March 1, 2010 MinutesCITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
March 1, 2010
After determining that a quorum was present, the City Council toured two of three North Texas
Transit Oriented Developments (TOD's) on Monday, March 1, 2010, departing from the City
Hall parking lot, at 9:45 a.m., at which the City Council received a report, held a discussion, and
gave staff direction at each respective site.
PRESENT: Mayor Burroughs, Mayor Pro Tem Kamp, Council Member Engelbrecht, Council
Member Gregory, Council Member Mulroy, and Council Member Watts.
The City Council visited the following locations:
1) South Irving Station, 201 Rock Island Rd., Irving, TX 75060;
2) Downtown Plano Station, 1001 E. 16th St., Plano, TX 75086;
3) Future Downtown Denton Transit Center, 604 E. Hickory, Denton, TX 76201
Staff in attendance: George Campbell, City Manager; Anita Burgess, City Attorney; Howard
Martin, Assistant City Manager; Fred Greene, Assistant City Manager; Mark Nelson, Director of
Transportation; Ron Menguita, City Planner; Julie Glover, Main Street Manager; John Cabrales,
Public Information/Intergovernmental Relations Officer; Lindsey Baker, Assistant to the City
Manager; Rick Leisner, Consultant with Jacobs.
Mayor Burroughs convened the meeting in Irving, TX at 10:35 a.m.
Mark Nelson, Director of Transportation, discussed the Irving Downtown Station as it relates to
the rail platform and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, the types of rail cars
used in Irving compared to what Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) has
purchased, Irving's use of a clock tower, and plaza landscaping which directs pedestrians to the
downtown area. The purpose of the TOD tour with Council in Irving was to demonstrate how the
Irving downtown development relates to the transit station and to compare the development
energy in the Irving TOD to the Plano TOD and what Denton envisions through the Downtown
Implementation Program (DIP) process.
The Mayor closed the meeting at 10:45a.m. and departed the Irving Downtown Station for the
Plano Downtown Station.
The Mayor re-convened the meeting at the Plano Downtown Station at 11:30 a.m.
Phyllis Jarrell, Director of Planning for the City of Plano, greeted the Mayor and City Council
next to the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) rail platform at the Plano Downtown Station.
Jarrell provided a description and overview of the Downtown Plano Station, including the design
of the station, prevalent artwork, and parking.
Nelson pointed out design elements and characteristics that are unique to DART. Nelson also
discussed the platform loading process in Plano compared to that in Irving and how it relates to
the Denton vision.
City of Denton City Council Minutes
March 1, 2010
Page 2
Council and staff proceeded to the Plano Centre banquet facility and received a presentation by
Jarrell. She discussed the Plano Downtown TOD, scale of redevelopment, history of the area,
public/private partnerships, incentives provided for redevelopment opportunities, placement of
shared dumpster facility, and existing bike lanes.
Council Members engaged in brief discussion regarding the need of flexibility in ordinances
regarding infill and redevelopment and past successes of downtown development.
Council Members Engelbrecht and Gregory requested information on economic development in
downtown Denton and a brief overview of past successes in area.
Due to inclement weather, a tour of the Downtown Transit Center at 604 E. Hickory in Denton
was cancelled.
The Mayor closed the meeting at 12:45 p.m.
MARK A. BURROUGHS
MAYOR
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS
JENNIFER WALTERS
CITY SECRETARY
CITYOF DENTON, TEXAS