Heritage Neighborhood Partnership (HNP)
Tonight’s Agenda (December 1st)
Speaker: Greg Ajemian (HNP Chair)
Tonight’s topics:
Neighborhood Status, Crimewatch, Issues
Discussion of Public Improvement District (PID)
Neighborhood Financing?
Other Business?
Adjourn by 9:00 p.m.
Heritage Neighborhood Partnership (HNP)
September 29th Meeting
1. About 25 in attendance (poor turnout)
2. Discussion of Public Improvement District (PID)
3. Audience overwhelmingly wanted to know moreabout the PID idea ---- hence tonight’s meeting
4. Also discussed City projects such as hospitaldistrict, South Pointe, Big League Dreams,Walnut Creek Linear Park, and SH-360 extension
Heritage Neighborhood Partnership (HNP)
Tonight’s topics:
Neighborhood Status, Crimewatch, Issues
Discussion of Public Improvement District (PID)
Neighborhood Financing?
Other Business?
Adjourn by 9:00 p.m.
Heritage Neighborhood Partnership (HNP)
STATUS
The HNP was founded three years ago as avolunteer association with no fees.
The HNP is comprised of 19 Block Captains,one of which acts as Chair.
Goal: Three or four meetings for the BlockCaptains are held each year, while one neighborhood-wide meeting is held each year.
Heritage Neighborhood Partnership (HNP)
PURPOSE
Crime watch
Identify and address neighborhoodneeds
Keep neighbors informed: MISD, city projects, etc
Heritage Neighborhood Partnership (HNP)
Crime Watch signage posted at entrances about two years ago
Signage at entrances was put in place by Police as the result of three well attended (~ 100 each) neighborhood meetings during 2002 and 2003, which established our crime watch association. HNP maintains contact with the Mansfield
Community Police Officer and other neighborhood associations to receive and distribute crime information.We continue to have low crime rate at this timeThe two major crimes that we experience are:
a. open garage doors leading to theftb. smash & grab crime on parked vehicles
Heritage Neighborhood Partnership (HNP)
CRIME WATCH
Heritage Neighborhood Partnership (HNP)
COORDINATION
Block Captains are the backbone of the HNP
Block Captains maintain their own streetregistries; e-mail, phone number
Happenings and information are circulated to Block Captains for distribution to residents
HNP maintains contact with the MansfieldCommunity Police Officer and other neighborhood associations.
Heritage Neighborhood Partnership (HNP)
DOES NOT . . .
No legal standing --- just volunteers
No donations or fees collected
No covenants or deed restrictionsenforced
No political stances are taken
Heritage Neighborhood Partnership (HNP)
LOCATION
HNP covers 17 streetsHNP includes about 500 homesInformation is being shared with:
Heritage EstatesWalnut Hills
HNP Boundary
HNP
HNP: Vicinity Map
HNP
HeritageEstates
EnchantedAcres
HeatherEstates
HOA
WalnutHillsHOA
Screening wall along Country Club
Entrances along Country Club
Lack of Logan Drive sidewalks
Lack of Man Avenue sidewalks
Lack of Parks in vicinity of neighborhood
Heritage Neighborhood Partnership (HNP)
ISSUES
HNP: Screening Wall
HNP
ScreeningWall
Wall along Country Club is owned by 13 adjacent property owners (plus one more at each end), each with their piece of the wall that is defined by their property linesThere is no “collective” approach or oversight for
maintenance of the screening wallA wall maintenance issue that is ignored by one property
owner may easily spread to impact othersMaintenance repairs will not be consistent along the wall,
which will eventually result in an aesthetically poor wall Wall graffiti may linger on the wall and attract further
defacingCity has no jurisdiction with the wall, unless there is a
public safety concern
Heritage Neighborhood Partnership (HNP)
SCREENING WALL ISSUES
Looking West Along Country Club(At first glance, the walls look fine)
Hills ofHeritagescreening
wall
HeritageEstates
screeningwall
NorthSide
SouthSide
Hills of Heritage Screening Wall(Park Dept mows grass between wall and street)
Hills of Heritage Screening Wall (Park Department applies weed control next to wall)
Screening Wall: Weep Holes / Erosion(Note erosion that is exposing the footing)
Erosionthat has
exposed thefooting forthe wall
Weep holesthat allowwater to drain thruthe wall
Screening Wall: Weep Holes / Erosion (2” pipe is discharging something from other side)
Screening Wall: Column (#1) Problems (Brick missing from wall column)
Brickmissing
on column
Screening Wall: Column (#2) Problems (Loose grout at joint between wall and column)
Columnbeginningto separate
from wall
Screening Wall: Column (#3) Problems (Stone bricks are coming loose from column)
Brickscoming
loose oncolumn
Screening Wall: Column (#3) Problems (Stone bricks are separating from column)
Columnseparatingfrom the
wall
Eastern Half of Screening Wall (Strong lean towards street)
Bad Columnthat is breaking apart
Columns also showingseparation from wall
After showing these pictures to a general contractor that works in the area, he stated that the wall is probably leaning and movement of the wall joints located behind the columns are pushing the columns away from the wall
Using a long piece of lumber and a level, the eastern half of the screening wall was found to have a strong lean toward the street
The yards are placing 2 feet to 2 ½ feet of burden on the eastern half of the wall that is most probably contributing to the wall lean, while strong drought has further weakened the soil along the base of the wall
The masonry stones used for the screening wall produce a wall thickness of 5 inches, which probably does not provide enough weight to offset the push of the yards on the wall
A major fix is now needed for this screening wall, before major damage to the wall occurs
The western half of the wall (towards the church) is not leaning and has much less burden on the walls due to adjacent yards
Heritage Neighborhood Partnership (HNP)SCREENING WALL LEANING!
The brick wall for Heritage Estates (south side of Country Club) has some problems developing with columns, but was observed to have no lean
The columns provide all the support for the wall, which is less than three inches thick --- the width of one brick
Several columns are showing significant cracking that need repair to stabilize, before any movement damages the brick wall between columns
The yards are level with the grounds that are on the street side of the wall, which means that no burden is placed on the walls
Heritage Neighborhood Partnership (HNP)HERITAGE ESTATES SCREENING WALL
Heritage Estates Screening Wall (no lean was observed)
Walls are less than threeinches thick; 1 brick thickness
Columns provide fullsupport for the wall
Heritage Estates Screening Wall (Column problems)
Support columnshows cracking
Heritage Estates Screening Wall (Column problems)
Supportcolumnshows
extensivecracking
Heritage Estates Screening Wall (Wall damage)
Wall hashole
punchedthrough
Screening wall along Country Club
Entrances along Country Club
Lack of Logan Drive sidewalks
Lack of Man Avenue sidewalks
Lack of Parks in vicinity of neighborhood
Heritage Neighborhood Partnership (HNP)
ISSUES
HNP: Country Club Entrances
HNP
HillaryEntrance
ChenilleWay
Entrance
LoganEntrance
The corner of each entrance is owned by the adjacent property owner, thus each entrance has two owners Each entrance has a sprinkler system that is
driven by one panel box and one electric meterThe electric meter is classified as a commercial
meter that carries a $150 per year cost to stay activated. The cost of electricity is minimal.The electric meter at Hillary entrance is not
activated, while the electric meter at Chenille Way is still in the name of David Weekley for now The water is paid by the City
Heritage Neighborhood Partnership (HNP)
ENTRANCE ISSUES ALONG COUNTRY CLUB
Hillary Trail Entrance: East Corner(Each corner belongs to adjacent property owner)
Hillary Trail Entrance: West Corner (both corners at Hillary Trail appear in good shape)
Chenille Way Entrance: East Corner (Electric meter is still in name of David Weekley,
so irrigation system still runs for now)
Sprinklerhead
Entrance Sprinkler System at Hillary (This electric meter and sprinkler panel is located
on NE corner, but controls both corners)
Commercialelectricmeter
Powerswitch
Sprinklercontrolpanel
Chenille Way Entrance: West Corner (the “Hills of Heritage” wall sign for this corner is missing)
Logan Entrance (The Church maintains the median vegetation)
(Could a median be a future initiative at the other end of Logan as an entrance for aesthetics / traffic control?)
Logan Entrance: East Corner (The Church does a great job of maintaining their
corner and the median)
Hillary Trail (Highlands) Entrance: East Corner (This is an example of what can happen if the
property owner decides not to maintain their corner)
Heather Estates Entrance: East Corner (Example of what flowers can do for an entrance way)
Heather Estates Entrance: West Corner (This is a manditory HOA that has funds for higher
level of maintenance)
Screening wall along Country Club
Entrances along Country Club
Lack of Logan Drive sidewalks
Lack of Man Avenue sidewalks
Lack of Parks in vicinity of neighborhood
Heritage Neighborhood Partnership (HNP)
ISSUES
Logan Drive: No Sidewalks (Sidewalks are included as part of the Walnut Hills
Addition for Logan Drive and Windcastle, and our HNP for side streets, but not for our portion of Logan Drive)
LauraElizabeth
Trail
RichmondCircle
LauraElizabeth
Court
Windcastle
LoganDrive
LoganDrive
Logan Drive: No Sidewalks (Pedestrians have to work around parked and moving vehicles)
Logan Drive carries a high volume of vehicular traffic through the middle of the neighborhood and has no sidewalksTwo years ago, the HNP produced a petition for Logan
Drive residents in addition to a letter to City Council requesting a City project for sidewalks, but to no avail Sidewalks along Logan Drive would connect with sidewalk
systems on nine connecting streets, plus sidewalks in Walnut Hills and along Country Club LaneThe Walnut Ridge Baptist Church has many activities that
produce a high volume of pedestrian traffic along Logan DriveLogan Drive sidewalks would make for a safer and more
cohesive neighborhood, while such an asset would make the neighborhood more attractive and add property value
Heritage Neighborhood Partnership (HNP)
LACK OF LOGAN DRIVE SIDEWALKS
Screening wall along Country Club
Entrances along Country Club
Lack of Logan Drive sidewalks
Lack of Man Avenue sidewalks
Lack of Parks in vicinity of neighborhood
Heritage Neighborhood Partnership (HNP)
ISSUES
HNP: Man Avenue Entrance
HNP
ManAvenue
Entrance
Man Avenue at Matlock(Looking north along Matlock sidewalk from Man Avenue)
Man Avenue from Matlock (it is not safe for pedestrian traffic to approach this Matlock intersection to access Matlock sidewalks)
Man Avenue from Matlock (HNP neighborhood is located on other side of bridge)
Bridge atRaglandBranch
Man Avenue provides the neighborhood with its only direct access to Matlock, but has no sidewalksMatlock has sidewalks that could connect through
Man Avenue to the neighborhood (Nugent Drive)Man Avenue sidewalks would provide safe
pedestrian traffic to access businesses along Man Avenue and MatlockJoggers, walkers, and strollers would have safe
and long loop routes available through a connection with Matlock
Heritage Neighborhood Partnership (HNP)
LACK OF MAN AVENUE SIDEWALKS
Screening wall along Country Club
Entrances along Country Club
Lack of Logan Drive sidewalks
Lack of Man Avenue sidewalks
Lack of Parks in vicinity of neighborhood
Heritage Neighborhood Partnership (HNP)
ISSUES
Our kids have no open space or parks located within walking distance of our neighborhoodOnly two undeveloped spaces current remain
along the perimeter of the neighborhoodThere is a 14-acre tract located next to the CVS
drugstore that is zoned commercial, which could accommodate a partial purchase for a parkA 3-acre tract located near the intersection of Laura Elizabeth and Edgefield is owned by the City of Arlington for a future water tower, which could be pursued for a lease arrangement for a pocket park
Heritage Neighborhood Partnership (HNP)LACK OF PARKS IN OUR NEAR VICINITY
14-acre Commercial Tract (Could part of this be an opportunity for a park?)
(We need to monitor the development of this property!)
14-acrevacant
commercialtract
WalnutRidge
BaptistChurch
Matlock
CountryClub
3-acre Site for Arlington Water Tower (Could this be an opportunity for a pocket park?)
Future Arlington
water tower
EdgefieldTrail
DebbieLane
LauraElizabeth
Trail
Heritage Neighborhood Partnership (HNP)
Tonight’s topics:
Neighborhood Status, Crimewatch, Issues
Discussion of Public Improvement District (PID)
Neighborhood Financing?
Other Business?
Adjourn by 9:00 p.m.
PID(Public Improvement District)
What is it?
The PID Assessment Act passed by State in the 1980’s; augmented by mid-1990’s
Funds from special tax assessment used to provide landscaping, signage, irrigation, lighting, additional sidewalks, entry features, security, newsletters, website, perimeter fences, etc
A neighborhood tool to upgrade public areas
PID(Public Improvement District)
How many are there?
Grand Prairie is the metroplex leader with12 residential PID’s.
Desoto has two, Cedar Hill has two, andDallas has one.
Arlington & Mansfield do not have one yet.
PID(Public Improvement District)
How is it established?
An application package must be submitted to City that identifies proposed boundaries, the Board, budget, and petition.
The proposed budget establishes the amount of tax assessment. The budget includes the upcoming year plus an overall 5-year plan.
PID(Public Improvement District)
How is it established?
Within the boundaries, the petition must represent more than 50 % of the appraised value and: more than 50 % of the property owners or more than 50 % of the area.
Residents are notified of proposed assessment and invited to public hearing. City Council approval of PID follows.
PID(Public Improvement District)
How does it operate?Resident board of directors appointed annually. Flexible as to number of board directors and structure.
Board determines improvements.
Taxes collected just like property taxes and held with City.
City pays PID for maintenance it would have provided. PID reimburses City for the cost of collections / funds mgmt.
PID versus HOAPID HOA
Property Maintained Public Private
Enforces Deed Restrictions No Yes
Cost is Tax Deductible Yes No
Collect thru Mortgage Payment Yes No
Governed by Resident Board Yes Yes
Cash Held in Separate City Fund Yes No
Heritage Neighborhood Partnership (HNP)
Tonight’s topics:
Neighborhood Status, Crimewatch, Issues
Discussion of Public Improvement District (PID)
Neighborhood Financing?
Other Business?
Adjourn by 9:00 p.m.
Neighborhood Financing?
Tonight’s Decision Making Process1. Do you want a PID that would cost about $50 per year?
This would give us a budget of $25,000 per year to handle initiatives such as the screening wall, sidewalks, entrances, communication needs, etc.
2. If no to alternative #1, do you want a PID that would cost about $20 per year? This would result in a budget of $10,000 that would cover communication needs; website, newsletter, neighborhood functions, etc.
3. If no to alternative #2, then the PID option is no longer. Do you want to take a voluntary funding approach to fund the communication needs? An annual notice would be sent out to request $20 for voluntary contribution.
4. If no to alternative #3, then we are choosing to stay with the current system that is totally voluntary with no working funds.
Heritage Neighborhood Partnership (HNP)
Fallout from September 29th Meeting
1. Yellow flier widely distributed by resident
a. Reached several residents not on BlockCaptains’ street registries, that had not beeninformed of September meeting
b. Denounced PID idea and indicated a decision had been made for a PID
2. In response to yellow flier, Greg Ajemianreceived e-mails from 20 residents not in favorof PID idea, while 4 e-mails were in support
Heritage Neighborhood Partnership (HNP)
Fallout from September 29th Meeting
Those e-mails that were against the PID idea conveyed the following:
1. Mansfield taxes too high, don’t want more2. PID tax can rise over time, hurt resale of homes3. Homeowners bought in this neighborhood
because no HOA or such exists 4. PID would help small few (wall, sidewalks),
while taxing high majority with no benefits5. Those along wall and entrances are responsible
for their own upkeep, not rest of neighborhood
Heritage Neighborhood Partnership (HNP)
Flip-side: Reasons to Support PID1. $50 a year per home is a small price to pay for
protecting and improving neighborhood value2. Maintaining and adding to our neighborhood
assets (walls, sidewalks, etc) will collectively increase our property values
3. We want to attract home buyers who care how the neighborhood looks, which likely will transcend into how they take care of their properties
4. Enhancing our ability to communicate (website, newsletter, neighborhood events, etc) will bring our neighborhood closer together
Neighborhood Financing?
Tonight’s Decision Making Process1. Do you want a PID that would cost about $50 per year?
This would give us a budget of $25,000 per year to handle initiatives such as the screening wall, sidewalks, entrances, communication needs, etc.
2. If no to alternative #1, do you want a PID that would cost about $20 per year? This would result in a budget of $10,000 that would cover communication needs; website, newsletter, neighborhood functions, etc.
3. If no to alternative #2, then the PID option is no longer. Do you want to take a voluntary funding approach to fund the communication needs? An annual notice would be sent out to request $20 for voluntary contribution.
4. If no to alternative #3, then we are choosing to stay with the current system that is totally voluntary with no working funds.
Heritage Neighborhood Partnership (HNP)
Tonight’s topics:
Neighborhood Status, Crimewatch, Issues
Discussion of Public Improvement District (PID)
Neighborhood Financing?
Other Business?
Adjourn by 9:00 p.m.
Heritage Neighborhood Partnership (HNP)
Tonight’s topics:
Neighborhood Status, Crimewatch, Issues
Discussion of Public Improvement District (PID)
Neighborhood Financing?
Other Business?
Adjourn by 9:00 p.m. ---- Thank you for coming!
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