By Leia Jobe/reporter2@trcle.com
Council addresses taxes, school finance
The Joshua City Council tabled several proposals in its meeting Thursday, and told Chesapeake Energy not to drive through a neighborhood to access three drilling sites for natural gas wells.
The company’s variance request was tabled after a lengthy discussion, City Secretary Mary Beth Thomas said.
“Chesapeake was a participant in that discussion, but in the end they were asked to find another route because several Joshua residents from the proposed area were opposed to the construction,” Thomas said.
Thomas and Chesapeake representative Dusty Anderson did not say what neighborhood is in question.
Several residents addressed the proposed route in an open forum.
When Chesapeake’s request was denied, city officials suggested another approach for the company to consider.
The mayor suggested coming in from the northeast, Thomas said.
“Yes, it got tabled, but the city had a couple of other ideas they wanted to look at on another portion of the property,” said Dusty Anderson, the representative at Chesapeake in charge of the project. “We’ll consider some of those other options, regroup and then come back for the meeting on Dec. 20.”
The council also tabled an ordinance dealing with firearms because the proposal needs some clarification of language and more definitions, Thomas said.
A proposal to give tax-increment financing to a development was tabled because the concept drawing was incorrect, Thomas said. Ray Tolson, the developer, wants mixed uses for a residential area. He will bring a corrected concept drawing to the next meeting, Thomas said.
The council also tabled a zoning request for a change at 710 N. Main St. from one type of residential to another.
