FERRIS CITY COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 15: Ferris business given access to city property for private use

FERRIS – The Ferris City Council voted to change the zoning of a property (alley) located south of W. 6th street and west of S. Main street from Corridor Commercial District to Planned Development 16.

The change would allow the Ferris Bar & Grill on 6th Street  to develop part of the adjoining alley into a park with tables and benches where customers could take their meals outside.

Other businesses in the area were not pleased they were not notified so they might have an opportunity to invest in the $11,000 promised for the development by bar owner Richard Ho and thereby share in any profits generated.

“I would have put up $6,000 myself if I’d known,” spoke up one Ferris business owner at the public hearing part of the meeting.

P&Z Board member Cindy Cousins Aspin (also a candidate for city council this May) and others were extremely upset over Ho’s construction of an iron gate blocking the alley.

No one could give a clear explanation as to why the gate – or the project – was allowed to proceed before the zoning change and also before going in front of council for approval.

City Manager Bill Jordan assured all proper procedures were followed, and that the park was approved a year or so ago by the 4B Board.

Chuck Dart did seek approval of a small park-type enhancement in the alley when he was economic development director years ago, but it consisted of Ferris High School students painting a mural on the buildings with a small seating area. No gate was ever mentioned.

Another zoning change was approved from Agriculture to Planned Development 17 on property located north of Wolf Springs Road and east of Birch Street, which is the property of Bea Wallace that she wants to develop.

The initial Phase I for 74 homes was approved.

Several residents of existing nearby Redbud communities and other streets were concerned about how the traffic from the new homes would impact their already heavily-traveled streets but were told a new road would be constructed to divert traffic directly to I-45.

The council also voted unanimously to extend City Secretary Callie Green’s contract and increase her salary.

Then the council voted 4-1 to extend controversial City Manager Bill Jordan’s contract and increase his salary, despite his recent public censure by both the International City Manager’s Association and the Texas City Manager’s Association for ethics violations. Councilwoman Sherie Chapman was the only nay vote.

Other council action included approving consent agenda items including minutes of prior meetings and payables, and the tabling of a paper of record.