THE CITY OF MIDLOTHIAN DOWNTOWN PLAN.

I KNOW TRENTON WENT OVER IT WITH YOU LAST TIME BUT WE ARE LOOKING FOR ADOPTION TONIGHT TO THIS PLAN WHICH WOULD BE THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. IT'S A FOUR PART PLAN.

THERE'S AN INTRODUCTION, EXISTING CONDITIONS, DOWNTOWN VISION, AND ACTION PLAN. THE INTRODUCTION TALKS ABOUT THIS PLAN IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE AN OVERALL STRATEGY AND GUIDELINES FOR WHAT FUTURE DEVELOPMENT COULD LOOK LIKE IN THE AREA. IT INCLUDES ADDRESSING DESIGN OF BUILDING FORMS, STREETS, PUBLIC SPACES, AND BRANDING STRATEGIES.

IT'S TO PRESENT A VIEW FOR STRENGTHENING DOWNTOWN OF MIDLOTHIAN. I BELIEVE THIS DOCUMENT, I THINK IT'S ALL IN YOUR PACKET, THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT, DOES ACCOMPLISH THAT. ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT WE NEEDED TO DO WAS GET PUBLIC INPUT.

IN ANY PLAN YOU WANT TO GET THE PUBLIC INVOLVED.

SO IN VERY QUICK TIME WE GOT AT THE MIDLOTHIAN WINE WALK WE SET UP A BOOTH, FIGURED THAT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO GET NOT ONLY RESIDENTS INPUT BUT ALSO TOURISTS, THOSE TYPE OF PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING IN. WE GOT QUITE A BIT.

WE SET UP SOME WINEGLASSES GAVE EVERYBODY ABOUT FOUR MARBLES AND THAT'S KIND OF HOW THEY PRIORITIZED WHAT THEY'D LIKE TO SEE WHETHER IT WAS MORE RESTAURANTS, MORE RETAIL, HOUSING DOWNTOWN, ET CETERA. SO THAT WAS JUST KIND OF A FUN WAY TO KICK OFF AND LIKE I SAID I THINK TRENTON AND I GOT IT TOGETHER ABOUT TWO WEEKS SO THAT WAS FUN.

THE COUNCIL ALSO APPOINTED AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THAT WAS COMPRISED OF THE COUNCIL AND I THINK EACH OF THEM APPOINTED ANOTHER PERSON IT WAS ROSS WEAVER AT THAT POINT AND DAN PROBABLY STEPPED IN MIDWAY THROUGH THE PROJECT.

THEN WE HAD STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS, DOWNTOWN BUSINESS OWNERS, WE BROUGHT THOSE GUYS IN AND HAD ONE ON ONE INTERVIEWS WITH THEM. WE HAD AN ONLINE SURVEY, ON THAT ONLINE SURVEY WE HAD 1200 RESPONDENTS, A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT INTERACTED WITH THAT ONLINE SURVEY.

AND WITH THAT SURVEY THERE'S ALSO A MAP OF WHAT YOU WANTED TO SEE IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. SO SAY THE INTERSECTION OVER HERE YOU DIDN'T LIKE THE PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIVITY.

YOU WERE ABLE TO PUT A LITTLE DOT ON THE MAP AND SAY THIS IS DANGEROUS. WE DON'T LIKE THIS, YOU COULD

[00:10:02]

PUT THE SAME THING AT THE CORNER OF MAIN AND 8TH.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS INTERSECTION.

YOU COULD PUT SOMETHING ON THE VACANT BUILDINGS OVER THERE AND SAY THIS IS NOT UTILIZED IN THE BEST WAY IT COULD BE.

SO THAT WAS VERY POPULAR AND WE GOT A GOOD RESPONSE FROM THAT.

AND THEN WE ALSO, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED AFTER WE HAD GOTTEN THROUGH THE DOCUMENT, THE PLAN EVERYBODY AGREED TO IT BUT THEY SAID HEY WE WANT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE DOWNTOWN TO HAVE A SAY IN THIS. SO WE SENT OUT OVER 200 NOTICES TO PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE AREA, I THINK I'VE GOT A MAP HERE.

WITHIN THIS AREA, WE DID JUST A QUICK GIS ANALYSIS AND SAID HEY GIVE ME THE NAMES AND THE ADDRESSES OF EVERYBODY THAT LIVES IN THIS AREA AND OWNS PROPERTY IN THIS AREA.

AND WE SENT THEM POSTCARDS SAID HEY, THIS WAS RIGHT BEFORE COVID HIT, HEY COME ON DOWN, WE'D LIKE TO SEE YOU, WE'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU WHAT WE'VE DONE. WITH EHAD PROBABLY 50 PEOPLE PACKED IN THIS ROOM AND THEY WENT THROUGH, WE KIND OF JUST WENT THROUGH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT, THIS PICTURE HERE ON THE RIGHT THAT LOOKS LIKE A PRECURSOR FOR A PLAGUE MOVIE OR SOMETHING THESE DAYS. BUT THAT WAS REALLY JUST THE OPEN HOUSE THAT WE HAD. IT WAS REALLY MET WITH A LOT OF POSITIVITY. I THINK THERE WAS ONE NEGATIVE COMMENT IN THERE AND THAT WAS BASICALLY A CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUE THAT WAS IN DOWNTOWN. SO WE GOT A LOT OF GOOD INPUT, A LOT OF GOOD BUY IN, NOT ONLY FROM THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN LAWSON FARMS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT THAT OCCASIONALLY VISIT DOWNTOWN OR THAT VISIT DOWNTOWN EVERY DAY BUT BY THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE AND INTERACT WITH IT ALL THE TIME.

THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS WE HAD TO DO A SWAT ANALYSIS, SO OUR OPPORTUNITIES, ASSETS, CHANNELS, AND CHANGES.

SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WERE TAXES, NOT ENOUGH DAYTIME POPULATION TO SUPPORT RESTAURANTS AND RETAILS.

UNDERUTILIZED BUILDINGS, NOT ENOUGH PARKING IN THE DAYTIME.

WHAT'S MISSING A LIBRARY, COMMUNITY CENTER, FOUNTAIN, THE ARTS, START UP BUSINESSES. A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS FROM PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE DIFFERENT THINGS HAPPEN DOWNTOWN. LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER THIS WAS WHAT WE DECIDED, THE FIRST NIGHT WE DECIDED ON WHAT THE BOUNDARIES OF THIS PLAN WOULD BE.

NOW THESE ARE KIND OF FICTITIOUS BOUNDARIES, THERE'S STREETS AND EVERYTHING BUT YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE GOING FROM BLOCK TO BLOCK. THIS IS WHERE WE DECIDED TO CONCENTRATE, IN THE FUTURE CONCENTRATE INVESTMENT, IF THERE'S EVER A FINANCING MECHANISM WE WOULD UTILIZE THIS AREA. OF COURSE YOU COULD EXPAND IT TO GET BETTER TEXT TOPPERS. BUT REALLY JUST LOOK AT THIS AREA FOR THAT PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT.

SO THE EXISTING CONDITIONS WE LOOKED AT WHERE WE ARE IN THE METROPLEX, WHAT'S THE BUILDING TYPES THAT WE HAVE IN DOWNTOWN, WHAT'S UNDERUTILIZED, WHY THEY'RE BARRIERS.

MAIN STREET IS A TREMENDOUS BARRIER FOR PEDESTRIANS, THINGS LIKE THAT. THEN THE DOWNTOWN VISION WAS DERIVED, IT SAYS IT'S A SAFE, VIBRANT DESTINATION WITH OPPORTUNITIES, IT'S ENJOYED BY LOCALS AND VISITORS ALIKE AND FUNCTIONS AS THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY.

SO THE DOWNTOWN VISION WE LOOKED AT WHAT WOULD CREATE, WHAT DID WE WANT TO SEE DOWN HERE, PUBLIC SPACES, WALKABILITY AND SAFETY, A CULTURAL HUB, ARTS DOWN HERE, MORE RETAIL TYPE BUSINESSES, A LOT OF THE, YOU HAVE A LOT OF OFFICE SPACE IN DOWNTOWN AND THAT DOESN'T REALLY GET THE PEDESTRIANS MOVING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO WE REALLY WANTED TO SEE THOSE MIXED USES AND THEN THE CULTURE THERE AS WELL.

WE KIND OF CAME UP WITH AN ILLUSTRATIVE PLAN.

THIS IS KIND OF A GRAND VISION WITH A POSSIBLE CITY HALL SITTING THERE ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE WE ARE NOW.

AND THEN THIS IS KIND OF JUST A STREET SCAPE THAT WE CAN SEE IN THE FUTURE POSSIBLY. AND THEN THIS IS KIND OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE PLAN THAT REALLY KIND OF LAYS OUT SOME CATALYST PROJECTS HERE. THIS IS KIND OF THE CITY HALL THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AND THIS IS ACROSS THE STREET.

SO WE KNOW WE'VE GOT ABOUT 12,000 SQUARE FOOT HERE IN THE CITY HALL. WE KNOW WE HAVE A LIBRARY THAT WE SHARE WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT'S NOT OPTIMAL.

AND WE HAVE ANNUAL CONFLICTS DEALING WITH THAT.

SO YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THERE NEEDS TO BE A PUBLIC INVESTMENT AT SOME POINT. SO THE PLAN IS WE OWN, I WOULD SAY WE OWN 75% OF THAT BLOCK OVER THERE.

THE FIRE STATION IS COMING OPEN HERE IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF VACANCY OVER THERE.

ONE OF THE THINGS IS AT SOME POINT IT MIGHT NOT BE THIS YEAR, IT MIGHT NOT BE IN FIVE YEARS, IT MIGHT BE IN 7, 8, 10 YEARS, WE COULD MAKE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT OVER THERE AND POSSIBLY BUILD A CITY HALL SLASH LIBRARY AND REALLY CREATE A TOWN SQUARE AROUND THAT. ALSO THERE'S ALL OF THESE OTHER RETAIL PROJECTS AND ALL OF THESE NUMBERS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH

[00:15:02]

DIFFERENT PROJECTS. ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT PEOPLE LOVE IS BACK ALLEY PLAZA. EXTENDING THAT TO THE NORTH OF THAT. THIS COULD BECOME LEASE SPACE FOR RETAIL, NOT CULTURAL BUT ENTREPRENEURIAL HUBS, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS HERE. AND IT HAS SEVERAL CATALYST PROJECTS. THIS IS MAIN STREET AND REALLY THIS IS PRETTY SIMPLE WHAT WE LOOK AT DOING.

DOWN HERE WE ALREADY HAVE THE MEDIANS IN MAIN STREET THAT HAVE BEEN LANDSCAPED OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS WITH ACCELERATE AND 4B MONEY. IT'S JUST REALLY MAKING THIS MORE PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY THAT COMES INTO THE DOWNTOWN AREA TO ALLOW AND THAT REALLY IN CREATING THOSE PEDESTRIAN REFUGE AREAS IN MAIN STREET IT KIND OF OPENS UP THE OTHER SIDE TO DRAW PEOPLE FROM A WALKABILITY STANDPOINT TO THE SOUTH PART OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA. SO YOU HAVE TYPICAL STREET SECTIONS. THE THOROUGHFARE PLAN WE'VE REVISED THOSE TO BE CONTEXTUAL WITHIN DOWNTOWN MIDLOTHIAN BASED ON EXISTING CONDITIONS, PARTIAL BOUNDARIES, AND REALLY TO CREATE A VIBRANT PEDESTRIAN RIGHT OF WAY AND THOSE IN CONCERT WITH THOSE PROPOSED USES IN DOWNTOWN. AND THESE ARE SOME OF THE STREETS, AVENUE F WHAT THEY TALKED ABOUT WAS CREATING A GREEN STREET. THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RIGHT OF WAY ON AVENUE F AND WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT IS LINING THE STREET WITH MORE TREES, MAKING IT MORE PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY AND THEN KIND OF IF YOU LOOK AT, SORRY, I'M LOST.

OKAY. I'M SORRY.

OKAY, SORRY. IF YOU LOOK AT THIS AREA RIGHT HERE, IT REALLY CONNECTS IT TO KIMMEL PARK.

SO REALLY DRAWING THAT PARK INTO THE DOWNTOWN AND THAT'S THAT GREENWAY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALONG AVENUE F.

THAT WOULD BE THIS RIGHT HERE. AND THEN MAIN STREET WITH THOSE MEDIANS THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RIGHT OF WAY, AT LEAST 100-FOOT OF RIGHT OF WAY IN THERE AND I THINK WE HAVE AMPLE SPACE TO DO A LOT OF CREATIVE THINGS WITHIN THAT RIGHT OF WAY.

AND THEN THIS IS KIND OF THE ACTION PLAN AND HOW IT BREAKS OUT, THIS IS JUST A LITTLE SNIPPET OF WHAT THE ACTION PLAN TALKS ABOUT. IT TALKS ABOUT ENCOURAGE THE ADAPTIVE REUSE OF EXISTING CITY HALL TO INCLUDE OPTIONS FOR DINING, NIGHT LIFE, AND OTHER ACTIVE USES.

TO ENCOURAGE THE ADAPTIVE USE OF THIS CITY HALL MEANS WE NEED ANOTHER CITY HALL. SO WE CAN'T DO BOTH ON THAT.

THE TIME FRAME OF THAT IS 7 TO 10 YEARS.

OF COURSE THE BUDGET ON THAT IS PRETTY LARGE.

WE REALIZE THAT. AND THEN THERE'S ALSO SOME LOWER HANGING FRUIT. UPGRADE THE PARKING OF EXISTING CITY HALL TO INCLUDE FOOD TRUCK HOOK UPS.

THAT'S PUTTING SOME ELECTRICITY OUT THERE, REALLY SIMPLE STUFF.

BUT THIS CREATES A FRAMEWORK FOR PRIVATE INVESTMENT DOWNTOWN, PUBLIC INVESTMENT DOWNTOWN AND IT GETS PEOPLE AND OWNERSHIP, THOSE THAT OWN IT DOWNTOWN CONFIDENCE THAT THERE'S A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE DOWNTOWN AND THAT THEREFORE THE INVESTMENT IS MUCH EASIER TO STOMACH FOR THOSE GUYS.

WITH THAT I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS

DOWNTOWN PLAN. >> COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

>> YES, SIR. >> WOULD THIS KIND OF PARALLEL

DOWNTOWN GRAPEVINE? >> IT COULD.

IT'S A LOT MORE FLEXIBLE THAN THAT.

DOWNTOWN GRAPEVINE NUMBER ONE IS VERY LARGE.

AND THIS IS A VERY SMALL AREA. IF WE WERE TO GET TO THAT POINT I WOULD CONSIDER THAT A SUCCESS. THERE'S A COUPLE OF FACTORS THAT BUILD INTO THAT. WE HAVE TO HAVE PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND PEOPLE COME DOWN. IF WE BUILD IT AND WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE UTILIZING IT, WHAT GOOD IS IT? GRAPEVINE HAS HIT ON THOSE THINGS, HOW LONG HAS THAT BEEN GOING ON? AT LEAST 30 YEARS.

A CONCERTED EFFORT AT LEAST 30 YEARS.

WAXAHACHIE I WAS ON THAT ORIGINAL PLAN IN '97.

AND I WOULD SAY REALLY ONLY IN THE PAST 5 TO 7 YEARS HAVE THEY HIT IT. BOTH THOSE DOWNTOWN HAVE SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT DOWNTURNS IN THE ECONOMY SO IT'S JUST THAT PATIENCE. BUT I WOULD SAY IF WE REACH SOMETHING SIMILAR TO DOWNTOWN GRAPEVINE THIS PLAN WOULD BE A

SUCCESS. >> OKAY.

AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION THAT CAN BE TALKED ABOUT HAS THERE BEEN ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE OLD FIRE

STATION OVER HERE? >> YEAH, WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT.

RIGHT NOW I'M IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. AND WHAT THAT WOULD BE AND I RECOMMEND EVERYBODY GO TO THE GASTRO PUB IN GRAND PRAIRIE.

THEY RENOVATED THEIR OLD FIRE STATION ON INMATE STREET AND A COUPLE BOUGHT IT, NOT BOUGHT IT, THEY LEASED IT AND THEY'VE DEVELOPED A GASTRO PUB. IT'S REALLY INTERESTING YOU WALK INTO THE FIRE STATION AND YOU GO TO A WINDOW TO ORDER, YOU EITHER ORDER HOT CHICKEN OR BARBECUE. TWO TOTALLY SEPARATE

[00:20:03]

RESTAURANTS. OUTSIDE THEY HAVE TWO STORAGE CONTAINERS THAT ARE THESE KITCHENS.

IF YOU ORDER HOT CHICKEN IT GOES TO ONE SIDE, BARBECUE GOES TO THE OTHER. YOU CAN SIT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIRE STATION AND WHATEVER TIME IT TAKES THEM TO COOK THE FOOD THEY BRING IT BACK OUT AND YOU EAT AND THEY HAVE A NICE OUTDOOR AREA. THAT IS JUST TO SAY THAT I THINK WHAT WE'LL PROBABLY DO. IT WOULD BE GOOD TO BE A RESTAURANT, I COULD SEE IT BEING A YOGA STUDIO OR A DANCE STUDIO OR A DOMINO HALL. IT COULD BE ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS AND AS FLEXIBLE ENOUGH IT'S GOT THOSE BIG DOORS AND THE HUGE BAY OUT THERE THAT YOU COULD DO A LOT OF REAL NEAT THINGS WITH THAT. BUT THE THING IS WE WOULD LIKE TO RETAIN OWNERSHIP. AND I'VE SEEN IT TO WHERE THERE'S RENT PAID, THERE'S A PORTION, THERE'S A COST SHARING PROPORTION OF THE INCOME THAT WHATEVER RESTAURANT OR WHATEVER WOULD GO IN SHARES WITH THE CITY.

SO THAT'S WHEN WE DO AN RFP AND LEAVE IT PRETTY BROAD, WE GET THE PRIVATE COMPANIES TO COME IN AND LET THEM GIVE US THEIR IDEAS, WE DON'T RUN RESTAURANTS, WE DON'T DO ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES. SO GET THEIR EXPERTISE, LET THEM COME IN AND TEACH US A THING OR TWO ABOUT RUNNING THESE THINGS.

REALLY WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS ACTIVATE IT, GET PEOPLE DOWN HERE, GET THEM FEEDING ON THE REST OF THE DOWNTOWN.

THERE'S A GOOD, THERE'S JUST SOME GOOD BONES ABOUT DOWNTOWN MIDLOTHIAN. AND THEN YOU'VE GOT CAMPAZANO'S, YOU'VE GOT AT NIGHT THERE'S SOME GOOD POTENTIAL FOR SOME NIGHT LIFE. THEY TALKED ABOUT GETTING SOME ACOUSTIC BANDS. WHEN WE HAVE THE BIG FESTIVALS AROUND HERE THEY ATTRACT A LOT OF PEOPLE BUT THEY TALKED ABOUT WAS GETTING SOME SMALLER THINGS AND JUST SOME CONSISTENCY SO THAT WE PROGRAM EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT THAT YOU AND YOUR WIFE KNOW THAT YOU CAN GO DOWNTOWN, YOU CAN GRAB A GLASS OF WINE, YOU CAN SIT OUTSIDE AND HEAR SOME ENTERTAINMENT AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SOME HUGE SHOW LIKE THAT, IT COULD BE A KID IN THE JAZZ BAND FROM MIDLOTHIAN OR SOME NO NAME THAT IS ABOUT TO BE DISCOVERED. IT'S THOSE TYPE OF THINGS TO GET SOME ACTIVITY AND GET DOWNTOWN MOVING.

THAT'S A LONG ANSWER TO WHAT YOUR QUESTION WAS.

>> HOW ARE YOU ADDRESSING PARKING WITH THE ENHANCEMENTS

THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT HERE? >> WE'RE NOT.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT ADDRESSING THE PARKING AT ALL.

AND WE WILL ADDRESS PARKING WHEN IT REALLY BECOMES A PROBLEM.

WE'VE GOT DEE TEE'S ACROSS THE STREET.

LIKE WE LOOKED AT AVENUE F. I'M GOING TO GO THE WRONG WAY ON THIS AGAIN. AT F WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT IS THIS PLAN IS A GUIDE SO WE DON'T REALLY COME IN AND SAY YOU'VE GOT TO DO THIS HERE, YOU'VE GOT TO DO THIS HERE.

THERE'S A LOT OF PARKING WE COULD DO ALONG HERE ALONG AVENUE F. THERE'S A LOT OF RIGHT OF WAY OUT HERE ON NORTH 9TH STREET OR NORTH 8TH THAT WE HAVE THAT I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE EVER GOING TO MAKE THAT BRIDGE FOUR LANES WIDE. BUT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF AMPLE CITY RIGHT OF WAY THAT WE COULD DO PARKING DOWN THERE.

SO REALLY IT DOESN'T DICTATE HOW WE'RE GOING TO PUT IN THE PARKING NOW. BUT WHEN IT BECOMES A PROBLEM WE HAVE OPTIONS. ONE OF THE OPTIONS ARE TAKING THESE STORAGE BUILDINGS DOWN HERE DOWN BACK HERE AND PUTTING A PARKING LOT BACK THERE. BUT THOSE ARE HUGE CAPITAL EXPENSES. AT THIS POINT WE DON'T NEED TO GET BOGGED DOWN IN THOSE CONCERNS.

>> ARE WE GOING TO REVIEW SOME OF THE LEGAL ISSUES AND ORDN ORDINANCES?

>> I'D LOVE TO BRING IT BACK UP. AND ONE OF THE THINGS I'D LOVE TO DO IS NOT REQUIRE PARKING IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

I BELIEVE AND THIS IS PHILOSOPHICAL ABOUT ME, PRIVATE BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR PRIVATE PARKING ISSUES AND IF THEY CAN'T MAKE IT THEY'RE GOING TO COME TO US AND SAY LOOK WE'VE GOT AN ISSUE. DOWNTOWN WAXAHACHIE THERE'S PROBABLY HALF A DOZEN BUSINESSES THAT HAVE COME IN AND REQUESTED SINGLE PARKING, WE ALLOWED THEM TO RESERVE ONE PARKING.

THERE'S ABOUT 6 OR 7. BUT OTHER THAN THAT THERE'S NOT REALLY AN ISSUE. REALLY WHEN IT GETS TO BE AN ISSUE THAT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE.

>> I AGREE. I AGREE.

ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK IS WE REALLY HAVE THE DOWNTOWN IS A VERY UNIQUE AREA, ANY CITY. BUT MIDLOTHIAN HAS THAT WE NEED TO PRESERVE AND OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A DIFFERENT SET OF ORDINANCES FOR OUR SUBURBS AND THE SUBURBAN MODULE THAT WE HAVE. I THINK IT'S GOOD THAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING THIS AS A SEPARATE DISTINCT AREA.

I THINK Y'ALL DID A GOOD JOB. >> THANK YOU.

[00:25:02]

>> ARE WE TAKING ACTION ON THIS? >> I'D PREFER THAT.

>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, QUESTIONS, MOTIONS?

>> I MOVE TO APPROVE. >> IT IS OH LET ME CALL FOR PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE, ARE THERE ANY STATEMENTS OR SUBMISSIONS BY THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE I'LL MAKE A MONTH EDUCATION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. I HAVE A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BATES. ALL IN FAVOR.

>> AYE. >> IN DISCUSSIONS OR MOTIONS

ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO BRING? >> MOVE TO APPROVE.

>> A MOTION TO MOVE BY COMMISSIONER OSBORN.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY COMMISSIONER KOEHLER.

ALL IN FAVOR. >> AYE.

>> THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU. WITH THAT THAT REACHES THE END OF OUR AGENDA, IS THERE ANY NEW BUSINESS OR COMMENTS OR ANNOUNCEMENTS? HEARING NONE I WILL GO AHEAD AND ADJOUR

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.