Neighborhoods at Crossroads

If you read the Startlegram this morning, you saw that representatives of the Berkeley Place and Ryan Place neighborhoods say they have come to terms with XTO Energy on a mineral-rights lease.

These neighborhood associations believe the terms incorporate residents' safety and quality-of-life concerns and could become a model for other neighborhoods in the area.

Writes Jim Fuquay: "Principal among the Ryan Place and Berkeley concerns was the drill site. Fort Worth Energy plans to use a site east of Jennings Avenue and north of Page Avenue, in an industrial area, to reach those neighborhoods. The lease specifically excludes the use of a site between Eighth and Stanley avenues, land held by Four Sevens Resources, which leases in the area for Chesapeake."

Also, Bill Conley, the head of the Ryan Place leasing committee, told the S-T that the Ryan Place/Berkeley lease specifies which drill sites may and may not be used, and guarantees that drilling activities must be at least 600 feet from neighborhood properties, a figure that would rise if the city of Fort Worth increases its 600-foot separation rule.

However, what the S-T didn't mention is that according to local attorney Liane Janovsky, the proposed drill site is 4 blocks from Daggett Montessori Elementary, and 6 blocks from Daggett Elementary. Below is part of a letter she wrote to her neighbors:

Needless to say, I’m very disappointed with the outcome, and particularly disappointed that the RPIA Gas Taskforce (of which I was a member) was not briefed or informed about the plan before it was presented and endorsed.

The lease is modeled after the Tanglewood N’hood Assoc lease. Variations with different drill sites are being proposed throughout the 10 Southside neighborhood associations. Berkeley has already proposed a similar lease (drilling at a “secret site” north of I-30, but not on 8th Avenue), and the other Southside neighborhoods will roll out their proposals in the days ahead under the auspices of the “Joint Neighborhood Committee.”

I bring this to you attention so you can be aware that the gauntlet is now down for people to demand (and get) $10,000 / acre signing bonuses. Judging by the standing ovation the RPIA plan got last night, some people are clearly more thrilled with the cash than they are concerned about the risk to the children in nearby schools, high traffic, pipelines, water abuse and safety.

We are at a crossroads. Unless we devote time and money to publicize information about the adverse effects of these lease proposals, then most residents will probably sign the Southside leases with XTO / Fort Worth Energy.

Please contact me if you are interested in helping distribute information to Southside residents about the adverse consequences of signing these leases.

You may contact Ms. Janovsky at:
314 Main Street, Suite 300
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
Phone: 817-332-6800
Fax: 817-332-6810
Email: liane.janovsky@janovskylaw.com

My own take: don't sign. But you knew that already.

Hanging Together or Hanging Separately

After a confusing day filled with conflicting reports, it appears that the Berkeley Neighborhood Association announced that they've gotten Fort Worth Energy (with drilling partner XTO) to agree to their conditions for a lease. One of the conditions is that they wouldn't use the 8th Avenue drilling site.

Here's the rub. That means the site moves north, probably near Mistletoe Heights. Yulp. They also mentioned a site east of Hemphill, but I think that's too far away to reach Berkeley minerals.

Maybe I'm wrong, but it looks like the Berkeley Task Force threw Mistletoe Heights under the bus. If true, that is a disturbing development, because what Fort Worth will end up with is NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) gone amok. Everyone wants their mailbox money, but no one wants a drilling site or pipeline near them.

This is the downside to the lack of leadership from the City on this issue. As Wendy Davis tried to explain at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, we need to go back and revisit the urban gas drilling ordinance. As it stands right now, neighborhoods are free to cut their own deals. But if your Neighborhood Association cuts a deal that results in a well being stuck in some other neighborhood, how do you know some other Neighborhood Association won't do the same thing to you down the line? There will be winners and there will be losers. Your neighborhood may be a winner today and a loser tomorrow. But count on this, the gas drilling companies will never be the losers.

Fort Worth, this is larger than a neighborhood issue, this is a city issue. The gas drilling companies are employing a divide and conquer strategy. They will pit East Side vs. West Side and Berkeley vs. Mistletoe Heights. Don't fall for this. We need to stick together. And we need leadership from the city.

Here is what I propose:

Don't Sign: Drilling companies need 80 percent of a neighborhood to move forward. Don't sign with anyone and encourage your neighbors to do the same.

Contact Your Neighborhood Association: Tell them how you feel on this issue and encourage them to work with other associations to act together. Contact FW Can Do.

Force The City To Act: When Wendy Davis explained the need to revisit the gas ordinance, Mayor Moncrief slapped her down. The Mayor is wrong on this issue. Now it is time for citizens to make their voice heard. There is already talk of a petition to force the City Council to revisit the gas ordinance. I am throwing my support behind that idea and I'll bring you more details on this issue as they become available. It is time the citizens demand leadership on this issue.

News Travels Fast

I guess Fort Worth Code Enforcement reads the paper, too. I just got an e-mail that they are going around picking up “Just Say No To Urban Gas Drilling” signs in Berkeley.

If this happens to you, I encourage you to file a public information request to determine who initiated the call to Code Enforcement and to file a formal complaint with City Council.

Wonder if the City will take all out of code signs or just the Gas Drilling ones? I hope they don’t pick up Bernie Scheffler signs, too. I expect Joel Burns signs to be unmolested.

UPDATE, 2:23 p.m.: If I'm reading city code right, political campaign signs are exempt from city code, so Bernie's signs are safe. And, of course, Joel signs are safe.
UPDATE, 10:30 p.m.: An update from Don Young: "I was approached tonight at council by Assistant Director of Code Compliance, Brandon Bennett, who said they just happened to be doing a city-wide sweep of 'bandit signs' today, and that he wondered if some of the Just Say NO signs were reported missing. I said, yes, and that I would like to have them back. He said he would return them if they had not been dumpstered yet. Promised to e-mail me tomorrow. He also said that the signs are OK as long as they are not on city property. That is, they must be on the homeowner side of the sidewalk. I will gladly replace any signs that have been pilfered. Residents can call me for replacements. Signs are also available at the Spiral Diner. A $2.50 per sign donation is requested but not required to cover basic costs."