ARLINGTON -- The Arlington City Council could decide tonight on the fates of two well sites where Chesapeake Energy is planning to drill, one in southwest Arlington and the other near Cowboys Stadium.
Both site plans have faced vocal opposition from neighbors, and the council has rejected most of the energy company's proposals over the past 18 months. Chesapeake has resubmitted its requests along with an additional permit application for the council to consider at its 6:30 p.m. meeting at City Hall.In southwest Arlington, more than 1,000 households signed mineral-lease contracts in 2007 when the proposed site was north of Interstate 20, several blocks away.When the city rejected that site, Chesapeake selected a site at the southwest corner of South Bowen Road and West Bardin Road. The gas company wants the city to rezone the 55 acres for office use, as the current zoning doesn't allow drilling. Chesapeake is seeking a specific-use permit to drill 22 wells on a 4.4-acre section of the property.Most residents have since fought the plans, voicing concerns about traffic congestion and safety, noise and potential environmental impact to the property's natural green space, which includes a section of Rush Creek.They contend that a drilling operation -- one that could last 30 to 50 years -- has no business on a site almost completely surrounded by homes."For us it's a safety issue, it's a property devaluation issue," said Bill Campbell of Oak Shadow Court, a subdivision of 10 homes across Bowen Road from the site. "People aren't going to want to move into a neighborhood that has that kind of traffic problem, with that kind of operation under way."While the vast majority of the audience spoke or signed cards in opposition, not all oppose it. At a packed hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission on Dec. 7, a large contingent -- mostly retirees of the Oak Lake subdivision -- spoke or signed cards supporting the rezoning and permit request.Many said they need their lease money to help fund the dredging of their small lake, which they said was being suffocated by trash.Plans adjustedThe commission voted for the rezoning and permit, but commissioners added two restrictions for the council to consider.They asked that Chesapeake be required to use an electric drilling rig to reduce noise, and that heavy trucks be forbidden from neighborhood roads during the morning and afternoon rush hours.Julie Wilson, Chesapeake's vice president or urban development, said both requirements are workable, especially using electric drilling rigs."They're actually more economical for us to use," Wilson said, adding that the issue usually depends on whether an area's electrical grid can handle it. "Here, it does."Chesapeake also adjusted its plans after the council rejection in June 2010. The drilling pad site was moved slightly to make it at least 600 feet from each home, and the company commissioned a traffic study, which indicated that 19,000 cars a day travel on Bowen Road."That's not considered heavy," Wilson said. "But we certainly pledge to be as respectful and considerate of the neighborhoods as we can, and mitigate any inconveniences from heavy truck traffic as much as we can."In a report to the council, the city staff said it has not received the traffic study and suggests that the council might want to postpone consideration of the specific-use permit until officials can review the study.Maria Carbajal, a city gas well coordinator, said a designated truck route to the site won't be considered until Chesapeake -- if it wins council approval tonight -- comes back later for a permit to start drilling. The company has submitted three possible truck routes. "They are trying to find the best way to minimize traffic impact to these neighborhoods," Carbajal said.Truman siteThe council will also consider Chesapeake's request to drill two more wells on 4.7 acres known as the Truman site, northwest of East Division Street and North Collins Street, near Cowboys Stadium.The site already has one council-approved well, the so-called Bobcat well, which Chesapeake plans to drill in mid-March.One of the two proposed wells the council will consider tonight was rejected last year. But Collin Gregory, a city gas well coordinator, said the issues raised at the time were resolved before the Bobcat well was approved.Chesapeake agreed to stricter controls on truck traffic, water usage and operations to coordinate with major events in the entertainment district, including Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers games.Also, the zoning for the site was approved last year. All that remains are the specific-use permits, Gregory said.But the site stirs heated debate. An opposition leader, Kim Feil, contends that the drilling process is threatening the environment around the site. She signed a lease contract and received bonus money but said that was before she and others were "misled" about the chemicals and contaminants involved in process and the dependability of drilling regulations."Had I known this was going to devalue my property, my air quality and my quality of life, I would have never signed," Feil said.But many residents and businesses support the drilling because of the signing bonuses and production royalties it can bring -- despite a steep drop recently in natural gas prices."We're hearing all sides," Gregory said. "It will be a really interesting group of people who will show up tomorrow. I feel it will really be a Hatfield and McCoy wedding."Robert Cadwallader,817-390-7641Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
