Residents Pack Planning/Zoning Meeting To Voice Dissent

In a contentious meeting that went to nearly midnight on August 7, the Planning and Zoning Commission of the town of Double Oak, Texas, voted unanimously to deny a special use permit (SUP) application for a property owner to install a helipad on their property.

The vote was held after more than 80 residents voiced their opposition to a neighbor’s wish to have a helipad in the quiet town about 12 miles north of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).

Before the vote there were emotional testimonies and heated debate over noise, property rights, and community values.

James Hering lives across the street from the applicant and has been there more than 10 years. He said, “In the middle of a busy DFW metroplex, this is heaven. This is a situation where you've got the needs of the many clearly outweigh the needs of a few or one."

He went on to say that he and many of his neighbors do not oppose the family or their decisions to build or subdivide the land, which was also being considered by the Commission. Hering said the only issue residents had was with the helipad proposal.

The homeowner did not attend the meeting but his representative, Ken Frisby, said the decision was made due to the family being out of town as well as personal attacks and allegations of getting “special treatment.”

Frisby, of Frisby Enterprises & Fine Homes said, “They are hurt and upset about the comments from people who don’t even know them. It’s a private individual using his private land to do what he wishes to do on his private property."

Another speaker who said he’s a friend of the applicant said, “You doxed not just him, his good wife, and his kids.”

In the small town, hundreds of signs opposing the helipad were visible. Of the eighty-plus speakers at the meeting, all but a few were opposed to the helipad.

The town council was to consider the question on August 18, but no further info is available.

FMI:  doubleoak.texas.gov/