Your City. Your Voice.

The proposed development at 519 W. State Street on the Downtown Garland Square, denied by council in a 6-3 vote at the last regular meeting, is back on the agenda Monday night for further discussion and possible amendments. (See Item 6 on the Mon Mar 17th work session agenda highlights below.)

The long-vacant property at 519 W. State Street, purchased by the City for redevelopment last year, was proposed to be developed as The Owl Icehouse, featuring indoor and outdoor two-story seating with views of the adjacent Square, family-friendly spaces, live music and community events.

More Details | Sales Contract | Development Agreement

Trilogy Investment Company, in partnership with PulteGroup, Inc., plans to redevelop the former Eastern Hills Country Club into a 300-home single family residential community spanning 178 acres.

The City Council will consider a development incentive request from Trilogy which would rebate development fees up to $3.4 million. The rebate would be paid out per home constructed, with a projected payback period of 3 years and 8 months. (See Item 3 on the Tue Mar 18th regular meeting agenda highlights below.)  More Details

Please take note of these upcoming Bond Election Town Halls:

• District 4: 6:30 p.m. Thu Mar 20, South Garland Library (4845 Broadway Blvd.)
• District 3: 7 p.m. Thu Mar 27, South Garland Library (4845 Broadway Blvd.)
• District 8: 6 p.m. Thu Apr 3, North Garland Library (3845 N. Garland Ave.)
• District 2: 6 p.m. Wed Apr 9, Granger Recreation Center (1310 W. Avenue F)
• District 7: 6 p.m. Thu Apr 17 (Location TBD)

2025 Bond Election - Review 4 Propositions

Okay, not JUST for seniors, but especially tailored to address senior concerns and issues. This event on Wed April 2nd at Palladium Garland Senior Living (402 Belt Line Rd.) from 10 - 11:30 a.m. will include a guest musical performance by Jerone Roy as well as light catering.

But wait! One day earlier, on Tue April 1st from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the lovely Epiphany Art Gallery (622 W. State St. in Downtown Garland), we'll have a general meet & greet with refreshments, free yard signs and collectible pins, and an opportunity to hear my vision for Garland's future and to share yours with me one-on-one.

TUE APR 1ST MEET & GREET | WED APR 2ND SENIOR MEET & GREET

Link: Review Entire Work Session Agenda

Sometimes items on this agenda are routine "housekeeping", but can be viewed in detail by clicking on the link above. I've highlighted items below that may be of special interest. Please speak up if you have any questions or concerns.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

Item 2: Consider Accepting $540K Grant from Garland Housing Finance Corporation. Council is requested to consider accepting a $540,000 grant from the Garland Housing Finance Corporation (GHFC) to continue partnering with the City of Garland to fund homeowner assistance to low-income Garland residents, including offering emergency home repairs, substantial home repairs and qualified exterior repairs. GHFC 2025 Grant Agreement

Item 5: Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Update. Council will be updated on DART's services, activities, programs and projects within Garland. Verbal discussion - no attached documents.

Item 6:  Further Consideration of Proposed Development, to Discuss Possible Amendments - 519 State Street. Proposed redevelopment aiming to revitalize a long-standing, vacant site in Downtown Garland while maintaining its historical character. The proposed development includes a significant private investment, is expected to create new jobs, and generate additional sales revenue. To be formally considered by the Council at the March 4th regular meeting. More Details

My Comments: This proposal was denied 6-3 by the City Council at the last regular meeting. Council has the option now of requesting amendments or a renegotiation of terms.

Item 7: Annual Review of Homestead and Senior Tax Exemptions and Recommendations. Options will be presented which were recommended at the February 27, 2025 Administrative Services Committee Meeting. Verbal discussion - no attached documents.

My Comments: I understand that the committee will recommend this year to increase the senior tax exemption by $4000 (going from $56,000 to $60,000), and the homestead exemption by 1% (from 10% to 11%).This is a VERY happy turn-around from last year when the council voted 5-4 in a work session against supporting any tax exemption increase, although four councilmembers -- a minority -- expressed support for a senior exemption increase. (I had reached my term limits several weeks earlier after asking for a $3000 senior exemption increase, so I wasn’t part of that decision.) Let your councilmember know your wishes.

Item 8: Legislative & Public Affairs Committee Report. Discussion topics will include the 89th legislative session thus far, bills filed related to transportation that could have potential impacts on the City of Garland, and qualified hotel project and bill draft language. Verbal discussion - no attached documents.

Link: Review Entire Regular Meeting Agenda

Most Consent Agenda items are routine or have previously been publicly discussed, but can be viewed in detail by clicking on the link above. I've highlighted several Consent items below that may be of special interest.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:



Item 2(d) [Consent Agenda]: Request for $11,973,500. for Construction Services for the Relocation of Fire Station 7. This new dual company 15,600 sq. ft. (approximately) fire station will be built at 1805 Pleasant Valley Rd. and will feature four bays, nine bedrooms for staff and two officers' suites (11 bedrooms total), kitchen, dining area, day room, watch/report room, and fitness room. 

Item 2(k) [Consent Agenda]: Request for $1,204,500. to Demolish and Replace the Golf Greens on the Firewheel Old Course. The golf greens on the Old Course are overtaken by a variety of other grasses, which not only disrupt the playability and ball roll, but have resulted in a considerable reduction of the putting green area.

Item 3 [Pulled from Consent Agenda for Individual Discussion]: Proposed Incentive Agreement with Trilogy Re: 178-Acre Residential Development in Former Eastern Hills Country Club. More Details

My Comments: I understand that Councilman Ed Moore has had this item pulled from the Consent Agenda for public discussion. (Please see additional details at top of this newsletter.) The plan for this 300-home single family residential development was approved back in 2018, so that is not the issue now under consideration. The question before Council is a development incentive request that would rebate some portion of the fees they will be required to pay the City for developing this land. Lots of performance requirements would be linked to the receipt of any rebate.

Item 4 [Consent Agenda]: Proposed Development Agreement with Garages of America. Garages of America owns five parcels adjacent to the GRCTC facility on the PGBT equaling 13.4 acres, and is proposing to develop an 8-acre site for luxury garage condo suites. The estimated tax valuation of the completed project is $33 million, which will bring an estimated tax value of $227,616.00 annually to the City of Garland. The City of Garland will rebate 50% of tree mitigation fees. The maximum rebate amount is $190,000.00. A $33 million DCAD valuation will be required for the incentive payment.  More Details

My Comments: This was one of those extremely rare automotive-related uses that, after a lot of research, I ended up supporting in 2023. This concept of "Luxury Garage Suites" built to be sold rather than leased is something new to Garland but already very popular in a lot of other cities. Garages of America attract high-end car collectors with a lot of disposable income (that we'd like them to spend in Garland). I'm never happy about reducing our very pricey tree mitigation fees, but there are some cases where it becomes necessary. This is probably one.

Item 7(a): Hold Public Hearing to Consider Approval for Levying of Assessments for the School Street Alley Petition Project. Located behind the addresses of 401, 405 and 409 School Street. (See previous work session notes for Item 3: Unimproved Alley Petition Project - School Street on 3/3/25.) More Details.

Item 7(b): Hold Public Hearing to Consider Requiring a Specific Use Provision (SUP) for Commercial Antenna Use, Eliminating Current Distance Requirement Between Commercial Antennas. More Details.

Item 8(a): Hold Public Hearing and Consider Proposal for a Tattoo/Body Piercing Establishment Located at 977 W. Centerville Rd,. Suite 6 (District 5). The subject property is developed within a shopping center. Staff recommended denial of this request. The Plan Commission, by a vote of seven (7) to two (2), recommended approval but with limited hours and a 3-year SUP term. More Details.

Item 8(b): Hold Public Hearing and Consider Proposal for a Tattoo/Body Piercing Establishment Located at 1350 Northwest Highway, Suite 107 (District 5). The subject property is developed within a shopping center. Staff recommended denial of this request. The Plan Commission, by a vote of eight (8) to one (1), recommended approval but with limited hours and a 5-year SUP term. More Details.

Item 8(c): Hold Public Hearing and Consider Proposal to Allow a Retail Landscape Nursery Located Near 4400 PGBT (District 1). Staff made no recommendation on this item. The Plan Commission, by a vote of five (5) to four (4), recommended denial. More Details.

All Regular Council meetings are broadcast live on CGTV, Time Warner Cable Channel 16, and Frontier FIOS TV 44. Meetings are rebroadcast at 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday-Sunday and at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. Live streaming and on-demand videos of the meetings are also available online at www.garlandtx.gov. 

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