Jan 25, 2022 SPIN Town Hall Forum

OK. GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS VANDANA TANNERU, AND I'M THE VICE-CHAIR FOR THE SOUTHLAKE

[1. Call to Order: Video Introduction of SPIN Program by Southlake Mayor John Huffman]

[00:00:07]

WE DON'T HAVE ANY, BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS TO USE THE MICROPHONE IN THE FRONT SO THAT ANYBODY WHO'S WATCHING AT HOME ONLINE CAN ACTUALLY HEAR YOU GUYS.

NEXT, WE WOULD LIKE TO SHOW A BRIEF VIDEO INTRODUCTION OF OUR SPIN PROGRAM BY OUR SOUTHLAKE MAYOR, JOHN HOFFMAN.

GOOD EVENING, I'M SOUTHLAKE MAYOR JOHN HUFFMAN, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING TONIGHT'S SPIN TOWN HALL FORUM.

THE ITEMS PRESENTED AT SPIN REPRESENT IDEAS, OFTEN IN THE BEGINNING STAGES OF POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT. NOW WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT THIS CONVERSATION STARTS HERE.

FIRST WITH A PRESENTATION AND THEN WITH YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FOR THE DEVELOPER, THERE ARE NO VOTES TAKEN AT SPIN AND NO DECISIONS ARE MADE.

SPIN IS SIMPLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE.

ONCE THE MEETING IS OVER, BOTH THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY'S PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION ARE PROVIDED WITH A SPIN MEETING REPORT THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE DISCUSSION FROM TONIGHT. WE TAKE YOUR IMPRESSIONS AND QUESTIONS INTO ACCOUNT WHEN CONSIDERING ANY ITEM THAT COMES BEFORE US FURTHER ALONG IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.

AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TONIGHT.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR DEDICATION TO HELPING MAKE SOUTHLAKE A BETTER PLACE. HAVE A GREAT NIGHT! ALL RIGHT. AS A REMINDER, WE HAVE ONE APPLICANT TONIGHT, AND AFTER THE APPLICANT PRESENTATION, ANYBODY WHO'S IN ATTENDANCE WOULD ACTUALLY COME FORWARD AND ASK THEIR QUESTIONS. AND AND ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THAT WE DO HAVE DEVELOPED AN ONLINE SPIN FORM THAT FOR WHERE THE RESIDENTS WHO CANNOT ATTEND THE MEETING TONIGHT CAN ACTUALLY SUBMIT THE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.

AND WHAT I CAN DO IS IF WE HAVE ANY TONIGHT, I WILL ACTUALLY READ THROUGH THE SUBMISSIONS AFTER THE RESIDENTS IN ATTENDANCE WHO HAVE QUESTIONS HAVE ABILITY TO SPEAK.

AGAIN, THIS IS, THIS MEETING IS WILL BE BROADCAST LIVE THROUGH THE CITY'S VIDEO ON DEMAND SYSTEM, ACCESSED THROUGH CITY'S WEBSITE AT CITYOFSOUTHLAKE.COM.

WITH THAT, LET US GET TO THE APPLICANT PRESENTATION.

TODAY'S APPLICANT IS MASON GRIFFIN, AND HERE HERE IS TO PRESENT THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA

[2. SPIN2022-02 - An applicant is proposing to develop an approximately 210,700 sq. ft. data and operations center for Verizon Wireless generally located between W. State Highway 114 and W. Kirkwood Blvd., also addressed as 747 W. State Highway 114 within SPIN Neighborhood #1.]

THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO DEVELOP AN APPROXIMATELY TWO HUNDRED AND TEN SEVEN THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED SQUARE FOOT OF DATA AND OPERATION CENTER FOR VERIZON WIRELESS.

IT'S LOCATED BETWEEN THE WEST STATE HIGHWAY 114 AND WEST KIRKWOOD BOULEVARD, ALSO ADDRESSED AS 747 WEST STATE HIGHWAY 114.

GO AHEAD, MR. MASON.

GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS MASON GRIFFIN, AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING VERIZON WIRELESS IN THEIR APPLICATION FOR A SITE PLAN APPROVAL FOR THIS PROJECT BETWEEN 114 AND KIRKWOOD.

THIS EXISTS IMMEDIATELY NORTH OF THE EXISTING VERIZON OPERATION CENTER ON WEST [INAUDIBLE] ROAD. VERIZON OWNS THE PROPERTY AND WE WERE ACTUALLY HERE AT THE CORRIDOR PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING LAST MARCH TO INTRODUCE THIS CONCEPT TO THE CITY PUBLICLY, AND I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH CITY STAFF AND WORKING WITH ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS AND DESIGNERS TO DEVELOP A PLAN THAT BASED ON THE FEEDBACK WE'VE RECEIVED AND THE THE CONCERNS WE KNOW SOME PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT ABOUT THIS PROPERTY, THAT WE THOUGHT WE'D BE BEST SUITED FOR THE ACCOMPLISH THE VERIZON'S NEEDS WHILE RESPECTING THE CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE.

AND SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE OF THIS FIRST IMAGE IS WHAT WILL ACTUALLY END UP BEING THE SECOND PHASE OF DEVELOPMENT.

VERIZON IS PROPOSING TO BUILD APPROXIMATELY TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT DATA CENTER ON THE PROPERTY THAT WILL CONSIST OF AN OPERATIONS BUILDING RIGHT HERE.

THIS IS VERIZON'S EXISTING CAMPUS TO THE SOUTH.

HERE'S 114, AND THEN KIRKWOOD IS IS OFF THE PICTURE.

WE'LL GET TO THAT LATER.

THAT'S ON PURPOSE.

AND THEN THESE FIVE PODS ARE THE FIVE PROPOSED DATA CENTERS.

[00:05:02]

WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN THESE GAPS IS AREAS WHERE TRUCKS CAN ACCESS THE BUILDINGS.

THOSE WERE DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY SO THAT THE TRUCKS DIDN'T DIDN'T FACE OUT, BUT WOULD DRIVE IN AND BACK UP AND UNLOAD THEIR LOADS HERE TO MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF TRUCKING SPACE VIEW THAT WOULD BE SEEN FROM FROM ANY ADJOINING PROPERTY.

WHAT WE'VE GOT EVEN BETTER NEWS ON THAT IN A BIT.

THE FACILITY WILL ONLY EMPLOYEE EMPLOYEE, EXCUSE ME, A HANDFUL OF EMPLOYEES WORKING IN THE OPERATION CENTER, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE WITH THE DATA CENTER.

IT'S A LOT OF BUILDING.

IT'S A LOT OF EQUIPMENT.

VERY FEW PEOPLE JUST THERE TO KEEP IT OPERATING AND THOSE PEOPLE WILL WELL.

THOSE EMPLOYEES WILL ACCESS THE FACILITY FROM THE WEST DOVE ROAD CAMPUS OR FROM 114.

THEY WON'T ACCESS FROM KIRKWOOD, AND SO IT WON'T ADD ANY ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC TO KIRKWOOD BOULEVARD. AGAIN, THIS IS JUST A BETTER VIEW OF OF THE EXISTING SOUTHLAKE FACILITY.

HERE'S KIRKWOOD, AND THEN THIS IS THE DATA CENTER THAT'S PROPOSED.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT VERIZON'S DONE, AND WE'LL GET A REALLY GOOD PICTURE OF THIS IN JUST A MOMENT IS IS RESPECTED, TRIED TO RESPECT IN THEIR DESIGN THE CONCERNS OF THE NEIGHBORS OF THAT THAT THEY MIGHT NOT WANT TO LOOK AT AT A STRUCTURE.

AND SO THERE IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE 200 FEET OF TREES AND EXISTING PONDS THAT WILL BE R EMAINED AND UNDISTURBED BETWEEN KIRKWOOD BOULEVARD AND THE FIRST BIT OF PARKING LOT THAT THAT IS PART OF THE FACILITY.

AND SO WE'LL HAVE A 200 FOOT TREED BUFFER BETWEEN THIS RESIDENTIAL STREET AND THE FACILITY ITSELF, THE BEGINNING OF THE FACILITY.

AGAIN, LIKE I MENTIONED, THE ACCESS AS SHOWN HERE WILL COME FROM 114 AND FROM THE EXISTING FACILITY, AND THERE'LL BE NO ROADWAYS THAT ACCESS FROM KIRKWOOD BOULEVARD.

THIS RIGHT HERE WILL SHOW SHOWS THE OPERATION CENTER AND THE FIRST TWO PODS THAT WILL BE CONSTRUCTED. YOU CAN SEE WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT WITH THE TRUCK ACCESS.

IT WON'T. THE TRUCKS WON'T FRONT ON 114, BUT WILL ACTUALLY DRIVE IN AND ACCESS TO HAVE A SMALLER LOADING AREA.

AND THEN THIS IS THE EVENTUAL BUILDOUT OF THE REMAINING THREE PODS.

THIS IS AN AERIAL VIEW OF WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED AGAIN OVER HERE IS THE BUFFER YOU CAN'T SEE KIRKWOOD BECAUSE IT'S AGAIN ABOUT 200 FEET BETWEEN THE PARKING LOT AND THE BEGINNING OF KIRKWOOD. WE'VE KEPT IT TWO STORIES TO AGAIN TO LIMIT THE HEIGHT AND SPREAD THE CAMPUS OUT TO MINIMIZE THE VISUAL IMPACT.

THIS IS THE OPERATIONS BUILDING RIGHT HERE WHERE THE EMPLOYEES WILL BE SPENDING MOST OF THEIR TIME. THIS IS THE VIEW FROM 114.

WHAT'S NOT INDICATED IN THIS, OBVIOUSLY ARE THE TREES THAT ARE GOING TO BE RETAINED, AND I'VE GOT A GOOD VIEW.

YES, RIGHT HERE. THIS IS THE WHAT THE TREE, THE TREES LOOK LIKE TODAY.

AND THIS IS WHAT THIS IS AN AERIAL VIEW.

WE HAD TO ACTUALLY RAISE OURSELVES VIRTUALLY THIS HIGH.

YOU CAN SEE HOW HIGH ABOVE THIS CAR WE ARE IN THIS PERSON TO EVEN SEE THE PROPOSED BUILDING. IT'S TRULY GOING TO BE HIDDEN BEHIND, EXCUSE ME, THIS TREED LANDSCAPE BUFFER THAT WAS A PRIORITY IN THE DESIGN AND AND REALLY DROVE A LOT OF THE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE ABOUT ABOUT THE LAYOUT OF THE OF THE PROJECT.

TO THE EXTENT ANYONE ACTUALLY GETS ON THE PROPERTY AND BEHIND THE TREES AND SEES WHAT IS BEING CONSTRUCTED, THIS IS THIS IS WHAT WHAT, WHAT THEY WOULD SEE, WE THINK QUITE LOVELY AND ATTRACTIVE ARCHITECTURE.

BUT AGAIN, VIRTUALLY NO ONE'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE THIS BECAUSE OF THE TREE BUFFER ON BOTH SIDES OF THE PROPERTY.

MORE VIEWS OF WHAT'S GOING TO BE CONSTRUCTED.

AND THIS IS THE OPERATIONS BUILDING HERE.

AND THEN AGAIN, THIS IS THE VIEW OF PHASE ONE, THE OPERATIONS FACILITY, THE FIRST TWO PODS, THE THIRD, FOURTH AND FIFTH PODS WILL BE RIGHT HERE.

AND THEN THIS SHOWS THE FENCING THAT WILL GO AROUND THE THE PROPERTY AND THE THIS WILL ALL BE TREATED HERE AND THEY'LL BE RETAINED TREES ALONG THIS VERSION OF THE PROPERTY AS WELL. THAT'S THE END OF THE SLIDES I DID WANT TO AGAIN FOCUS ON A COUPLE OF POINTS BEFORE WE THROW IT TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT ANYONE WATCHING VIRTUALLY MIGHT HAVE.

AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A HANDFUL OF EMPLOYEES THAT WITH NO TRAFFIC OFF OF KIRKWOOD, NO ACCESS OFF OF KIRKWOOD, BUT ALL FROM THE SOUTH ON WEST OF AND FROM 114 ITSELF.

AND I CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH THAT THERE'LL BE NO VISIBILITY OF THIS PROJECT FROM KIRKWOOD BECAUSE OF THE TREE BUFFER.

I CAN'T PROMISE THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS TIME OF YEAR WITH THE LEAVES OFF THE TREES THAT YOU

[00:10:02]

BUT AGAIN, THE GOAL WAS TO ELIMINATE AS MUCH AS WE CAN ANY CHANCE THAT WE VISUALLY DISTURB ANY OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND AND THEN AGAIN, THE FACT THAT IT WILL BE BUILT IN TWO PHASES.

AND SO THERE WILL REALLY BE TWO CONSTRUCTION PERIODS.

BUT AGAIN, ALL CONSTRUCTION WILL OCCUR OFF OF 114 AND FROM THE SOUTHERN PROPERTY.

SO I'D LOVE TO ASK IF THERE'S BEEN ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS THAT HAVE POPPED UP ONLINE.

I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION, THOUGH.

ABSOLUTELY. SO WHAT'S THE TIMELINE FOR PART ONE AND PART TWO? PART ONE, WE WILL, WE'RE SUBMITTING FOR SITE PLAN APPROVAL AND SIMULTANEOUSLY GOING TO BE SUBMITTING FOR BUILDING PERMIT APPROVAL.

AND SO THE PLAN FOR PHASE ONE IS TO START CONSTRUCTION REALLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

SO WE'D PROBABLY BE MOVING DIRT SOMETIME LATE SPRING OR EARLY SUMMER.

PHASE TWO NOT REALLY SURE YET.

A LOT OF THAT JUST HAS TO BE BUDGETARY CONCERNS.

MOVING MONEY AROUND DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS WITHIN VERIZON, IT'S A BIG COMPANY.

AND SO JUST WHEN WE THINK WE'VE GOT THEM FIGURED OUT, THEY SPRING A SURPRISE ON US.

SO I'D HATE TO COMMIT TO ANY TIME PERIOD AND TYPICALLY AFTER THE APPROVAL, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO ACTUALLY BUILD A BUILD STRUCTURE? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, AND FRANKLY, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT.

BUT BUT I CAN.

I WILL LOOK INTO THAT AND GET AN ANSWER BACK TO EVERYONE, OK? I DID ALSO JUST WANT TO REITERATE MY JUST STATE MY THANKS FOR THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE FOR HAVING THIS TYPE OF FORUM BEFORE WE GO INTO A TRUE PUBLIC MEETING WHERE A VOTE IS TAKEN AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET FEEDBACK.

I THINK THIS IS JUST THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT AND WHICH MORE COMMUNITIES WOULD WOULD HANDLE THEIR BUSINESS LIKE THIS.

IT ALLOWS THE APPLICANT A CHANCE TO TO REACT TO THE FEEDBACK AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND ADDRESS ANY CONCERNS THAT ANYONE MIGHT HAVE.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYONE THAT THAT SEES THIS EITHER LIVE THIS EVENING OR RECORDING TO PLEASE, PLEASE DIRECT ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS TO CITY STAFF.

THEY'LL GET THEM TO US AND WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO ANSWER THOSE AS QUICKLY AND AS FULLY AS WE CAN. THANK YOU, MR. MASON, FOR THE OFFER AS WELL, AND AS WELL AS THE PRESENTATION, GREAT PRESENTATION AND THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS.

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE DON'T HAVE ANY AUDIENCE.

SO THAT CONCLUDES AND THANK YOU AGAIN, MR. MASON. JUST BEFORE WE CONCLUDE, I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF REMIND A COUPLE OF THINGS SO THAT WE KNOW EVERYBODY IS AWARE THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A SURVEY THAT WE HAVE AFTER THE PRESENTATION. SO THE THE SPIN PRESENCE, AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THANK YOU FOR THE THANK YOU FOR THE PARTICIPATION IN THE SPIN.

AND THE SPIN REPRESENTS THIS THE FIRST STEP IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, AS MR. MAYOR SAID, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO TAKE A BRIEF SPIN EXPERIENCE SURVEY. ALL THE INPUT IS BEING USED BY OUR CEC COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO KIND OF IMPROVE THE PROCESS. SO AND THE SPIN MEETING REPORT ITSELF, IS MADE AVAILABLE AFTER THE MEETING TAKES PLACE. WE WILL BE THAT WILL INCLUDE THE SUBMITTED SPIN QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FORMS IN THE MEETING REPORTS, AND THESE REPORTS ARE GENERAL OBSERVATIONS OF THE FORUM AND THEN NOT VERBATIM INTERESTED PARTIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO FOLLOW THE CASE TO THE ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS. AGAIN, THE VIDEO ON DEMAND OF THIS MEETING IS RECORDED AND WILL BE AVAILABLE ON CITY'S WEBSITE APPROXIMATELY 24 HOURS AFTER THE MEETING TAKES PLACE.

AND THANK YOU, AND THAT CONCLUDES TODAY'S SPIN MEETING.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.