Thompson, Johnny-AG 890228-~.~ - · Z ' '-~ · . ..
I. ~ff/~LZ ~ : Johnny Thomson
z~. I~ ~t~Oe : Discussion & consideration of ~quests by johnny Thompson
for the City to: a. place Mr. Tho~son's enti~:_p~perty in. the floodway; "
b. 1957 annexation of Mr. Tho~son's p~perty in the CiW of Coppell;
c. 1979 zoning request of Mr. Thomson of 7 ac. 'of an 8.293 ac. tract;
d. allowance of 2 ~re ~tal buildings on Mr. Thompson's property
annexeo ~n ~vub;
e. platting and security guard; and
f. request for disannexation.
ACTZON eECO ENDEO:
V. N~XFI~TXON ~ :
~ OF CO~A~ :
·
CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS/RECOMMENDATION FOR AGENDA ITEM
Item #~LO City CounCil Agenda Dated: 2-28-89
Since February 10th the City has received five separate
letters requesting information and action from Hr. Thompson.
The latest letter which was delivered on February 19th and
is a part of this agenda item was co-signed by three
Councilmembers. After conversation with Councilman
Smothermon we have undertaken a detailed study and response
to the question'which Mr. Thompson has asked.
1. Mr. Thompson has stated that his entire property was
placed, by the City, in the floodway. The City of
Coppell has not placed Mr. Thompson's property in the
floodway. The determination of properties within the
floodway was done after engineering studies show which
properties are below the elevation in which a lO0-¥ear
flood would cover that property with flood water.
Page 2
Russell Doyle has provided a memorandum to me which
addresses this question. You will also note as part of
this documentation a handwritten transmittal letter
addressed to Mr. Johnny Thompson dated January 24, 1989
in which our engineering department previously sent
documents to Mr. Thompson letting him know what was
needed to determine if his property is out of the
floodway. Mr. Thompson has not submitted documentation
which is acceptable to either the City Engineer or the
Federal Emergency Management Administration. As you
are aware, the City of Coppell is responsible for
enforcing our floodway ordinance which, without that
ordinance or the enforcement effort, can result in our
City being declared ineligible for flood insurance.
Other supporting documentation to #1, is a letter dated
May 4, 1983 addressed to Mr. Ron Morrison and signed by
Andrew Brown, Jr., Mayor which seems to indicate that a
letter of map amendment had been filed with FEMA on Mr.
Thompson's property. Mr. Thompson contends this letter
supports his claim that the property is out of the
floodway. A subsequent letter dated June 3, 1983
addressed to Mr. Ron Morrison, again signed by Mayor
Brown, corrects that first letter and states that the
Page 3
letter of May 4th is incorrect in its identification of
the property. It describes a 25-acre piece of property
which is south of Sandy Lake Road and east of the TP&L
line easement and west of the Carrollton dam at the Elm
Fork of Trinity River as being the property to be
considered. Therefore, we do not believe that
documentation is in our files which would support Mr.
Thompson's contention. Over the period of months that
Mr. Thompson has been presenting this argument, we have
asked him to supply the necessary engineering data that
could be submitted for a letter of map amendment, but
as of this date the information has not been submitted.
The 1957 annexation of Mr. Thompson's property into the
City of' Coppell has been discussed and previously
reviewed on September 27, 1988 by the City Council in
Executive Session. Larry Jackson has again reviewed
this data and has reconfirmed his opinion that the
property is legally within the City of Coppell. Mr.
Thompson from time-to-time has contended that only 7
acres was annexed in the City; however, Larry Jackson's
research indicates that the total 8.29 acres was
annexed into the City on July 1, 1957 as part of a much
larger annexation.
Page 4
Larry Jackson's opinion is reflected in his memorandum
of September 12, 1988. A copy of the minutes of that
annexation is also included for your review. Mr.
Jackson will be prepared to present his research to you
on Tuesday.
In response to the 1979 zoning request of Mr.
Thompson's "7 acre" tract of land, Mr. Thompson has
for some time contended that the entire tract of land
was not zoned light industrial~ however, the
documentation in our files appears to support our
belief that the entire 8.29 acres was and has been
rezoned from single family to light industrial. You
can refer to the Notice of the Public Hearing which was
published February 26, 1979 at the request of Morris
Ethridge. We understand that Mr. Thompson purchased
this land from Mr. Ethridge. The agenda for the City
Council meeting, as well as the minutes of this meeting
of March 13, 1979 again support the contention that the
entire 8.29 acres of land was zoned to light
industrial.
Page 5
Mr. Thompson's request appears to request that we allow
two more metal buildings on the property that was
annexed in 1986. Attached is a memorandum dated
February 23, 1989 from Dale Jackson stating that metal
buildings or buildings with metal roofs are not
permitted under city ordinances anywhere within the
city limits. As most of you know, there are several
buildings in existence in this area. We are not
certain as to how or when these buildings were placed
on the property; however, Mr. Thompson has been
notified that further building in this area will not be
permitted without proper zoning or clearance from
engineering and receipt of a building permit.
$5 This item refers to a question about platting and a
security guard. Mr. Dale Jackson has attempted to
anticipate what this question is and has provided what
he believes to be an appropriate response. In summary,
based on our interpretation of the question, he would
not be permitted to use a house as a security guard
shelter.
Page 6
#6 Larry Jackson will speak to the request for
disannexation. Mr. Thompson has contended for quite
some time that he is entitled to city services and that
unless city services are provided, that he be
disannexed from the City. Our records indicate that in
addition to zoning protection, which protects not only
Mr. Thompson, but other surrounding property owners,
that he has, in fact, used the services of the Coppell
Fire Department on several occasions, and in addition,
has been approved to tie onto a city water line.
On February 10th Mr. Thompson delivered a letter to Russell
Doyle which also questioned whether or not the 7 acres in
Coppell had been rezoned. He submits as part of the
supporting documentation some tax statements from our tax
office. There are possibly two explanations for the 7 acres
shown on these tax statements: 1) the tax statements were
merely a clerical error that occurred some years ago, or 2)
the 7 acres, in fact, were the net acres after right-of-way
for such things as the railroad are removed from the parcel.
T~is theory seems to have some merit. However, it was later
changed to 8.29 acres and Mr. Thompson has paid taxes on the
entire 8.29 acres for several years.
Page 7
In another letter dated February 17, 1989 addressed to the
City of Coppell, Mr. Thompson requests left-hand turn lanes
on Beltline eastbound. Mr. Thompson has said that he was
sent to the county and then back to the city. Mr. Doyle has
prepared a letter of response to Mr. Thompson in which he
states succinctly what is required for this matter to be
considered. You will note that Mr. Thompson has already
been given a median break at the entrance of his drive.
Another of Mr. Thompson's letters of February 17, 1989 also
raises the question of what the City is required to do for
him if the property at 1850 East Beltline was annexed into
the city. The memorandum of February 20th from Dorothy
Timmons to Alan Ratliff provides documentation relevant to
that annexation. Larry Jackson can respond to the questions
of the city's legal responsibility to the property.
It is not our desire to enter into argument or conflict with
Mr. Thompson in the development of his property. It is only
our desire to see that he, as any other property owner,
follow your policies and procedures as contained in your
ordinances. As administrators and enforcement officials for
Page 8
your policies and procedures, we are attempting to do that
in this case. Many staff hours have been spent with Mr.
Thompson in attempting to tell him what is needed and what
is expected in these policies and/or procedures. We think
that Mr. Thompson should follow the procedures and
ordinances of the City of Coppell as it will be in the best
interest of everyone, including himself and those around
him.
We will trust your judgement as to your findings and will
readily carry out your decisions.