In reviewing the past council minutes on this plan, I have some concerns. I was told by the City Manager in the last council discussion, that we had already accepted the grant – that it was a done deal. However, it appears that the matching grant has been increased and this now has to be approved by vote of the Mayor/Council in the next meeting (5/13/23, Work Session at 6p, Council Meeting at 7pm).
Also, despite citizen’s strong objections to the reduction of Glenview Rd from 4 lanes to 3 lanes (one being a turning lane), it is my understanding that this plan option is still on the table. This was made clear to me at the Open House for the new Comprehensive Plan Review, when I noticed that the presentation board for the Glenview Project, as shown below, is 2 lanes with a parking lane, a turning lane and a redevelopment of Hardisty Street parallel to Glenview (hike/bike trail on Glenview around to Popplewell). There is also alot of proposed rezoning in the areas of Glenview, Hardisty, Vivian (behind CVS) and Leslie & Norma (Creek Trail Park/Jordan Addition).
I think it would be a very good idea for citizens to make an appearance at the next work session/council meeting and listen to the plans and ask their questions and express their thoughts.
Next council meeting is 5/13 @ 7, but the council work session will be 6p and that’s where discussions occur with more openness to citizen comments. The first portion of the work session at 6pm will be a presentation to honor Mayor Lopez as he leaves office, to be followed by discussion of city business.
MY OPINION ONLY: This project has the potential of being very expensive and short on returns. It also has the potential of a major impact on the lives of anyone living in that area, especially the Hardisty St. homes from the Bike Trail to Popplewell. Our City has a way of making quiet decisions and not exposing the real (total) costs of projects. There are examples of projects from the past 2 years and longer that have had major overruns and shoddy, non-warranted work. I will share these items in future posts, not to damage our city, but to make you aware so that you might desire to be more proactive in the decisions being made that directly affect your lives and your money.
I asked the City Manager about this layout that was at the recent Comprehensive Plan Open House – as it appears to me that Hardisty Street was being partially converted to a green zone (park) with a townhome/apartment complex in the center (yellow bldg) – the red bldgs I think, note new commercial or townhome/apartment bldgs. It’s not very clear (I mean the plan, not the image), but I would sure like to know more.
In the initial meetings with the consultant on this project, it was mentioned that it could easily cost over $20 million dollars for the “Basic” project. Tarrant County has offered a matching grant of just under $6 million. We would be on the hook for $6-14 million or more. It was mentioned that the city would look for outside funds – grants, developers, etc… but there are no guarantees. In the initial grant, the money was to be spent on curbs, gutters, sidewalks and street repairs…. (opinion alert) this project has grown into a monster.
If you cannot attend the council meetings on 5/13/24, you can email your questions/thoughts to the city manager (cedmondson@richlandhills.com) or you can post a comment on this website page and I will collect the comments and present them to council. If you don’t want your comment posted on this website or shared with council, please include note in your comment, and I will honor your privacy.
I strongly object to having my home lost to a master plan. The Creek park area and surrounding homes is a safe and stable neigborhood. Note my STRONG objecttion and vote of NO confidence in the council for such a plan.
Regards,
This is a bad idea.
Currently at 5 pm with 2 lanes heading west, traffic easily backs up past Willman Ave.
If they make Glenview a single lane, the backup would double in length, most likely to Ruth or even Norton drive.
So what do the geniuses at city hall think is going to happen when Google maps sees the back up on Glenview? Probably not much, I think that space is empty up there.
Cars will be turning onto Norton or Ruth to get to Hardisty to go around the traffic backup on Glenview.
And it’s almost as the city is anticipating and encouraging it by redoing Hardisty. Traffic on that street will double if this plan goes through.
So much for council representing its citizens. I guess they only represent fellow council members.
Our family purchased our home in Richland Hills in 1965. It is likely the oldest home in RH. Built by Mr. Willman, and our street carries the name of his daughter, Vivian. We have live there for 59 years. RH is, by-in-large, a residential area. We don’t need or want foolish changes to the streets, or the end of the historic past of our community and our homes. There is little to gain from this plan except bleeding the residential owners dry with “Improvements and taxes” that add no intrinsic good to the area.
Perhaps the City Manager, Mayor and Council, need to listen more closely to the community than to each other.
My home in Richland Hills was purchased brand new in 1950 and is still occupied today. The biggest loss ever was the widening of Glenview, taking half of our front yard. It would be nice if the city concentrated on other areas more conducive to businesses like Baker Blvd.