At the Richardson City Council meeting of October 14, 2024, the Council approved yet another car dealer and, in a separate action, amended the existing planned development for the Eastside development to allow the applicant to develop a "master sign plan" for the development. A master sign plan is a way of getting approval for signs that are currently prohibited by ordinance. Because of course they did. They know better, just listen to them during deliberations. But when it comes time to vote, they can't help themselves. They vote yes.
Justin Neth, our faithful chronicler of Council follies, has the details in his minutes of the meeting.
Lots of Car Lots
The second public hearing is on ZF 24-23. This is a special development plan request for AutoSavvy, a salvaged car sales business, at 101 E. Arapaho.
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Mayor Pro Tem [Arefin] Shamsul reminds the rest of Council that the city gets no sales tax revenue from car sales.
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Councilman Barrios expresses that he is torn on this request. He thinks car lots are among the last types of uses that Richardson needs. He sees the five-year limit as an appropriate limit for the use. He hopes that future Councils don't interpret this decision as supportive of car lots as part of the vision for this area. This is temporary and the area will transform into something better, leaving car lots in the past.Source: Justin Neth.
And then he votes to approve a car lot while hoping that won't be interpreted as being supportive of car lots. The rest of Council goes along unanimously. Mayor Pro Tem Arefin didn't spur any second thoughts by pointing out that there won't be any sales tax revenue coming with this use. Not even by himself. The rest of Council goes along unanimously.
Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs
The final public hearing of the evening is on ZF 24-26. This is an amendment request for the existing planned development for the Eastside development at Central Expy and E. Campbell. This amendment would allow the applicant to develop a master sign plan for the development.
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Master sign plans are needed to authorize signs that don't comply with the city's sign ordinance. ...
Councilman Hutchenrider refers to an example of a possible digital billboard-style sign. He calls it gaudy...Councilman Hutchenrider doesn't want to drive up and down U.S. 75 and see some big billboard. (Oh, that's rich...)Source: Justin Neth.
For anyone not familiar with the rich irony of Ken Hutchenrider bemoaning "gaudy" signs, just search "Clay Cooley" on this blog. Hutchenrider and the City Council approved a 39-foot sign for Clay Cooley VW along U.S. 75.
The approvals keep coming, even when the Council knows better, even when they themselves say one thing, but vote another. It's car dealers and signs, ad infinitum.
"Council says one thing,
But when it is time to vote,
They can't help themselves."
—h/t ChatGPT
1 comment:
I may or may not work with some other dealerships in Richardson who were previously denied approval of signs and I am now encouraging them to reapply using Clay Cooley (who btw owns Courtesy Nissan) as the reason why they should be allowed. I think what City Council did was not in the best interest of the city and now that part of 75 looks gwady and trashy! Clay Cooley could care less about the City and it’s obvious City Council doesn’t care either! Get ready for that area to start looking junky with abandoned cars that folks can’t afford to fix.
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