E-News from the City of Farmers Branch

Memo from the Manager

Progress in progress

Even though the economy has been challenging for everyone, the City staff has been working very hard to move the community forward. This is very evident when you look at recent efforts of the City's Economic Development Department. Under the direction of Economic Development Director John Land, and with the assistance of Business Support Manager April Allen, the department is involved in 16 active leads and is relentless in their efforts to bring about redevelopment. Witness the incredible efforts to win approval for a new grocery store in The Shops at Branch Crossing (formerly known as the Four Corners).

When I came to Farmers Branch four years ago, citizens told me they'd been wishing for a new grocery store for many years. The City Council confirmed that desire and made it a priority for city administration. We talked to dozens of developers and grocery store operators and were told that our expectations outweighed our market, that our market did not appear to supply the buying power that grocery store developers wanted to see. One developer told us we would "NEVER get anything but a low end store in Farmers Branch."

Those words did not discourage staff but, instead, worked as motivation to prove that developer wrong. Consequently, the efforts of the Economic Development Department have resulted in the coming of a 40,200 square foot Walmart Neighborhood Market. We believe that our residents deserve the best possible facilities and we're sure that the new store will provide an experience that will be appreciated by all.

Walmart Market

FARMERS BRANCH ~ One year after heavy machinery cleared away the last remnants of an old grocery store building on the southeast corner of Josey and Valley View Lanes, the Farmers Branch City Council has approved a new grocery store for the site that is projected to be a catalyst for development in the area, formerly known as the Four Corners.

Four Corners demolition event, March 31, 2010

Southeast corner demolition event, March 2010.

The 42,000-square-foot Walmart Market will be the first anchor to build on the southeast corner of the area now known as the Shops at Branch Crossing, named for the nearby renaissance neighborhood. The development is consistent with the vision plan for the area composed by merchants and residents in the area along with City leaders and City staff in 2007.

Farmers Branch Economic Development Director John Land said that even with the Walmart brand, this is far from a big box retail situation. "This is going to be only a grocery store and pharmacy and not a traditional Walmart store," he explained. "By comparison, their retail store on Midway Road weighs in at about 100,000 square feet."

The Walmart Market will be oriented facing Josey Lane but will not be as large as the previous grocery store on the site. Mr. Land said that other developers have expressed interest in the parcels fronting Josey Lane in front of the Walmart site.

Despite having neighborhood grocery stores in other areas, Mr. Land added that this "market" concept by Walmart is designed, by the company, to be a first of its kind development which will likely serve as a model for other communities. Construction is expected to begin by early summer with a projected opening next winter.

Tim O'Hare

Mayor reflects on politics, parenthood and love of hometown as he prepares to leave office

Mayor Tim O'Hare

After six memorable years as a City Councilman and as Mayor, Farmers Branch native Tim O'Hare shocked the community this spring by announcing he would not seek re-election to the office that brought him acclaim as well as controversy. Before leaving office, he sat down with Branch Bulletin E-News editor, Tom Bryson, for a candid conversation.

Part 1 of 4: From Law to Public Service

BRANCH BULLETIN: In the beginning, why did you decide to pursue law as a career?

TIM O'HARE: I thought a law degree would be a good thing since there are so many things you can do with it. When I first got out, I took a job with a big firm downtown. At that time my best friend was doing plaintiff's work, working on injury and wrongful death. The stuff that he described sounded like something I would actually like to do as well. You do a lot of negotiating and meet a lot of different people. But the coolest thing is that you get to help people who really are in need. That is why I got into Personal Injury Law and haven't regretted my decision since.

BRANCH BULLETIN: OK, when you first got out of school, before deciding on law, did you consider any other ideas, another path?

TIM O'HARE: I am going to tell you a funny story about that, how I chose my business major at Texas. I never knew what I wanted to do growing up, even in high school, as late as the summer following graduation. But, when I heard others talking about being pre-med, I thought that sounded cool. So at UT, I signed up for pre-med. The summer before I started, in the fall of 1987, I went to orientation at UT. In the big courtyard on campus, tables were set up for the different colleges. So if you are signed up for pre-med, you go to the table of the College of Natural Science, or if you are signed up for business you go to the table for the College of Business, and so on. Everyone at orientation was getting ready for a tour of their section of the campus. I looked over to the group for the College of Natural Science where I was signed up to go. About 8 people were waiting in line, and they all looked kind of nerdy. Then I looked over at the College of Business line. 100 people and all of the good looking girls were in that line. So I just went and got in that line and that is basically how I chose my Business major. I think that was God-directed because I think business is perfect for me. I understand business, marketing and management. It's what I do every day here and I think I went there on purpose because there are a lot of lawyers who are not good businesspeople. And you really need to be both. You can have someone who can write the best papers, do the research, and make the best argument, but if they don't have the business acumen to bring the cases in the door and to manage the cases and the people who work for them, it really doesn't matter how good you are at the other stuff. I've been able to put those two things together to have a successful practice.

Spruce up and get back to nature

CityWide CleanUp Day & Burke Nature Preserve dedication make for busy Saturday activities

FARMERS BRANCH ~ Two different Farmers Branch events on Saturday give local residents the opportunity to engage in some spring cleaning and get back to nature, all in the space of a few hours.

CityWide CleanUp Day is set for Saturday, April 9 from 9 a.m. until 12 noon at Don Showman Park, adjacent to the Community Recreation Center. Trash and recycling containers will be joined by document shredding and electronics recycling trucks. Donations will also be accepted for Metrocrest Social Services and there will be representatives of the Farmers Branch Police and Fire Departments. Finally, free rose plants will be given away to the first 20 local residents that register for the City Manager's Rose Contest. Proof of residency may be required for participation.

Then, at 12 noon, hot dogs and hamburgers will be on the grill on the west side of the City in preparation for the dedication of the John F. Burke Nature Preserve. The 104-acre site is named in honor of the architect of Farmers Branch parks, a longtime City employee and a former City Manager. Dedication ceremonies will begin at 1 p.m. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend. All events will take place on the site at 1217 Valley View Lane, on the north side of Valley View, west of Luna and east of the Trinity River.

For more information on CityWide CleanUp Day, call 972.919.2510. Info on the Burke Nature Preserve can be found at 972.919.2620. More information on both events is online at www.farmersbranch.info.

Video Extra

John F. Burke Nature Preserve: A Preview

Tax deadline looms

AARP tax assistance available through April 12

FARMERS BRANCH ~ With the federal Income Tax filing deadline coming ever-so-close, free assistance is available to Farmers Branch residents from trained AARP volunteers on Tuesdays at the Senior Center from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and at the Manske Library on Tuesdays, from 1 until 7 p.m.

Those requesting assistance should bring their documents to either facility during those time frames. No appointment is necessary but the last day for assistance is April 12.

Snap Poll

CityWide CleanUp Day

Last Week's Results:
News Delivery Preferences

Poll Results: Media Preferences

THIS WEEK'S ISSUE

New grocery store moves forward

Tim O'Hare: The Interview - Part 1

Multiple events coming up Saturday

Tax deadline looms, help available

Snap Poll

In the Banner

Staff Profile: April Allen

Early Voting Schedule

LBJ Express report

In the Banner

Springing Wild

The consistently reliable harbinger of springtime in Texas is the perennial bluebonnet. The rich field of flowers in pastures and on roadsides prompts amateur photographers of all manner to spontaneously pull over and record their offspring frolicking in the flowers. This patch of bluebonnets was captured some spring past in Holiday Park on Valley View Lane at Alpha.

Photo by Tom Bryson

Staff Mini-Profile

0.7516339869281046

Name: April Allen

Alias: Richland College Adjunct Professor

Position: Business Support Manager
Dept: Economic
Development & Tourism

Years with the City: 3
Personal: 7th Generation Native Texan, graduate of Southwest Texas State in San Marcos with Bachelor of Arts in International Relations, Travel & Tourism, "Go Bobcats!"

What Do You Like Most About Working for Farmers Branch:

"My background is tourism marketing, and being able to learn Economic Development from the business recruitment and expansion side has been a lot of fun and extremely interesting. Farmers Branch has a lot of opportunities for businesses and it's exciting to see the city grow and change and to hang out with Hugh Jackman."