The Fort Worth City Council meets each Tuesday. The first and second Tuesday of each month the City Council meets in the evening, 7:00 p.m. The rest of the month's Tuesday meetings are held at 10:00 a.m.
CURRENT NEWS
Tom Thumb Secures Approval for New Store
On December 9, 2009, the Dallas City Council unanimously approved Tom Thumb’s zoning request to construct a new store at Inwood Road and University Boulevard. Associates with Masterplan contacted each property owner within the zoning notification area. Masterplan also coordinated neighborhood outreach efforts to explain the need for the new store. Overall, 85 of the 164 zoning ballots were returned in favor of the new store (only 28 in opposition). Over 900 letters of support were received from property owners within one mile of the new store location. Masterplan coordinated efforts to arrange over 20 neighbors to testify in support of the zoning request. Several members of the Dallas City Council acknowledged this overwhelming neighborhood support as a critical aspect in approving this request.
Tom Thumb will construct a new one story store at this location. This will allow them to provide an additional 2,000 items for its customers. The new store will offer a Brick Hearth Oven, Natural/Organic Product Offerings, Expanded Beer and Wine Selections, Cheese World, Olive Bar, Sushi, and a Starbucks with Wi Fi. The store’s design and architectural features will be unlike other Tom Thumb grocery stores. This is an acknowledgement of Tom Thumb’s history in providing quality service and products to residents of the surrounding neighborhoods since 1963.
Tom Thumb proposed redevelopment at Inwood and University
The proposed new Tom Thumb grocery store has been designed specifically for this location to replace the current Simon David store at Inwood Rd. and University Blvd. It will be a single story structure with four sided architecture utilizing brick and stone. The proposed new Tom Thumb store will be slightly larger than the existing Simon David, allowing the proposed new store to offer a greater selection to customers with the addition of 1500 to 2000 new products on the shelves. Tom Thumb is proposing to invest millions on this new store to better serve this neighborhood as it has since 1963.
During the past year, Tom Thumb representatives have worked closely with the surrounding residents and have listened to their concerns. As a result of this collaborative dialogue, Tom Thumb has volunteered to limit delivery times for the new store to 6 AM to 9 PM daily. Currently there are no restrictions on delivery hours for the existing store. Likewise, the loading dock area for the proposed new Tom Thumb has been reduced from two to one dock and will be fully screened from view.
Masterplan provides entitlement help for Richardson Data Center
Recently Masterplan secured approval from the City of Richardson to allow for the expansion of the existing Richardson Collins Electrical Substation. The firm assisted its longtime client, Oncor Electric Delivery, and the developer, Digital Realty Trust, in allowing for the needed expansion. The redevelopment of the technology park required robust electrical service. The additional source of electrical service provides enhanced reliability for the data center.
Masterplan’s newest consultant, Mark Housewright, helped the public utility and developer coordinate efforts with various city departments. Housewright, a former Dallas City Councilman, also managed activities with various consulting engineers, including locally based Pacheco Koch, who served as the civil engineer.
This is the second large project assisting technology users that the firm accomplished in Richardson. Texas Instruments is preparing to open its landmark silicon chip making plant. The chips are used in smart phone, computers, and industrial telecom equipment. TI hopes to employee up to 1,000 employees.
Masterplan goes green by bringing wind power to North Texas
The firm was selected to work on land entitlements for the Competitive Renewable Energy Zones. This initiative, approved by the Public Utility Commission of Texas, is designed to use wind power to provide additional capacity for the transmission grid. Masterplan will work on a number of transmission line segments to provide appropriate land entitlements for necessary stations. The firm will work in 29 counties and numerous municipalities.
Masterplan assists former President Bush with Dallas Relocation
Masterplan was retained to assist former President Bush and his wife, Laura, in obtaining approval for a street closure and a private gate. The firm worked closely with city staff in numerous departments and obtained City Council approval for the closure of Daria Drive and Daria Place. The gate will provide additional security.
Masterplan works to enhance power grid
Masterplan has recently completed work as the land use manager for the world’s largest Static Var Compensator located at Oncor’s Parkdale facility in the Pleasant Grove portion of Dallas. The firm is also working on another facility in Plano. These are the first of their kind in North America. The addition of the SVC will compensate for the loss of electrical generation in the urban area. Masterplan obtained various land use approvals and building code waivers from the cities to ensure a timely start to the projects. Likewise, the firm coordinated the efforts of a variety of professional consultants located across the country and abroad. These projects constituted more than $100 million of improvements to the electrical grid.
Masterplan assists on urban pipeline route
Masterplan has assisted DFW Midstream in a high-pressure natural gas pipeline. The pipeline will help to alleviate capacity problems in the Barnett Shale. DFW Midstream had the ingenious idea of using already encumbered rights of way and locating the pipeline adjacent to transmission corridors. The pipeline allowed the University of Texas at Arlington to flow gas and the company will carry most of the gas in Dalworthington Gardens, Pantego, Arlington, Mansfield, and Grand Prairie. The project often requires working with 100 or more property owners at one time and three or more municipal governments. Finally, the firm just received approval for a large gathering and compression facility that will enhance capacity and operational aspects of the pipeline.
Masterplan Embarks on the Redevelopment of North Oak Cliff
Masterplan is assisting INCAPFUND with the renewal of North Oak Cliff. The real estate investment group targets urban core areas, like Oak Cliff, for smart-growth projects. The firm has provided real estate entitlements, including zoning, abandonments, platting, permitting, and tax abatements, for mixed use developments. These projects seek to blend public and private stakeholders in an urban infill project that is committed to being sustainable and pedestrian-friendly.
Masterplan to Assist Denton County Transportation Authority and DART Green Line
Masterplan will continue to provide its expertise for zoning related to the Denton County Transportation Authority. The firm will provide appropriate zoning and real estate entitlements to support the DCTA’s mission. Masterplan is in the process of completing the land use and planning work associated with the Green Line. As the exclusive consultant for the line segment, the firm has worked with the City of Dallas, Farmers Branch and Carrollton and has been in charge of zoning and permit expediting. The firm also has obtained approvals for abandonments and street closures. Masterplan has provided successful zoning for every transit facility in the DART system.
Masterplan involved in Remaking West Dallas
The firm was selected to represent West Dallas Investments. This group has assembled a large number of properties in West Dallas and hopes to remake the area into a remarkable urban development. The firm has previously represented numerous clients in this vitally important area. The project promises unlimited redevelopment opportunities close to downtown with some of the best views in the city.
900 Jackson Street 
Tom Thumb Secures Approval for New Store