ST0004-CS000912 (2)�I
:n® P.O. Box
Coppell, Texas 75019
- he City With A Beautiful Future 972 - 462 -0022
1 .0. BOX 478
;OPPELL,TEXAS 75019
September 14, 2000
Bob L. Minyard
Chairman of the Executive Committee
Minyard Food Stores
P. O. Box 518
Coppell, Texas 75019
RE: Freeport Parkway (Bethel Road to IH 635) Project # ST00 -04
Dear Mr. Minyard:
Thank you for your letter dated August 31, 2000, which I received in my office on September 13. In that letter
you expressed concern regarding the status of Freeport Parkway. As you are aware, in November 1999 voters
approved a bond program, which included the reconstruction of portions of Freeport Parkway. The approved
dollar amount for that reconstruction was $1,560,000. That dollar amount contains various components. One
major component is an attempt to realign the bridge over Grapevine Creek. The current curve in the road north
of the bridge is very abrupt and difficult to maneuver while attempting to drive anywhere near the posted speed
limit of 40 mph. The goal is to create a smoother curve coming into the bridge section to allow for vehicles to
travel at or near the posted speed limit. The second major component of the bond election was to replace
approximately 20% of Freeport Parkway's existing surface from the railroad track south to I.H. 635. The 20%
was based on a visual evaluation by our Engineering Department.
In an attempt to construct all projects approved in the bond election without raising taxes, it is necessary to
spread out the projects over a 5 -6 year time period. The majority of the money for Freeport Parkway has been
allocated in Year 5 of the bond program. That places the availability of the money in the 2004 -2005 time frame.
There are several items which could cause this project to be constructed sooner. The City of Coppell has been
approached by the potential developers of a large tract of land on the north side of Bethel Road at the
intersection of Bethel Road and Freeport Parkway. That developer is also concerned about the condition of
Freeport Parkway and the timeline for the availability of the funds. The developer has proposed to incorporate
the improvements to Freeport Parkway into their planned extension of Freeport Parkway north to Ruby Road.
Obviously, he is still expecting that the City of Coppell will pay for those improvements.
Currently, City staff is measuring the deteriorated portions of Freeport Parkway to obtain an accurate
measurement of the roadway that needs to be removed and replaced. In addition to that, the Finance Department
is reviewing what impact there would be on our future tax rate if the money for Freeport Parkway were allocated
in Year 2. Year 2 is generally assumed to begin sometime around mid -2001.
For your information, generally the way the monies are being allocated is as follows:
Year 1: Money is being allocated for the design of three roadways. Those include Bethel Road (Freeport
Parkway to the west City Limits), West Sandy Lake Road (Denton Tap to S.H. 121), and Coppell Road (Sandy
Lake to Bethel Road).
Bob L. Minyard
September 14, 2000
Page Two
Year 2: Money is being allocated for the construction of East Sandy Lake Road (MacArthur Blvd. to the east
city limits near the Elm Fork of the Trinity River).
Year 3: Money is being allocated for the design of Bethel Road (Freeport Parkway to Denton Tap Road) and
for the construction of Bethel Road (Freeport Parkway west to the west city limits).
Year 4: Money is being allocated for the construction of Coppell Road (Sandy Lake Road to Bethel Road) and
for right -of -way acquisition along West Sandy Lake Road (Denton Tap to S.H. 121).
Year 5: Money is being allocated for the construction of Bethel Road (Freeport Parkway east to S.H. 121) and
for the reconstruction of portions of Freeport Parkway (railroad track south to I.H. 635).
Year 6: Money is being allocated for the construction of West Sandy Lake Road (Denton Tap to S.H. 121).
Each of the major projects have issues associated with them which could delay or change the time schedule as
previously provided. This could cause money for Freeport Parkway to be allocated quicker. As I hope you can
see, it is somewhat complicated trying to spread out a $40 million bond sale over 5 -6 years without having an
impact on the tax rate.
Your other concern was about the maintenance of the medians. The irrigation and landscaping in the Freeport
Parkway median south of Gateway was constructed in 1994 as a Public Improvement District (PID) project.
The PID has very specific boundaries that do not extend the entire length of Freeport Parkway. The cost for the
PID improvements is assessed back to the property owners within the PID. The median north of the railroad
track is not part of the PID, but it is mowed regularly by the Leisure Services Department. Because it is not
irrigated, no additional landscaping has been added.
If you should have any questions or need any additional information please feel free to contact Ken Griffin, City
Engineer, at 972/304 -3686 regarding the road, Gary Sims, Director of Leisure Services, at 972/304 -3565
regarding the median, or myself.
Re tf 1
Ji itt
City Manager
JW:kb
cc: Mayor Sheehan
Ken Griffin
Gary Sims
M.WYARD
p� IN4.01'1i ► ave
CF E *q5y�-
Warehouse Food Stores
August 31, 2000
Mr. Jim Witt, City Manager
City of Coppell
255 Parkway Boulevard
P. O. Box 478
Coppell TX 75019
Dear Mr. Witt:
This letter is being written to express our concern for the poor quality road surface of Freeport
Parkway between Airline Drive and Bethel Road. We obviously recognize there is a tremendous
heavy truck use of Freeport Parkway, but this should have been anticipated and considered by the
city upon the development of the industrial area.
r-
The sporadic patch repairs are only a temporary fix to the problem as the overall road surface
continues to deteriorate. Also, we have noticed that the islands separating the roadway between the
city limits at I635 and Gateway Boulevard are landscaped and maintained on a weekly basis.'The
islands beginning at Gateway Boulevard continuing north to Bethel Road are not even mowed on
a regular basis, much less landscaped. Is this area city maintained right of way, and if so, what can
be done to extend the maintenance and landscaping service north to Bethel Road?
We respectfully request the city seriously consider a long term solution to this problem and would
appreciate a response as to any plans the city may have regarding these issues.
Bob L. Minyard
Chairman of the Executive Committee
c: Honorable Candy Sheehan, Mayor
- ----------------
MINYAR FOOD STORES INC., 777 FREEPORT PARKWAY P.O. BO X 518. COPPELL, TEXAS 75019 (972) 393 -8700