On Monday, November 23, two neighborhood association presidents and a representative from a third presented their case against tentative plans for the rebuilding of the Lookout Transfer Station. The three neighborhoods presented a Power Point presentation with their objections and some partial solutions to the current plans.

The Lookout Transfer Station is a 30-year-old facility owned and operated by the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) to transfer solid waste from local vehicles to trucks for the NTMWD’s landfill north of McKinney.

The NTMWD wants to upgrade the Lookout facility that is located on East Lookout Dr just west of Plano Road. The old facility gets complaints from neighboring residents because of claims that trash blows into yards of homes, the neighboring stream, and the local park. The smell and noise of the current station also is of concern to residents. The Transfer Station out dates the homes and park in the area.

The presentation started first with Rick Wilder, a member of the Duck Creek Homeowners Association. He presented a montage of places in close proximity of the current station and then presented a rather unflattering picture of the station.

“As you can see, this area represents the best of Richardson… Thriving businesses, both new and existing… Premier greenspaces and recreational areas… Culture and history… Established neighborhoods. It is an area of substantial investment –one that invites development AND redevelopment from the City, businesses and residents.”

The torch was passed to John Wallberg, President of Owens Park Neighborhood Association. He outlined four points:

1.Understand the negative impact of Lookout’s capacity expansion to Richardson’s reputation
2.Initiate steps to correct the inequitable trash-exchange relationship between Richardson and Plano.
3.Seriously consider our proposal to move Lookout east versus north of the current transfer station.
4.Understand the key concerns we have and possible solutions to protect Richardson.

Wallberg stated that the new transfer station location and design would make it the closest “large transfer station” to a residential area and the 10th largest in the state of Texas. It is currently the 14th largest.

He then asked the city take steps to consider the proposed alternative location and ensure capacity does not increase.

Wallberg then addressed what he sees as inequities that lead to the “inequitable trash-exchange relationship between Richardson and Plano.” He stated that Plano sends 33 times more commercial waste to the Lookout station than Richardson sends to the Parkway station in Plano.

Wallberg stated, “This is not a healthy relationship; this is an abusive relationship.” He then asked the City to, “Introduce regulation that would balance such distribution inequalities,” and “thoroughly understand the District’s plan to improve the entire system.”

Wallberg then passed the mic to George Human of Sherrill Park North & Foxboro Neighborhood Associations.

Human first proposed moving the transfer station not the north as now proposed but to the east of the current transfer station.

Human stated, “Considerable site and engineering analysis was performed to make sure the EAST site would work –our conclusion is that it merits serious review.” He did not say what that analysis was. (See current, proposed north, and alternate proposed east in the map. Lookout Drive is at the bottom of the picture. All pictures courtesy of the presenters mentioned.)

He then stated the fourth point with four key concerns: Add tall sound and screening walls higher than the tops of the large doors, add an effective odor-eliminating system, reroute trash truck traffic away from Plano Road by using Lookout Drive -west of Plano Road, as well as Routh Creek Parkway, and dedicate a safe bike path that connects Lookout Park to Foxboro Park and the Spring Creek Nature Preserve.

Mayor Slagel then stepped in with some comments. He stated that the City has meeting in two weeks in which they will receive the NTMWD’s data and that City manager Bill Keffler is “carrying on a series of meetings as well.”

“Our hope is that we can come to some resolution that makes sense for everyone,” Slagel said.

“We need to change the transfer station and rebuild the old one, but we only need to do that when we are ready,” Slagel said.

The presentation was then marred somewhat by whether or not the presentation was finished. Council rules put in place in 2007 state that individual presenters can speak for five minutes and only once per issue. There were still concluding slides left on the presentation but Slagel stated the group exhausted it’s time. Discussion ensued as to whether the group was finished and councilman Mitchell stated he would like to see the remaining presentation.

Mr. Wilder then finished the presentation.

Unfortunately the issue of procedure and rules overshadowed what was otherwise an excellent presentation as after the council meeting adjourned the discussion centered on whether it was appropriate to continue, whether the three men had exhausted their five minutes apiece, whether Mayor Slagel had “not wanted to hear them,” or whether Mr Mitchell had acted properly.

The presentation took place in the visitor’s section of the regular council meeting and as such Open Meetings rules of the state of Texas do not allow “deliberation.” The council and staff are limited to current policy and statements of fact.

Missing from the presentation and discussion was any discussion of the limitations or powers of the City of Richardson with respect to its membership and contract with the NTMWD. It is not the City of Richardson that executes or runs transfer stations in the District’s areas. It is not clear what power the City has to change the capacity or other details of the plans.