Trinity Trees Come Down

I was expecting something a little more dramatic as I walked down the Trinity Trail near the Rogers Avenue bridge. Bulldozers. Chainsaws. Contractors from Blackwater.

A friend sent me an e-mail this afternoon that the Trinity Trees were coming down. I guess I expected it to be a work in progress. But it was a done deal.

What I found was an open area where Chesapeake Energy's pad site will be, along with blue sky and silence. No one was there. The only noise came from the Union Pacific yards next door.

After months of meetings, petitions, letter writing and lawsuits, the Trinity Trees controversy was over. I guess spokesperson Julie Wilson is still polishing the press release that says, "Hey, we just cut down a bunch of trees."

I had hoped against hope that some Capra-esque miracle would transpire. Maybe like Claude Rains at the end of Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, Chesapeake Vice President Tom Price would go sprinting down the Trinity Trail, racked with guilt while tearing off his Men's Warehouse suit and screaming, "I was wrong! Global warming does exist! These trees must be SAVED!"

But that hope died even before the ink was dry on Melissa Kohout's lawsuit.

The realistic view was best articulated by Jim Marshall. A few months back, Jim told me that in spite of everything, there were positives to come out of this:

Chesapeake altered its plans.

Chesapeake secured permission from Union Pacific to locate part of its drilling equipment on Union Pacific property. The alternative plan proposed by the Trinity Trees group was to relocate the entire drilling site to UP property.

Current plans call for the pad site to be reduced from 2.5 to 1.4 acres, saving an additional 1.1 acres of the 8.33 acre tree grove.

The perimeter tree planting surrounding the pad site is being enhanced following a revised landscape plan with 268 new trees ranging from 5 to 14 feet in height.

Chesapeake has committed to donate $500,000 to the City tree farm.

Saving over an acre of old growth trees ain't nothing. Getting Chesapeake to part with $500,000 for trees ain't nothing, either.

And I was thinking about that while I walked the Trinity Trees site this afternoon. It's a perfect example of what Lyndon Johnson called "half-loaf" politics -- a half a loaf of bread is better than no loaf at all. It's compromise. Everybody wins.

Well, there certainly were some winners.

Someday soon, a drilling rig will reach to the sky alongside the old oaks on the banks of the Trinity. And someday not long after that, the money will flow into the coffers of Chesapeake Energy, Union Pacific and Colonial Country Club.

But what about the rest of us here in Fort Worth. You know, the people who are concerned about keeping our neighborhoods safe, maintaining our natural environment and other little things like that. What about us? Did we get a half a loaf out of this? Because doesn't seem like it.

Then I remembered something that someone said to me recently. "Why is it that whenever there is some sneaky shit going on with gas drilling, Chesapeake's name is on it?"

Um, I dunno? Maybe because of the Trinity Trees, injection wells, the proposed Eighth Avenue drilling site, signing a drilling lease with the Star-Telegram.

And that's when it clicked for me.

Like a rebellious teenager, Chesapeake pushes the limits to see what it can get away with. Maybe Fort Worth will say no to a few things, they figure, but who knows what that town will say yes to.

But no matter how many billboards Chesapeake buys, the people of Fort Worth have started to notice this pattern of behavior. They are judging Chesapeake on their deeds, not their dollars. And those deeds may have already cost the company some dollars.

I believe the Trinity Trees issue hurt Chesapeake in lease negotiations in Mistletoe Heights and Ryan Place. I also believe that the Trinity Trees helped get the gas drilling ordinance back on the table. Who knows, maybe we'll end up with an ordinance that does more to protect our interests, not the gas drillers.

If that's the half of the loaf we got, Fort Worth, that ain't nothing.

City Responds to Trinity Trees Lawsuit

The Startlegram reports that the city is asking a state district judge to throw out Melissa Kohout's lawsuit to prevent drilling at the Trinity Trees site. The basis for Kohout's lawsuit is that she was denied her right to address the government.

Sez the S-T (emphasis below is mine): "Kohout and her lawyer Jason Smith say in the lawsuit that the city violated its own ordinance by giving Chesapeake a special high-impact permit to drill near the trail.

"Such permits are required for gas wells within 600 feet of homes, parks or other 'protected uses' and can't be issued without a waiver from the property owner or the City Council. The ordinance doesn't include the trail system, though, because it is owned by the Tarrant Regional Water District.

"Chesapeake didn't apply for a high-impact permit and didn't post notices that it was seeking one. But city officials gave Chesapeake a permit after water district President Jim Oliver signed a waiver.

"Kohout's lawsuit points out that the city argued exactly the opposite in a 1995 zoning case, when it fought a topless bar that it felt would have been too close to the trail system. The lawsuit also says the city gave preferential treatment to Chesapeake and denied residents a chance to petition the council about the permit because the company's notices didn't mention it. Instead, they mentioned a less restrictive type of permit."

Although I am not a lawyer -- I'm just a simple caveman -- the whole sneaky way that the high-impact variance was granted seems to have some merit. We depend on the city's gas drilling ordinance to protect the environment and the safety of the people who live here. If the ordinance doesn't do that, what's to prevent a gas drilling company from putting up a well wherever they please? Is the public just going to be left out of this process altogether?

Barnett Shale News Items

South Side Update: The FWWeekly offers a catch-up story on the gas drilling battle on the South Side, primarily focusing on Don Young and Liane Janovsky. Not really much new in here, but I think it is worth remembering that XTO's alternative to its Eighth Avenue drilling site is, as Liann reminds us, "within 1,000 feet of the Fort Worth ISD’s Daggett Montessori school, as well as Daggett Elementary and [Daggett] Middle School and the Montessori preschool. There are also a couple of dozen poor rental properties over there. And I object to the idea of a gas well that close to schools.”

In the article, Young also says that a gas drilling pad site has been staked out just south of the beautiful old Texas & Pacific warehouse on Lancaster Avenue, which is going to be developed for high-end condos. I asked Kevin Buchanan at Fort Worthology about this the other day, and he actually went down to the site and took some pictures. He didn't see anything. Did he miss it? Nonetheless, I find it hard to believe that drilling would be allowed so close to a building complex that is on the National Register of Historic Places and an active residential complex at that. But there are so many dumbfounding aspects to urban gas drilling, where do you begin the list?

Oh, funny running into you here: Talk about an awkward moment. Mayor Mikey decided to take a little stroll down by the Trinity Trees the other day. Maybe he was thinking about the $620,000 he earned from his oil and gas holdings in 2006. 2007 should be a better year. Then, boom! He runs into Melissa Kohout, who is suing the city over the Trinity Trees drilling site. Wow. Where can a Mayor go to get away around here anyway?

Landscaping at Trinity Trees Site

No, the bulldozing hasn't begun. Chesapeake is just doing a little landscaping at the Trinity Trees site. Planting a few small trees before knocking bigger ones down.

Makes sense, doesn't it?

UPDATE, 10.18.07: See Pete's pix here. Not as good as the picture in the S-T of the guy sitting on his ass smoking a cigarette, but still good.

City Asked To Rescind Trinity Trees Permit

The Startlegram's Barnett Shale blog reports that Melissa Kohout, who threatened to sue the city if natural gas drilling is allowed next to the Trinity River hike-and-bike trail, has sent another letter demanding that the city rescind the drilling permit. She and her lawyer, Jason Smith, argue that the gas company, Chesapeake Energy, got a high-impact well permit even though didn't apply for one. That means, they argue, that people didn't get a chance to sound off against the high-impact permit. It also show favoritism to Chesapeake, the letter says.

Burnham Requests Public Meeting

District 90 State Rep. Lon Burnham sent the following letter yesterday to Richard Varela, Executive Director of the Railroad Commission of Texas, to request a public meeting over the drilling permit for the Trinity Trees site. Lon wrote:

"It is my understanding that the City of Fort Worth has granted a permit to Chesapeake Energy Corporation to drill for natural gas in an area in my district known as “the Trinity Trees” (just west of University Drive). It is also my understanding that Chesapeake has filed for a permit with the Railroad Commission to drill at this location. I strongly object to the Commission granting a permit that would allow drilling at this site.

"A large number of residents of Fort Worth, and many of my constituents, have expressed their opposition to this particular permit application. The proposed drill site is very close to a public park, including a trail heavily used for recreational activities. Drilling in this location presents threats to the safety of park users, as well as the environment.

"I am writing to request a public meeting in Fort Worth on this permit application so that residents have a chance to express their opposition and concerns. I would also like to meet with you as soon as possible. I will be in Austin on Friday of this week. Please call my Austin office to set up a time that is convenient for you."

Wondering About the Trinity Trees

It is said the Lord moves in mysterious ways. So too does Fort Worth City government.

Case in point: the Trinity Trees.

As you have probably heard, the City of Fort Worth approved the drilling permit for the Trinity Trees site yesterday. What I think everyone is wondering is this: is it a done deal? Is the drilling going to happen?
That I don't know. Fort Worth State Rep. Lon Burnham says it's not over. I'm sure someone, somewhere -- for better or worse -- will file a lawsuit. But at the end of the day, whether or not someone pulls some strings in Austin or revs up their lawyers, Chesapeake Energy has their drilling permit.

But I am curious about a few things:

First, because the well is considered a high-impact gas well, Chesapeake had to secure permission to drill the well from all property owners within 600 feet of the site. Or shall we say all property owner -- The Tarrant Regional Water District. But why didn't that waiver have to go before the Water District board? Why wasn't there a hearing? And why wasn't there an environmental impact study? It's curious. Let me just say this, if NASA worked this efficiently, I would be writing this from Mars.

Second, Chesapeake reached an agreement with Union Pacific Corporation to move
a portion of the drillsite operations support equipment to Union Pacific’s Davidson Rail Yard during drilling operations. By doing so, Chesapeake will be able to reduce the amount of the drillsite that will be located on its Trinity Trails property from 2.5 acres to 1.4 acres. Chesapeake is also announcing a $500,000 commitment over five years to fund the purchase and planting of new trees in the City of Fort Worth. I'm wondering how that happened. Does it have anything to do with Wendy Davis' long-awaited meeting with Chesapeake CEO Aubrey McClendon last Friday?

Third, I wonder if this deal has to do more about Trinity Trees or the City revisiting the gas drilling ordinance? Is this some kind of quid pro quo, as in "Here are some trees and a couple of hundred grand, but don't jack with us on the gas drilling ordinance?" We, the average citizens of Fort Worth, may never know. But I'm going to keep an eye on how the city revisits the gas drilling ordinance. I'm just wondering.

City To Revisit Gas Drilling Ordinance?

When the Fort Worth City Council met on Sept. 11, Mayor Moncrief was very clear -- there is nothing wrong with Fort Worth's gas drilling ordinance. In fact, he said it is the model for ordinances used by many of the surrounding cities.

I took that to mean case closed. In spite of the concerns of over 1,200 people who signed petitions to support the Trinity Trees and the over 400 people who turned out for a public forum on the issue, the City seemed to have a clear message -- get lost.

But, as Lee Corso might say, not so fast, my friend.

In an e-mail sent out last week to dozens of Trinity Trees supporters, Wendy Davis indicated that far from being a done deal, the city's gas ordinance might be going back to the drawing board.

Last week, the City Council committed to hold a workshop for purposes of sending the ordinance back to the Gas Drilling Advisory Committee for further review as a direct result of the outcry over the Trinity Trees issue. Davis said in the e-mail that she expected the workshop to be held within the next few weeks.

In the e-mail, Davis attached a memo from City Planning and Development Department Director Fernando Costa, dated Sept. 13, that outlines some possible points for review, including:

Requiring review and comment by the City’s Parks and Community Services Advisory Board for any gas wells to be sited within a certain distance of designated City parks

Applying the same setback requirements to the Trinity River and its tributaries as to designated City parks

Requiring the installation of more effective landscaped buffers around gas well sites

Repealing current provisions whereby property owners may waive certain setback requirements, thereby requiring all such waivers to be approved by the City Council

Requiring special use permits to be approved by the City Council upon recommendations from the Zoning Commission for wells within or near residential zoning districts.

In addition, Davis is recommending that a few other points be added as part of the review, including:

Charging impact fees to the gas companies for the wear and tear to our streets from their trucks

Requirements to complete a truck route plan with the city for the ingress and egress to the well sites

Requirements to work with the city on the placement of the gas pipelines

Requirements to work with the city regarding the placement of the compression stations.

Taken at face value, this all looks encouraging. But I wonder why the sudden about-face on this issue? Is this just an attempt for the city to smooth over ruffled feathers? Or is it an attempt to fix some legitimate problems with the gas drilling ordinance? I don't know. I'd like to think that public outcry is forcing the city to act. But let's see how this plays out. In the meantime, I would encourage you to contact your city councilperson and let them know that you support revisiting the gas ordinance.

Can the Trinity Trees be saved? If you continue to speak out and get involved, maybe they can.

A Walk in Tandy Hills Park

I've spent too much time in meetings, in traffic, in discussions about contentious issues. Most of the work is important, some of it is just work. But I feel it chipping away.

That's why I decided that Saturday was time to recharge the batteries and get a hefty dose of nature.

I've been saying a lot lately that greenspace matters. And it does. On Saturday, I took a ride down the Trinity Trail on my bike, after a stop at Panther City Bikes to get a tube replaced. Bernie and Brian teased me about my general bike maintenance ineptitude. Yeah, I'm pretty clueless.

After the ride, I took the family to the Japanese Gardens for some koi feeding and Pacifi-Tex serenity. Domo arigato.

My wife, my daughter and I rounded out the day with a nature hike in Tandy Hills Park with our tour gides, Don and Debora Young. Don is more than just the unofficial expert on Tandy Hills Park, he's a huge advocate for the environment in Fort Worth. He's the driving force behind FW Can Do -- some of the most vocal opponents to urban drilling in the city. Don's also the man behind PrairieFest -- a celebration of our connection to the natural world.

The Youngs live in an Austin funky house literally across the street from the park. "This is why we bought here," he said, stretching his arms out like he was going to give the park a big hug. "We wanted to be able to look out on this every day." So from their front yard, we left on our evening hike.

Saying that Don is passionate about Tandy Hills Park is like saying Georgia O'Keefe was passionate about Santa Fe. And his enthusiasm is contagious. The 180-acre park between Oakland and Beach Streets south of I30 is one of the last swaths of prairie near downtown and when you are there you can get an idea of what Fort Worth looked like when General Worth first rode into the area a century and half ago.


One of the first things Don taught me about was Big Bluestem grass (in the picture above on the right of the frame). "You might not know this, but the roots of this grass can live to be older than the oldest Bur Oak in the Trinity Trees," he said. "Those roots can live to be hundreds of years old."


It's hard to believe wandering the trails through Tandy Hills that you are not that far from downtown. You are in the middle of a city, but it is completely a world away. "I like to think that the broadcast towers are some immense modern art sculpture," Don said.


"Most Fort Worth lawns might have only three or four different types of native plant species," Don said. "This park has over 541 native plant species."


I wondered how an area this close to downtown could remain undeveloped. It turns out that the Tandy Family -- no relation to the Radio Shack Tandys -- left the land to the city back in the Sixties on the condition that it never be built on or developed. So the upside is the site is largely undisturbed and the city hasn't done anything with it. The downside is, well, the city hasn't done anything with it.


Although citizens are working to save trees in other parts of Fort Worth, in Tandy Hills, trees are actually a problem. "On the prairie, natural fires keep trees from growing," Don said. "But here in the city, if there is a fire, the fire department shows up. So if you look at that hill over there (the photo above on the right), those trees are moving up that hill at about a foot a year. It's not going to be very many more years before the trees take over." Some people have a hard time wrapping their heads around these facts -- why do you want trees here but not there? Why do you want things to burn? But it makes sense. Look it up.


Not that there aren't supposed to be any trees. When you get down to bottomland, many trees thrive. But in other parts of the park, the trees are taking over and choking back the native grasses.


You can see below where the flash floods come roaring through. "The water can really turn this into roaring rapids." But the bottomland is also home to the Dog Tooth Violet, a very rare species in this part of the country," Debora said.


“That’s sideoats grama — the state grass of Texas,” Don said, pointing to the stalks of grass in the photo below.


Although Tandy Hills is his first love, Don understands the importance of bringing together people from all parts of Fort Worth to preserve our natural environment for future generations. That makes him one hell of a Texan in my book. As he would put it, "God Bless Texas. Help us save some of it."


Chesapeake purchased 55 acres adjacent to Tandy Hills Park in the hopes that they might be able to drill for natural gas in or near the park. "The said they just wanted to do seismic testing, but they were going to drive those seismic testing trucks all over the park. You can still see the orange flag below there where they marked the trail to drive through there (at the the middle of the photo below)," Don said. "Does it look like you could drive a truck through there?"

Honestly, Don, no. Chesapeake Energy -- good corporate citizen indeed. Because Don and many other raised so much hell, Chesapeake isn't encroaching on the park for now. Will that last though?


Of course, what would a natural area in Fort Worth be without a Jim Marshall birdhouse (below). That guy is all over the place.


"This spot is one of my favorite places in the whole park," Don said about the field in the photo below. "You really get an idea about what this park could be."


My evening hike through Tandy Hills was really a transcendent experience. Everything slows down and when it gets quiet, you can hear your soul. The noise of busy urban life falls away. That's part of the value of greenspace. It feeds our souls. Can you put a price on that?

I often ask the question, "What makes a city great?" Certainly the places like Tandy Hills Park are a big part of that. But so are the people like Don and Debora Young. This isn't a new fight for Don. To find out more, check out this Jeff Prince story from 2004. Or better yet, drop by Tandy Hills to see for yourself.

Thanks for tour, Don. It was time well spent.

City Council to Trinity Trees: Get Lost

God bless Wendy Davis. She tried. And what she got for her trouble was a scolding from the Mayor of Fort Worth, Mike Moncrief.

Sorry about that, Wendy. You deserve a lot better.

After the meeting, she tried not to cry, but she did a little. And I don't blame her, because I wanted to cry, too.

It wasn't just that the Mayor and the City Council washed their hands of the whole Trinity Trees issue. It was how they did it. "This kind of public rebuke from the Mayor is absolutely appalling," said one woman, who wished not to be identified. "This city has had no better advocate on so many issues than Wendy Davis."

Davis, the District 9 City Council rep who has worked hard to find a solution that would be acceptable to all parties -- Chesapeake, Union Pacific and the people of Fort Worth -- actually brought some good news to the meeting. She's meeting with the Chesapeake CEO on Friday, along with Marc Ott, the assistant city manager who is working on the Southwest Parkway. Chesapeake and Union Pacific have used the Southwest Parkway as the reason that the Trinity Trees must be sacrificed. 'Because of the needs of the Southwest Parkway, there's no way we can use any of the Union Pacific land for drilling.' That's the reasoning.

Davis is trying to cut through this nonsense by getting the right people in the room on Friday. Good you, Wendy. But she didn't stop there.

"This issue is a symptom of a bigger problem and District 9 [Davis' district] is the first to feel it," she said. "We need to be proactive about this. We need to ask the city manager and the legal department and discuss the drilling ordinance."

Davis gets it. She understands that the issue is larger than zoning and individual property rights, it's about safety and quality of life. It is about pipelines going across our land, water trucks wearing out our streets and compression stations that could pose safety and environmental issues in our city.

"Union Pacific and Colonial Country Club are not be asked to bear the burden," she said. "What are the alternatives?"

That's a good question. We are told that the CEOs of Union Pacific and Chesapeake are going to meet. But will the people of Fort Worth have a seat at the table? That remains to be seen.

But Mayor Mikey doesn't want to get involved in this issue, and he's definitely not revisiting the drilling ordinance. "I take exception to the idea that we have not been proactive on this issue," he said. "This is a very difficult issue."

"Had Chesapeake not bought that property, did you see the kind of things that could have been put there? Would you rather have a concrete plant on that property?"

No, Mr. Mayor, I wouldn't. However, your logic is awfully close to what Bud Kennedy wrote on Sunday. And, I'm sorry to break it to you, but Bud didn't share the whole truth with you or the people of Fort Worth in his column. "That is old railroad land," he wrote. "It was always set aside for heavy industry. City Hall planners zoned it K and MU-2 -- specific designations for industrial development. ... The city zoning map is easy to find. ... Check it before you take any chops at City Hall."

So I did. Sure, K is a heavy industrial development. But most of the land is zoned MU-2 (see image from the city Web site at right). That's mixed use, which includes some light industrial, but it also includes such non-industrial uses as kindergartens, day care centers, schools and museums. Funny, Bud didn't mention that, but he really should have. Take a look for yourself. In fact, most of the land around the Modern Art Museum is zoned MU-2 (see map below). I wonder what would happen if someone wanted to put a gas well on that property? Could they get a high impact variance? Do the people of Fort Worth have a right to take chops at City Hall over that?

Mr. Mayor, given the choice between gas well and museum, I'd choose museum. Maybe a Trinity Trees Museum?

The rest of the Council was either antagonistic or silent. District 7 rep Carter Burdette, a former attorney for oil and gas interests, is unmoved by any argument to save the Trees. "The only way you'll know they're gone is if you fly over them in a helicopter." District 4 rep Danny Scarth was similarly unmoved. His reasoning seemed to be not my district, not my problem. Of course, since he crafted much of the existing ordinance, he doesn't feel the need to go back and revisit it.

Basically, Wendy Davis is the only one of the City Council who is convinced this is a real issue, despite 1,300 signatures on Trinity Tree petition and a City Council chamber full of mostly Trinity Trees supporters.

One Mistletoe Heights resident told me, "I see more and more people in my neighborhood becoming concerned with this issue. It is not going away. It's only getting bigger." And she's right. People connected to the neighborhood association there say only around 10 percent of homeowners have signed lease agreements for their mineral rights. A drilling company needs 80 percent before they can drill. I'm told numbers in neighborhoods like Ryan Place and Berkeley have also been slow to sign. Because so many of the Trinity Trees people come from these neighborhoods, I could easily see this issue preventing people from signing.

Bernie Scheffler, who is running to replace Davis in District 9 when she leaves to run for the State Senate, was surprised that Chesapeake and Union Pacific won't ask the City to get involved and help find a solution. "We aren't telling you what to do with your land, we're asking you to get involved to help find a win-win solution for everyone," he said. "Here's your chance to be good corporate citizens. It's not a complex issue."

It's not a complex issue and it's not over either.

"We'll be OK," said Rick Collins with Save the Trinity Trees. "We'll be OK."

P.S.: If you'd like, send Wendy Davis an e-mail to say thanks. Or if you feel a little rowdy, send Bud Kennedy an e-mail and ask him to correct his misleading column from Sunday.

More From Bud

More from Bud Kennedy this morning:

Hi Steven,

Forgive me if I sent this yesterday.

But this is the actual plan already approved 8-0 for an office-industrial park in the Trinity Trees site, long before the current gas well proposal.

This is what will be built if the gas well falls through.

Thanks for your reply, Bud. I hadn't seen that yesterday, but I had heard that reasoning before. In fact, Jim Marshall and Rick Collins addressed that issue in an interview they did on my blog last week. Here's what they said:

"That, too, would have resulted in a tragic loss of this special green space. Often the argument is made that the destruction that Chesapeake is planning is not as bad as what the developer was planning. However, it doesn’t have to be an either/or decision. There exists a third alternative. If you check our Web site you’ll see we have sent a letter to the Mayor and City Council proposing said alternative: Chesapeake decides to move its pad site to the already industrial area a few hundred feet to the north; the developer agrees that putting in its buildings is not the best use of the grove of trees; steps are taken to convert the eight acres to a public park. To make this happen, we need three things from all vested parties (including our city leaders): consent, cooperation and compromise."

I'm Just Sayin'

I saw this comment on the Trinity Trees blog:

what a bunch of busy bodies... collectivist do gooders...why don't you mind your own business...socialism doesn't work... even though you think that you are quite smart and have noble intentions the honest truth is that you want to control the rightful decisions of other people...i only wish i could inspect your homes and affairs and give you a checklist of mandatory improvements that would enhance your conditions.. and by the way, if you didn't make these changes you would be harrassed and fined...does that sound ok to you or offensive...just mind your own affairs...you sicken me

I kind of laughed when I first read this. I mean, when was the last time anyone accused an opponent of being a socialist? Why didn't this person just go ahead and blame the Wobblies or the Bolsheviks, too?

I just kind of shook my head. Totally doesn't get it, I said. Then saw a link to this study about how liberals are more responsive to informational complexity and it all made sense. As the person wrote, "even though you think that you are quite smart and have noble intentions the honest truth is that you want to control the rightful decisions of other people." I'm not saying I'm smarter than people on the other side of this issue -- just the person who left that comment. I feel safe in saying I'm smarter than that individual.

Regarding "controlling the rightful decisions of other people," I'll say it again -- we respect private property rights and want to negotiate a win-win situation for all parties involved in this issue. But we believe that the people of Fort Worth have a right to have a say in land that has been used by the public and maintained by public money for years.

Trinity Trees: What You Can Do

Dear Fort Worth:

You're on your own. That's what the Startlegram told us over the past week. The billboard may say it's all about "U", but really it's all about "$".

Chesapeake has done a masterful job of spinning a story about big corporations and big money razing an urban forest into a tale of private property rights violated.

This is a straw man. If you want to see how gas drilling companies really feel about private property rights, allow me to point you to Jeff Prince's article in the FWWeekly about Billy Mitchell. That's the truth.

Simply put, if you owned the Trinity Trees property, you'd first get the carrot -- a big fat check waved in your face. Maybe you take that check. But if not, you get the stick. The City and the gas driller would force their way onto your property. If you try to claim private property rights, how far do you think you would get? Ask Billy Mitchell.

Don't fall for Chesapeake's marketing spin. If you care about green space in our city, show up at 7 Tuesday night at the City Council Meeting. Councilwoman Wendy Davis has invited Trinity Trees to present an alternative proposal to save the entire eight-acre grove and still allow for drilling.

Also, write the Startlegram and the Mayor and City Council to let them know how you feel.

Fort Worth, you are on your own. If you want to save these trees, show up and speak out NOW. It's critical that the Mayor, City Council and entire city know there is widespread, enthusiastic support for this cause.

Don Young Responds

Don Young of FWCanDo responds to this morning's the Startlegram editorial:

From: Don Young
Date: September 10, 2007 11:33:13 AM CDT
Subject: Star-Telegram Editors guilty of greenwashing? Here's a way to fight back.

The Editors of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram have published a short-sighted Opinion in todays newspaper that is filled with misleading statements and a few truth-bending assumptions regarding the Trinity Trees issue. Their over-the-top valentine to Chesapeake Energy is a blatant flirtation with greenwashing.

Even though this editorial hits a new low, it's nothing new. The Star-Telegram has endorsed gas drilling from the beginning. They wrote over 2 years ago that the benefits of drilling in our neighborhoods and greenspaces outweigh the losses. Even after the Forest Hill gas well blowout that caused widespread evacuation and a death, they continued to minimize the dangers,

It's important to remember that Fort Worth's only daily newspaper probably has significant mineral rights under their own properties. There is reason to believe that a gas well planned for the heart of downtown, near Lancaster @ Lamar, will be on S-T property. MOST importantly, a significant part of S-T advertising income is now derived from the gas companies, including Chesapeake. [Editor's note: The current TAD listing for the Lancaster property does not show the Star-Telegram as the owner. Furthermore, we do not know how much of the S-T's advertising revenue is derived from gas drillers. In the interest of disclosure, the S-T would gain more credibility on this issue if they disclosed their natural gas holdings in the Barnett Shale and the advertising revenue derived from gas drillers.]

You're all familiar with the Upton Sinclair principle, "It's difficult to get a man/woman (or a corporation) to understand something when their salary (income) depends on his NOT understanding it."

Does all this mean the editorial board is intentionally biased? Maybe, maybe not. It suggests to me is that there is, at least, the appearance of conflict of interest and that by owning the only daily newspaper in town there is more than a hint of corportae irresponsibility in publishing this latest editorial.

From my point of view, if the Star-Telegram editors and the gas drillers get their way, most of the undeveloped greenspace left in Fort Worth and surrounding rural areas will be managed and landscaped by the gas driller's to accommodate their needs. Are we supposed to be grateful for that???

That is not an acceptable compromise. It is a tragedy and a sell out of unprecedented proportion that we should continue to resist.

Don Young
9/10/07

FWCanDo
P.O. Box 470041
Fort Worth, TX 76147
http://www.fwcando.org

"God bless Fort Worth, Texas. Help us save some of it."

Bud Writes Back

From Bud Kennedy this morning:

Hi Steve,

Thanks very much for your heartfelt note.

However, I disagree.

Zoning is a commitment to the property owner. Changing somebody's zoning is robbery. It's like taking away their property.

I agree that cities occasionally must use such heavy-handed power -- but it should only happen rarely, and only where most of the land has been acquired on the fair market.

As far as waiting -- wait for what? So a small, bossy clique can continue what amounts to a shakedown of two landowners on their own property?

I am not promoting an advantage for the companies. I am defending their equal right to the free, safe, orderly use of their own property.

They are entitled to the same rights you and I have.

I didn't praise Chesapeake. I am not particularly happy with some of the gas drilling companies. But Chesapeake is right on this one.

I agree that greenspace is an issue. But if we're going to devote resources to greenspace, it needs to be to preserve unique natural features such as the Cross Timbers or Tandy Hills, or create greenspace on the edges of the city where tract homes go up for miles without a major greenbelt park.

Developers bring revenue. Revenue builds a city. The money from this well and others will help preserve and build badly needed parks.

Write again or anytime,

Bud

Thanks for writing back. Bud, I agree that revenue builds a city. But where is the shakedown? I don't see where anyone is trying to fleece Chesapeake or Union Pacific out of anything? This is about three permits out of more than 2,100 issued this year.

All I have heard Jim Marshall ask for is the chance to sit down and negotiate a win-win settlement for the people of Fort Worth, Chesapeake, Union Pacific, Colonial and the City. What's the problem? The problem with these three permits is they involve Chesapeake Energy, Union Pacific and Colonial Country Club. These are people who don't like to hear the word no. They are in a hurry to start cashing royalty checks.

You are right about Cross Timbers and Tandy Hills. But why should we expect anything different on those parks if we don't expect Chesapeake to act in good faith with the people of Fort Worth on this one?

Also, my understanding is that this gas drilling revenue isn't going into parks, it's going in to some undefined lockbox for some undefined use at some undefined future date. Seems like a pretty big leap of faith to me.

Bud, I'm sorry that you feel that way. The people of Fort Worth could really use some leadership from the Star-Telegram on this issue. Instead, we get this morning's editorial. I think the newspaper is out of touch with the people of Fort Worth on this one. And they are both going to be losers because of it.

Regards,

Steve

An Open Letter to Bud Kennedy

Dear Bud:

I was a little taken aback by your column this morning ("Here's the clear cut truth: we're better off with gas well," S-T, Sunday Sept. 9, 2007). Bud, you know a lot about this city. You've covered the hell out of it for many years. I have a lot of respect for you as a journalist and your role as part of the institutional memory of this city. I know you love Fort Worth.

But, Bud, you are just flat out wrong on this one.

First, as much as you may want to attack "blog bs" for not mentioning the zoning issue, zoning really is not the issue. You and I both know that. Zoning changes -- like when Arlington took all that land that was zoned residential -- as in, you know, people's homes -- to build Jerry World. So, again, zoning really isn't the issue.

Second, you say we are better off with a gas well. Why is that? There have been three permits filed for this site. What happens if these permits are delayed or denied? Does urban gas drilling come to a screeching halt? No. According to your newspaper this morning, permits issued in the Barnett Shale are up. "According to the Texas Railroad Commission, 2,142 drilling permits were issued this year as of July. That's approaching the 2,519 issued for all of last year." Slowing down the drilling on this one site will not compromise the efforts to find natural gas in the Barnett Shale. It may, however, keep the city from making a terrible mistake.

But I guess what I'm shocked about is why does a newspaper columnist spend so much time and effort protecting the interests of the likes of Chesapeake Energy and Union Pacific? Believe me, they have pretty good marketing departments. They've got budget -- I've seen the full-page ads in your newspaper. I've also seen the billboards. And the commercials. I don't understand why you want to carry the water for these guys, but maybe that's how you feel.

But let me ask you this: What kind of city do you want to live in?

I believe that the people who live in this city and love this city and who don't have a stack of money, an army of lawyers and marketing people or a newspaper column should have a say in answering that question. In spite of all of the billboards that Chesapeake puts up around town, the fact remains that a publicly traded company is in business to build value for its shareholders, not serve the best interests of the people of Fort Worth. When Chesapeake's interests and those of Fort Worth diverge, they will side with profits. I understand that, and Wall Street expects no less.

That's what we have here. Chesapeake has picked profits over the people of Fort Worth. I'd put that on a billboard, but I don't have that kind of money. All I have is this blog.

I believe we can't leave it all in the hands of developers who are more concerned with maximizing profit than making this a better community. The fact is that green space matters -- and I'm talking trees, not money. Green space is as important as good roads, good schools and affordable housing. Look at Austin -- they have Town Lake, Zilker Park and Barton Springs. They have worked hard to preserve their natural environment, and it is a big part of the reason Austin is one of the hottest places to live in the country.

Bud, the reason 400 people show up at a community forum on this grove of trees is they really care. They believe that green space matters. A lot of people in Fort Worth do. It's part of the reason we choose to live here. Chesapeake, Union Pacific, the city and the community can sit down together and find a compromise solution that satisfies all stakeholders. A win-win solution is possible. We can have drilling, and we can have green space.

We really are at a transforming moment in our city. Because of gas drilling, population growth and urban development, the face of Fort Worth is changing, and I think mostly for the better. But I think that we have the right to ask questions and demand the best for our community. I believe we have the right to take some chops at City Hall and corporate giants. I used to believe that's what newspapers did.

Maybe you think that we are naive. Maybe you think we are uninformed. But we are not. Talk to Jim Marshall. I've got his phone number and e-mail if you need it.

Regards,

Steve

If you don't agree with Bud, you can e-mail him. Or if you want to tell me to take a hike, have at it.

Trinity Trees Public Forum

A funny thing happened at the Trinity Trees Public Forum at Capstone Church in Fort Worth last night. Civility broke out.

A crowd of around 400 people watched as speaker after speaker had their say on the whether the eight-acre tract of old growth urban forest would be preserved or go to the bulldozer. District 9 City Council representative Wendy Davis, the event's emcee, struck the tone early: "We want to have a constructive dialogue with Chesapeake." After all, she said, once this grove of trees is lost, it is lost forever.

And, as the different sides had their say, the tone of civility prevailed. Julie Wilson, the spokeperson for Chesapeake Energy, gave a slick presentation about how drilling on the Trinity Trees site is actually a good thing for the City of Fort Worth. She explained how the company believes it can minimize the environmental impact and make improvements.

Jim Bradbury with Trinity Trees explained the group's position: urban gas drilling has unknown consequences, connected tree canopy is important and alternative drilling sites exist on the Union Pacific site next door. They aren't against drilling, they are in favor of finding a third way, an alternative.

But that wasn't the funny thing. The funny thing was this -- the only extremist in the room is the guy who should know better, Tom Price, Jr., the Senior Vice President of Corporate Development for Chesapeake Energy. He's El Jefe for Chesapeake on this deal. But he comes off like Montgomery Burns -- corporate fatcat who always says the wrong thing and then doesn't understand why people get angry.

Price is shocked that the community would suggest that Chesapeake would "take" Union Pacific property and that moving the site wouldn't work. "For all of you to say that the answer is for Union Pacific to give up their property, I think is overreaching," he said.

The response was whatever the opposite of a standing ovation is. Honestly, I've never seen that many people boo someone who wasn't wearing a referee's uniform.

That's sort of where things got off track for the Chesapeakers. Wendy Davis immediately jumped on Price's comment. "Colonial and Union Pacific stand to benefit greatly from this, yet the community will bear all of the burden." Davis seems to be more and more outspoken on this issue as her tenure on the Council grows shorter. I like this side of Wendy Davis, and I hope to see more of it in Fort Worth, and maybe in Austin if she wins in her run for the State Senate.

Fort Worth State Representative Lon Burnham (pictured above) also encouraged finding a third way and scolded Union Pacific for not helping offer an alternative. "Union Pacific has not been a good corporate citizen in Fort Worth over the last year on this issue," he said.

Last night confirmed a couple for things for me. There is a growing base of community support against drilling on this site. The issue for these people isn't about drilling -- it's about drilling right there. And these people aren't a bunch tie-dyed, unicorn-hugging wackos, these folks look like your neighbors. Probably because they are your neighbors.

Also, Chesapeake has committed to a strategy: portray this as inevitable and portray this as infringing on the rights of private property owners.

In truth, it is neither.

Folks, this ain't a done deal. The insiders I spoke to last night indicated that the mood on the City Council seemed to be moving toward trying to slow this thing down. Chesapeake can't do anything until they get a permit, and a permit may not be coming quickly. As Wendy Davis mentioned, there is City Council meeting on Tuesday night. Folks need to get down there and let the Council know how they feel on this issue.

This also isn't infringing on the private property rights of anyone. When throwing out ideas for a third way, what's mentioned is a land swap or buying the land or finding some way to compensate Chesapeake of Union Pacific for the inconvenience. What Chesapeake wants you to imagine is Tom Price is a minuteman uniform, defending private property rights for all good Americans. The reality is this: when it comes to protecting private property rights, we the people have more to fear from gas companies than they do from us. Exhibit A: The Case of Billy Mitchell, or "Who's that guy with the eminent domain billboard?"

So who's the victim here? Well, as it stands right now, Chesapeake's reputation as good corporate citizen in Fort Worth appears to be teetering. As Bernie Scheffler, an opponent of urban gas drilling and a candidate for Wendy Davis' District 9 seat on the council said, "Why would Chesapeake Energy, who has spent millions polishing its public image in Fort Worth with commercials and billboards ... why would they blow all that goodwill on this?"

Why indeed. That is a funny thing.

To read the Startlegram's take, click here.

P.S. Big, big shout out to Jenna for helping me take notes. I'm buying you dinner, girl!

Interview: Jim Marshall and Rick Collins

I know I've been sounding like a broken record lately, but today's topic is -- once again -- the Trinity Trees. Two men who are part of the driving force behind Save The Trinity Trees, Jim Marshall and Rick Collins, granted me an interview about their efforts to save the grove that is home to some of the biggest and oldest trees in Fort Worth.

Jim and Rick are long-time Fort Worth residents and literally lifelong friends. We grew up together in the Meadowbrook Drive area of Fort Worth’s historic East Side. You might know Jim better as the former owner of Marshall Grain Company. Jim has actively been involved in trying to save the Trinity Trees since the day he first learned of Chesapeake Energy’s plans to bulldoze the 2.5 acre grove. His army of one gradually gained some supporters, one of whom was his childhood buddy, Rickey. They are both in this to win one for the environment, as well as for the thousands of Fort Worth residents who have literally grown up walking through this magnificent tree grove.

Many other volunteers have joined along the way. Among the most devoted are Jenny Conn, Don Young and Melissa Kohout. A list of numerous other volunteers and supporters can be found at www.trinitytrees.org.

Take a couple of moments to look at their comments. But most importantly, go to the city-sponsored Public Forum tonight from 6-8 p.m. at the Capstone Church on 1700 Rogers Road (see the map above). What is needed now is turnout -- bring your families and friends and show Chesapeake and the City of Fort Worth that a large number of people feel strongly that steps must be taken to save the Trinity Trees.

The Caravan of Dreams: Thanks for your time, guys. Could you briefly explain why you are doing this?
Save Trinity Trees: Trinity Trees is a coalition united around one common goal: Saving some of Fort Worth’s most beautiful, historic trees and green spaces from being destroyed and preserving these areas as critical environmental assets. This is about preserving a reasonable balance between economic and sociological issues. Most of all, this is about fostering a spirit of open dialogue and civic responsibility.

TCoD: I ride my bike through this area almost every day. I always thought it was city park land. If this is private property, why does the Trinity Trail go through there? Does the city pay for its upkeep?
STT: You, I and every trail user I have spoken to thought this area was a park. Here’s why we thought it was a park:

It looked like a park with park benches, two picnic tables and the Trinity Trail winding through it.

It was mowed and maintained by the Tarrant Regional Water District to a park-like appearance.

Up until July 22, 2007, there were three signs that said “PARK is closed from 11:30 P.M. to 7:30 A.M.

Our understanding is that the trail system uses an easement that goes along the river. I’m told that the easement starts at the top of the river bank and goes 100 feet inland. The easement will remain even if Chesapeake clear-cuts the 2.5 acres for the gas well pad site. The southern border of the proposed pad site appears to follow the 100 feet easement line.

TCoD: Some people would say, "So what. It's a few trees." How would you respond to that?
STT: Thousands of citizens who’ve enjoyed the Hike and Bike Trail over the years cherish this tranquil grove of old-growth trees. For many, this is the most beautiful stand of trees along the entire trail system. The “So what…it’s (just) a few trees” attitude is frequently expressed by the same types of people who said Katrina was just a hurricane or Global Warming is a left-wing conspiracy. The truth is indeed frequently an "inconvenient” one.

Furthermore, trees do a lot more for our health than just provide shade. Trees are an important part of what makes an urban environment livable. When we say that, we most often immediately think that they’re simply nice to look at, but the reality is that trees keep our community healthy. A major capital asset in a city, a grove of trees — in our case a mini-urban forest — can offset the effects of pollution by sequestering carbon and other heat-trapping gasses.

A single mature tree can absorb carbon dioxide at a rate of 48 pounds per year and release enough oxygen back into the atmosphere to support two human beings.

TCoD: Could Chesapeake just replace or move the trees?
STT: The problem is not only the loss of the trees. It is the impact on the entire eight-acre site as a whole. There are very few areas left in Fort Worth like this. As Councilwoman Wendy Davis said at the picnic, for Fort Worth, this is an irreplaceable treasure.

If Chesapeake puts in their gas well pad site, the 2.5-acre core or heart of this treasure will be converted to a barren, vegetation-free industrial pad. And despite Chesapeake’s promise that after drilling the area will be landscaped to blend in with its urban environment, the 2.5 acre pad site will remain a gravel maintenance yard for the life of the wells — up to 50 years.

So even if Chesapeake moved or replaced the 142 old-growth trees it plans on destroying, irreparable damage will be done to the eight acres, to the environment and to the community.

TCoD: Isn't it wrong to paint Chesapeake as the bad guy? I mean, the previous owner wanted to put up office buildings and apartments on this site?
STT: That, too, would have resulted in a tragic loss of this special green space. Often the argument is made that the destruction that Chesapeake is planning is not as bad as what the developer was planning. However, it doesn’t have to be an either/or decision. There exists a third alternative. If you check our Web site you’ll see we have sent a letter to the Mayor and City Council proposing said alternative: Chesapeake decides to move its pad site to the already industrial area a few hundred feet to the north; the developer agrees that putting in its buildings is not the best use of the grove of trees; steps are taken to convert the eight acres to a public park. To make this happen, we need three things from all vested parties (including our city leaders): consent, cooperation and compromise.

We shall continue to request that none of those three things be unreasonably withheld.

TCoD: Is this an all-or-nothing deal? Is the only solution for the Chesapeake Energy NOT to drill on this site? Or could Chesapeake drill on the site and still maintain most of the existing trees?
STT: According to the Star-Telegram, (“Hundreds rally against planned well site,” September 4, 2007) Chesapeake’s plans for clear-cutting 2.5 acres will result in removing 142 of the 412 trees in the grove. This appears to be Chesapeake’s idea of maintaining “most of the existing trees.” Again, an alternative exists where all of the trees can remain, Chesapeake can still achieve its drilling goals for this area, and the leaseholders can still receive their financial benefits.

TCoD: Why not just drill on Colonial or Union Pacific land? I mean, they are the ones who stand to make alot of the money off this thing.
STT: Drilling on the Colonial maintenance area located to the west of the golf course has been suggested to Chesapeake. This may be an alternative, but the more logical choice appears to be Union Pacific land.

There are two or more areas on the Union Pacific property that seem like they would work just fine. These areas are already industrialized with no vegetation; are only a few hundred feet from the eight-acre site, are not currently intensely used and have a service road in place. It seems like one of these would make a very good alternative site.

TCoD: Ultimately, is this all kind of a moot point. It's private property and if the owner wants drilling, aren't they just going to go ahead and do it?
STT: The eight-acre parcel of land is private property owned by Chesapeake. As such, they have the right to do whatever they want to with the land and the trees within the limits of legal obligations. However, there should also be obligations to the environment, the community and the common good.

While recognizing and fully respecting the private property rights of Chesapeake, we also recognize that the community has the right to express its concerns and suggest viable alternatives that allow Chesapeake to conduct its operations and, at the same time, preserve valuable, limited green space.

Chesapeake may decide to go ahead with their plans. However, if the public outcry becomes so massive and they see that the potential negative publicity could outweigh the inconvenience of moving the planned site, a change could occur.

TCoD: Say somebody called you a treehugger? Is that an accurate assessment? Have you ever hugged a tree?
STT: We would not be ashamed to be called treehuggers, but we probably don’t fully qualify. Rick says we don’t hug trees so much as embrace the issues this particular dispute represents. We believe our positions and suggestions are more along the lines of looking for balanced solutions that can protect much needed urban green space while still allowing for businesses to achieve their goals. We would assume that pure tree huggers would take more of an extreme position to save trees at all costs.

Jim has hugged trees but not in an affectionate way. The hugging has occurred while trying to gauge the size of trees and to comprehend the enormity of these majestic giants.

TCoD: If someone wants to help out, what do you need most?
STT: What is needed right now is for people to come to the City-sponsored Public Forum. People should voice their opinions in other ways by contacting the City, Chesapeake, Union Pacific and the media.

TCoD: When will something be decided on this? What is D-Day for these trees?
STT: That’s an excellent question that we don’t have the answer to. Chesapeake has applied for an urban gas drilling permit. There is a public information meeting regarding the permit on September 27, at 6:30 p.m. at the Southwest Community Center, 6300 Welch Avenue.

We assume the trees will not be cut before the information meeting, but we don’t know that for sure. The hearing will be another opportunity for concerned citizens to show up in large numbers.

TCoD: Thanks, Jim and Rick. Thanks for your time and thanks for what you are doing to try and save an important part of Fort Worth. Keep up the fight!

Save The Trinity Trees Picnic

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from yesterday’s Trinity Trees picnic -- a bunch of people hugging trees and eating tofu while listening to folk music?


Well, there was folk music, courtesy of The Ackermans, but the crowd looked surprisingly non-revolutionary, just regular folks. But there were a bunch of ‘em – looked to be at least 250 or 300, which was a pleasant surprise. If you can that many people out to support a couple of acres of trees and the heart of conservative, button-down Fort Worth, maybe those trees have chance after all.


I don’t get to see these trees in the daylight too often. Most often I’m riding through them before dawn. The trees are quite impressive and form a canopy that offers cool and shade even on a warm late summer day. One of the trees had a sign tied around it: “Burr Oak: 250 Years Old.” It would be a tragedy to lose a tree like that.


Of course, the Chesapeake Energy folks were there trying to put lipstick on the pig. I’ve had some crappy jobs before, but they all look pretty good compared to “energy company apologist who attends angry neighborhood meetings.”


There were speakers aplenty. I was most interested in seeing my main man Bernie Scheffler (above) do his thing. His speech was short and too-the-point – he is the only candidate running for the District 9 City Council seat who opposes gas drilling. Period.

It doesn’t get any plainer than that – if you want a voice on the council who will protect the health and safety of people in Fort Worth and not just give the drilling companies whatever they want, he’s your guy. If you happen to like rubber-stamp government and giving gas drilling companies a blank check, you have six other candidates to choose from.

Former City Council member Clyde Picht and soon-to-be-former member Wendy Davis said the same thing – the council could have done more in the past to protect the trees if they had written a better ordinance. Picht also suggested the possibility of a land swap. We’ll see where that goes.

Attorney Liane Janovsky (right) spoke powerfully and persuasively about what is at stake. “Natural gas drilling in an urban setting has never happened before on this scale. We are the guinea pigs. We must demand that the city and the gas drilling companies do what’s right so we can live in a safe, clean environment.”

Janovsky also spoke about the Tarrant Appraisal District going back and re-assessing land values in the wake of people signing drilling leases. “You are going to see the land under your house get taxed at rates never before seen.”

Probably the hottest topic for people in the Ryan Place neighborhood are the high-impact variances which would allow companies to drill within 600-feet of a residential area. Some of the proposed drilling along Eighth Avenue could come within 250 feet. Gas drilling companies say it’s safe – but gas drilling companies also say it’s normal to have gas wells spew acrid fog over your house. Yeah, I ain’t buying that one either.


One of the more amusing moments came when another District 9 candidate Chris Turner spoke. The Republican political consultant has the unique ability to talk for 10 minutes yet say absolutely nothing. Is he against urban drilling? He didn’t say. His message seemed to be this: corporations are people, too. Evidently, if we just talk to them, the gas drilling companies will do the right thing. Guess he’s never had an acrid fog over his house.

Of course, it’s only fair to give the other side a chance to speak, and Chesapeake trotted out one of their flunkies to spout the party line. Except things went terribly, terribly wrong. The Chesapeake flunky stepped in it when he said something about global warming, then tried to quickly backtrack by saying, “Of course, we don’t know if global warming really exists.” I’m sure you could have heard the groan of the crowd at Ol South Pancake House. Sorry pal, maybe the folks at Chesapeake don’t side with 98 percent of the world’s scientists, but you could bet the ranch everyone you are speaking to about the Trinity Trees does.

It went south from there with the Chesapeake guy getting into a shouting match with one of the other speakers. Note to Chesapeake: this is not how you win friends in Fort Worth.

But that wasn’t the only Chesapeake gaffe. To show what good corporate citizens they are, they placed little signs showing where they would plant replacement trees. However, the only thing that succeeded in doing was showing the edge of their proposed drilling site. And that line goes pretty close to the river. Lots of people were shocked to see just how many trees would get the ax.


I don’t know if these trees can be saved. Chesapeake owns the land and they can do what they want. But I believe that attitudes are changing against urban drilling. People aren’t liking what they are hearing about the experiences of people in Oakhurst and East Fort Worth who signed years ago. People aren’t trusting the drilling companies and they are starting to ask hard questions and dig in their heels.


Please stay tuned – there’s more coming up. If you are able, please attend the City sponsored Public Forum this Thursday, September 6, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Capstone Church, 1700 Rogers Road. Also, take some time to send a letter to the Mayor and the City Council to voice your opinion.