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Home My WebLink AboutCP 236 CIT FO WO , TEXAS 1 COUNCIL PROPOSAL Date: File Number: Subject:Consideration of the Designation of the Lake Arlington Area as a Neighborhood Empowerment Zone 1/13/04 236 Proposed By: Frank Moss City Manager's Review: Page: City Attorney's Review: PAGE 1 OF 5 PROPOSAL It is proposed that the City Council: 1. Authorize the City Manager to prepare a resolution and ordinance to designate the Lake Arlington area as a NEZ and Reinvestment Zone; and 2. Schedule a City Council Agenda item for January 27, 2004 to designate the Lake Arlington area as a Neighborhood Empowerment Zone(NEZ)and Reinvestment Zone. DISCUSSION: I. NEZ DesiEnation Criteria and Eligibility On April 25,2000 (M&C G-12897), the City Council approved the Policy Statement on the Creation of Local NEZs in accordance with Chapter 378 of the Texas Local Government Code. The City Council also authorized the City Manager to identify neighborhood areas that may be eligible for NEZ designation and to develop administrative procedures for the NEZ Program. The NEZ Administrative Procedures were adopted by the City Council on October 3, 2000 and amended on April 2, 2002 to fine tune program requirements. The procedures included two methods by which a NEZ may be designated: 1)City Council Proposal and designation;or 2)an application process. Community leaders and citizens have long expressed concern of the lack of new subdivisions offering middle and upper middle income housing for residents wishing to stay or move to the Southeast quadrant of Fort Worth. The alternative for residents seeking a larger home is to relocate outside of the Southeast quadrant. The Lake Arlington shoreline is one of the few areas of the Southeast quadrant that has large parcels in excess of 100 acres for new single- family neighborhood subdivisions. Currently, approximately 410 acres of vacant and underdeveloped land exists along the Lake Arlington shoreline in Fort Worth between Ramey Avenue on the north and Interstate 20 on the south and East Loop 820 on the west and Lake Arlington on the east. In 1999, the Southeast Fort Worth Economic Development Action Plan was developed in partnership with the City of Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce. The Southeast Action Plan proposes residential development along the western shores of Lake Arlington. A subsequent plan entitled A Conceptual Residential Master Plan for the Lake Arlington Shoreline Properties was undertaken in 2002 to further examine the feasibility of market rate housing along Lake Arlington. The Conceptual Residential Master Plan included major facts and findings on the current conditions that exist along the western part of Lake Arlington and made recommendations to help spur development of low-density residential,and new neighborhood retail businesses. LEGALITY ❑ FISCAL NOTE ❑ CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS ❑ CITY POLICIES MANUAL CI•� FO WO , TEXAS 0 COUNCIL PROPOSAL Date: File Number: Subject:Consideration of the Designation of the Lake Arlington Area as a Neighborhood Empowerment 1/13/04 236 Zone Proposed By: Frank Moss City Manager's Review: Page: City Attorney's Review: Page 2 of 5 To achieve the residential objectives for Lake Arlington and achieve the City Council's goal of providing housing opportunities for all income groups, Councilmember Frank Moss is seeking NEZ designation for the Lake Arlington area. City staff has prepared a plan according to submission requirements under the NEZ policy(Attachment A). The boundaries of the proposed Lake Arlington NEZ are Truman Drive on the north; Interstate 20 on the south; the Fort Worth City limits on the east; and East Loop 820 to the west (Attachment B). The Lake Arlington NEZ has a population of 3,382 and meets the following designation requirements under the City's NEZ policy. ■ Promotes economic development through the development of neighborhood retail and market rate housing; ■ Promotes the rehabilitation of affordable housing; • Promotes quality public services by encouraging the development of a north/south arterial, park and open space areas, and a public school; ■ Is located entirely within a HUD Community Development Block Grant(CDBG)eligible area; ■ Has a population less than 6,000; ■ Includes in its boundaries a mixed-use growth center (East Loop 820/Lake Arlington), and a City designate Model Blocks(Carver Heights East); ■ Is considered distressed based on the 2000 Census socio-demographic data. For example, according to the 2000 Census, 10.1 percent of households in the Lake Arlington area receive public assistance compared to a citywide percentage of 3.1. Also, the 2002 unemployment rate for the Lake Arlington area was 13.5 percent compared to the citywide rate of 8.1 percent according to the Texas Workforce Commission;and ■ The proposed Lake Arlington NEZ meets the criteria for Reinvestment Zone designation because the area is reasonably likely as a result of the designation to contribute to the retention or expansion of primary employment or to attract major investment in the zone that would be a benefit to the property and that would contribute to thi economic development of the municipality. The Lake Arlington NEZ plan outlines the following development opportunities and strategies: II. Development Opportunities Residential Development: Approximately 410 acres of vacant and underdeveloped land exist in the proposed NEZ. The 410 acres are located along the Lake Arlington shoreline and considered suitable for low-density residential development.. Commercial Development: Neighborhood retail is proposed at major gateways located in the Lake Arlington NEZ area. The proposed community retail would provide services and goods to the new residential neighborhoods. ' Public Services: With ample vacant and undeveloped land, the development of the following public services is recommended in order to accommodate the increased population that may occur from the proposed new residential development. ❑ LEGALITY ❑ FISCAL NOTE ❑ CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS ❑ CITY POLICIES MANUAL CIT FO WO , TEXAS p 0• COUNCIL PROPOSAL Date: File Number: Subject:Consideration of the Designation of the Lake Arlington Area as a Neighborhood Empowerment 1/13/04 236 Zone Proposed By: Frank Moss City Manager's Review: Page: City Attorney's Review: Page 3 of 5 Proposed North/South Arterial Currently,the Lake Arlington area does not have a continuous north/south arterial. The properties along the shoreline are currently not accessible. For this reason, a north/south arterial is proposed for the Lake Arlington area that would extend from Ramey Avenue to Wilbarger Street. Public Open Space Areas Currently, the Lake Arlington area has approximately 290 acres located in the floodplain. The floodplain areas may be suitable for development as public open space areas(e.g.,trails and parks). It is recommended that the open space area be developed in conjunction with the proposed new residential developments. New School Site As the population base increases with family households,a school site may be feasible for the Lake Arlington area. t II. Development Strategies Housing: ■ Establish a task force to oversee the implementation of the plan. ■ Market the Lake Arlington NEZ to potential residential investors and developers. ■ Seek assembly of a critical mass of land for a phase one development. ■ Rezone property located in the 410 acres to lower density residential. ■ Determine the feasibility of medium density in the planned developments. ■ Incorporate buffers between the proposed new residential development and current industrial,manufactured home areas,and older single-family residential areas. ■ Market the NEZ incentives to potential investors,developers,new home buyers,and existing home owners Commercial: ■ Encourage the development of neighborhood retail at major gateways. ■ Market the NEZ incentives to potential commercial investors and developers. Public Services: ■ Develop a north/south arterial roadway. ■ Develop open space areas to include public trails and parks. ■ Work with officials of the Fort Worth Independent School District to determine the feasibility of an elementary school site in the Lake Arlington area. _EGALITY u FISCAL NOTE ❑ CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS 13 CITY POLICIES MANUAL C0T FO WO , TEXAS 0 0 COUNCIL PROPOSAL Date: File Number. Subject:Consideration of the Designation of the Lake Arlington Area as a Neighborhood Empowerment 1/13/04 236 Zone Proposed By: Frank Moss City Manager's Review: Page: City Attorney's Review: Page 4 of 5 1V. Projects Eligible to Receive NEZ Incentives In order to increase the market potential and attractiveness of the western portion of the Lake Arlington area as a place for quality single-family development, the industrial uses should be restrained from expanding. It is recommended that the only projects eligible for NEZ incentives be located in the following zoning districts: • Residential districts: A43,A-21,A-10,A-7.5,A-5,AR,B, RI,R2,CR,C,and MH. • Commercial districts: ER,E, MU-1,and FR. The approval of this proposal by the City Council authorizes the City Manager to prepare a resolution and ordinance for the designation of the Lake Arlington area as a NEZ and Reinvestment Zone. LEGALITY: The Department of Law finds that this proposal is legal and that it is within the authority of the City Council. FISCAL NOTE: The Finance Director certifies that the approval will not require the appropriation of additional funds at this time. CITY MANAGER'S COMMENT: Creation of the Lake Arlington NEZ through Council Proposal is consistent with the NEZ Administrative Procedures as approved by the City Council on October 3,2000, under M&C G-13030, and amended on April 2,2002. F ❑ LEGALITY ❑ FISCAL NOTE ❑ CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS 0 CITY POLICIES MANUAL CIT F® WO , TEXAS 0 COUNCIL PROPOSAL. Date:XM File Number: Subject:Consideration of the Designation of the Lake Arlington Area as a Neighborhood Empowerment 1/13/04 236 Zone Proposed By:Frank Moss City Manager's Review: Page: PAGE 5 OF 5 Ma r City Manager e Councilmember Counci member APPROVED CITY COUNCIL JA 13 2004 city Somvtary rar the f i#p a[Fort Worm Ira"a -EGALITY ❑ FISCAL NOTE ❑ CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS ❑ CITY POLICIES MANUAL