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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPZ 2009-04-16 MinutesMINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS APRIL 16, 2009 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chairman Randy Shiflet at 7:05 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL PRESENT Chairman Vice-Chairman Secretary Ex-Officio Randy Shiflet Bill Schopper Don Bowen Mike Benton Steven Cooper Mark Haynes Dianna Madar ABSENT CITY STAFF Director of Planning & Dev Chief Planner Asst. Planner Asst. Dir. Public Works Fire Prevention Asst. Chief Fire Marshall Recording Secretary Kelly Gent John Pitstick Eric Wilhite Chad VanSteenberg Greg VanNeiuwenhuize Lt. Greg Lindsay Kirk Marcum Teresa Koontz 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Dianna Madar led the pledge of allegiance. 4. Approval of Minutes from the February 5ss~on Meet ng'~ Council and Planning 8~ Zoning Commi Bill Schopper seconded by Mark Haynes, motioned to approve the minutes of February 5, 2009. The motion was carried unanimously (6-0). Page 1 of 6 04/16/09 P & Z Minutes 5. Approval of Minutes from the March 5, 2009 Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting Steven Cooper motioned to approve the minutes of March 5, 2009, seconded by Don Bowen. The motion was carried unanimously (6-0). 6. SUP 2009-02 Public Hearing and Consideration of a request from Chesapeake Operating, Inc. for a Special Use Permit for a Gas Drilling and Production Site on Tract Al of the Northeast Campus Addition located at 828 W. Harwood Road. (Continued from March 19, 2009) Chairman Shiflet opened the Public Hearing at 7:07 p.m. Norman Herrera, Public Affairs Coordinator with Chesapeake Energy, 100 Energy Way, Fort Worth, TX 76102, came forward with a request for a Special Use Permit named TCCD South. He gave a power point presentation about Chesapeake Energy in the Barnett Shale with drilling history in Tarrant and surrounding counties. Mr. Herrera displayed a pad site on the north side of the campus at TCCD North 1 H, showing 16 feet sound walls, and said there are active conversations with the college to reduce the footprint. He stated that in order to effectively produce 12 wefts, they would need 3.2 acres to have the elbow room to mobilize the equipment and have effective rig construction. The ability to reduce the pad once you have constructed the Hawk wall style fencing would be difficult to change, so the footprint needs to be in place before drilling. tt is Chesapeake's intent to construct the wall along Boulevard 26 first, and then complete the rest of the perimeter once there is a conclusion of the drilling operation. The ordinance does have a requirement stating that 90 days after the first well is complete the screening wall must be constructed. The masonry screening wall shall be tall enough to screen the equipment from the right of way. He showed examples of screening walls and landscaping that will be used for this site. In addition, Mr. Herrera stated that the well site will be reclaimed and landscaped, production water removed, with equipment maintenance and production monitored by the energy company. In summary, he recapped the five step process which includes the pad site preparation, the drilling of the well, hydraulic fracturing state and flaring, the marketing of the gas or pipeline installation and the reclamation of the site. Mr. Herrera stated that TCC is presently meeting to pass a 150 ft. no-build easement as this meeting is taking place and has Staff support of this bill. Mike Benton stated his concerns with the noise that the wells would produce to surrounding neighbors. Mr. Herrera said the well would have a 16 foot sound wall and will be monitored by a sound engineer. If is out of compliance with our ordinance, then another layer of sound protection would be added. Page 2 of 604/16/09 P & Z Minutes Chairman Shiftlet asked if the wall on the north end was 16 feet? Mr. Herrera said yes it was 16 feet, two 8 feet sections stacked on top of each other. He stated that the college is reviewing the fencing regulations between North Richland Hills and Hurst, as they differ and their desire is to have a uniform campus. Mr. Benton asked if there have been any complaints due to noise with Hurst residents. He stated that he is aware of complaints with the well at the Birdville Well site. Mr. Herrera stated that they work closely with the operations teams and at Hurst they have his cell phone number and no complaints have been reported. The fracing operations would be the only time when possible noise complaints would occur and those hours are 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Mr. Benton asked how much time is Chesapeake anticipating for these wells. Mr. Herrera said that the drilling operations typically last 20-25 days for an average lateral length for a well. Mr. Benton said that his concern is to make sure our residents have their complaints addressed in a timely manner. He asked if our city had anyone that monitored the sounds. John Pitstick said yes, we have an onsite gas inspector which is unique in our city. He introduced Kirk Marcum, Assistant Chief of the Fire Marshalls Office. There have been a few complaints, but we have been there on the spot with sound meters to monitor the noise levels. Kirk Marcum said that when noise complaints are reported, then they go out to the site, take readings and report to the Chesapeake representative. Normally within an hour the sound readings are back into compliance. So far there have been good working relationships with all the drilling operators. Steven Cooper asked about a masonry fence on the site and if the reason a chain link fence would be installed temporarily is because the foot print might change? He asked if the estimated 18-20 days would be for each well? Mr. Herrera answered they are currently working to finalize the foot print to get as current to the completed project as possible. He said yes, the average days would be per well. Some rigs and geological formations do lend themselves to drill faster. He said the more experience they get, hopefully they can come in and out of the sites quicker. Chairman Shiflet stated that it appears we have residents closer to the well sites than Hurst actually does. Don Bowen asked for clarification on the permanent fencing after 90 days. Page 3 of 6 04/16/09 P 8 Z Minutes Mr. Pitstick answered that what is being presented tonight is a foot print for 3.2 acres. Chesapeake has shown a drilling and production pad site for 3.2 acres. We would certainly encourage them to reduce the site, but if they do, then the SUP will have to be revised. With this submittal they would build the masonry wall on Boulevard 26 and wrap the corners. Our current ordinance requires that the masonry wall around the entire site be built 90 days after the drilling of any of the wells at the location. They could come to the Gas Board of Appeals for any revisions they requested. There was a general discussion about the noise, fencing and foot prints of the pad sites. Mr. Schopper stated his support of the drilling and was appreciative of the extra efforts Chesapeake is doing above and beyond what we require. Mark Haynes asked about the elongated area on the north of the foot print and what would it be used for ? He suggested that if it were more rectangular it might require less masonry wall. Mr. Herrera stated that part of this area consists of the 3.2 acres needed for production and adequate access for the equipment storage. There was a general discussion regarding the final landscaping at the Graham Ranch well and the unusual circumstances that caused the delay in finalizing its landscaping and masonry wall. Chairman Randy Shiflet asked about the concrete driveway access off of Harwood and where is it in relation to the water tank? Mr. Herrera answered there is an easement road to the west of the water tower that would be used. Jonathan Faughtenberry, Project Engineer for Chesapeake Energy explained the access road would have entrance by the fire hydrant and trees would be removed to construct the access road. Mr. Schopper asked if this site was in the flood plain and how much would it come up? Mr. Faughtenberry said yes, a portion of it is and it will be kept at grade. But at the permitting process there would have to be a hydraulic study to eliminate rise or flooding issues. He stated the entire road would be a 24 foot concrete section from Harwood to the entrance point up to the site and the drill site would only have the flex base. Mr. Pitstick gave the Staff report stating this is the 4th well site in the City of North Richland Hills. The other well sites are located on residential or agricultural property. A Special Use Permit is required on properties zoned non-residential to avoid interference with the future development of the site. Tarrant County College presented a Master Development Plan that shows where all the future parking and buildings would go. There are many regulations in Chapter 104 of the ordinance enforced by the Fire Page 4 of 604/16/09 P 8 Z Minutes Department. We are pro-drilling with very high standards which is why we have a Gas Board of Appeals and an in-house Gas Inspector. There would be many regulations and guidelines that the drilling company would have to adhere to before the drilling begins. David Hoelke, Director of System Infrastructure of Tarrant County College, 828 Harwood Road, Hurst came forward with approval of the drilling site. He said the Board of Trustees has voted to let all the money raised from the drilling go 100% towards scholarships. He just received word from the Board that the no-build easement was approved as presented. Chairman Shiflet verified with John Pitstick that the surrounding apartments and neighbors would receive proper notification before this would go forward? Mr. Pitstick said yes, during the Gas Board of Appeals everyone within 600 feet would be notified. Charles Smith, Vice President and Assistant Controller for Western Rim Investors, 601 Canyon Drive, Ste 101, Coppell, TX came forward in support of the drilling. They are owners of Villas on the Green, Estates of North Richland Hills, and Villas on Bear Creek. He said they are a part of the North Richland Hills business community and offer about 755 quality apartment homes for family and senior adult living, contributing almost $53 million in taxable value during 2008 to the county, city and school district. He feels the success of Chesapeake is a vital part of our economy and will benefit citizens along with the children of the BISD school district. Mr. Haynes asked when the construction and drilling might begin. Mr. Herrera stated that different lease obligations would effect when construction would begin. Businesses, apartments and citizens would benefit from the mineral rights that would be acquired during this process. Once the permit is in hand it will give them the opportunity to be more date specific. Mr. Bowen asked if it were possible to put more than one drilling rig on a site at one time. Mr. Herrera said no, there are many safety and production requirements that would not allow more than one at a time. Mr. Pitstick clarified that once the permit has been issued, they have 180 days to start drilling. They can request a 90 day extension from the gas inspector. If .they did not begin construction within that time frame, they would have to reapply for the permit. Under the SUP, they would have to build the masonry wall and landscaping before they begin drilling. In addition, there is no pipeline located at the site, so it could be a while before drilling begins at this site. There are stipulations once they get the permit including how long they have to drill and how to move forward with it. Page 5 of 604/16/09 P & Z Minutes Chairman Shiflet closed the Public Hearing at 8:08 p.m. and entertained a motion. There was an amendment to be added regarding dust control on the site to "twice a year or as determined by the gas inspector." APPROVED Bill Schopper seconded by Don Bowen motioned to approve SUP 2009-02. The motion was carried unanimously (6-0). ADJOURNMENT There being no other business, the meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m. Chairman ~~ ~ ~ Randy Shiflet Secretary ,~Q Don Bowen Page 6 of 604/16/09 P 8 Z Minutes