Scenic Shores Neighborhood Association

Two Big Issues - Dredging & LWRCC - Jan 2012

2012-01-25T14:27:00.003-06:00

If you can't see the video above, click or copy the following link into your browser: http://www.youtube.com/v/4mfEEsGWql0

Summary:

Two Big Issues - Lake Worth Dredging & LWRCC - Jan 2012

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Transcript:

Two huge things are happening right now around the lake. The biggest thing on everyone’s minds right now is the dredge. City council has approved a bid. The dredging should start in about a month - somewhere around the first of March. There are a few details that you should know.

One of the most important things about the dredge, it that it will be electric. Once the dredge starts, it will run 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Since the dredging equipment will be electric powered, the lake will be a lot quieter than if diesel powered equipment had been used. The dredge will take about 7 months to complete. This would put the finishing point around Thanksgiving. However, it is highly likely that more areas will be added to the work order.

City employees are in discussion with the Corps of Engineers about certain areas of the lake being wetlands. Rather than delaying the dredge, these areas have been set aside until agreement can be reached. The current contract is for those areas without issues. Once the issues have been settled, other areas will be added to the dredge. That means the dredge may go longer than Thanksgiving. The dredging may stretch into the Spring.

The next “big thing” going on is the formation of the Lake Worth Regional Coordinating Committee. I cannot overemphasize how important this is. As you may remember, we pushed very very hard to make sure neighborhood association leaders would be on this committee. Well, the committee had it first meeting on Thursday, January 19th, 2012. It was wonderful!

To form the committee, Councilman Shingleton invited 21 community members. These members included local governments, non-profits, major property owners, the base, the North Central Texas Council of Governments, and, of course, the neighborhood associations. Councilman Shingleton chairs the committee. I have included a list of the members below.

In the first meeting, city employees from various departments presented an overview. Each made presentations about their plans for the area. Presentations were made by the Parks Department, the Water Department, and the Planning and Development Department. A presentation was also made by the North Central Texas Council of Governments.

I cannot tell you how wonderful it was to see all of the information from the disparate departments coming together in one place. It’s also wonderful to see important community leaders putting their collective heads together and thinking about what the lake area means to citizens of Fort Worth.

The next meeting will be Thursday, March 22nd at 2:00P in the City of Lake Worth. The topic will be parks and greenspace. One of the big issues to be discussed at the meeting is the question of what is park land and what is “city owned land” - that is not parks. A study is being conducted by city employees on this question. I believe the results of that study will be presented at the meeting.

The meeting is open for the public to observe. So, if you want to come and watch, you can.I cannot overemphasize that we are at this point because of you. When you stay informed, you participate, and you vote, it makes a huge difference. So, stay informed, stay active, and stay in the loop. We’re in this together. I’m Michael Dallas.

Lake Worth Regional Coordinating Committee members:

Local Government
Dennis Shingleton, Council Member, City of Fort Worth,
ChairmanJim Wietholter, City Plan Commissioner, City of Fort Worth
Brett McGuire, City Manager, City of Lake Worth
Dianna Buchanan, Town Administrator, Town of Lakeside
J.D. Johnson, Commissioner, Tarrant County
Mark Riley, County Judge, Parker County

Lakeshore Neighborhood Leaders
Joe Waller, President, Lake Worth Alliance
Patricia Hyer, President, East Lake Worth Neighborhood Association
Gale Cupp, President, Neighborhood Association on South Lake Worth
Michael Barnard, President, North Lake Worth Neighborhood Association
Michael Dallas, President, Scenic Shores Neighborhood Association
Jim and Diane Smith, City of Lake Worth residents

Major Property Owners
Doug Woodson, Hickman Investment, Ltd.
Kenneth Davis, Cassco Land Co., Inc.
Robert (Bob) Manthei, Regulatory Affairs Coordination, XTO Energy Inc.

Nonprofit and Develeopment Stakeholders
Mark Ernst, Water Quality Manager, Tarrant Regional Water District
Adelaide Leavens, Executive Director, Streams and Valleys, Inc.
Rick Shepherd, President, Friends of the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge, Inc.
Tom Huffhines, Board Member, Greater Fort Worth Real Estate Council
Lee Nicol, Partner, Harris Nicol & Welborn Development Partners LLC

Ex Officio
Captain Robert Bennett, Commanding Officer, and Rachel Wiggins, Community Plans and Liaison Officer, NAS Fort Worth JRB
Sam Brush, Manager of Environment & Development, NCTCOG

Meeting Agenda - Thursday, January 19, 2012

Lake Worth Regional Coordination Committee

Tarrant County Sheriffs Office North Patrol,

6651 Lake Worth Blvd.

AGENDA

1. Welcome and Purpose Councilmember Dennis Shingleton, Chair

2. Introductions Committee Members

3. Lake Worth Vision Plan Overview Eric Fladager, City of Fort Worth Planning and Development Department

4. Lake Worth Capital Improvement Paul Bounds, City of Fort Worth Implementation Plan Update Water Department

5. Regional Watershed Greenprinting Sam Brush, North Central Texas Council of Governments, Environment and Development Department

6. Lake Worth Parkland Designation David Creek, City of Fort Worth Review Parks and Community Services Department

7. Public Comments All

8. Proposed Next Meeting: Thursday, March 22, 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Catfish Records Set in Lake Worth - December 2011

2011-12-27T13:26:00.002-06:00

If you can't see the video above, click or copy the following link into your browser: http://youtu.be/_coBPoxkjT4

Summary:

Two Star Telegram articles talk about two catfish records set over the last week - "A really big catfish is lurking in Lake Worth" and "Boy catches 37.2 pound Catfish in Lake Worth"

Above, you will see the picture of the 72 pound catfish and a video of the 37 pound fish being released. Below, you will find the articles in the Fort Worth Start telegram. Enjoy!

To see Star Telegram articles, click the links below:

A really big catfish is lurking in Lake Worth:
http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/12/19/3606364/a-really-big-catfish-is-lurking.html

Boy catches 37.2 pound Catfish in Lake Worth
http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/12/23/3616484/6-year-old-boy-catches-372-pound.html

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A really big catfish is lurking in Lake Worth
Tuesday, December 20, 2011

By Terry Evanstevans@star-telegram.com

LAKE WORTH -- There's a new Lake Worth monster in town.A 72-pound blue catfish shattered the lake's previous 55-pound record when it was caught Monday morning by Tim McKneely, with an assist from Mark Alexander.

"I knew he was big, just not how big until I got him up and he started rolling,"

McKneely said.They were using shad for bait on a 65-pound test line.The big fish came in easily but was the devil to land, McKneely said.

"He bent our net and broke our fish grips,"

McKneely said.After taking pictures, the 24-year-old friends released the 48-inch-long, 35-inch-girth cat back into the lake in northwest Tarrant County.

"I like going for the biggest cat I can get, but I'm not going to eat them," McKneely said.

"Records are made to be broken. This fish will grow more and someone else will break my record.

"The record was broken four days shy of 10 years since it was set -- Dec. 23, 2001 -- said Texas Parks and Wildlife Department spokesman Tom Hungerford.The biggest blue catfish on record in Texas weighted 121.5 pounds and was caught in 2004 in Lake Texoma.

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6-year-old boy catches 37.2-pound catfish in Lake Worth Posted Friday, Dec. 23, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011

By Terry Evanstevans@star-telegram.com

Two days after Lake Worth's record blue catfish was caught, a 6-year-old boy became the lake's new junior certified record holder with a 37.2-pounder.

Michael Jesse Littlejohn is barely bigger than the 40-inch fish he pulled in Wednesday, said his dad, Michael Littlejohn.

The catch marked the end of a day of fishing that saw the boy bring in gradually larger cats each time one hit his gizzard shad bait.

"We immediately got on the fish, and Michael Jesse soon landed an 18.5-pound blue cat," his father said.

A 21.5-pounder came next, followed by a 23.1-pound cat. About 25 minutes later, the record-breaker struck, Michael Littlejohn said.

"He fought the fish for a solid eight minutes, and Dad got him in the net," he said.

Adding to the excitement, Michael Littlejohn's girlfriend, Teri Sivils, got a fish on at the same time and reeled in a 33.5-pound blue cat.Michael Littlejohn got it all on video.Michael Jesse said they were fishing in 7 feet of water near the lake's midpoint not far from the Loop 820 bridge.

After the fish was weighed, he put it back in."We threw it back so it could have babies," he said. "When you have babies, then they can turn into monster catfish, too."The previous junior water body record for Lake Worth was 30.19 pounds, said Tom Hungerford, a fisheries biologist with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

The junior state record is a 65.2-pound cat caught in Lake Buchanan in 2008, Hungerford said.The state-record blue cat weighed 121.5 pounds when it was caught in 2004 in Lake Texoma. Tim McKneely, 24, caught the Lake Worth record 72-pound blue cat Monday.Wednesday's catch wasn't the biggest of Michael Jesse's three-year fishing career.

"I caught a 41-pound catfish at Lake Tawakoni about two weeks ago," he said.There are no Parks and Wildlife records for Lake Tawakoni, but Michael Jesse's goal this year is to catch a blue cat that weighs more than he does. Right now, that's 51 pounds.Hungerford said this is the time of year to do it."Winter is apparently when the trophy-size blue cats are caught," he said.

"The 120-pounder in Texoma was caught in January. The harder the wind blows out of the north and the colder it is, the better they bite."Terry Evans, 817-390-7620Twitter: @fwstevans

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2011-09-28T11:12:00.002-05:00

For Email Marketing you can trust

Breaking News! - Lake Worth Discussed in FW Business Press Article By D7 Candidates

2011-06-16T19:25:00.011-05:00

If you can't see the video above, click or copy the following link into your browser: http://www.youtube.com/v/JPpgOtc12Cg

Summary:

Breaking News! - District 7 Council candidates discuss Lake Worth and shoreline residents in Fort Worth Business Press article. By voting together in this election, shoreline residents are becoming a valued constituency.

To See Business Press Article Click Link Below:

http://www.fwbusinesspress.com/news/people/District-7-race-pits-Shingleton-versus-Perry.html

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Voting Instructions:
One Voting Day Left: Saturday, June 18th - 7am to 7pm

Voting Location - You must vote at the Lake Patrol Office:

Lake Worth Patrol HQ (Marshal's office)
(By Casino Beach)
7501 Surfside Drive
Fort Worth TX 76135
Map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=7501+surfside+drive+fort+worth+tx&aq=&sll=32.823237,-97.456434&sspn=0.00889,0.019248&gl=us&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=7501+Surfside+Dr,+Fort+Worth,+Texas+76135&ll=32.820082,-97.452679&spn=0.00889,0.019248&t=h&z=16

Common Questions:
Not sure where to vote? - Look at the maps.
You can vote at any early voting location. The two places above are the closest to the shoreline.

Didn't vote in the first election? - No problem.
Any registered voter can vote in the runoff - even if he/she didn't vote in the first election.

Don't want to vote for mayor? - No problem.
Vote in the council race and leave the mayor race blank.

Don't want to vote for a councilman? - No problem.
Vote in the mayoral race and leave the council race blank.

No voter registration card? - No problem.
If you lost your voter registration card, don't worry.
You don't need it. Just present your driver's license.
The staff will do the rest. It's very quick and easy!

Need a ride? - No problem.
If you need a ride, just call me.
We have people who will take you to the polls.
You can reach me at 817-733-9056.

Don't know who to vote for? - No problem.
Call a neighbor or call a friend.
Every single vote - no matter which candidate you vote for - is a vote for the lake.

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Breaking News! - Lake Worth Discussed in FW Business Press Article By D7 Candidates

Script

I want to show you something amazing. Here is this week’s issue of the Fort Worth Business Press. On page 7, an article appears entitled, “District 7 race pits Shingleton versus Perry.” The article talks about the two men and their viewpoints on various topics. Here’s the exciting part. At the very end of the article, on page 27, the candidates talk about Lake Worth.

Dennis Shingleton says, “The green space should remain green space, not only for the residents around Lake Worth but for residents of the city.” Perry spoke about the property rights of shoreline residents and the remaining leaseholders. He says, “I do believe in property rights and if we’ve made a promise to these people, I think we should keep it.” This is huge! This is exactly what we’ve been trying to do! We are absolutely accomplishing our goal of making the shoreline residents a respected constituency.

As I’ve said before, in the world of city government, voting makes you important. Your one vote sends a more powerful message than anything else you can do. No matter who you vote for, just the very act of your voting sends an extraordinarily powerful message. Your single votes says to our city leaders that you value your home and your neighborhood, and you expect their help and their support..

Last month, about 300 shoreline residents voted in the first election. So far, about 200 shoreline residents have voted in the runoff. We need everyone who voted in May to vote again. Those who haven’t voted in the runoff yet, need to vote on Saturday. What I need you to do right now is to forward this email all your friends on the shoreline and let them know how important it is to vote. They need to vote on Saturday if they haven’t voted yet. Again, I cannot overemphasize how important every single vote is.

Shoreline residents who vote this weekend need to go to the Marshal’s Lake Patrol office 7501 Surfside Drive, next to Casion Beach. You can click the link below for a map.

I know that this has been a long election but we are almost there! Together, we are changing everything!

I’m Michael Dallas.

Shoreline Voting Is Working! Two More Voting Weekdays.

2011-06-12T16:19:00.004-05:00

If you can't see the video above, click or copy the following link into your browser: http://www.youtube.com/v/X3J2O_FxvRw

Summary:

If shoreline residents want neighborhood leaders to be able to influence the decisions about what happens in the neighborhood and around the lake, residents to be viewed as a "respected constituency." To become a respected constituency shoreline residents need to vote in the runoff election which starts Monday June 6th and continues to June 14th with a final voting day on June 18th.

The video contains the presentation that the four neighborhood association presidents made to the Planning Commission on the Lake Worth Vision Plan. The commission's response clearly illustrates how every resident on the shoreline benefits when we are viewed as a respected constituency.

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Voting Instructions:

Voting Starts Mondays June 6th and goes to June 14th
One final voting daye June 18th

Voting Locations - You may vote at any early voting location. The closest two locations to the lake are:

Northwest Branch Library
6228 Crystal Lake Drive, Fort Worth TX 76179
For directions, click link below:
Click Here For Directions To NW Branch Library

White Settlement Public Library
8215 White Settlement Road
White Settlement TX 76108
If you need directions to the polls, click link below:
Click Here For Directions to White Settlement Voting

Other Locations (Interactive Map):
Click Here For A Map Of All Locations

Common Questions:

Not sure where to vote? - Look at the maps.
You can vote at any early voting location. The two places above are the closest to the shoreline.

Didn't vote in the first election? - No problem.
Any registered voter can vote in the runoff - even if he/she didn't vote in the first election.

Don't want to vote for mayor? - No problem.
Vote in the council race and leave the mayor race blank.

Don't want to vote for a councilman? - No problem.
Vote in the mayoral race and leave the council race blank.

No voter registration card? - No problem.
If you lost your voter registration card, don't worry.
You don't need it. Just present your driver's license.
The staff will do the rest. It's very quick and easy!

Need a ride? - No problem.
If you need a ride, just call me.
We have people who will take you to the polls.
You can reach me at 817-733-9056.

Don't know who to vote for? - No problem.
Call a neighbor or call a friend.
Every single vote - no matter which candidate you vote for - is a vote for the lake.

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Critical Vote June 6-14 / Lake Worth Vision Update

Script

I want to show you something. If you voted last month, then you’ve noticed something about your mailbox. It’s full of brochures from the mayoral and council candidates.

Here’s just a fraction of the stuff that I’ve received. Now, you need to understand something about this stuff. It’s expensive. I’ve got about $20 worth right here. Since it’s expensive, this stuff does not go to everyone. In fact, only a small handful of residents ever get anything from the candidates. Now let me ask you a question. Who do you think gets this stuff? I can tell you with absolute certainty that the only people who get this stuff are the people who vote!

If you don't remember anything else about this video, remember this. In the world of city government, voting makes you important. Your one vote sends a more powerful message than anything else you can do. It’s more powerful than letters and email. It’s more powerful than phone calls. It’s more powerful than speaking at council. The reason is that, unlike big national elections, our city elections hinge on a tiny handful of votes. That means that every single vote is highly prized and sought after by our elected officials.

What this means is that no matter who you vote for, just the very act of voting sends an extraordinarily powerful message. Your single votes says to our city leaders that you value your home, you value your neighborhood, and you expect their help and their support..

Let me show you one more thing. Here is a letter from one of the candidates specifically speaking to some of the issues we have here at the lake. Let me ask you a question. In past elections, how many times have you seen a candidate send a letter specifically addressing the issues at the lake? This goes to the very heart of what we are trying to do in this election. When we vote together - no matter who each of us votes for - we get their attention. And when we get their attention, we get their support. And we get their support, we get them to work for us.

If you haven’t voted yet, please vote Monday or Tuesday. These are the last two weekdays for voting. The polls are open 7am to 7pm. You can vote at any polling station. I’ve been told that the easiest station to get to from the lake is the White Settlement Library on White Settlement Road a couple of miles east of 820.

I know that this has been a long election but we are almost there! Together, we are changing everything!

I’m Michael Dallas.

Critical Vote June 6-14 / Lake Worth Vision Update

2011-06-02T14:12:00.032-05:00

If you can't see the video above, click or copy the following link into your browser: http://www.youtube.com/v/itxmlJul8LY

Summary:

If shoreline residents want neighborhood leaders to be able to influence the decisions about what happens in the neighborhood and around the lake, residents to be viewed as a "respected constituency." To become a respected constituency shoreline residents need to vote in the runoff election which starts Monday June 6th and continues to June 14th with a final voting day on June 18th.

The video contains the presentation that the four neighborhood association presidents made to the Planning Commission on the Lake Worth Vision Plan. The commission's response clearly illustrates how every resident on the shoreline benefits when we are viewed as a respected constituency.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Voting Instructions:

Voting Starts Mondays June 6th and goes to June 14th
One final voting daye June 18th

Voting Locations - You may vote at any early voting location. The closest two locations to the lake are:

Northwest Branch Library
6228 Crystal Lake Drive, Fort Worth TX 76179
For directions, click link below:
Click Here For Directions To NW Branch Library

White Settlement Public Library
8215 White Settlement Road
White Settlement TX 76108
If you need directions to the polls, click link below:
Click Here For Directions to White Settlement Voting

Other Locations (Interactive Map):
Click Here For A Map Of All Locations

Common Questions:

Not sure where to vote? - Look at the maps.
You can vote at any early voting location. The two places above are the closest to the shoreline.

Didn't vote in the first election? - No problem.
Any registered voter can vote in the runoff - even if he/she didn't vote in the first election.

Don't want to vote for mayor? - No problem.
Vote in the council race and leave the mayor race blank.

Don't want to vote for a councilman? - No problem.
Vote in the mayoral race and leave the council race blank.

No voter registration card? - No problem.
If you lost your voter registration card, don't worry.
You don't need it. Just present your driver's license.
The staff will do the rest. It's very quick and easy!

Need a ride? - No problem.
If you need a ride, just call me.
We have people who will take you to the polls.
You can reach me at 817-733-9056.

Don't know who to vote for? - No problem.
Call a neighbor or call a friend.
Every single vote - no matter which candidate you vote for - is a vote for the lake.

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Critical Vote June 6-14 / Lake Worth Vision Update

Script

A shoreline leader recently told me that a councilman once called shoreline residents, “a bunch of whiny babies.” I’ve also heard people around the lake characterize shoreline residents as being treated like “red-headed stepchildren.” Now I’m not sure what either of these things mean, but I do know that we can and we will change this attitude by voting in this election.

In a minute, I am going to run a video. In that video, you will see a concrete example of why changing that attitude is important to you and your home. You will see how our being viewed as a respected constituency is absolutely vital to you.

The only way we become a respected constituency is by voting. As I have said before, our elected officials know exactly who voted. The may not know who you voted for. But they absolutely know if you voted or not. If we want to be a respected constituency and have a voice in what goes on out here, ever single one of us needs to vote.

We have come a long way to becoming a respected constituency. In the first round of this election, about 50% of the registered voters on the shoreline voted. This is huge! We are the top voting constituency in City of Fort Worth. Moreover, we made a huge impact in the election. Even though we represent slightly more than 1% of the registered voters, we accounted for 5.5% of the overall district vote. We are quickly earning the title of valued constituency.

We now have an enormous opportunity. In the first election, about 5400 people voted in our district. In the runoff, the overall turnout will be about half of that. What this means is that the shoreline can make absolutely enormous showing. If we all vote again, we will represent one out of every ten votes cast in District 7.

The runoff election will begin next Monday, June 6th and will run through June 14th with a final day of voting on June 18th. The voting location in Lake Worth has changed. Instead of the Sheriff's office, you need to go to the Northwest Branch Library just north of the Tarrant County College Northwest campus. If you haven’t been to the library before, you need to go up there just to see the facility. It’s beautiful. If you want specific directions, just click the link below. If you voted in White Settlement, you’re in luck. The location in White Settlement will be the same as in the last election. Again, if you want directions, just click the link below.

I’m now going to play the the video of the four shoreline neighborhood presidents making a presentation to the Fort Worth Planning Commission on the Lake Worth Vision planning process. The Lake Worth Vision is an extremely important process that will affect every resident on the shoreline. What you see is the tail end of a fierce effort by the neighborhood presidents to to secure a voice in the plan. In my opinion, this was the most important event for lake residents since the properties were deeded.

This is just one of many extremely important initiative will be making for you. If you want us to be effective in protecting and representing your interests, you have to vote.

----- Video of Lake Worth Vision / Planning Commission

As you can see, we were successful in gaining a voice for the shoreline residents in the Lake Worth Vision process. Through the organizing that we are doing, we are earning the respect that we need. Now is your time to act. Plan on voting in the runoff election.

Michael Dallas
President Scenic Shores Neighborhood Association
817-733-9056
8437 Island View Drive
Fort Worth TX 76135

Lake Worth Residents Have A Voice

2011-05-30T23:46:00.011-05:00

If you can't see the video above, click or copy the following link into your browser:
http://www.youtube.com/v/embed/t3LiFoE9Qmo

Why Vote? This is why!

Summary:

Our councilman agreed to allow the neighborhood leaders to be a part of the decision-making committee for the future planning of the Lake Worth area.
Previously, all four neighborhood association presidents were unhappy with the proposals to NOT have a voice in the decision-making process. This meeting shows the difference of attitude when the councilman allows the neighborhood associations to have a seat in the process.

Your Vote is Changing Everything!

Lake Worth Photo Gallery

2011-05-29T10:13:00.026-05:00

To view photo gallery, click this link:
http://Photos.ScenicShores.net/

Have photos of Lake Worth that you would like to share?
Email them to: 111150913154293777776.LakeWorth@picasaweb.com

Maps:

Casino Beach:

Mosque Point:

Lake Worth Early Days:

Lake Worth Aerials:

Frozen:

Castle:

Military:

People:

News Stories:

Shoreline Voter Updates - Huge Success!!! Election Results

2011-05-23T08:26:00.001-05:00

If you can't see the video above, click or copy the following link into your browser: http://www.youtube.com/v/qCoHMoRAs5Y

Huge Success! Shoreline Voter Update - Election Results

Summary:

The shoreline residents are forever changing the face of Fort Worth city elections. This election has shown that, in the future, the shoreline vote will be very important to candidates running for the District 7 council seat.

Script

I wanted to take a couple of minutes to share with you how we shoreline residents are forever changing the face of city elections. First, I'm going to share with you the election results and then I'm going to show how the shoreline affected the election.

As you know by now, the mayoral election and District 7 council election have gone into runoff elections. The reason is that no candidate in either race garnered 50% of the overall vote. The voting for the runoff election will be held June 6th through June 14th with the final voting on June 18th.

So how did we shoreline voters affect the election? In short, the results were absolutely amazing! We had a significant impact. I want to give credit where credit is due. I want to thank every person who voted. I also want to thank those on the shoreline who called, emailed and otherwise motivated their friends and neighbors to vote. Your efforts had absolutely incredible results! You have a lot to be proud of!

Now it will be a couple of weeks until we get the actual final count, but we can make a pretty good estimate based on the numbers that we do have. We can get an estimate because our precinct is 4242. A quick estimate shows that while the shoreline represents about 10% of the voters in Precinct 4242, we represents about 95% of the votes cast. So, until we get the final data, we can use results from Precinct 4242 as our thermometer.

The first thing we see is that the shoreline accounts for over 300 votes.
This means that of the approximately 600 valid registered voters on the shoreline, well over 50% voted. Percentage wise, we are one the top, if not the top, voting constituencies in the City of Fort Worth.

The second thing we see is that, in total, 5417 votes were cast across District 7. This means that while the shoreline voters only represent around 1.2% of the registered District 7 voters, we accounted for 5.5% of all District 7 votes cast. This is huge! In other words, one out of every 18 votes cast in District 7 came from the shoreline!

Again, job well done. Every single vote made a huge difference!

So what were the election results and how did the shoreline affect the races? Below, I have included links to the Tarrant County Elections Commission results pages. There are some pretty interesting numbers. Let's start with the results from the mayoral race.

While Cathy Hirt did not make the runoff election, she did win the shoreline vote. While she only took 21% of the city wide vote, she garnered 46% of the shoreline voters.
Conversely, while Betsy Price took 43% of the overall city vote, she only took 26% of the shoreline vote.
Jim Lane took 26% of the overall city votes and 20% of the shoreline votes.

The council results were even more interesting.
John Perry took the most votes on the shoreline. While he took 20% of the total district vote, he took 39% of the shoreline vote.
Dennis Shingleton took the second highest number of shoreline votes. While he took almost 46% of the total district vote, he took 34% of the shoreline vote.

Here's the really interesting part. As I said before, because Mr. Shingleton took less than 50% of the overall District 7 vote, the election now goes into a run off. Had Mr. Shingleton taken the entire shoreline vote, he would have been within 35 votes of winning the election outright and avoiding a runoff. What this means is that it is very clear from this election that getting the shoreline vote will be very, very important to anyone seeking the District 7 council seat.

The good news, to whomever wins this election, is that it should be very easy to win over shoreline residents for their support for the 2013 election. More than any other neighborhood in District 7, the shoreline has large number of issues that have been sorely neglected and are in dire need of attention. Luckily, these issues don't require a lot of money. They mostly require a councilman who will listen to the residents and will provide leadership support. If our new councilman works with us - and not against us - he will find a fantastic group of people who know how to collaborate and who know how to get things done. By providing good leadership and good representation over the next 24 months, he will be able to garner the shoreline's support for the next election.

So what do we need to do now? Well, the election is not over just yet. There will be a runoff vote starting Monday, June the 6th. It is very important that each one of us votes in the runoff. The runoff election is actually more important than the first election. In this runoff, our votes could decide who the next mayor and councilman will be. Just like the first round of voting, I will be providing a daily shoreline vote count. I don't have the email addresses of everyone on the shoreline, so you will need to help. Make sure that you contact your friends and your neighbors and let them know how important their vote is.

Again, great job everyone! You are changing everything. Let's get ready and let's finish this election!

We're in this together. I'm Michael Dallas.

Mayor Results:
http://tcweb.tarrantcounty.com/evote/lib/evote/2011/May14/results/contest_25.pdf

District 7 Results:
http://tcweb.tarrantcounty.com/evote/lib/evote/2011/May14/results/contest_30.pdf

Michael Dallas
President Scenic Shores Neighborhood Association
817-733-9056
8437 Island View Drive
Fort Worth TX 76135

Shoreline Voter Updates - Huge Success!!! Election Results

2011-05-22T22:00:00.021-05:00

If you can't see the video above, click or copy the following link into your browser:
http://www.youtube.com/v/qCoHMoRAs5Y

Huge Success! Shoreline Voter Update - Election Results

Summary:

Script

Huge Success! Shoreline Voter Rally Update

2011-04-16T15:55:00.005-05:00

If you can't see the video above, click or copy the following link into your browser: http://www.youtube.com/v/yq1xJCu4znY

Huge Success! Shoreline Voter Rally Update

Summary:

The April 9th Shoreline Voter Rally was a huge success. Over 200 shoreline residents and all 10 candidates attended. The shoreline movement has caught the attention of the entire city and is being watched carefully. To be a valued constituency, shoreline residents now need to show up at the polls in the early election from May 2nd through May 10th.

Script

As you probably know, on Saturday, April 9th, the four neighborhood associations sponsored a Shoreline Voter Rally barbecue. It was a huge success! Over 200 shoreline residents showed up. All ten candidates were there - the five running for mayor and the five running for council. Since the rally, I heard from many people outside the lake community that we made an extraordinary impact. The shoreline movement has been the talk of the entire city.

So, we are now halfway there. All we need to do now is show up at the polls. You need to vote in early voting. Early voting is the week of May 2nd through May 10th. I cannot overemphasize how important this is to you, your home, and to the lake.

As I said in the last video, we have a lot of serious issues that need attention. The green space that we all love around the lake needs to be protected from developers. We need help in addressing the increased crime and home invasions around the lake. And we need special attention on how drilling goes forward near the water. And these are just a few of the problems. The only way we are going to get our issues addressed out here is by becoming an respected constituency. And the ONLY way we become a respected constituency is by voting in the upcoming city election.

Let me say it another way. If we don’t vote in this election, we will be viewed as just a bunch of whiny babies that can be ignored. If we do vote, then we will be viewed as a valuable constituency who needs attention. It really is just that simple.

I cannot overemphasize the importance of your one vote. It doesn’t matter who each of us votes for, we just need to vote in the upcoming election.

As I said before, when each of us votes, it gets recorded. I got this disk at the Tarrant County Election Commission. It has every voter in Tarrant County on it. It also shows what elections each voter voted in. After this election, our elected officials will get a new copy of this disk. If we want to get issues around the lake addressed, they need to see that you and I and all of our neighbors on the lake voted.

This is what you need to do. Put on your calendars to vote on Monday, May the 2nd. To vote, you will need to go to the Sheriff’s office in the City of Lake Worth at 6651 Lake Worth Blvd. Lake Worth Blvd is Jacksboro Highway as it goes through the City of Lake Worth. The Sheriff’s office is about halfway between 820 and the Lake Worth Bridge on the South side of the road. Again, put on your calendars to vote on May 2nd at the Sheriff’s office in the City of Lake Worth.

If you vote and I vote and we get all of our friends and neighbors on the lake to vote, we WILL change everything.

We’re all in the together. I’m Michael Dallas.

Shoreline Alert - Immediate Action Required!

2011-03-23T08:23:00.029-05:00

Time Critical - Please Email and/or Call These City Officials Now:

Summary: Against community consensus, the current Lake Worth Vision Proposal is moving forward. It will go before the Planning Commission today (3/23/2011) at 1:30PM.

You need to:

1) Email each official. You can use the Easy Link to prepare your email. Just click and it will open you Outlook Express. Otherwise, just copy and paste the email addresses and message. Two example message are below.

2) Call both officials and tell them:
"The consensus at the meeting was to not go forward with the proposal."
"You are very unhappy that they are ignoring the community."

TO USE EASY LINK, CLICK HERE - Your email will be prepared for you - complete with your message. Just alter the message to your liking and click "send."

Here is the contact information:

Commission Chair: Namon Hollis, Jr.
Phone: 817-454-5652 (Leave message on voice mail.)
Email: teresa.burk@fortworthgov.org

District 7 Commissioner: Jim Whiteholter
Email: whitej@sbcglobal.net
Phone: 817-732-2039

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Example Email 1 (You may copy and paste this text into your emails):

I am horrified to learned that the current Lake Worth Vision is moving forward. It was represented at the March 10th meeting that the approval process would only move forward with the consensus. It was very clear that the consensus was to pause the approval process until a genuine community committee was formed. We are shocked to learn that the process is going forward anyway.

Please postpone the vote until you can meet with the community and hear our concerns.

Sincerely,

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Example Email 2 (You may copy and paste this text into your emails):

I find it absolutely wrong that the current Lake Worth Vision is moving forward over widespread community objections. Dana Burghdoff represented at the March 10th meeting that the approval process would only move forward with the consensus of those at the meeting. The consensus was to pause the approval process until a community committee was formed. This is wrong.

Please postpone the vote until you can meet with the community and hear our concerns.

Sincerely,

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You can CC to Michael Dallas at:
MichaelDallas@Gmail.com

Shoreline Alert - Immediate Action Required!

2011-03-23T08:20:00.002-05:00

Time Critical - Send Your Email to City Officials Now:

Time Critical - Send Your Email to Our Elected Officials Now:

TO USE EASY LINK, CLICK HERE - Your email will be prepared for you - complete with your message. Just alter the message to your liking and click "send."

To contact each official separately, here is their contact information:

Councilman Carter Burdette
Email: Carter.Burdette@FortWorthGov.org
Phone: 817-392-8807
Address: 1000 Throckmorton, Fort Worth TX 76102

Mayor Mike Moncrief
Email: Mike.Moncrief@FortWorthGov.org
Phone: 817-392-6118
Address: 1000 Throckmorton, Fort Worth TX 76102

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Example Email 1 (You may copy and paste this text into your emails):

I am writing because I am deeply frightened by the way city staff has been treating the shoreline citizens residing on Lake Worth, myself included. We desperately need your help.

Two years ago, city staff led a community collaboration for creating a zoning ordinance on Lake Worth known as the “Dock Steering Committee.” This committee was led by city staff and was composed of real estate professionals and lake leaders. In December of 2008 (after six months of work), that committee issued recommendations for a zoning ordinance that met the needs of the residents and served the interests of the City of Fort Worth.

Shortly thereafter, city staff abandoned the community’s collaboration and engaged on a stubborn mission to damage property values and disenfranchise shoreline residents from the enjoyment of their homes. I believe that my home is in peril.

I am asking you to please restore order and to convince city staff to halt the attack on our homes.

Sincerely,

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Example Email 2 (You may copy and paste this text into your emails):

I am deeply concerned about the attacks that city staff are making against all of us shoreline residents on Lake Worth.

Two years ago, Fort Worth city staff worked with our local leaders to create a dock ordinance that would meet the needs of residents and the City of Fort Worth. In December 2008, the committee resolved all of the issues and city staff issued recommendations.

Since that time, city staff has usurped the process and engaged on a mission to damage our properties. I am deeply frightened for my home.

Please help.

Sincerely,

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can CC to Michael Dallas at:
MichaelDallas@Gmail.com

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Lake Worth - What You Can Do To Preserve Its Green Space

2011-03-22T18:55:00.008-05:00

If you can't see the video above, click or copy the following link into your browser: http://www.youtube.com/v/_f-gdD9J_jE

Lake Worth - What You Can Do to Preserve Its Green Space.

Summary: Most of the beautiful "park" greenspace around Lake Worth is not "park" at all - but "city owned" land. This beautiful green space is in danger of being sold and developed. Shoreline residents are urged to vote in the upcoming election so that the neighborhood associations will have the ability to protect this property. Video Transcript:

Do you enjoy the beauty that surrounds your home? How would you like all of those gorgeous green fields and beautiful woods around the lake turned into apartment complexes in the next few years? Let me show you something. This is a map of the lake from the current “Lake Worth Vision” plan. Here is the 820 bridge. Here the Jacksboro Highway bridge. Here’s the Fort Worth Nature Center. I’m going to cover it up. Around the main part of the lake, you will notice two colors, orange and green. The green are dedicated parks. In all probability, those green spots will stay parks. On the other hand, you will notice that two-thirds of the woods and fields around the lake are orange. That means that the city could sell this property off and development like apartment complexes could be built. Notice that the orange zones are everywhere. That means that the vast majority of the residents on the lake could be living in the middle of an apartment complex in the not-too-distant future. Here’s what you need to understand. There are four neighborhood associations around Lake Worth - the north shore, south shore, east shore, and scenic shores. I lead the Scenic Shores Association. All four neighborhood association are led by very concerned people who have been fighting tooth-and-nail to keep this from happening. It has been a fierce battle and we have yet not won the war. As a matter of fact, we have reached a point where we desperately need your help. We need every single person on the shoreline to help. Let me show you something else. This is a computer disk that lists every voter in Tarrant County. Your name is on this disk. It tells what elections you voted in and what elections you didn’t vote in. The mayor and councilman has this disk. Every candidate for mayor and council have this disk. And they all use this disk like a bible. Now let me show you something else. Here is a list of all the property owners on Lake Worth. You will notice that I have highlighted some names. The people that I highlighted are the ones who voted in the 2009 city election. You will notice that hardly anyone on the shoreline voted. I will admit that I did not vote in that election. The next election will be the first week of May (this year 2011). Once that election is over, whoever is elected will have an updated version of this list. They will know if you voted and they will know if I voted. If the new list looks like this list, then the leaders of the four neighborhood associations will have very ability to keep the apartments out. On the other hand, if after this election, this list is completely green - in other words, everyone on the shoreline votes - then the four neighborhood associations will have tremendous ability to protect this property. It really is that simple. If you vote, we can get the property preserved and protected. If you don’t vote, then as our kids say, we got no game. We’ve got no power and no ability to protect the lake. I cannot overemphasize that if you want to preserve the environment around your home, if you want to preserve the environment of the lake, you must vote in this election. And I mean you specifically. I’m talking about your one vote. Your one vote could easily mean the difference between your living around parks (like you do now) or your living around apartments and other high density development. So what’s the plan? First, if you are not registered to vote, you need to get registered. Just call me and I will send you a form. It’s super easy. Second, you need to save two dates. The first is the shoreline rally on April 9th. On Saturday, April 9th all city council candidates and all mayoral candidates will meet with shoreline residents at a free shoreline barbecue rally at Grace Baptist Church on Las Vegas Trail. Whether you ask them a question or not, the candidates need to see you there. Next, you need to plan on voting in the early voting between April 2nd and April 10th. I will send you an email letting you know where you need to go to vote. You just need to resolve right now that you will be voting in the early election. Before the election, I will also send you a voter sheet so that you can see where all the candidates stand on our issues. All you will need to do is to pick a couple of candidates and vote. It’s going to be easy. If you vote, no matter who it is you vote for, we will have the ability to protect the green space around our homes and we will will have the ability to protect the lake. This all comes down to your one vote. I cannot overemphasize how important this election is to your home and to this lake. We’re all in this together. I’m Michael Dallas.

Shoreline Voter Rally with Free BBQ! April 9th 2011 at 11:30 AM - Grace Baptist Church (820 & Las Vegas Trail) - BE THERE!

2011-02-09T18:02:00.015-06:00

If you can't see the video above, click or copy the following link into your browser:
http://www.youtube.com/v/nTsSZkR6VdU

Shoreline Voter Rally! Protect your property and enjoy FREE BBQ!

Summary: Make plans to attend the April 9th 2011 Shoreline Voter Rally! ALL mayoral and District 7 council candidates will be there. By working together, we can become an extremely important group of residents to city leaders and get our issues addressed.

Video Transcript:

Let me ask you a question. Do you like barbecue? In a minute, I’m going to show you how to protect your shoreline property while enjoying a fee barbecue dinner at the same time.

But first let me ask you a couple more questions. How much property tax do you pay each year? Do you feel that you’re getting your money’s worth? Do you feel like the City of Fort Worth cares about you, your property, or the lake? Are you happy with what’s going on with the dredging, the roads, sewer and water, eminent domain, or park conditions? Are you on a lease and are worried about whether you will get the chance to buy your property? Do you worry about what they city is going to do next around the lake?

If you do, then you are not alone. I believe that there is widespread discontent around the shoreline with paying high taxes and getting very little in return. The good news is that if you and I and everyone else on the shoreline work as a team, we can change everything.

So how do we do this? You have to understand that all issues lead to one place and one place only - Fort Worth City Council. If we have a supportive councilman and a supportive mayor, then we can solve all of these issues. Without this support, we are dead in the water.

So how do we get support? We have to show that we are an active, vibrant block of voters who play as a team. You’re on the team, I’m on the team, everyone on the shoreline is on the team. If we want to “win the game,” that is we want to get these problems solved, then we have to score points. So how do we score points? We vote. Every vote is a point. And believe me, every elected official on the Fort Worth City Council counts points.

Now, do we all need to vote for the same candidate - not necessarily. You see if you vote for one candidate, we get a point. If I vote for the other candidate we get another point. Even though we voted for two different candidates, we get two points.

You see, at the end of this election, people are going to count up our points. They won’t know who we voted for, but they will know that we voted. If we have a lot of points, that is we have a lot of voter to show up to vote, then we will become extremely important and we will get our issues addressed.

I cannot overemphasize that this IS the game. You can write letters to your councilman until your pen runs dry. You can email the mayor until your fingers fall off. You can storm city hall and make speeches until you are blue and hoarse. You can carry picket signs until the soles of your shoes wear out. But none of that has even a fraction of the power of your one vote.

You see, city elections are different than any other election. Very few people vote in the city election. Those that do vote show that they are serious about their issues. At the end of the election, elected officials know every person that voted and more importantly, they know why they voted. If we all play as a team and we all vote, we will change the game.

So what do we do now? I’ve got two very good pieces of news for you. The first is that the hard work has been done. The second is that there is free Barbecue in your future. On Saturday, April 9th at 11:30AM, there will be a shoreline voter rally with free barbecue for everyone. All mayor candidates and all city council candidates will be there. You heard me correctly. All the candidates will be there. So why are we so important that all the candidates would show up? Because they know we are now playing as a team and they know we are now playing to win. By playing as a team, you and I have suddenly become very important.

All four neighborhood associations on the shoreline are working together on this. It is that important. We now have the upper hand and the entire city is watching you and me. If we work together, we will win. Right now, the team needs you, the lake needs you, and if you care about your property at all, you will be at that rally. Plan to be at Grace Baptist Church (at Las Vegas Trail and 820) at 11:30AM on Saturday, April 9th. I cannot overemphasize how important your one vote is. You need to be there. Put this on your calendar right now.

We’re in this together.

I’m Michael Dallas

Lost & Found - Pets, Boats, and Stuff

2011-01-23T13:35:00.012-06:00

Lost & Found On Lake Worth:

If you have lost or found a dog, cat, boat, or other item, please use Craigslist to either post (if you found something) or seach posts (if you lost something). Here's the link to the Fort Worth Lost & Found section of Craigslist:

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/laf/

Instructions - If you lost something:
Click the link above. On Craigslist, simply type in the key word(s) that you are looking for in the "Search for:" box. Then the "Search" button. You may try searching "Lake Worth", "Dog", "Cat", or whatever you lost.

Instructions - If you found something:
Click on the link above.
In the upper right corner of Craigslist, click the "Post" button.
On the next screen, click "Lost & Found." (Do not click "Pets." That is for the sale of pets - not found pets.)
Click "Fort Worth."

Fill in the form:
Title: (whatever it is your found "Small Brown Dog," "Big White Cat," etc.
Location: Please use "Lake Worth" if you found it around the lake.
Description: Type in a description of the item you found. It may also help to put in where and when you found it. Also put in any requirements that you may have such as "I found a widget. Please call me with a description of the widget and where you might have left it."
Email: You will need to type in your email address twice. I suggest that you leave the button "anonymize" selected. This will allow you to get emails from respondents without having your actual email posted.
If you wish, you can post photos of the item you found.

Click "Continue"
Click "Continue"
Click "ACCEPT the Terms of Use"
Enter the words that you see into the box. Include the spaces and symbols and make sure to capitalize letters when necessary.
Go to your email address and open the email sent to you by Craigslist.
In the email, click on the link.

On the page (that pops up), click "Publish."

Whenever you want to delete your posting, go back into this same email, click the link and then click "Delete."

Dock Ordinance Status And Videos of the January 4th Council Meeting (on Docks)

2011-01-16T16:45:00.018-06:00

If you can't see the video above, click or copy the following link into your browser:
http://www.youtube.com/v/kEk3WLg4VZk

Our councilman did not represent our interests.

May 14th, 2011 is the day that we change everything!

Video Edit - Part 1 of
Dock Ordinance Portion of City Council Meeting 1/4/2011

If you can't see the video above, click or copy the following link into your browser:
http://www.youtube.com/v/JZCCcGBNkj4

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Video Edit - Part 2 of
Dock Ordinance Portion of City Council Meeting 1/4/2011

If you can't see the video above, click or copy the following link into your browser:
http://www.youtube.com/v/iXArgC2FQ7U

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Video Edit - Part 3 of
Dock Ordinance Portion of City Council Meeting 1/4/2011

If you can't see the video above, click or copy the following link into your browser:
http://www.youtube.com/v/hN4E4k-7zfw

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Video Edit - Part 4 of
Dock Ordinance Portion of City Council Meeting 1/4/2011

If you can't see the video above, click or copy the following link into your browser:
http://www.youtube.com/v/4sLiGwXNUI8

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Video Edit -
Dock Ordinance Portion of Pre-Council Meeting 1/4/2011

If you can't see the video above, click or copy the following link into your browser:
http://www.youtube.com/v/Jhv28GLqq2g

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SPECIAL EDITS - Councilman Burdette's Comments ONLY
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Below are edits of the council and pre-council meetings on January 4th that ONLY contain the comments of Councilman Carter Burdette. (Public comments and council conversations have been omitted.)

Video Edit - All of Carter Burdette's Comments at Pre-Council 1/4/2011

If you can't see the video above, click or copy the following link into your browser:
http://www.youtube.com/v/NI_mbEpdpyQ

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Video Edit - All of Carter Burdette's Comments at Council 1/4/2011

If you can't see the video above, click or copy the following link into your browser:
http://www.youtube.com/v/ti60eEod_gA

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Video Transcript:

I wanted to bring you up to date on the dock ordinance. Below, I’ve attached the videos of the council meeting and the pre-council meeting. The pre-council meeting is where the council members get together with staff and go over the issues before the actual council meeting. I wanted you to have both videos so that you could see how you are being represented by your elected official.

All you have to do is look at those videos to know that our interests are not being represented by our councilman. Even though we filled the city council chamber, our own representative fought against us the entire time. This is unheard of. Councilmen are not supposed to fight against their constituents. They are supposed to represent their constituents our council member’s behavior was so off the charts, that the other council members couldn’t figure out what he was doing and still don’t understand what he was doing.

Frankly, this has been going on a long time. The fact that we have had to spend over two years fighting with city staff to protect our property rights speaks volumes. If we had proper representation from our city councilman, the dock ordinance fiasco would have never got to this point. So what are we going to do about this? The good news is that our opportunity is at hand.

Before I tell you what we need to do next, I want to give you a brief run-down of the dock ordinance situation itself. As far as the specific results from the January 4th meeting, there is some good news. The good news is that by storming city hall, we made a huge difference in the final ordinance. With one exception, we got what the community had asked for. I believe that most residents on the lake who have been waiting to build, can now build the dock of their choice.

Like I said before, the bad news is that even with the city council chamber full of lake residents, our elected councilman refused to represent us. Instead of helping us, he insisted on fighting with us. This is a huge, huge problem that you and I need to address.

I think we all realize that we are right in the middle of area of the city that is undergoing enormous change and we have a lot of things that need to be addressed.

Here are just a few:
There are residents who still need to close on the purchase of their property,
We have residents who are still waiting for water and sewer,
Over the last few months, we have had a huge rash of home invasions,
We have been waiting years on the dredging.
We have parks all around the lake in dire need of attention,
People dumping trash garbage everywhere,
We’ve got city owned lots full of garbage all around the lake,
We have got some of the most critical road issues in Tarrant County.
I could go on and on.

And instead of working with residents to solve these very real problems, city staff has spent their time and efforts over last two years attacking our property rights with this ridiculous dock ordinance.

So what are we going to do about this? The good news is that OUR opportunity is at hand. May 14th is the day we change everything. On that day, our council seat, District 7, is up for reelection. I cannot overemphasize how important that election is to your lake property. If you and I stick together, and you and I vote, we can make such a huge impact on this election, that we will never have to face this kind of ridiculous nonsense again.

There’s only one thing that you need to do right now. You simply need to make up in your mind, that you will be voting in the May 14th election. That’s it. And it’s going to be super easy. We’re going to do this together. If you are not registered or don’t know where to vote, don’t worry. I will be sending you easy to follow instructions. I will also send you reminders as we get closer to the election.

Look, you and I pay some of the highest property taxes in Texas. Not only are we not getting proper representation, we have had to fight with our own representative. By you and I spending 10 minutes of our time in the voting booth on May 14th, we will absolutely transform the attitude of everyone downtown. If we stick together, we can change everything on May 14th.

We are all in this together.

I’m Michael Dallas
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Latest Ordinance Proposals:

Approved Zoning Ordinance by Zoning Commission 12/8/2010

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=1WiaIvPSOeLhXvZmOBrykO5F9meMAhuu40hYJITb62nZ_3nO_xBjC7uZvfzNW&hl=en

Changes Made by Councilman Burdette 12/28/2010

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=1gg9PoBMtC5Mln5eTa-devyHT5FGDbgVqRPpKUOiWiiezK8BE2ReF9t519RIM&hl=en

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Last Four Videos on Lake Worth Dock Ordinance
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January 4th, 2011 Meeting Notice

http://scenicshores.blogspot.com/2010/12/final-critical-meeting-be-there.html

December 8, 2010 Meeting Notice

http://scenicshores.blogspot.com/2010/11/critical-meeting-be-there-december-8th.html

November 9, 2010 - Contact Your Elected Officials

http://scenicshores.blogspot.com/2010/11/dock-ordinance-saga-update-11092010.html

October 19, 2010 - What's Wrong with This Ordinance
http://scenicshores.blogspot.com/2010/10/dock-ordinance-survey.html

Final Critical Meeting! Be There! - Tues Jan 4, 2011

2010-12-29T15:39:00.019-06:00

If you can't see the video above, click or copy the following link into your browser:
http://www.youtube.com/v/1lmNgn2dZ2s

If you care about your shoreline property on Lake Worth, you need to be at the council meeting!

When:
Tuesday, January 4th at 7:00 p.m.

Where:
City Hall
1000 Throckmorton
Fort Worth TX 76102

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Video Transcript:

I had planned to make a video that demonstrated how sanity finally prevailed in the dock ordinance saga. I was going to illustrate how the zoning board’s recent recommendations reflected the community’s collaboration and consensus.

Unfortunately, I won’t be making that video. Instead, I have some extremely disappointing news. In a bizarre move that defies explanation, our councilman, Carter Burdette, has thrown out the zoning board’s recommendations and has inserted his own arbitrary changes to the proposal. You have to understand that this move is “off the charts” in terms of how things are supposed to work. I am going to explain what is going on, but I want you to know right now, that you need to act to protect your property. You need to be at the city council meeting this coming Tuesday night, January 4th at 7:00P.M.

So what’s going on? As you know, I and other lake leaders have worked three years trying to protect our properties. I won’t go into the unpleasant details, but these efforts came to a head last month at the December 8th zoning board meeting. Lake leaders and residents presented reasons and arguments to the board that specific changes needed to be made to the proposal. The board listened to residents and made the necessary changes. The board then passed the recommendations unanimously. In a normal situation, that would have been the end of it. Our councilman would take the board’s recommendations and then passed them at the next council meeting.

Not this time. In an unprecedented move, Councilman Burdette threw out the zoning board’s work and arbitrarily inserted his own preferences. These changes go against the community’s wishes and fly in the face of the zoning board’s recommendations. To put it mildly, lake leaders are very disappointed with our elected official.

In fact, one of the neighborhood association presidents called the councilman and asked why he was making these changes. His reply was bizarre. He said, and I quote, “for every square foot a homeowner takes for their dock that is a square foot not for use to the public." Now, I have to tell you that I find this argument so ridiculous that it is embarrassing to even address it.

But since that is his stated concern, let’s take a few seconds to look at it. The first question to our councilman is exactly which lake users benefit from his changes. Let's take look: skiing - no, fishing - no, boating - no, sailing - no, swiming - no. The fact is that you cannot identify even one user group or one citizen who benefits (even theoretically) from his changes.

In fact, if you follow this logic through and do the actual calculations, you see how utterly absurd the argument is. So here are the numbers. The lake is over 150,000,000 square feet. If EVERY property owner on the lake built a dock which was 400 square feet bigger, the differential area would represent 13/100ths of 1% of the lake area. (150,000,000 / 400 x 500 = .0013) And that's if ALL 500 owners built new docks. To say it another way, even with all 500 property owners built new docks, you would still have just slightly less than 100% of the lake for public use.

Let’s look at this visually. Here’s a satellite photo of the lake. Notice that compared to the size of the lake, the docks are tiny, tiny specks. They are barely visible. Even if we quadrupled the size of every dock on the lake, you wouldn’t be able to see any difference.

So what does this mean?

First, it means that the changes that our councilman has made represent an insignificant and inconsequential fraction of the lake. It has absolutely no recognizable effect on the percentage of the lake covered by docks.

Second, his changes have no benefit to any user group whatsoever.

If you remember from a previous video, the changes he is making were addressed in the December survey which was distributed to all lake residents. According to the survey, 98% of lake residents believe that the provisions he is proposing will damage their property values.

So the question is simple, “why would you damage citizens’ property if there is absolutely no benefit to anyone?”

The insult to the injury is that these actions are being taken by our councilman who is operating in what is commonly called “lame duck” capacity. Our council seat, District 7, is up for vote this coming May. Councilman Burdette has officially alerted the media that he is not going to run again. So in a nutshell, we have a councilman, who is not going to face the voters in May, making bizarre arguments and unprecedented amendments to this critical zoning ordinance.

So what are we going to do? The measure is now going to council for passage. You need to be at that council meeting. The meeting is on Tuesday, January 4th at 7:00P.M. Everyone who wishes to speak will have three minutes. Whether you speak or not, you need to be at that meeting. You absolutely need to be present.

I cannot emphasize how important your single presence is. Your being there is going to make a huge difference in how this goes. If you don’t attend, you might as well deed your property back to the city because our city leaders are going to take it from you piece by piece.

Look, you and I pay some of the highest property taxes in Texas. There is no doubt that shoreline residents are being subjected to taxation without representation. We should expect far more from our city government than this. If you care about your shoreline property, you need to be at city hall at 7:00 Tuesday night, January 4th standing tall.

We’re all in this together. I’m Michael Dallas.

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Latest Ordinance Proposals:

Approved Zoning Ordinance by Zoning Commission 12/8/2010

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=1WiaIvPSOeLhXvZmOBrykO5F9meMAhuu40hYJITb62nZ_3nO_xBjC7uZvfzNW&hl=en

Changes Made by Councilman Burdette 12/28/2010

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=1gg9PoBMtC5Mln5eTa-devyHT5FGDbgVqRPpKUOiWiiezK8BE2ReF9t519RIM&hl=en

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Last Three Videos on Lake Worth Dock Ordinance
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December 8, 2010 Meeting Notice

http://scenicshores.blogspot.com/2010/11/critical-meeting-be-there-december-8th.html

November 9, 2010 - Contact Your Elected Officials

Critical Meeting! Be There! December 8th, 2010

2010-11-27T13:07:00.012-06:00

If you can't see the video above, click or copy the following link into your browser:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY0U9ZPxOp8

If you care about your shoreline property on Lake Worth, you need to be at the zoning meeting!

When:
Wednesday, December 8th at 10:00 a.m.

Where:
City Hall
1000 Throckmorton
Fort Worth TX 76102

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Video Transcript:

In my last two videos, I described to you how city staff is about to damage the value of every property on Lake Worth. The situation is now critical. At the end of the video, I am going to tell you what you need to do to protect your property.

As I mentioned in my last video, two years ago, a community collaboration known as the “Dock Steering Committee” was formed to create common sense guidelines for a new dock ordinance. The committee was composed of lake residents and real estate professionals and was led by city staff. The committee worked for 6 months with staff and the community to create workable guidelines. The recommendations satisfied staff and the majority of residents.

However, at the end of the collaboration, staff threw out it. Over the next two years, staff generated six revisions – each worse than the last. In other words, the community collaboration was a sham. It a hoax. It was just a way for staff to say the ordinance was created through a community process, when in fact, it was not.

Today, staff is taking its proposal forward. That proposal, in no way, reflects the community collaboration. In fact, the proposal is bad for the lake, bad for the City of Fort Worth, and its bad for lake residents. One of the worst problems with this ordinance is that it destroys property value.

On October 19, 2010, a survey was sent to all 494 property owners around Lake Worth. Over 170 property owners responded. Of those, 98% said that the new ordinance would damage property values. I’ll say it again, 98% said that the new ordinance proposal would damage their property values.

So what are we going to do? The measure is now under consideration by the zoning board. On December 8th, the zoning board will be taking public comments. Whether you speak or not, you need to be at that meeting. You absolutely need to be present.

I cannot emphasize how important your single presence is. This whole dock ordinance fiasco has been the result of the actions of five people. Your single presence is going to make a huge difference in how this goes. If you don’t attend, you might as well deed your property back to the city because city staff is going to take it from you piece by piece.

You need to be at city hall, downtown Fort Worth at 1000 Throckmorton at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 8th. I will have some buttons for you to wear. You don’t have to speak, but be sure to get your button and wear it into the meeting. That way, the zoning board members will know why you are there.

Look, you and I pay some of the highest property taxes in Texas. There is no doubt that shoreline residents are being subject to taxation with no representation. We should expect far more from our city government than this. If you care about your shoreline property, you need to be at city hall at 10:00 in the morning on Wednesday, December 8th standing tall, wearing a button.

We’re all in this together. I’m Michael Dallas.

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Last Two Videos on Lake Worth Dock Ordinance
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November 9, 2010 - Contact Your Elected Officials
http://scenicshores.blogspot.com/2010/11/dock-ordinance-saga-update-11092010.html

October 19, 2010 - What's Wrong with This Ordinance
http://scenicshores.blogspot.com/2010/10/dock-ordinance-survey.html

Dock Ordinance - Immediate Action Required! (11/09/2010)

2010-11-09T15:37:00.067-06:00

Time Critical - Send Your Email to Our Elected Officials Now:

TO USE EASY LINK, CLICK HERE - Your email will be prepared for you - complete with your message. Just alter the message to your liking and click "send."

To contact each official separately, here is their contact information:

Councilman Carter Burdette
Email: Carter.Burdette@FortWorthGov.org
Phone: 817-392-8807
Address: 1000 Throckmorton, Fort Worth TX 76102

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Dock Ordinance - Community Proposal vs. Current Staff Proposal (10/19/2010)

2010-10-19T09:26:00.021-05:00

Dock Steering Committee Proposal (The Community Collaboration):

Size and Setback:
1) Up to 25% of easement can be covered by dock up to a maximum of 2500 square feet.
2) All residents are allowed at least a 1000 square foot structure as long as it fits within the deeded property.
3) Variances for size and setback can be applied for by all residents.

Setback:
1) A flat 5' setback applies to everyone.
2) The setback only applies to "sides" of property (i.e. does not shorten length of dock).

Covering and Enclosures:
1) "Dockhouses" are allowed as stated in deed.
2) A 2nd story and roof are allowed without restriction.

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Current Staff Proposal:

Size (limited by length of water frontage):
1) 0 to 100 foot frontage - limited to 800 square feet of structure
2) 101 to 150 foot frontage - limited to 1,200 square feet of structure
3) 151 feet or more frontage - limited to 1,600 square feet of structure
4) No size or setback variances allowed for anyone

Setback (increases with length of water frontage):
1) Less than 50 feet frontage - 5 feet setback
2) 50-69 feet frontage - 10 feet setback
3) 70-99 feet frontage - 15 feet setback
4) 100 feet or more frontage - 20 feet setback
5) Setback applies to "length" of dock as well (e.g. frontages over 100 feet only allowed to extend 80 feet into lake)

Covering and Enclosure:
1) "Dockhouses" are not allowed (i.e. siding prohibited).
2) Second stories are only allowed by getting a variance.
3) Second story can only be 50% covered by roof.

Dock Ordinance Survey (10/19/2010)

2010-10-12T19:42:00.021-05:00

If you can't see the video above, you can view the video on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xok1xQ5XMAM

Click Here To View Differences in Proposals

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Boat Dock Standards - September 21, 2010

2010-09-21T12:21:00.008-05:00

Ordinance No. _______

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE COMPREHENSIVE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, BEING ORDINANCE NUMBER 13896, CODIFIED AS APPENDIX “A” OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH (1986), TO AMEND ARTICLE 3, “ACCESSORY USES” OF CHAPTER 5, “SUPPLEMENTAL USE STANDARDS” TO ADD A NEW SECTION, SECTION 5.308, “DOCKS, PIERS AND BOAT HOUSES” TO REGULATE RESIDENTIAL DOCKS AND BOATHOUSES; TO AMEND CHAPTER 9, “DEFINITIONS” TO ADD NEW DEFINTIONS RELATED TO DOCKS, PIERS AND BOAT HOUSES; PROVIDING THAT THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE CUMULATIVE; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING A PENALTY CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

WHEREAS Lake Worth is owned by the City of Fort Worth and the City has water rights in Lake Worth which is a drinking water source for residents and its wholesale customers; and

WHEREAS Lake Worth also provides a habitat for numerous species of plants and animals, and is a regional center for water recreational activities for the City of Fort Worth’s citizens and visitors; and

WHEREAS Chapter 36 of the Building Code as adopted by the City Council requires that structures constructed on Lake Worth must have the approval of the City’s Water Department, as well as comply with other City Codes; and

WHEREAS the City finds a need to take steps to protect the health and safety of the citizens of Fort Worth and the recreational users of Lake Worth by determining appropriate standards for boathouses and other structures; and

WHEREAS on or about July 2008 a steering committee was created which included representatives from various neighborhood associations around Lake Worth, real estate professionals, community members and City staff members; and

WHEREAS the steering committee developed its recommendations for standards for boathouses and other structures to be adopted by ordinance on November 20, 2008; and

WHEREAS the recommendations for boathouses and other structures were presented to the City Council’s committee on Infrastructure and Transportation on December 9, 2008; and

WHEREAS it is advisable to amend the Zoning Ordinance to add regulations for the construction and use of boathouses and other structures to insure the preservation of water quality, habitat and the natural and scenic beauty of Lake Worth as well as provide for the health and safety of its citizens and visitors.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS:

SECTION 1.

Article 3, “Accessory Uses” of Chapter 5, “Supplemental Use Standards” of Ordinance No. 13896, the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Fort Worth is hereby amended to add a new section, Section 5.308, entitled “Docks, Piers and Boathouses” to read as follows:

Section 5.308. Docks, Piers and Boathouses

A. Purpose and Intent.

1. The purpose of this Section is to regulate the construction and use of residential boathouses and other structures to insure the preservation of water quality, habitat and the natural and scenic beauty of Lake Worth as well as provide for the health and safety of its citizens and visitors.

A person who wishes to construct or improve a residential Dock, Pier, Boathouse (structure) or Walkway must have a valid Water Use and Access Easement for Lake Worth executed and granted by the City of Fort Worth.

Commercial docks, piers, boathouses and slips will require a Special Exception from the Board of Adjustment. The Board of Adjustment shall consider whether the proposal will affect the water quality, habitat and the natural and scenic beauty of Lake Worth or the health and safety of its citizens and visitors.

B. Size and Setback Limitations.

The maximum size of any structure shall be as follows:

800 square feet of structure on a lot(s) with a shoreline that is equal to or less than 100 linear feet;
1,200 square feet of structure on a lot(s) with a shoreline that is greater than 100 linear feet but equal to or less than 150 linear feet; and
1,600 square feet of structure on a lot(s) with a shoreline that is greater than150 linear feet.

The area measured is to be the largest area at the end of a Walkway. The largest area may be either the outside corners of the structure or the roofline if it has more than a two-foot overhang. When roofs are permitted on the second story of a Dock, Pier or Boathouse as described in Subsection C. “Enclosures and Structures”, the allowable square footage shall include the total covered area of the second story.

2. One Walkway, not to exceed six (6) feet in width, shall be excluded in the square footage calculation of the structure. If, however, the Walkway exceeds six (6) feet in width, the difference shall count towards the maximum allowed square footage of the structure. No Walkway shall be allowed in excess of eight (8) feet in width or to extend to more than one structure. The distance the Walkway and the structure extends into the reservoir shall be kept as short a distance as is practical so as not to impair navigation and to maintain continuity with the shoreline.

3. The minimum setback of a structure from a projected side yard line shall be based on the width of the property at the Lakefront Property Line as follows:

Lot Width Setback

Up to 50 feet 5 feet

51-70 feet 10 feet

71-100 feet 15 feet

101 feet or more 20 feet

4. Structures may extend:

a. To a point 100 feet from the Lakefront Property Line into the waters of Lake Worth regardless of the depth of the water at that point, or

b. To the point at which the elevation of the land lying under Lake Worth is not less than 584 feet above mean sea level, but in no case more than 200 feet from the Lakefront Property Line into the water of Lake Worth.

The depth shall be determined by the City of Fort Worth.

No structure shall occupy more than one-third (1/3) of the cove width and in no case shall be located within 10 feet of the centerline of the cove.

(insert Paul’s cove exhibit)

A structure will be permitted without an existing residential use on the property.
Where large undivided tracts or multiple lots are used to determine the maximum area of a structure, the linear footage of shoreline for the combined area shall be set aside and cannot be used for the future determination of the size of other structures. With multiple lots, the primary residence must cross over the center lot line(s) by at least one (1) foot in order for more than one (1) lot width to be counted in determining the maximum area of a structure.

Enclosures and Storage.

Enclosed structures are prohibited. To protect a raised boat within a structure from the elements, solid sides on the structure will be permitted at a maximum of two (2) feet downward from the point where the ceiling joist meets the top plate. No additional materials may be installed below the two (2) foot sidewalls.

Structures shall be limited to a single story (lower deck) and a sundeck (upper deck) or roof. The floor of the lower deck shall be no less than the 596 foot elevation. The upper deck may not have a permanent roof or covering.

Open design safety railings attached to the upper deck may extend upward a maximum of three (3) feet.

A maximum storage area of thirty-two (32) square feet shall be allowed on the first floor (lower deck) of a structure. The design of the storage area shall be such that it does not close off any more than fifty percent (50%) of any wall length, maintaining the required openness required in Section C1. Products considered hazardous material or any material which has a warning label prohibiting its use or storage near water and/or public water supplies may not be stored in the storage area.

A roof will be allowed on the second floor if the lowest finished floor of the primary structure on the lot is at or above the peak of the roof of the Dock, Pier or Boathouse.

SECTION 2.

Chapter 9, “Definitions” of Ordinance No. 13896, the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Fort Worth is hereby amended to add new definitions to read as follows:

Decking shall mean the surface material that forms the floor of the structure.

Dock, Pier, or Boathouse (or any combination) shall mean a structure that permits the landing and mooring of vessels, including the anchoring system, cables, floats, electrical, plumbing and any other related components or materials installed in conjunction with the construction, maintenance, or use of the dock, but excluding the Walkway.

Lakefront Property Line shall mean the property line that borders the waters of Lake Worth as shown on the final plat of record or survey for the property.

Walkway (or Bridge) shall mean a passage that provides access from the land to a boat dock, marina, or other floating facility.

Water Use and Access Easement shall mean an easement granted by the City of Fort Worth enclosed on one side by the lakefront property line, on a second side by the waters of Lake Worth, and on the third and fourth side by two lines, each beginning at opposite ends of the lakefront property line and each being a projection of the side lot lines of each lot as shown on the plat of record or survey for the property.

SECTION 3.

This ordinance shall be cumulative of all provisions of ordinances and of the Code of the City of Fort Worth, Texas (1986), as amended, except where the provisions of this ordinance are in direct conflict with the provisions of such ordinances and such Code, in which event conflicting provisions of such ordinances and such Code are hereby repealed.

SECTION 4.

It is hereby declared to be the intention of the City Council that the sections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses and phrases of this ordinance are severable, and, if any phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section of this ordinance shall be declared unconstitutional by the valid judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction, such unconstitutionality shall not affect any of the remaining phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs and sections of this ordinance, since the same would have been enacted by the City Council without the incorporation in this ordinance of any such unconstitutional phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section.

SECTION 5.

Any person, firm, or corporation, who violates, disobeys, omits, neglects or refuses to comply with or who resists the enforcement of any of the provisions of this ordinance shall be fined not more than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) for each offense. Each day that a violation exists shall constitute a separate offense.

SECTION 6.

All rights and remedies of the City of Fort Worth, Texas, are expressly saved as to any and all violations of the provisions of Ordinances No. 3011, 13896 and any other ordinances affecting zoning which have accrued at the time of the effective date of this ordinance, and, as to such accrued violations and all pending litigation, both civil and criminal, whether pending in court or not, under such ordinances, same shall not be affected by this ordinance but may be prosecuted until final disposition by the courts.

SECTION 7.

The City Secretary of the City of Fort Worth, Texas, is hereby directed to publish the caption, penalty clause and effective date of this ordinance for two (2) days in the official newspaper of the City of Fort Worth, Texas, as authorized by Section 52.013, Texas Local Government Code.

SECTION 8.

All other provisions of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Fort Worth not herein amended shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 9.

This ordinance shall take effect upon adoption and publication as required by law.

APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:

By: ______________________________________

Assistant City Attorney

ADOPTED:

EFFECTIVE:

9/21/2010 Distributed to the Committee

Dock Ordinance - Ch 36 - Sept 21, 2010

2010-09-21T11:40:00.005-05:00

Revisions to the existing Chapter 36 to

add Water Department provisions.

New provisions are underlined.

Deleted provisions are strikethrough.

This building chapter is designed to apply to private and commercial docks, piers and boathouses. As well as, docks, piers and boathouses that might be regulated by Fort Worth on other bodies of water such as the Trinity River Vision Lake or the Fort Worth side of Lake Arlington. Therefore, some wording is phrased in general terms instead of being specific to Lake Worth.

Chapter 36

Docks, Piers and Boathouses

3601 General. The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to any body of water within the corporate limits of Fort Worth that is under the jurisdiction and control of the City of Fort Worth. In the absence of other provisions, this chapter may be used on bodies of water not under the control of the City of Fort Worth.

This chapter and the “Docks, Piers and Boat House” standards, adopted elsewhere, may be more stringent than this code and other construction codes.

3601.1 Variances/Water Department Release. Lake Worth is owned by the City of Fort Worth. The Fort Worth Water Department has the charge for the safety of the water, as well as, safe usage of the water system. As such, some provisions in this chapter shall be designated as a regulation from the Water Department and will be identified as (WD). Any such section identified with (WD) cannot be granted a variance by the Construction and Fire Prevention Board without first obtaining a release from the Director of the Water Department.

3602 Definitions. The following words and terms shall, for the purposes of this chapter, have the meanings shown herein.

DEAD LOAD. The permanent inert weight of materials of construction incorporated into the structure, including fixed or permanent attachments, such as bumpers, railings, winch stands, roof structures, etc.

As further defined in Chapter 16, the weight of materials of construction incorporated into the building, including but not limited to walls, floors, roofs, ceilings, stairways, built-in partitions, finishes, cladding and other similarly incorporated architectural and structural items, and fixed service equipment including the weight of cranes. All dead loads are considered permanent loads.

DECKING. The surface material that forms the floor of the structure.

As further defined in Chapter 16, an exterior floor supported on at least two opposing sides by an adjacent structure, and/or posts, piers or other independent supports.

DOCK, PIER, OR BOAT HOUSE (or any combination). A structure extending from the shore into the water to permit the landing and mooring of vessels. The term “dock”, “pier” or “boat house” includes the anchoring system and any walkways or bridges that will attach to the structure itself.

FLOTATION LIVE LOAD. The total load that a dock can carry without capsizing or sinking. The flotation live load is equal to the dead load plus the live load.

HUNT ABSORPTION TEST. A test documenting the rate at which flotation material absorbs liquid, as well as the quantity of liquid absorbed.

LAKEFRONT PROPERTY LINE. The property line that borders the regulated water area. (For Lake Worth, “as shown on the final plat of record or survey for the property”.)

LAKE WORTH MANAGEMENT OFFICE (LWMO). That group in the Water Department responsible for review and approval for all improvements to structures at or in Lake Worth, and who shall administer the requirements of that department.

LIVE LOAD. Any moving or variable superimposed load on the structure.

As further defined in Chapter 16, those loads produced by the use and occupancy of the building or other structure and do not include construction or environmental loads such as wind load, snow load, rain load, earthquake load, flood load or dead load.

LOADS. Forces or other actions that result from the weight of building materials, occupants and their possessions, environmental effect, differential movement and restrained dimensional changes. Permanent loads are those loads in which variations over time are rare or of small magnitude, such as dead loads. All other loads are variable loads.

REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER (RPE). A professional engineer currently registered with the State of Texas as a professional engineer with a specialization in civil or structural engineering and experience in dock and pier construction.

STRUCTURAL DEAD LOAD. The weight of the structure and its ability to support itself.

STRUCTURE. When used in this Chapter shall be inclusive of entire dock, pier or boat house, including the walkway, anchoring system, cables, floats, electrical, plumbing and any other related components or materials installed in conjunction with the construction, maintenance, or use of the dock.

WALKWAY (or BRIDGE). A passage that provides access from the land or a boat dock, marina, or other floating facility.

3603 Permit Required. No person shall erect, construct, enlarge, alter, or move any dock, pier, boathouse or combination to any body of water within the corporate limits of Fort Worth, that is under the jurisdiction and control of the City of Fort Worth, without complying with the provisions of this chapter.

Each application for a permit, together with plans for a dock, pier, boathouse, or any combination thereof shall be submitted as specified in Chapter 1 of this code and as may be specified in other City codes.

Where such structures are constructed on Lake Worth or any body of water subject to the jurisdiction of another department of the City of Fort Worth, the additional approval of such department shall be obtained.

Submittal of a permit application is not permission to begin work. Construction is not permitted to begin until a permit is ISSUED.

3604 3602 Use. Docks, piers and boathouses for private use shall normally be classified as a Group U Occupancy. Other occupancies may be allowed when the use is permitted by the Zoning Ordinance, together with the approval of any other appropriate department of the City of Fort Worth, and the construction complies with this code for said use.

3605 3603 Design and Design Loads.

3605.1 General. When designed by an RPE, the RPE shall apply the appropriate loads when doing calculations. Such factors shall include, but not be limited to:

a. dead load

b. live load

c. roof load

d. wind load and wave action; which should be considered as simultaneously applied

e. when intended to have boats attached to the structure for storage, the effects of such estimated loads, such as wind and wave, on the boat that are transferred to the structure shall also be considered.

f. when intended to have boats lifted out of the water, the effects of such estimated loads, such as wind on the boat and dead load of the boat, that are transferred to the structure shall also be included.

g. surface areas at and above the water line, when authorized, including walls, screens, tarps, etc.

h. except as allowed for in Section 3605.3, flotation devices shall be designed to withstand the same dead load and live load as a fixed structure.

3605.2 All Occupancies. Regardless of the occupancy category assigned, all structures shall comply with the following provisions:

a. Piles shall conform to Chapter 18 of this Code.

b. All docks, piers and pier platforms boathouses shall be designed to withstand the live and dead loads as specified in Chapter 16 of this code, based upon the Occupancy classification as assigned by the Building Official.

Exception: Private residential structures, classified as a Group U, may use the design loads as specified in Section 3605.3.

c. (WD) Structures shall be able to withstand a minimum of four-foot high wave action at normal water levels. (For Lake Worth, up to 601 ft. above sea level.) Floating docks must be designed with anchorage footing and piers to remain in place without floating off at the normal water levels (For Lake Worth, up to 601 ft. above sea level.)

d. (WD) Cables and chains used in anchoring systems shall be designed with a minimum working load safety factor of 3.0 for cable and 2.0 for chains.

e. (WD) Walkways and bridges shall have a maximum slope under dead load of a 4:1 ratio to any direction at the lowest expected water level. (For Lake Worth, 594 ft. above sea level.)

3605.3 Group U Occupancies. When private structures associated with residential uses are assigned a Group U Occupancy classification, the design provisions provided in Section 3605.3.1 through 3605.3.2, may be used in lieu of Chapter 16.

3605.3.1 Flotation devices shall be designed to support the dead load plus 30-pounds per square foot (PSF) live load applied to deck area.

3605.3.2 Structural frame shall be designed to support the minimum live load shall be 40 pounds per square foot (PSF) live load applied to the full surface area of the deck.

3606 3604 Dock and Pier Construction. 3604.1 General. Docks and piers shall meet or exceed the minimum requirements for construction as follows: The proposed design shall incorporate the following minimum provisions:

3606.1 3604.1.1 Piles. Wood piles shall be a minimum of six (6) inches in diameter. Metal piles shall be a minimum of three (3) inches inside diameter pipe. Such piles shall be driven to a minimum depth of twenty-four (24) inches below the top layer of silt. Such piles shall be driven in pairs, one on either side of the platform, and braced as required by section 3606.6. Such piles shall not be spaced apart more than ten (10) feet center to center.

3606.2 3604.1.2 Box cribs. Sets of structural columns of the same size forming a box crib may be used. Such crib shall be braced as required in Section 3606.6 and anchored as required in Section 3607.

3606.3 3604.2 Beams. Beams shall be defined as those members which connect to piles to support the stringers. All beams when of wood shall be a minimum 2-inch material.

3606.4 3604.3 Stringers. Stringers shall be defined as those members usually supporting the decking. All stringers when of wood shall be of a minimum 2-inch material. Pipe stringers shall be a nominal 2-1/2-inch I.D. and spaced not more than eighteen (18) inches O.C.

3606.5 3604.4 Decking.

3606.5.1 3605.4.1 Wooden platform decking shall be of a minimum nominal 2-inch material.

3606.5.2 3605.4.2 Other materials, to include lightweight concrete or metal decking may be used when approved by the Building Official. Such decking shall meet the load requirements of Section 3605.

3606.6 3604.5 Bracing.

3606.6.1 3604.5.1 All wooden bracing shall be of a minimum nominal 2-inch material.

3606.6.2 3604.5.2 Bracing shall be accomplished by one or more of the following methods:

a. Cross or “X” bracing. Cross or “X” bracing may be used on each set of pier and box cribs.

b. Beams. Beams may be used as bracing, provided the connections give sufficient support to resist horizontal forces equivalent to that of cross or “X” bracing.

c. Knee bracing. Knee bracing shall be used on each pier attached to and paralleling the platform deck. Pipe knee bracing shall be a nominal 2-1/2 inch I.D.

3606.7 3604.6 Attachment of deck. Attachment of the platform deck to beams and piles shall be accompanied accomplished by one or more of the following methods:

a. By attaching the beams to the piles and box cribs by lag bolts.

b. By caps: Wood caps shall be a minimum nominal 4-inch material and anchored by bolts and welded.

3607 3605 Anchorage of Floatation and box crib structures. Such structures shall be anchored with solid units that will provide the following anchorage:

a. Docks and piers less than fifty (50) feet in length: An anchor on each corner that will support one-fourth of the total dead load plus one-eighth the total live load.

b. Docks and piers fifty (50) feet or more in length: Anchors at the midpoint of the piers.

c. All docks and piers shall be anchored to the shore line.

d. All anchors shall be of masonry, concrete, or steel and shall be securely fastened to the dock or pier by rope, cable, chain, or other approved methods.

3608 3606 Required Water Proofing.

3608.1 3606.1 All wood below one (1) foot above spillway elevation on lakes (for Lake Worth, 601 feet) or below one (1) foot above the 50-year flood elevations on other bodies of water shall be treated lumber. Creosote is not allowed.

3608.2 3606.2 All metal, including bolts, lag bolts, and fasteners, shall be galvanized or painted with paints of similar materials approved for immersion in water.

3609 3607 Floatation Material. All flotation units shall adequately support the dead and live loads of all beams, stringers, and platforms. Data shall be submitted to and approved by the Building Official showing that the buoyancy of such units will support the loads imposed.

Only flotation units made of materials which will not affect the water quality in any way may be used. Materials which are considered unacceptable for this purpose include but are not limited to standard steel 55 gallon drums, any metal which may corrode in the aqueous environment, and any material which may release toxic or hazardous material into the lake proper. Flotation units shall be constructed of material that has never been used in any manner for storage of toxic or hazardous material. Proof that the flotation units meet the above requirements must be provided to and approved by the Building Official.

(a) (WD) Flotation material shall be extruded polystyrene, expanded polystyrene, or a copolymer of polyethylene and polystyrene and shall have a minimum density of 0.9 pounds per cubic foot, and be of consistent quality throughout the float. Beads shall be firmly fused together, and there shall be no voids inside the encasement. Flotation material shall have a water rate absorption of less than 3.0 pounds per cubic foot over seven (7) days when tested by the Hunt Absorption Test. Other flotation material may be considered if it meets all of the requirements set forth in this chapter.

(b) (WD) Flotation material shall be encased in solid polyethylene or a polyurethane type coating, both of which shall be watertight and have a nominal thickness of 0.125 inches.

(d) (WD) Materials which are considered unacceptable for this purpose include but are not limited to standard steel 55 gallon drums, any metal which may corrode in the aqueous environment, and any material which may release toxic or hazardous material into the lake proper.

(e) (WD) All flats shall be warranted for a minimum of eight (8) years against sinking, becoming waterlogged, cracking, peeling, fragmenting, or losing beads, and shall not be prone to damage by animals.

(f) (WD) Floats that are punctured, exposing the foam to erosion or deterioration, shall be replaced immediately.

3610 3608 Boathouse construction. Construction of boathouses or other structures shall meet or exceed the requirements for framing and coverage as specified in other parts of this code. When, in the opinion of the Building Official, the load of the intended use exceeds the capability of the minimum construction design specified in Section 3604, plans and specification may be required to be designed by an engineer registered in the State of Texas a Registered Professional Engineer (RPE).

3611 (WD) Prohibited uses.

3611.1 (WD) Toilet facilities. No toilet facilities of any type shall be allowed on any Structure built past the Lakefront Property Line.

3611.2 (WD) Fuel pumping. Fuel pumping facilities exceeding 55 gallons are not allowed on structures that extend past the Lakefront Property Line.

3612 (WD) Safety devices.

3612.1 (WD) Photocell light. Any Structure that extends more than 100 feet from the Lakefront Property Line shall be equipped with a white photocell light of no less than 200 lumens that operates continually from dusk to dawn. Such lighting shall be provided with a cover on the top of the light to minimize light dispersion upward. The LWMO may require that lighting be placed on structures less than 100 feet from the shoreline when in LWMO decides it is warranted to enhance boating safety. It is the Dock owner's responsibility to ensure that all required lighting is properly maintained and operational at all times.

3612.2 (WD) Water supply A potable water supply can be plumbed to the first floor (lower deck) provided that backflow prevention devices are installed and inspected in accordance with 12.5, Article V, Division 3, Cross Connection Control of the City Code and the Plumbing Code as adopted by the City Council.

3613 3609 Hazardous structures. The requirements of this chapter are considered minimum requirements for safety purposes. Any such structures that do not meet these requirements shall be considered hazardous and shall be abated, as provided by Section 116 102 of this Code. If the Tarrant County Water Control and Improvement District Number One regulations are more restrictive than the City of Fort Worth regulations, the Tarrant County Water Control and Improvement District Number One regulations apply.

Building Code Permit requirements

107.1.1 Lake Worth docks, piers or boathouses. The following provisions apply for permit submittal for docks, piers or boathouses on Lake Worth.

(a) Persons seeking to construct a Dock, Pier or Boathouse or Walkway must submit to two (2) complete sets of the project plans for the Structure, which shall include but not limited to the anchoring system, and any Walkways or Bridges that will attach to the proposed Structure.

(b) When an existing Structure will be used as part of the newly proposed Structure the project plans must include a complete description of the existing Structure. The existing Structure must also comply or be brought into compliance with the specifications set forth in these regulations.

(c) The project plans must include a description of the site that shows the location of the primary lot, the extension of property lines out into the water area and a key plan, either included on the site plan or on a separate sheet, to show the location on or to Lake Worth the body of water.

(d) The project plans must be signed and sealed by an RPE and contain a statement that the proposed Structure complies with the specifications set forth in this code Article and any and all structural design provisions in the Building Code.

Exception: Flat piers, 600 square feet or less in size, with no structures above the walking deck except a guardrail, inclusive of no canopy or no storage space, may be exempt from the engineering provision unless otherwise required by the building official. In calculating the 600 square feet area, the walkway area shall not be included unless wider than 6 feet, in which case, the entire walkway area shall be considered.

(e) Each project plan set must also include a copy of the manufacturer’s certified plans for any components that will be part of the structure, such as lifts, decking, railing, or awning systems.

(f) The project plans and manufacturer’s certified plans must be based upon the actual conditions at the site of the proposed Structure.

Residential Code Permit requirements

R106.1.1 Lake Worth docks, piers or boathouses. The following provisions apply for permit submittal for docks, piers or boathouses on Lake Worth.

(e) Each project plan set must also include a copy of the manufacturer’s certified plans for any components that will be part of the structure, such as lifts, decking, railing, or awning systems.

(f) The project plans and manufacturer’s certified plans must be based upon the actual conditions at the site of the proposed Structure.

Permit requirements.

The following provisions from the Water Code will are converted into permit requirements language for both the Residential and Commercial codes as listed above.

SECTION 18-19. Application to the LWMO.

Exception: Flat piers 600 square feet or less in size, with no structures above the walking deck except a guardrail, inclusive of no canopy or no storage building, may be exempt from the engineering provision unless required by the building official. In calculating the 600 square feet area, the walkway area up to 6 feet in width shall not be considered.

(e) Each project plan set must also include a copy of the manufacturer’s certified plans for any components that will be part of the structure, such as lifts, decking, railing, or awning systems.

(f) The project plans and manufacturer’s certified plans must be based upon the actual conditions at the site of the proposed Structure.

Fort Worth Nature Center Master Plan (2003)

2010-09-01T20:55:00.014-05:00

Fort Worth Nature Center Master Plan (2003)

Here is the 2003 Fort Worth Nature Center Master Plan entited Preserving Native Texas. It outlines the resources of the Center and the plans for the future. For your convenience, the document has been broken into chapters. Click each link to view.

Cover and Table of Contents (cover through page 3)
Acknowledging History (page 4)
The Natural Resources (page 6)
The First Steps (page 12)
Stating the Vision (page 16)
The Organizing Framework (page 18)
Site Analysis (page 20)
Refining the Program (page 26)
Recommendations (page 30)
Master Plan Exhibit Summary - (part 1) - (page 32)
Master Plan Exhibit Summary - (part 2) - (page 37)
Master Plan Exhibit Summary - (part 3) - (page 42)
Implementing the Economic Strategy (page 46)
Financial Analysis (page 48)
Credits (page 52)

Lake Worth Dredging Survey Report 2009

2010-08-17T09:34:00.054-05:00

Lake Worth Dredging Design Survey Report
June 30, 2009

Below, you will find links to the Lake Worth Dredging Design Survey Report of 2009. You can identify the links because they are underlined. (The topics listed below the links will be found in the link just above it.)

It's important that you understand that the study only covers portions of the lake under consideration for dredging. Much of the lake was not scanned or documented.

Objects Tagged and Identified:
The study contains several items of interest to residents. First, there are lists of objects found on the bottom. Since a "side scanning" radar was used (whick allows photographic images of the objects), many of the objects were identified. The lists show the location of the object and its most likely identification. The report lists objects such as barrels, logs, pipes, pilings, etc. which are located and identified.

Historical Finds:
The report also reveals some history of the area. The most striking example are the pilings for the Nine Mile Bridge. The radar image clearly shows the pilings lying at the bottom of the lake complete with the arches that held the roadway. (Click here to view in Appendix M.) Another interesting area is the flat shelf south of Willow Island. The survey shows that the shelf is very flat with two deep holes that could have been quarries or ponds. The flatness of the shelf may indicate agriculture or some other use. (Click here and go to page 46 and page 47 for a good view.)

The Report Below:
To make the document easier to read, it has been broken into portions. At the bottom of the page is a file that contains the entire document.

Enjoy!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lake Worth Dredging Survey Report 2009

Executive Summary
Table of Contents

Introduction
Background
Organization of the Report

Equipment
Sonar
Sonar System Configurations
Side-scan System
Multi-beam and Sub-bottom System
Ancillary System Configurations
Push-to-tag
DGPS
Conclusions

Bathymetry
Planning
Survey Concept of Operations
Data Processing
Multi-beam
Sub-bottom
Moment Arm
Data Rendering
Summary Results
Conclusions

Bottom Condition
Planning
Survey Concept of Operations
Data Processing
Summary Results
Conclusions

Error Analysis
Assumptions
Depth Error
Position Error
Total Position Error
Sound Speed
Summary

Summary and Conclusions

GLOSSARY

Appendix A - Survey Areas, Bottom Characterization, Sub-Bottom Characterization, Bottom Condition Characterization, Objects of Interest, Surf Zone Observation.

Appendix B - Casino Beach Park Area

Appendix C - Willow Island Area

Appendix D - Sunset Park and Sunrise Point Area

Appendix E - Camp Joy Park Area

Appendix F - Mound SW of Penninsula Club Circle

Appendix G - Wildwood Park Inlet

Appendix H, I & J - Goat Island to Silver Creek Basin

Appendix K - Arrow S Park

Appendix L - Hatchery Coves

Appendix M - Nine Mile Bridge

-------------------------------------------

Entire Document - This file is BIG! (Over 100 mb) It will take a pretty good bit of time to download it - even with a good Internet connection.

Differences between Paul Bounds June Proposal and Michael Dallas's July Proposal

2010-07-12T11:38:00.000-05:00

Differences as Annotated by

MS Word Compare Function

Between the Dock Ordinance Proposal Versions

~~DRAFT~~DRAFT – 7/12/2010

~~INSATALLATIONAND~~INSTALLATION AND CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS,

DOCKS, PIERS AND BOAT HOUSES ON LAKE WORTH

ARTICLE I, INSTALLATION STANDARDS

SECTION 18-16. Definitions.

For the purposes of this ~~Article II,~~article, the following words and phases shall have the meanings assigned herein. If any of these terms are further defined elsewhere in the City Code, the definitions shall apply unless there is a conflict, and then the definition in this ~~Article II~~article shall apply.

Building Code shall mean the building code(s) as adopted and amended by the Fort Worth City Council.

Dead Load shall mean the permanent inert weight of materials of construction incorporated into the Structure, including fixed or permanent attachments, such as bumpers, railings, winch stands, roof structures, etc.

Decking shall mean the surface material that forms the floor of the Structure.

~~Dock, Pier, or Boathouse~~ ~~(or any combination) shall mean a structure extending from the shore into the water to permit the landing and mooring of vessels. The term “dock”, “pier” or “boathouse” includes~~Piers, docks, and boathouses shall mean structures used for ingress and egress to and from Lake Worth and for water recreational purposes including the storage of boats. These terms include the anchoring system and any walkways or bridges that will attach to the ~~Structure~~dock itself.

Flotation Live Load shall mean the total load that a dock can carry without capsizing or sinking. The flotation live load shall be equal to the dead load plus the live load.

Hunt Absorption Test shall mean a test documenting the rate at which flotation material absorbs liquid, as well as the quantity of liquid absorbed.

Lakefront Property Line shall mean the property line that borders the waters of Lake Worth as shown on the final plat of record or survey for the property.

Lake Worth Management Office (LWMO) shall mean that group in the Water Department responsible for review and approval for all improvements to structures at or in Lake Worth, and who shall administer the requirements of Article II.

Live Load shall mean any moving or variable superimposed load on the Structure.

Loads shall mean forces or other actions that result from the weight of building materials, occupants and their possessions, environmental effect, differential movement and restrained dimensional changes. Permanent loads are those loads in which variations over time are rare or of small magnitude, such as dead loads. All other loads shall be variable loads.

Registered Professional Engineer (RPE) shall mean a professional engineer currently registered with the State of Texas as a professional engineer with a specialization in civil or structural engineering and experience in dock and pier construction.

Structural Dead Load shall mean the weight of the Structure and its ability to support itself.

Structure shall mean and be inclusive of entire Dock, Pier or Boathouse, including the walkway, anchoring system, cables, floats, electrical, plumbing and any other related components or materials installed in conjunction with the construction, maintenance, or use of the dock.

Walkway (or Bridge) shall mean a passage that provides access from the land or a boat dock, marina, or other floating facility.

Water Use and Access Easement shall mean the lands enclosed on one side by the lakefront property line, on a second side by the waters of Lake Worth, and on the third and fourth side by two lines, each beginning at opposite ends of the lakefront property line and each being a projection of the side lot lines of each lot as shown property rights granted by the City of Fort Worth to property owners for water access and recreational purposes including the building of dock, piers, and boathouses.

~~on the plat of record or survey for the property.~~

SECTION 18-17. Construction or Improvement of a Dock, Pier, Boathouse or Walkway.

(a) No person shall erect, construct, enlarge, alter, or remove any Dock, Pier, Boathouse or Walkway in Lake Worth without the approval of the LWMO. Such approval must be shown in writing upon application for a permit pursuant to Chapter 36 of the Building Code.

(b) A person who wishes to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, or remove any Dock, Pier, Boathouse or Walkway in Lake Worth shall comply with all design and construction standards provided in this Article and shall also comply with the Building Code. If there is a conflict between the Building Code and a provision in this Article, the more restrictive requirement shall apply.

~~~~(c)~~(a)~~A person commits an offense if a person fails to obtain the written approval of the LWMO prior to erecting, constructing, enlarging, altering, or removing any Dock, Pier, Boathouse (or combination) or Walkway and/or fails to comply with any requirement in this Article II and/or the Building Code.

SECTION 18-18. General Provisions.

(a) All Docks, Piers, Boathouses or Walkway in Lake Worth shall be considered accessory structures. A primary structure must be present on the lot to which a Dock, Pier, Boathouse and/or Walkway is attached.

~~~~(b)~~(a)~~(b) A person who wishes to construct or improve a Dock, Pier, Boathouse or Walkway must have a valid Water Use and Access ~~Easement which has been granted by the City.~~

Easement, hold a valid and current option to purchase the property which contains a Water Use and Access Easement, or (if a land leaseholder holding no option to purchase), obtain permission from the LWMO for permission to construct or improve on land that contains no deeded or optioned Water Use and Access Easement.

(c) Notwithstanding, this ordinance shall not apply to approved projects or structures, which were built before the effective date of this ordinance.

SECTION 18-19. Application to the LWMO.

(a) Persons seeking to construct a Dock, Pier or Boathouse or Walkway must submit to LWMO an application and two (2) complete sets of the project plans for the Structure, which shall include but not limited to the anchoring system, and any Walkways or Bridges that will attach to the proposed Structure.

~~(b) When~~(b) When an existing Structure will be used as part of the newly proposed Structure the project plans must include a complete description of the existing Structure. The existing Structure must also comply or be brought into compliance with the specifications set forth in these regulations.

~~(c) The~~(c) The project plans must include a description of the site that shows the location of the primary lot, the extension of property lines out into the water area and a key plan, either included on the site plan or on a separate sheet, to show the location on or to Lake Worth.

~~~~(d)~~(a)The project~~(d) Project plans over 600sf, contain boat lifts, or are covered with a roof or walls must be signed and sealed by an RPE and contain a statement that the proposed Structure complies with the specifications set forth in this Article and any and all structural design provisions in the Building ~~Code.~~

Code. Simple, flat, pier-type structures (under 600sf, with no roof, and no boat lift) must only meet the requirements of this ordinance.

(e) Each project plan set must also include a copy of the manufacturer’s certified plans for any components that will be part of the Structure, such as decking, railing, or awning systems.

~~(f)~~ ~~The~~(f) The project plans and manufacturer’s certified plans must be based upon the actual conditions at the site of the proposed Structure.

~~(g)~~ ~~Upon~~(g) Upon acceptance of the project plans and manufacturer’s certified plans, and written approval of the proposed Structure by the LWMO, the requestor shall submit such plans and a copy of the written approval from LWMO to the Planning and Development Department as part of its application for a building permit.

~~(h) A~~(h) A person may not begin construction of a Structure until a building permit for the Structure has been issued by the City.

SECTION 18-20. Size and Setback Limitations.

~~(a)~~The maximum floor to area coverage allowed for Docks, Piers, Boathouses and/or Walkways shall be fifteen percent (15%) of the area of the Water Use and Access Easement. Every site regardless of the area of the Water Use and Access Easement shall be allowed a minimum coverage area of 1,000 square feet and a maximum coverage area of 1,500 square feet.

~~~~(b)~~(a)The minimum setback from a projected side yard line shall be based on the width of the property at the Lakefront Property Line as follows:~~

~~Lot Width~~ ~~Setback~~

~~Less than 50 feet 5 feet~~

~~50-69 feet 10 feet~~

~~70-99~~ ~~feet~~ 15 ~~feet~~

~~100 feet~~ ~~or more 20~~ ~~feet~~

~~~~(c)~~(a)~~Structures may extend to a point 100 feet from the Lakefront Property Line into the waters of Lake Worth regardless of the depth of the water at that point, or to the point at which the elevation of the land lying under Lake Worth is not lesser than 584 feet above mean sea level, but in no instance shall such improvements be allowed to extend further than 150 feet from the Lakefront Property Line into the waters of Lake Worth.

~~(d)No Structure shall occupy more than one-third (1/3) of the channel width and in no case shall extend more than 20 feet from the centerline of the channel, as determined by the LWMO.~~

Construction must conform to size and setback requirements of the deeded or optioned Water Use and Access Easement.

SECTION 18-21. Structures.

~~(a)~~Enclosed Structures are prohibited. To protect a raised boat within a Structure from the elements, solid sides on the Structure will be permitted at a maximum of two (2) feet downward to the point where the ceiling joist meets the top plate. No additional materials (i.e. lattice, fencing, bars, screen fabric, doors, glass, etc.) (a) No toilet facilities of any type shall be allowed on any Structure built past the Lakefront Property Line. A potable water supply can be plumbed provided that backflow prevention devices are installed and inspected in accordance with 12.5, Article V, Division 3, Cross Connection Control of the City Code and the Plumbing Code as adopted by the City Council.

(b) Fuel pumping facilities exceeding 55 gallons are not allowed on Structures that extend past the Lakefront Property Line.

~~(a)~~(c) Any Structure that extends more than 100 feet from the Lakefront Property Line shall be equipped with a white photocell light of no less than 200 lumens that operates continually from dusk to dawn. Such lighting shall be provided with a cover on the top of the light to minimize light dispersion upward. The LWMO may require that lighting be placed on structures less than 100 feet from the shoreline when in LWMO decides it is warranted to enhance boating safety. It is the Dock owner's responsibility to ensure that all required lighting is properly maintained and operational at all times.

may be installed below the two (2) foot sidewalls. Safety railings attached to the deck may extend upward a maximum of three (3) feet. A Special Exception maybe granted pursuant to Section 18-26, to allow for enclosure of Structures that do not extend more than 100 feet into the(d) Structures must conform to the requirements of the deeded or optioned Water Use and Access Easement.

~~~~(b)~~(a)~~A contained storage area is allowed only within the first floor (lower deck) of a Boathouse and only for the purpose of storing items such as tackle and life jackets. Products considered hazardous material or any material which has a warning label prohibiting its use or storage near water and/or public water supplies may not be stored in these areas. The maximum storage area allowed shall be as follows:

~~Structure Area~~ ~~Storage Area~~

~~800 to 1500 square feet 32 square feet~~

~~1501 to 2000 square feet 48 square feet~~

~~2001 to 2500 square feet 64 square feet~~

~~~~(c)~~(a)~~No toilet facilities of any type shall be allowed on any Structure built past the Lakefront Property Line. A potable water supply can be plumbed to the first floor (lower deck) provided that backflow prevention devices are installed and inspected in accordance with 12.5, Article V, Division 3, ~~Cross Connection Control~~ ~~of the City Code and the Plumbing Code as adopted by the City Council.~~

~~~~(d)~~(a)Fuel pumping facilities exceeding 55 gallons are not allowed on Structures that extend past the Lakefront Property Line.~~

~~~~(e)~~(a)~~Structures shall be limited to a single story (lower deck) and a sundeck (upper deck) or roof. The floor of the lower deck shall be no less than the 596 foot elevation. The upper deck of a Structure shall have a minimum of one-half (1/2) in 12 pitch. The upper deck may not have a permanent roof or covering. The roof shall be constructed in accordance with the Building Code.

~~~~(f)~~(a)~~Any Structure that extends more than 100 feet from the Lakefront Property Line shall be equipped with a white photocell light of no less than 200 lumens that operates continually from dusk to dawn. Such lighting shall be provided with a cover on the top of the light to minimize light dispersion upward. The LWMO may require that lighting be placed on structures less than 100 feet from the shoreline when in LWMO decides it is warranted to enhance boating safety. It is the Dock owner's responsibility to ensure that all required lighting is properly maintained and operational at all times.

~~(g) A person commits an offense if a person constructs or improves a Structure in violation of this Section.~~

SECTION 18-22. Design Loads.

The provisions of this Section are provided from Chapter 36 of the Building Code. As such, appeals for variances to this Section shall be made through the Building Official and the Construction and Fire Prevention Board of Appeals.

The RPE shall apply the appropriate loads when doing calculations. Such factors shall include, but not be limited to:

(a) Dead load;

(b) Live load;

(d) Wind load and wave action; which should be considered as simultaneously applied.

(e) When intended to have boats attached to the Structure for storage, the effects of such estimated loads, such as wind and wave, on the boat that are transferred to the Structure shall also be considered.

(f) When intended to have boats lifted out of the water, the effects of such estimated loads, such as wind on the boat and dead load of the boat, that are transferred to the Structure shall also be included.

(g) Surface areas at and above the water line, when authorized, including but limited to walls, screens and tarps.

SECTION 18-23. Design Minimums.

In addition to complying with Chapter 36 of Building Code (unless otherwise stated herein), all Structures shall comply with the following provisions:

(a) Wood piles shall comply with Chapter 18 of the Building Code.

(b) All Docks, Piers or Boathouses (or combination) shall be designed to withstand the Loads as specified in Chapter 16 of Building Code, based upon the occupancy classification as assigned by the City’s Building Official.

(c) Structures must withstand a minimum of four (4) foot high wave action at lake levels up to 601 feet above sea level. Floating docks must be designed with anchorage footing and piers to remain in place without floating off at the 601 elevation.

(a) ~~(d)~~ Cables and chains used in anchoring systems shall be designed with a minimum working load safety factor of 3.0 for cable and 2.0 for chains.

(b) Walkways and Bridges shall have a maximum slope under dead Load of a 4:1 ratio to any direction at the lake level of 594 feet above sea level.

(c) ~~(f)~~ Flotation devices for Structures, Walkways and Bridges shall be designed to support the Dead Load and Live Load as a fixed Structure, except that private residential structures may be designed to support the Dead Load plus 30-pounds per square foot Live Load when permitted by Chapter 36 of the Building Code.

SECTION 18-24. Floatation Material.

(a) Flotation material shall be extruded polystyrene, expanded polystyrene, or a copolymer of polyethylene and polystyrene and shall have a minimum density of 0.9 pounds per cubic foot, and be of consistent quality throughout the float. Beads shall be firmly fused together, and there shall be no voids inside the encasement. Flotation material shall have a water rate absorption of less than 3.0 pounds per cubic foot over seven (7) days when tested by the Hunt Absorption Test. Other flotation material may be considered if it meets all of the requirements set forth in this section.

(b) Flotation material shall be encased in solid polyethylene or a polyurethane type coating, both of which shall be watertight and have a nominal thickness of 0.125 inches.

(d) All flats shall be warranted for a minimum of eight (8) years against sinking, becoming waterlogged, cracking, peeling, fragmenting, or losing beads, and shall not be prone to damage by animals.

(e) Floats that are punctured, exposing the foam to erosion or deterioration, shall be replaced immediately.

SECTION 18-25. Inspections and Removal for Violations.

(a) ~~(a)~~ Docks, Piers and Boathouses under construction must pass an inspection by the Planning and Development Department in accordance with Chapter 1 of the Building Code. ~~Such Structures may also be subject to inspection by the LWMO or the City’s authorized agents, without prior notice, at reasonable times.~~

(b) ~~(b)~~ All owners must comply with this ~~Article II and all permit requirements.~~article and all permit requirements. Illegal or unauthorized structures are subject to city codes regarding the removal or hazardous and illegal structures.

~~(c)~~ Failure to request and/ or pass inspection, or failure to correct any violations within 30 calendar days of receipt of written notice, may result in the removal of the Structure at the owner’s expense.

~~(d)~~ ~~The LWMO may remove any Structure that remains a hazard to navigation in Lake Worth as determined by LWMO, at the owner’s expense after written notice of the LWMO to remove the Structure.~~

~~(e)~~ When a Structure is removed for any reason, either at the initiative of the owner or at the direction of the LWMO, the owner shall be responsible for the complete removal of the entire Structure and any other related components or materials installed in conjunction with the construction, maintenance, or use of the Structure.

~~(f)~~ ~~Appeal of a decision of the LWMO to remove a Structure shall be to the Director of the Water Department pursuant to Section 18-26.~~

SECTION 18-26. Waivers.

(a) ~~(a)~~ Except for those requirements in Sections 18-22 and 18-23, a person shall submit a written request for a waiver to the LWMO stating specifically the requirement and the reasons for such waiver. The requestor must also show that the waiver shall pose no health or safety risk nor conflict with the Water and Use Easement.

(b) ~~Upon the recommendation of the LWMO, the Director of the Water Department may grant up to a five percent (5%) waiver for those requirements stated in Sections 18-20 and 18-21(b).~~Construction beyond the Water Use and Access Easement (i.e. on land within the lake that is not subject to any deeded or optioned Water Use and Access Easement) shall be considered only with the prior written approval from the LWMO. Variance shall be considered on a case-by-case basis.

ARTICLE II, CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS

3603 Permit Required. No person shall erect, construct, enlarge, alter, or move any dock, pier, boathouse or combination at Lake Worth without complying with the provisions of this chapter.

Each application for a permit, together with plans for a dock, pier, boathouse, or any combination thereof shall be submitted as specified in Chapter 1 of the Fort Worth Building Code and as may be specified in other City codes.

3603.1 When an existing structure will be used as part of the newly proposed structure, the project plans must include a complete description of the existing structure. ~~The existing structure must also comply or be brought into compliance with the specifications set forth in these regulations.~~

3603.2 The project plans must include a description of the site that shows the location of the primary lot, the extension of property lines out into the water area and a key plan, either included on the site plan or on a separate sheet, to show the location on or to the body of water.

3603.3 When plans are required or voluntarily submitted with a design by a registered professional engineer (RPE), such plans shall contain a statement that the proposed structure complies with the specifications set forth in this code.

3603.4 Each plan set must also include a copy of the manufacturer’s certified plans for any components that will be part of the structure such as decking, railing, or awning systems.

3603.5 The project plans and manufacturer’s certified plans must be based upon the actual conditions at the site of the proposed structure.

3603.6 Submittal of a permit application is not permission to begin work. Construction is not permitted to begin until a permit is ISSUED.

3604 Use. Docks, piers and boathouses for private use shall normally be classified as a Group U Occupancy. Other occupancies may be allowed when the use is permitted by the Zoning Ordinance, together with the approval of any other appropriate department of the City of Fort Worth, and the construction complies with this code for said use.

3605 Design and Design Loads.

3605.1 General. The RPE shall apply the appropriate loads when doing calculations. Such factors shall include, but not be limited to:

a. dead load

b. live load

c. roof load

d. wind load and wave action; which should be considered as simultaneously applied

g. surface areas at and above the water line, when authorized, including walls, screens, tarps, etc.

h. except as allowed for in Section 3605.3, flotation devices shall be designed to withstand the same dead load and live load as a fixed structure.

3605.2 All Occupancies. Regardless of the occupancy category assigned, all structures shall comply with the following provisions:

a. Piles shall conform to Chapter 18 of the Fort ~~worth~~Worth Building Code.

b. All docks, piers and boathouses shall be designed to withstand the loads as specified in Chapter 16of the Fort ~~worth~~Worth Building Code, based upon the Occupancy classification as assigned by the Building Official.

Exception: Private residential structures, classified as a Group U, may use the design loads as specified in Section 3605.3.

c. Structures shall be able to withstand a minimum of four-foot high wave action at normal water levels. (For Lake Worth, up to 601 ft. above sea level.) Floating docks must be designed with anchorage footing and piers to remain in place without floating off at the normal water levels (For Lake Worth, up to 601 ft. above sea level.)

d. Cables and chains used in anchoring systems shall be designed with a minimum working load safety factor of 3.0 for cable and 2.0 for chains.

e. Walkways and bridges shall have a maximum slope under dead load of a 4:1 ratio to any direction at the lowest expected water level. (For Lake Worth, 594 ft. above sea level.)

3605.3 Group U Occupancies. When private structures associated with residential uses are assigned a Group U Occupancy classification, the design provisions provided in Section 3605.3.1 through 3605.3.2, may be used in lieu of Chapter 16.

3605.3.1 Flotation devices shall be designed to support the dead load plus 30-pounds per square foot (PSF) live load applied to deck area.

3605.3.2 Structural frame shall be designed to support 40 PSF live load applied to the full surface area of the deck.

3606 Dock and Pier Construction. ~~The~~For structures that are not required to have a RPE certified plans, the proposed design shall incorporate the following minimum provisions in this chapter:

3606.1 Piles. Wood piles shall be a minimum of six (6) inches in diameter. Metal piles shall be a minimum of three (3) inches inside diameter pipe. Such piles shall be driven to a minimum depth of twenty-four (24) inches below the top layer of silt. Such piles shall be driven in pairs, one on either side of the platform, and braced as required by section 3606.6. Such piles shall not be spaced apart more than ten (10) feet center to center.

3606.2 Box cribs. Sets of structural columns of the same size forming a box crib may be used. Such crib shall be braced as required in Section 3606.6 and anchored as required in Section 3607.

3606.3 Beams. Beams shall be defined as those members which connect to piles to support the stringers. All beams when of wood shall be a minimum 2-inch material.

3606.4 Stringers. Stringers shall be defined as those members usually supporting the decking. All stringers when of wood shall be of a minimum 2-inch material. Pipe stringers shall be a nominal 2-1/2-inch I.D. and spaced not more than eighteen (18) inches O.C.

3606.5 Decking.

3606.5.1 Wooden platform decking shall be of a minimum nominal 2-inch material.

3606.5.2 Other materials, to include lightweight concrete or metal decking may be used when approved by the Building Official. Such decking shall meet the load requirements of Section 3605.

3606.6 Bracing.

3606.6.1 All wooden bracing shall be of a minimum nominal 2-inch material.

3606.6.2 Bracing shall be accomplished by one or more of the following methods:

a. Cross or “X” bracing. Cross or “X” bracing may be used on each set of pier and box cribs.

b. Beams may be used as bracing, provided the connections give sufficient support to resist horizontal forces equivalent to that of cross or “X” bracing.

c. Knee bracing. Knee bracing shall be used on each pier attached to and paralleling the platform deck. Pipe knee bracing shall be a nominal 2-1/2 inch I.D.

3606.7 Attachment of deck. Attachment of the platform deck to beams and piles shall be accompanied by one or more of the following methods:

a. By attaching the beams to the piles and box cribs by lag bolts.

b. By caps: Wood caps shall be a minimum nominal 4-inch material and anchored by bolts and welded.

3607 Anchorage of Floatation and box crib structures. Such structures shall be anchored with solid units that will provide the following anchorage:

a. Docks and piers less than fifty (50) feet in length: An anchor on each corner that will support one-fourth of the total dead load plus one-eight the total live load.

b. Docks and piers fifty (50) feet or more in length: Anchors at the midpoint of the piers.

c.c. All docks and piers shall be anchored to the shore line.

d. All anchors shall be of masonry, concrete, or steel and shall be securely fastened to the dock or pier by cable, chain, or other approved methods.

3608 Required Water Proofing.

3608.1 All wood below one (1) foot above spillway elevation on lakes (for Lake Worth, 601 feet) or below one (1) foot above the 50-year flood elevations on other bodies of water shall be treated lumber. Creosote is not allowed.

3608.2 All metal, including bolts, lag bolts, and fasteners, shall be galvanized or painted with paints of similar materials approved for immersion in water.

3609 Floatation Material.

All flotation units shall adequately support the dead and live loads of all beams, stringers, and platforms. Data shall be submitted to and approved by the LWMO showing that the buoyancy of such units will support the loads imposed.

Only flotation units made of materials which will not affect the water quality in any way may be used. Flotation units shall be constructed of material that has never been used in any manner for storage of toxic or hazardous material. Proof that the flotation units meet the above requirements must be provided to and approved by the LWMO.

(b) Flotation material shall be encased in solid polyethylene or a polyurethane type coating, both of which shall be watertight and have a nominal thickness of 0.125 inches.

(d) All flats shall be warranted for a minimum of eight (8) years against sinking, becoming waterlogged, cracking, peeling, fragmenting, or losing beads, and shall not be prone to damage by animals.

(e) Floats that are punctured, exposing the foam to erosion or deterioration, shall be replaced immediately.

~~3610~~~~Boathouse construction.~~ Construction of boathouses or other structures shall meet or exceed the requirements for framing and coverage as specified in other parts of this code. When, in the opinion of the LWMO, the load of the intended use exceeds the capability of the minimum construction design specified ~~in Section~~ ~~3605.3, plans and specification may be required to be designed by a Registered Professional Engineer (RPE).~~

3610 Hazardous structures. The requirements of this chapter are considered minimum requirements for safety purposes. Any such structures that do not meet these requirements shall be considered hazardous and shall be abated, as provided by Section 115 of the Fort Worth Building Code. If the regulations of any other regulating body having authority over the body of water are more stringent, such regulations will take precedence.

~~APPROVED~~

~~By: ________________________________~~

~~S. Frank Crumb, P.E.~~

~~Water Department Director~~

~~Adopted: ______________________~~

~~Effective: ______________________~~

Dock Ordinance Draft Proposed by Michael Dallas's Legal Team - July 2010

2010-07-12T11:23:00.000-05:00

Dock Ordinance Draft
proposed by Michael Dallas’s legal team
for consideration by legal staff of City of Fort Worth
and the Dock Steering Committee.

DRAFT – 7/12/2010

INSTALLATION AND CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS,
DOCKS, PIERS AND BOAT HOUSES ON LAKE WORTH

ARTICLE I, INSTALLATION STANDARDS

SECTION 18-16. Definitions.

For the purposes of this article, the following words and phases shall have the meanings assigned herein. If any of these terms are further defined elsewhere in the City Code, the definitions shall apply unless there is a conflict, and then the definition in this article shall apply.

Building Code shall mean the building code(s) as adopted and amended by the Fort Worth City Council.

Dead Load shall mean the permanent inert weight of materials of construction incorporated into the Structure, including fixed or permanent attachments, such as bumpers, railings, winch stands, roof structures, etc.

Decking shall mean the surface material that forms the floor of the Structure.

Piers, docks, and boathouses shall mean structures used for ingress and egress to and from Lake Worth and for water recreational purposes including the storage of boats. These terms include the anchoring system and any walkways or bridges that will attach to the dock itself.

Flotation Live Load shall mean the total load that a dock can carry without capsizing or sinking. The flotation live load shall be equal to the dead load plus the live load.

Hunt Absorption Test shall mean a test documenting the rate at which flotation material absorbs liquid, as well as the quantity of liquid absorbed.

Lakefront Property Line shall mean the property line that borders the waters of Lake Worth as shown on the final plat of record or survey for the property.

Lake Worth Management Office (LWMO) shall mean that group in the Water Department responsible for review and approval for all improvements to structures at or in Lake Worth, and who shall administer the requirements of Article II.

Live Load shall mean any moving or variable superimposed load on the Structure.

Loads shall mean forces or other actions that result from the weight of building materials, occupants and their possessions, environmental effect, differential movement and restrained dimensional changes. Permanent loads are those loads in which variations over time are rare or of small magnitude, such as dead loads. All other loads shall be variable loads.

Registered Professional Engineer (RPE) shall mean a professional engineer currently registered with the State of Texas as a professional engineer with a specialization in civil or structural engineering and experience in dock and pier construction.

Structural Dead Load shall mean the weight of the Structure and its ability to support itself.

Structure shall mean and be inclusive of entire Dock, Pier or Boathouse, including the walkway, anchoring system, cables, floats, electrical, plumbing and any other related components or materials installed in conjunction with the construction, maintenance, or use of the dock.

Walkway (or Bridge) shall mean a passage that provides access from the land or a boat dock, marina, or other floating facility.

Water Use and Access Easement shall mean the property rights granted by the City of Fort Worth to property owners for water access and recreational purposes including the building of dock, piers, and boathouses.

SECTION 18-17. Construction or Improvement of a Dock, Pier, Boathouse or Walkway.

(a) No person shall erect, construct, enlarge, alter, or remove any Dock, Pier, Boathouse or Walkway in Lake Worth without the approval of the LWMO. Such approval must be shown in writing upon application for a permit pursuant to Chapter 36 of the Building Code.

(b) A person who wishes to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, or remove any Dock, Pier, Boathouse or Walkway in Lake Worth shall comply with all design and construction standards provided in this Article and shall also comply with the Building Code. If there is a conflict between the Building Code and a provision in this Article, the more restrictive requirement shall apply.

SECTION 18-18. General Provisions.

(a) All Docks, Piers, Boathouses or Walkway in Lake Worth shall be considered accessory structures. A primary structure must be present on the lot to which a Dock, Pier, Boathouse and/or Walkway is attached.

(b) A person who wishes to construct or improve a Dock, Pier, Boathouse or Walkway must have a valid Water Use and Access Easement, hold a valid and current option to purchase the property which contains a Water Use and Access Easement, or (if a land leaseholder holding no option to purchase), obtain permission from the LWMO for permission to construct or improve on land that contains no deeded or optioned Water Use and Access Easement.

(c) Notwithstanding, this ordinance shall not apply to approved projects or structures, which were built before the effective date of this ordinance.

SECTION 18-19. Application to the LWMO.

(a) Persons seeking to construct a Dock, Pier or Boathouse or Walkway must submit to LWMO an application and two (2) complete sets of the project plans for the Structure, which shall include but not limited to the anchoring system, and any Walkways or Bridges that will attach to the proposed Structure.

(b) When an existing Structure will be used as part of the newly proposed Structure the project plans must include a complete description of the existing Structure. The existing Structure must also comply or be brought into compliance with the specifications set forth in these regulations.

(c) The project plans must include a description of the site that shows the location of the primary lot, the extension of property lines out into the water area and a key plan, either included on the site plan or on a separate sheet, to show the location on or to Lake Worth.

(d) Project plans over 600sf, contain boat lifts, or are covered with a roof or walls must be signed and sealed by an RPE and contain a statement that the proposed Structure complies with the specifications set forth in this Article and any and all structural design provisions in the Building Code. Simple, flat, pier-type structures (under 600sf, with no roof, and no boat lift) must only meet the requirements of this ordinance.

(e) Each project plan set must also include a copy of the manufacturer’s certified plans for any components that will be part of the Structure, such as decking, railing, or awning systems.

(f) The project plans and manufacturer’s certified plans must be based upon the actual conditions at the site of the proposed Structure.

(g) Upon acceptance of the project plans and manufacturer’s certified plans, and written approval of the proposed Structure by the LWMO, the requestor shall submit such plans and a copy of the written approval from LWMO to the Planning and Development Department as part of its application for a building permit.

(h) A person may not begin construction of a Structure until a building permit for the Structure has been issued by the City.

SECTION 18-20. Size and Setback Limitations.

Construction must conform to size and setback requirements of the deeded or optioned Water Use and Access Easement.
SECTION 18-21. Structures.
(a) No toilet facilities of any type shall be allowed on any Structure built past the Lakefront Property Line. A potable water supply can be plumbed provided that backflow prevention devices are installed and inspected in accordance with 12.5, Article V, Division 3, Cross Connection Control of the City Code and the Plumbing Code as adopted by the City Council.
(b) Fuel pumping facilities exceeding 55 gallons are not allowed on Structures that extend past the Lakefront Property Line.

(c) Any Structure that extends more than 100 feet from the Lakefront Property Line shall be equipped with a white photocell light of no less than 200 lumens that operates continually from dusk to dawn. Such lighting shall be provided with a cover on the top of the light to minimize light dispersion upward. The LWMO may require that lighting be placed on structures less than 100 feet from the shoreline when in LWMO decides it is warranted to enhance boating safety. It is the Dock owner's responsibility to ensure that all required lighting is properly maintained and operational at all times.

(d) Structures must conform to the requirements of the deeded or optioned Water Use and Access Easement.

SECTION 18-22. Design Loads.

The provisions of this Section are provided from Chapter 36 of the Building Code. As such, appeals for variances to this Section shall be made through the Building Official and the Construction and Fire Prevention Board of Appeals.

The RPE shall apply the appropriate loads when doing calculations. Such factors shall include, but not be limited to:

(a) Dead load;
(b) Live load;
(c) Roof load; and
(d) Wind load and wave action; which should be considered as simultaneously applied.
(e) When intended to have boats attached to the Structure for storage, the effects of such estimated loads, such as wind and wave, on the boat that are transferred to the Structure shall also be considered.
(f) When intended to have boats lifted out of the water, the effects of such estimated loads, such as wind on the boat and dead load of the boat, that are transferred to the Structure shall also be included.
(g) Surface areas at and above the water line, when authorized, including but limited to walls, screens and tarps.

SECTION 18-23. Design Minimums.

In addition to complying with Chapter 36 of Building Code (unless otherwise stated herein), all Structures shall comply with the following provisions:

(a) Wood piles shall comply with Chapter 18 of the Building Code.

(b) All Docks, Piers or Boathouses (or combination) shall be designed to withstand the Loads as specified in Chapter 16 of Building Code, based upon the occupancy classification as assigned by the City’s Building Official.

(c) Structures must withstand a minimum of four (4) foot high wave action at lake levels up to 601 feet above sea level. Floating docks must be designed with anchorage footing and piers to remain in place without floating off at the 601 elevation.

(c) Cables and chains used in anchoring systems shall be designed with a minimum working load safety factor of 3.0 for cable and 2.0 for chains.

(d) Walkways and Bridges shall have a maximum slope under dead Load of a 4:1 ratio to any direction at the lake level of 594 feet above sea level.

(e) Flotation devices for Structures, Walkways and Bridges shall be designed to support the Dead Load and Live Load as a fixed Structure, except that private residential structures may be designed to support the Dead Load plus 30-pounds per square foot Live Load when permitted by Chapter 36 of the Building Code.

SECTION 18-24. Floatation Material.

(a) Flotation material shall be extruded polystyrene, expanded polystyrene, or a copolymer of polyethylene and polystyrene and shall have a minimum density of 0.9 pounds per cubic foot, and be of consistent quality throughout the float. Beads shall be firmly fused together, and there shall be no voids inside the encasement. Flotation material shall have a water rate absorption of less than 3.0 pounds per cubic foot over seven (7) days when tested by the Hunt Absorption Test. Other flotation material may be considered if it meets all of the requirements set forth in this section.

(b) Flotation material shall be encased in solid polyethylene or a polyurethane type coating, both of which shall be watertight and have a nominal thickness of 0.125 inches.

(c) Drums made of plastic, whether new or recycled, or metal shall not be used for encasements or floats.

(d) All flats shall be warranted for a minimum of eight (8) years against sinking, becoming waterlogged, cracking, peeling, fragmenting, or losing beads, and shall not be prone to damage by animals.

(e) Floats that are punctured, exposing the foam to erosion or deterioration, shall be replaced immediately.

SECTION 18-25. Inspections and Removal for Violations.

(a) Docks, Piers and Boathouses under construction must pass an inspection by the Planning and Development Department in accordance with Chapter 1 of the Building Code.
(b) All owners must comply with this article and all permit requirements. Illegal or unauthorized structures are subject to city codes regarding the removal or hazardous and illegal structures.
SECTION 18-26. Waivers.
(a) Except for those requirements in Sections 18-22 and 18-23, a person shall submit a written request for a waiver to the LWMO stating specifically the requirement and the reasons for such waiver. The requestor must also show that the waiver shall pose no health or safety risk nor conflict with the Water and Use Easement.

(b) Construction beyond the Water Use and Access Easement (i.e. on land within the lake that is not subject to any deeded or optioned Water Use and Access Easement) shall be considered only with the prior written approval from the LWMO. Variance shall be considered on a case-by-case basis.

ARTICLE II, CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS

3603 Permit Required. No person shall erect, construct, enlarge, alter, or move any dock, pier, boathouse or combination at Lake Worth without complying with the provisions of this chapter.

Each application for a permit, together with plans for a dock, pier, boathouse, or any combination thereof shall be submitted as specified in Chapter 1 of the Fort Worth Building Code and as may be specified in other City codes.

3603.1 When an existing structure will be used as part of the newly proposed structure, the project plans must include a complete description of the existing structure.

3603.2 The project plans must include a description of the site that shows the location of the primary lot, the extension of property lines out into the water area and a key plan, either included on the site plan or on a separate sheet, to show the location on or to the body of water.

3603.3 When plans are required or voluntarily submitted with a design by a registered professional engineer (RPE), such plans shall contain a statement that the proposed structure complies with the specifications set forth in this code.

3603.4 Each plan set must also include a copy of the manufacturer’s certified plans for any components that will be part of the structure such as decking, railing, or awning systems.

3603.5 The project plans and manufacturer’s certified plans must be based upon the actual conditions at the site of the proposed structure.

3603.6 Submittal of a permit application is not permission to begin work. Construction is not permitted to begin until a permit is ISSUED.

3604 Use. Docks, piers and boathouses for private use shall normally be classified as a Group U Occupancy. Other occupancies may be allowed when the use is permitted by the Zoning Ordinance, together with the approval of any other appropriate department of the City of Fort Worth, and the construction complies with this code for said use.

3605 Design and Design Loads.

3605.1 General. The RPE shall apply the appropriate loads when doing calculations. Such factors shall include, but not be limited to:

a. dead load
b. live load
c. roof load
d. wind load and wave action; which should be considered as simultaneously applied
e. when intended to have boats attached to the structure for storage, the effects of such estimated loads, such as wind and wave, on the boat that are transferred to the structure shall also be considered.
f. when intended to have boats lifted out of the water, the effects of such estimated loads, such as wind on the boat and dead load of the boat, that are transferred to the structure shall also be included.
g. surface areas at and above the water line, when authorized, including walls, screens, tarps, etc.
h. except as allowed for in Section 3605.3, flotation devices shall be designed to withstand the same dead load and live load as a fixed structure.

3605.2 All Occupancies. Regardless of the occupancy category assigned, all structures shall comply with the following provisions:

a. Piles shall conform to Chapter 18 of the Fort Worth Building Code.

b. All docks, piers and boathouses shall be designed to withstand the loads as specified in Chapter 16of the Fort Worth Building Code, based upon the Occupancy classification as assigned by the Building Official.

Exception: Private residential structures, classified as a Group U, may use the design loads as specified in Section 3605.3.

c. Structures shall be able to withstand a minimum of four-foot high wave action at normal water levels. (For Lake Worth, up to 601 ft. above sea level.) Floating docks must be designed with anchorage footing and piers to remain in place without floating off at the normal water levels (For Lake Worth, up to 601 ft. above sea level.)
d. Cables and chains used in anchoring systems shall be designed with a minimum working load safety factor of 3.0 for cable and 2.0 for chains.

e. Walkways and bridges shall have a maximum slope under dead load of a 4:1 ratio to any direction at the lowest expected water level. (For Lake Worth, 594 ft. above sea level.)

3605.3 Group U Occupancies. When private structures associated with residential uses are assigned a Group U Occupancy classification, the design provisions provided in Section 3605.3.1 through 3605.3.2, may be used in lieu of Chapter 16.

3605.3.1 Flotation devices shall be designed to support the dead load plus 30-pounds per square foot (PSF) live load applied to deck area.

3605.3.2 Structural frame shall be designed to support 40 PSF live load applied to the full surface area of the deck.

3606 Dock and Pier Construction. For structures that are not required to have a RPE certified plans, the proposed design shall incorporate the following minimum provisions in this chapter:

3606.1 Piles. Wood piles shall be a minimum of six (6) inches in diameter. Metal piles shall be a minimum of three (3) inches inside diameter pipe. Such piles shall be driven to a minimum depth of twenty-four (24) inches below the top layer of silt. Such piles shall be driven in pairs, one on either side of the platform, and braced as required by section 3606.6. Such piles shall not be spaced apart more than ten (10) feet center to center.

3606.2 Box cribs. Sets of structural columns of the same size forming a box crib may be used. Such crib shall be braced as required in Section 3606.6 and anchored as required in Section 3607.

3606.3 Beams. Beams shall be defined as those members which connect to piles to support the stringers. All beams when of wood shall be a minimum 2-inch material.

3606.4 Stringers. Stringers shall be defined as those members usually supporting the decking. All stringers when of wood shall be of a minimum 2-inch material. Pipe stringers shall be a nominal 2-1/2-inch I.D. and spaced not more than eighteen (18) inches O.C.

3606.5 Decking.

3606.5.1 Wooden platform decking shall be of a minimum nominal 2-inch material.

3606.5.2 Other materials, to include lightweight concrete or metal decking may be used when approved by the Building Official. Such decking shall meet the load requirements of Section 3605.

3606.6 Bracing.

3606.6.1 All wooden bracing shall be of a minimum nominal 2-inch material.

3606.6.2 Bracing shall be accomplished by one or more of the following methods:

a. Cross or “X” bracing. Cross or “X” bracing may be used on each set of pier and box cribs.

b. Beams may be used as bracing, provided the connections give sufficient support to resist horizontal forces equivalent to that of cross or “X” bracing.

c. Knee bracing. Knee bracing shall be used on each pier attached to and paralleling the platform deck. Pipe knee bracing shall be a nominal 2-1/2 inch I.D.

3606.7 Attachment of deck. Attachment of the platform deck to beams and piles shall be accompanied by one or more of the following methods:

a. By attaching the beams to the piles and box cribs by lag bolts.

b. By caps: Wood caps shall be a minimum nominal 4-inch material and anchored by bolts and welded.

3607 Anchorage of Floatation and box crib structures. Such structures shall be anchored with solid units that will provide the following anchorage:

a. Docks and piers less than fifty (50) feet in length: An anchor on each corner that will support one-fourth of the total dead load plus one-eight the total live load.

b. Docks and piers fifty (50) feet or more in length: Anchors at the midpoint of the piers.

c. All docks and piers shall be anchored to the shoreline.

d. All anchors shall be of masonry, concrete, or steel and shall be securely fastened to the dock or pier by cable, chain, or other approved methods.

3608 Required Water Proofing.

3608.1 All wood below one (1) foot above spillway elevation on lakes (for Lake Worth, 601 feet) or below one (1) foot above the 50-year flood elevations on other bodies of water shall be treated lumber. Creosote is not allowed.

3608.2 All metal, including bolts, lag bolts, and fasteners, shall be galvanized or painted with paints of similar materials approved for immersion in water.

3609 Floatation Material.

All flotation units shall adequately support the dead and live loads of all beams, stringers, and platforms. Data shall be submitted to and approved by the LWMO showing that the buoyancy of such units will support the loads imposed.

Only flotation units made of materials which will not affect the water quality in any way may be used. Flotation units shall be constructed of material that has never been used in any manner for storage of toxic or hazardous material. Proof that the flotation units meet the above requirements must be provided to and approved by the LWMO.

(a) Flotation material shall be extruded polystyrene, expanded polystyrene, or a copolymer of polyethylene and polystyrene and shall have a minimum density of 0.9 pounds per cubic foot, and be of consistent quality throughout the float. Beads shall be firmly fused together, and there shall be no voids inside the encasement. Flotation material shall have a water rate absorption of less than 3.0 pounds per cubic foot over seven (7) days when tested by the Hunt Absorption Test. Other flotation material may be considered if it meets all of the requirements set forth in this section.

(b) Flotation material shall be encased in solid polyethylene or a polyurethane type coating, both of which shall be watertight and have a nominal thickness of 0.125 inches.

(c) Drums made of plastic, whether new or recycled, or metal shall not be used for encasements or floats.

(d) All flats shall be warranted for a minimum of eight (8) years against sinking, becoming waterlogged, cracking, peeling, fragmenting, or losing beads, and shall not be prone to damage by animals.

(e) Floats that are punctured, exposing the foam to erosion or deterioration, shall be replaced immediately.

3612 Hazardous structures. The requirements of this chapter are considered minimum requirements for safety purposes. Any such structures that do not meet these requirements shall be considered hazardous and shall be abated, as provided by Section 115 of the Fort Worth Building Code. If the regulations of any other regulating body having authority over the body of water are more stringent, such regulations will take precedence.

Legal Opinions on the Problematic Provisions by Gary Werley and Frank Newman

2010-07-12T11:00:00.002-05:00

Legal Opinions on the Problematic Provisions by Gary Werley and Frank Newman
on Paul Bounds's Dock Ordinance Proposal Released June 16, 2010

(Gary Werley – Attorney for Michael Dallas)

July 8, 2010

Mr. Dallas:

You requested my legal opinion of the proposed Lake Worth dock ordinance. We discussed the Texas Supreme Court decision of Mayhew v. Town of Sunnyvale and its review of regulations that unreasonably interfere with property as to cause a loss of anticipated gain or potential future profit, such as to impact reasonable investment backed expectations. In the current times it is not uncommon for the proceeds from the sale of a home to be a critical part of retirement or nursing home considerations. As will be shown, this proposed ordinance, in my opinion, does indeed make that type of impact.

A summary of the easement conveyed in the deeds is an easement for water recreational purposes, for ingress and egress, construction, maintenance and use of piers, docks, and boathouses, including storage of boats. The only impediment to the use of the entire easement, or size of the structure, is the restriction not to interfere with access of adjoining property owners.

I believe the proposed ordinance constitutes a “taking” of portions of the easement in excess of 1500 square feet, Sec. 18-20(a). As a “taking” there must be payment. The “set-back” lines are a “taking” of something that has been in existence for decades, Sec. 18-20 (b). The ordinance generally defines “Dock, Pier, or Boathouse” as a structure in Sec. 18-16, and then prohibits “Enclosed Structures” in Section 18.21 (a), another taking (note inconsistency with Sec. 3610). With no grandfather clause, there will be a taking when the first attempt is made to rebuild, modify, or make significant repairs to the current structure.

Since the 100-foot or more walkway is included in the 1500 sq. ft., it leaves very little to construct to hold a boat of any size and have some convenience.

Section 18-25 (c) and (d) on dock removal does not allow for any due process.

The dock ordinance as a whole would not appear to substantially promote health, safety, morals and general welfare for the common good. It is for a specific group of people, in a specific place. The owners around the lake bought the property to be on the lake and its use, any restrictions such as these would impact future use and sales price; thereby affecting anticipated gain or profit from the investment.

S. Gary Werley
306 W. 7th Street, Suite 508
Fort Worth Club Building
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
817-335-4300 (Telephone)
817-335-4335 (Facsimile)
Litigation and General Business Law

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Frank Newman – Real Estate Attorney and resident on Lake Worth shoreline)

NEWMAN & SUMMERS, P.C.
ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW
601 PENN STREET
FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76102

FRANK M. NEWMAN, JR.
BOARD CERTIFIED – COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

July 9, 2010
Michael Dallas
6138 Camp Bowie Blvd.
Fort Worth, TX 76116

Re: “Dock Ordinance”

Dear Michael,

I have reviewed the materials that you provided to me, which include the easement applicable to all owners and lessees of lake front property; some documents from previous meetings and discussions regarding the “Dock Ordinance” negotiations; previous drafts and the latest proposal from the City. I understand that the City intends this to be some sort of administrative procedure or policy in lieu of an actual ordinance. Apparently, the City proposes to operate under the “Policy” until an actual ordinance is adopted (Paul Bounds Email dated June 14, 2010).

Mr. Werley has dealt with the “taking” issue and I agree with him completely. I would like to add some other observations.

First, I doubt that any representative of the City of Fort Worth has the right to administratively impose restrictions on the use of private property with complete disregard for existing building codes, zoning ordinances or any other properly adopted laws. This would seem to me, from a legal perspective, to be an unconstitutional denial of due process. The current proposed policy would apparently have the weight of law while skipping over the legal process that governs adoption of ordinances, modification of building codes and changes in zoning.

I mention zoning because it occurs to me that restrictions on the type and size of an improvement are usually addressed by the zoning ordinances. The building code would be applicable as to the materials used, engineering report and other construction aspects of the proposal. Changes to either of these categories of City governance would require the city to proceed through the various applicable committees at which the public would be allowed to comment and then to the City Council where, again, public comment would be allowed and the Council’s decision would be subject to appeal to the District Courts.

Further, I have a general concern regarding the City of Fort Worth taking any restrictive action relative to the existing easements. The easement in question applies to all of the privately leased or privately owned property on the lake. It was granted by the City long ago and was part of the bargain that lead lessees and buyers to lease or buy their properties. The location and size of the easement is clearly defined and the uses of the easement are clearly described. Many docks and associated improvements have been built based on the easement’s language and in compliance with its terms. Those lessees or owners who have not yet built a dock but intend to do so would now be told that their plans would be in violation of the proposed “policy”. While this observation is somewhat of a restatement of the “taking” theory covered by Mr. Werley, I wanted to restate it from a common sense perspective. In Texas a deal is a deal. Not living up to the “deal” is always the cause for sanctions whether by publicity, litigation, voting or just by way of reflection on a person’s reputation for honesty and integrity. A buyer or a leasee bought or leased some real property with the reasonable assumption that a deal had been made with the City and now it is proposed that the City of Fort Worth is considering not living up to their side of the deal

Another consideration is that the rationale for adoption of a “policy” is not logical. It suggests that because some individuals want to build docks that are less than 1500 square-feet and meet the other standards and requirements that are dictated by the “policy”, the dock construction on the entire lake should be reduced to these individuals’ intended docks. We do not know any facts upon which these requested docks are based. They may be a matter of personal taste, limited by the finances of the owner/lessee, or a matter of location, but it is clear that a binding ordinance or policy should not be reduced to the lowest common denominator of docks when there are existing larger docks; others may intend to build larger docks and the easement purchased by new owners or lessees has no such restrictions.

The development and future value of Lake Worth and surrounding property is directly at risk by the proposed “policy”. The City would be contradicting and undermining its own expressed intentions as to Lake Worth by the use of this “policy”. The City of Fort Worth has spent substantial sums on studies for the development of the property around Lake Worth. I agree with some, but not all of the proposed uses but it is clear that one purpose of the development is to raise the values of the land around Lake Worth with an eye to increased real property tax revenues. It is contrary to that goal to restrict owners to docks that will not significantly contribute to the value of their real property value. It should be clear that the amount of money a homeowner will invest in a home or a lot is going to be determined in part by the extent to which they are going to be able to build a dock for the purpose of enjoying their access to and use of the lake itself. There might be some who would spend substantial sums for a home knowing that they would be limited to a relatively small dock or maybe not even have a dock, but I think the vast majority of people would invest higher purchase prices only if they were assured that they could construct a dock that would be commiserate with their house in terms of size, utility and style.

The attitudes of these potential buyers will likewise affect the attitudes and decisions of potential developers of land included within the Lake Work study. An inappropriate restriction on the size, design and use of docks is going to directly affect the amount of money people will pay for the house or land. The value of the land and the houses existing or intended will directly affect the interest of developers of adjoining land. In effect a “policy” or subsequent ordinance as proposed by the City will establish a much lower ceiling on the potential value of lake front property and adjoining developed or undeveloped land. Based on approximately 35 years of working in real estate matters involving everything from litigation over rights, to construction, to buying and selling of residential and commercial real estate and representing developers, I believe that any developer or real estate professional would agree with this analysis.

Please let me know if I can further assist in any way in this continuing debate.

Yours truly,

Frank M. Newman, Jr.