SWAPO 2011 News... from the Wimbledon area by George Hoyer...Rush Creek site

Hello United Wimbledon/Neighbors. As you know the Arlington Planning and Zoning Commission approved the zoning cases: ZA11-6 - To change the zoning of 55.066 acres at 4950 Bowen Road from PD to O. SUP 11-9 - A Specific Use Permit to drill on the 4.426 acre Rush Creek Drill Site. At their meeting on December 7, 2011 the members of the Oak Lake Homeowners Association overwhelmed the P&Z Commissioners with their speakers in support of the Rush Creek Drill Site. The proposed site is near the Southwest corner of Bowen and Bardin Roads and therefore will not impact the residents of the Oak Lake neighborhood since they are well West of the site. The noise, traffic, health hazards and inconvenience of the industrial drill site will not impact them. According to Chesapeake Energy, the Rush Creek drill site will not be within 600 feet of homes to the East and North of the site. However, the 600 feet does reach across Bowen Road and the Bardin Road right of way, so the site will be very close to residents on both streets. The site will definitely be visible from Bowen Road and the Bardin Road intersection. Chesapeake is planning on 22 wells at this location so the site will be active for many years. I personally do not think that an industrial drill site belongs in our neighborhood, and I plan to oppose it. However some neighbors do not have a problem with having the drill site in the neighborhood and want the royalties from gas production. Some think that since we got our bonus check in 2007 we should let Chesapeake drill at the Rush Creek site. If you recall, in 2007 United Neighbors was negotiating with Dale Property Services, who were representing Chesapeake, and Paloma Resources. Paloma was planning on drilling at the Rush Creek site, and Chesapeake was planning to drill at a location Northwest of Bowen Road and Pleasant Ridge in Dalworthington Gardens. Both were offering about the same in lease terms and signing bonus money so United Neighbors went with Dale Resources for $15,850/acre in bonus money. The plans for the Dalworthington Gardens drill site fell through when the DWG City Council denied the zoning change for the drill site. So Chesapeake is now trying to obtain the zoning change for the Rush Creek site. Chesapeake was denied their first attempt to get the zoning changes in June of 2010 by both P&Z and City Council. Chesapeake extended some of our gas leases by using the force majeure clause in the lease for a year. If you were in the group of neighbors that received the force majeure letter and did not receive a 2 year option bonus check, you now own your mineral rights again since the 3 year lease and 1 year of force majeure has expired. Be aware that if the zoning change is approved, Chesapeake or their representatives will be showing up at your door trying to lease your mineral rights. The days of $15,850/acre signing bonus checks are over and Chesapeake will try to lease your minerals for as little as possible since natural gas is selling at very low prices, I've heard that $3,500/acre is considered high today. So, what I'm saying is don't be in a hurry to lease your minerals. The Arlington City Council will hold a public hearing on the 2 zoning cases on Tuesday, January 24 at 6:30 at city hall. If you are concerned about having an industrial drill site in your neighborhood please send notes to City Council members. I've listed the City Council members email addresses below. If you think having an industrial drill site in the neighborhood will have no impact on your neighbors and think the small amount of royalty payments is more important than quality of life then you can give your support to these cases. Whether you are for or against, please attend the Council meeting on the 24th and let Council know your thoughts and concerns. The attached flier is being distributed by our neighbors in Deerwood Park. Their neighborhood and the Ouro Verde neighborhood will be impacted the most if this zoning case is approved. George Hoyer Your United Wimbledon and United Neighbors Representative for the Wimbledon Neighborhood Here are the email addresses for Arlington City Council members. We are in District 2, and our Council member is Sheri Capehart. Robert Cluck robert.cluck@arlingtontx.gov Jimmy Bennett jimmy.bennett@arlingtontx.gov Sheri Capehart sheri.capehart@arlingtontx.gov Mel Leblanc mel.leblanc@arlingtontx.gov Robert Rivera robert.rivera@arlingtontx.gov Robert Shepard robert.shepard@arlingtontx.gov Kathryn Wilemon kathryn.wilemon@arlingtontx.gov Lana Wolff lana.wolff@arlingtontx.gov

SWAPO 2011 News ...Notice of P&Z Public Hearing pushed back to Feb 1st... Eden Rd Site...

Notice of Public Hearing

                                                      Case Number: SUP11-13

1)    Planning and Zoning Commission Public Hearing Date: 01/04/12, now scheduled for 2/1/12 same time, 5:30pm.

2)    City Council Public Hearing Date: 02/07/12, not sure about this date yet,will revise later.

Applicant: Brad Pittman

Edge Barnett Operating Company LLC

Address: 4388 Vickery Boulevard, Suite 100

Fort Worth, Texas 76107

Telephone Number: 817-870-0130

Site Location: 4700 Eden Road generally located south of Eden Road and west

of U.S. 287 Highway.

Current Zoning: Village on the Green – Residential (VG-R)

Request: Specific Use Permit (SUP) for gas drilling

General Description of Applicant's Proposed Uses: Gas Drilling and Production

Choose Your Deduction

One third of all U.S. households, 75% of households with more than $75,000 income and most homeowners itemize their deduction on their federal income tax returns. It makes sense because the interest paid on their mortgage and their property taxes probably exceeds the allowable standard deduction.
However, with interest rates as low as they have been in the last two years and the price of homes having come down considerably, it is possible that the standard deduction may be the better choice.
Each year, the taxpayer can compare the total of the itemized deductions to the standard deduction to select which method will result in the most benefits. The 2011 standard deduction is $11,600 for married couple filing jointly and $5,800 for single filers.
The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 allows homeowners to take the standard deduction and the lesser of their actual property taxes of $1,000 if filing their return married jointly. For more information, see Schedule L found on www.IRS.gov and consult your tax advisor.
                                                    Buy Sell Invest with Hart

SWAPO 2011 News.....Rush Creek Neighbors speak out...

SgtMaj Tully Bryant and others speak out about this drill site location at Rush Creek, it is time for you to investigate the facts, please visit his site listed in the picture above and the links below in this BlogSpot to decide yourself. We are making it easy for you to investigate yourself. Especially check out the royalty calculations SgtMaj Tully calculates and the gas royalty calculators in this BlogSpot listed below. i.e. do not think that these royalty calculations are going to give you any large amounts of money, or be enough to fund any special neighborhood projects.
The issues goes before the City Council January 24th at 6:30. See posting dated December 27th below.

Forced Savings...Really?

Part of the American Dream is to own a home. A home is a place to call your own; a place to raise your family and share with your friends. A home is a place to feel safe and secure. A home is a good investment?

In a recent report* by Beracha and Johnson, it is suggested that buying a home is the right thing to do but not necessarily for the reason that people expect. A home is, in many instances, the largest investment that homeowners have and it accounts for the majority of their net worth.

The report suggests that the self-imposed savings due to amortization has a significant contribution to a person's net worth. The premise was determined by comparing the net worth of buyers to renters over a 31 year period of time.

When the savings in rent and down payment were reinvested, renters had a greater net worth than buyers after each 8-year cycle by a margin of 91% to 9%. On the other hand, when the requirement to reinvest the savings was dropped and renters were allowed to spend the savings on consumption, the Buyers had a greater net worth 84% compared to 16% for renters.

Appreciation, tax savings and amortization contribute to lowering the cost of housing and help homeowners build equity. The forced savings due to amortization benefits the individuals who may not be disciplined enough to invest the savings otherwise. Regardless of which benefits apply in different situations, owning a home can be a satisfying investment both emotionally and financially.

*Factor Sensitivities in the Making of Buy vs. Rent Decisions: Do Homeowners Make the Right Decision for the Wrong Reason by Eli Berach and Ken J. Johnson of Florida International University writing for the Journal of Housing Research.
                                                              Buy Sell Invest with Hart

SWAPO 2011 News...

Effective January we will start furnish a monthly newsletter targeted to publish on the 10^th of each month about any natural gas issues to our members who have signed up through the BlogSpot. We do this as a public service in order to increase the communications about what is going on in our area 76001 and 76017.

This BlogSpot continuously updates the reference web sites listed at the bottom of this blog with some outstanding web sites and other blogs that offer a wealth of information for the homeowner so that they may sort out the facts themselves.

Revised purpose statement: 1/18/2012:

We consider anyone who joins SWAPO to be in favor of working with SWAPO members collectively to obtain the highest signing bonus for a natural gas lease and with the intention of collecting a monthly royalty for the production of natural gas. This means that you will not sign independently until SWAPO has made a recommendation. Membership is currently around 1000 members. We also support a communication network regarding any natural gas well issues in order that we may keep neighbors informed about natural gas well issues in our neighborhoods so that each citizen can make an informed decision.

Comments regarding anything published on this site may be directed to me at dHartHomes@gmail.com.  We look forward to providing a service to our community. 

SWAPO 2011 News ...Notice of Public Hearing pushed back on agenda to Jan 18th

Notice of Public Hearing

                                                      Case Number: SUP11-13

1)    Planning and Zoning Commission Public Hearing Date: 01/04/12, now scheduled for 1/18/12 same time, 5:30pm.

2)    City Council Public Hearing Date: 02/07/12

Applicant: Brad Pittman

Edge Barnett Operating Company LLC

Address: 4388 Vickery Boulevard, Suite 100

Fort Worth, Texas 76107

Telephone Number: 817-870-0130

Site Location: 4700 Eden Road generally located south of Eden Road and west

of U.S. 287 Highway.

Current Zoning: Village on the Green – Residential (VG-R)

Request: Specific Use Permit (SUP) for gas drilling

General Description of Applicant's Proposed Uses: Gas Drilling and Production