Item 9B - NarrativeFROM THE DESK OF
Kevin H. Kaj iwara
February 25, 2021
City of Southlake Council
Building Board
1400 Main Street
Southlake, TX 76092
Re: Variance Request - 1228 Woodsey Court, Southlake, TX 76092
Dear Honorable Members of the Southlake City Council:
I am the property owner at 1228 Woodsey Court and am writing to the Council to
request the approval of a variance to the ordinance of a required 4' sidewalk across the
property.
I understand the eventual need to put in a sidewalk, but at this point in time, feel it is
unfair to make us the only property owner on the entire block to put in a sidewalk.
This street is an anomaly to Southlake in that it is not a master planned community nor
developed. It is a simple street with various types of dwellings including mobile type
homes as well as new builds. All of the current new builds, besides our property, were
built prior to 2017 (approximately 10 homes) and not subject to the sidewalk rule. In
order for sidewalks to be built, the city of Southlake would incur quite an expense to
build these sidewalks. I submit there are other, more pressing areas where funding
can/should be allocated. It is simply not practical to have the city allocate funds nor
have future homeowners pay for a sidewalk where they would have to move gates,
trees, landscaping... etc. Here are the primary reasons:
• Rural Street - This street is an anomaly in the city. It is not a master planned
development and never will be. No other sidewalks along entire block - major
landscape changes will need to occur in order to accommodate said sidewalk to each
property.
• Grandfathered Homes - There are 10 newly built homes that will not be required to
put in the sidewalks. The City of Southlake would have to fund these changes at a
high cost.
• Unsightly end of sidewalk - lowered curb appeal with one sidewalk with nothing to
transition to. It could be years until the neighbors make any changes to their
property. The ordinance makes sense for newly development areas, but does not on
isolated roads such as this.
• Damage to native vegetation and trees - These items include the potential of tree and
native plant removal, fence removal, changes to landscaping etc.
I have included photos of the area and its surroundings to provide a better perspective.
Overall - The ordinance makes sense for other new development areas, but because of
the character of this road and area, the type of traffic that is here, this rural cross
section of the city will likely not ever be able to have the sidewalk completed.Thank you
very much for your consideration.
Sincerely yours,
Kevin H. Kajiwara
South View on Woodsey Court
- Neighbors have gate and trees in line of
where the proposed sidewalk would be
placed
- View North on Woodsey Court
- Notice Trees, landscaping, and some new
construction along the Street
- Opposite side of the road has several new
homes as well that were built prior to
2017.