Godley city council taking residents’ concerns about growth to heart. Is it too late?

After a December meeting that culminated in the removal of an angry Godley resident, Godley City Council took residents’ concerns about growth to heart while arguing that it’s too late.

About 40 residents attended a meeting guarded by three armed police officers after showing up in December to protest a new housing development they argued would bring low-income housing to Godley and strain the community’s fragile infrastructure.

In the six weeks since their last meeting, council came prepared with reforms aimed at regulating growth and increasing transparency.

Residents were pleased their voices were heard.

“Somebody has gotten their hand slapped,” observed Godley resident Greg Cooper.

Council passed resolutions to update its website, create a planning and zoning commission and engage a consultant on giving the city’s existing platting process some teeth.

“I just want information out there, so everyone has a chance to look at it,” Councilman Roger Cornelison said when explaining a proposal to require developers to inform nearby residents of incoming development.

Part of the regulatory overhaul involves educating both council and citizens.

For example, Carissa Cox, principal planner at MOSAIC Planning and Development Services, explained council’s legal obligations when it comes to approving new development in Godley.

“You don’t decide plats based on what you think,” Cox said. “You decide if it complies with your standards.”

Council opted to hire Cox to triage incoming plats, which will help the group avoid becoming victim to existing development law.

With Carrell Farms, the development residents protested in December, council did not act on the plans prior to the state-determined 30 days after which a preliminary plat is automatically accepted.

But even during the meeting, development continued to slip through the cracks of what residents call an “immature” council.

With Higher Links Addition, a 49-home development proposed for Nelson Street, council again let 30 days pass before acting and approved the preliminary plat in the face of potential litigation from the developer.

“We should have done it 15 years ago,” Cooper said about the creation of a comprehensive growth plan. “The minute Chisholm Trail was announced, we should have been thinking about this. It’s a great story of how developers can take advantage of an immature city council.”