Central Wichita Falls Revitalization Area Committee Minutes - 10/08/2024 MINUTES
Central Wichita Falls Neighborhood Revitalization Committee
October 8, 2024
PRESENT:
Wendy Browder •Vice Chair
Jose Garcia •Member
Nadia Menchaca •WFAAC Liaison
Mike Mitchell •Chairman
Councilor Michael Smith* •Member
Fabian Medellin, Planning Manager •City Staff
Christal Cates, Neighborhood Revitalization Coordinator •City Staff
ABSENT:
Ann Arnold-Ogden • Member
Larry Fox •Member
Councilor Larry Nelson •Member
Andrea Robles •Member
GUEST:
Whitney Flack, District 1 City Council Candidate •Guest
Jack Browne, Developer •Guest
*Councilman Smith arrived for voting at approximately 2:45 pm
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Mike Mitchell called the meeting to order at 3:08 p.m., and all attendees
were introduced.
III. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Chairman Mitchell asked if any members of the public wished to speak. No
comments were made.
VII. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES
Chairman Mitchell moved to approve the minutes from October 1st, 2024, as
presented. Vice-Chairwomen Wendy Browder seconded. The motion passed
unanimously, 4-0.
VIII. REGULAR AGENDA
1. Continued Discussions and Action on the Neighborhood Empowerment
Zone (NEZ)
Neighborhood Revitalization Committee 2 October 8, 2024
Mrs. Cates presented the draft Neighborhood Empowerment Zone (NEZ) for the
Neighborhood Revitalization Area to the Committee and gave a brief review of the
revised NEZ, which had been recommended by the Committee.
Staff reviewed the requested changes, highlighted in yellow in the Committee
packets and on the shown presentation. Mrs. Whitney Flack suggested on page 1,
section I. General Purpose & Program Goals of the Neighborhood Empowerment
Zone (NEZ), on the first paragraph, that staff specifically add Commercial to the list
of properties eligible for incentives. The Committee agreed and staff advised
Commercial would be added to the final version.
The next recommended additions staff reviewed were the additions to section IV.
Criteria, 1. Eligible Projects. Committee members requested the addition of
Driveways or/or Sidewalks, as well as the addition of Signage (commercial) and
Parking Lots (commercial). Staff agreed and advised those would be added.
Next, staff reviewed the added verbiage under section V. Design Guidelines, All
proposed projects must follow the Neighborhood Empowerment Zone (NEZ)
Design Guidelines and continue to meet the Neighborhood Revitalization Property
Maintenance Code (Ordinance No. ) as adopted by the City of Wichita
Falls. Staff explained the Design Guidelines would be a guide for new development
and rehabilitations and the Property Maintenance Code would be what the entire
neighborhood would follow to ensure the properties were maintained.
Staff discussed the appeals and what board would oversee and make the decisions
for the neighborhood. Staff advised the Planning and Zoning Commission would
hear and decide on all appeals as it was written at that time. Committee members
were all in agreement that those appeals should be heard by the Revitalization
Committee or a future Committee created and intrusted with those responsibilities
by the City Council. Staff advised the Planning and Zoning Committee would be
replaced with the Revitalization Committee as requested.
Chairman Mitchell motioned to favorably recommend the establishment of the
Neighborhood Empowerment Zone (NEZ) with the revisions and additions as
discussed to the City Council for approval. Vice-Chairwomen Browder seconded
the motion. The motion passed with a vote of 4-0.
2. Continued Discussions and Action on the Neighborhood Empowerment
Zone (NEZ) Design Guidelines
Staff briefly reviewed the Design Guidelines and the revisions proposed to the NEZ
Design Guidelines Flow Chart on page 2. Based on previous discussions of
appeals, staff and the committee agreed to remove Step 6 altogether.
Mrs. Flack suggested a change to under section 3. Additions to Existing Structures,
a. All character-defining features on exterior façades that are visible from
the public right-of-way (see City Zoning Ordinance Definitions) shall remain intact.
Neighborhood Revitalization Committee 3 October 8, 2024
Mrs. Flack stated she would prefer the wording be changed from "shall" to
something less demanding. Discussions among the Committee and staff produced
the verbiage to be added as follows: All character-defining features on exterior
façades that are visible from the public right-of-way (see City Zoning
Ordinance Definitions) shall make the best effort to remain intact.
Chairman Mitchell made a motion to favorably recommend the Neighborhood
Empowerment Zone (NEZ) Design Guidelines with the revisions and additions as
discussed to the City Council for approval. Vice-Chairwomen Browder seconded
the motion. The motion passed with a vote of 5-0.
IX. OTHER BUSINESS
Mrs. Cates gave an update on the construction progress at Bridwell Park and
updates on partnership agreements for the Community Change Grant application.
X. ADJOURN
Chairman Mitchell advised that the upcoming meeting on October 15th would be at
the regularly scheduled time of 4 pm, again at the Travel Center Conference Room,
located at 306 Scott Street.
Chairman Mitchell adjourned the meeting at 4:34 pm.
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