Minutes P&Z 08/19/2004MINUTES OF A
PUBLIC HEARING & REGULAR SESSION
FOR THE
TOWN OF TROPHY CLUB
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
19 AUGUST 2004
The Planning and Zoning Commission of the Town of Trophy Club, Texas met in a Public
Hearing and a Regular Session on 19 August 2004, at 7:00 pm in the Boardroom of the
Trophy Club Administration Building, 100 Municipal Drive, Trophy Club, Texas 76262,
COMMISSIONERS ATTENDANCE:
Chairman Hill
Vice Chairman Stephens
Commissioner Bradley
Commissioner Moss
Commissioner Reed
Commissioner Rodgers
Commissioner Sheridan
STAFF AND GUESTS PRESENT:
Kerin C. Fleck
Karen Mitchell
Rob Durbin
Ray LeDesma
Doug Mitchell
Chuck Traxlor
Matt Curry
Mike McCravy
present
present
present
present
present
present
present
Planning & Zoning Coordinator
Planning Consultant
Applicant, Star of Texas Energy Services, Inc.
Applicant, Star of Texas Energy Services, Inc.
Winchester Production Company
Winchester Production Company
Progress Fuels
Star of Texas Energy Services, Inc.
CALL TO ORDER AND ANNOUNCE A QUORUM.
Chairman Hill called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm, announced a quorum was
present and explained the format of the meeting for the benefit of the audience.
PUBLIC HEARING
2. PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION TO OPEN PUBLIC HEARING.
A motion was made to open the Public Hearing,
Motion:
Sheridan
Second:
Reed
Ayes:
Hill, Bradley, Moss, Rodgers, Stephens
Nays:
None
Action:
Approved, 7-0
Motion carried.
Planning & Zoning Commission
Public Hearing & Regular Session Meeting
19 August 2004
3. PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING RELATIVE TO
THE FOLLOWING:
Chairman Hill read the caption into the record,
A. AN APPLICATION FROM STAR OF TEXAS ENERGY SERVICES, INC. FOR A
SPECIFIC USE PERMIT TO ALLOW GAS WELL DRILLING ON A 1.5 ACRE TRACT
OF LAND REFERRED TO AS "PAD 8H & 9H" LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 600
FEET NORTH OF OAKMONT DRIVE AND APPROXIMATELY 1,220 FEET EAST OF
TROPHY CLUB DRIVE, AND 380 FEET EAST NORTHEAST OF THE QUORUM
CONDOMINIUMS AND MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS BEING A TRACT
OR A PARCEL OF LAND SITUATED IN THE W. MEDIIN SURVEY, ABSTRACT
NUMBER 829, IN THE TOWN OF TROPHY CLUB, DENTON COUNTY, TEXAS, AND
BEING PART OF "TRACT 8A" CALLED 559.3807 ACRES CONVEYED TO BECK
PROPERTIES TROPHY CLUB, L.P. BY DEED RECORDED IN CLERK FILE NUMBER
93-R0087516 DEED RECORDS, DENTON COUNTY, TEXAS. (SUP -04-007)
Mr. Durbin addressed the Commission and introduced Mr. Curry, engineer with Progress
Fuels.
Mr. Curry addressed the Comrnission with a Power Point presentation. He explained the
operator's reasons behind the location for pad site 8/9H, First, there will be future
development on the northern border of the site. Also, just south of the proposed site,
there is a cluster of trees which will act as a buffer providing both a visual and a sound
barrier. Seismic testing was done and the results showed faulting in the area. The
proposed site was chosen in order to access the gas reserves while avoiding the faults
in the area. The proposed site maximizes access to reserves, avoids the fault and allows
for adequate drainage of the area.
Sound levels were taken earlier in the week and the decibel levels were found to be in
conformance with the ordinance. The drilling ordinance calls for levels no greater than
seventy (70) decibels at a distance of three hundred feet (300'). The drilling rig used by
the operator is diesel electric, purposely chosen because it is relatively quiet. One of
the decibel levels taken during the week was sixty-seven (67) at a distance of three
hundred feet (300'). The proposed pad site will be in a low-lying area. In addition to
the low elevation, there are existing trees that will provide visual and sound barriers,
The following residents addressed the Commission.
Neil Twomey of 203 Oakmont Drive
James Weaver of 216 Oakmont Drive
There were no additional requests to speak from the public.
4. PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING AND/OR
CONTINUE TO A DATE CERTAIN.
A motion was made to close the public hearing.
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Planning & Zoning Commission
Public Hearing & Regular Session Meeting
19 August 2004
Motion:
Sheridan
Second:
Rodgers
Ayes:
Hill, Bradley, Moss, Reed, Stephens
Nays:
None
Action:
Approved, 7-0
Motion carried.
5. PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION TO CONVENE INTO A REGULAR SESSION.
Chairman Hill opened the Regular Session.
"REGULAR SESSION
6. PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION AND MAKE A
RECOMMENDATION TO THE TOWN COUNCIL REGARDING:
A. AN APPLICATION FROM STAR OF TEXAS ENERGY SERVICES, INC. FOR A
SPECIFIC USE PERMIT TO ALLOW GAS WELL DRILLING ON A 1.5 ACRE TRACT
OF LAND REFERRED TO AS "PAD 8H & 9H" LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 600
FEET NORTH OF OAKMONT DRIVE AND APPROXIMATELY 1,220 FEET EAST OF
TROPHY CLUB DRIVE, AND 380 FEET EAST NORTHEAST OF THE QUORUM
CONDOMINIUMS AND MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS BEING A TRACT
OR A PARCEL OF LAND SITUATED IN THE W. MEDLIN SURVEY, ABSTRACT
NUMBER 829, IN THE TOWN OF TROPHY CLUB, DENTON COUNTY, TEXAS, AND
BEING PART OF "TRACT 8A" CALLED 559.3807 ACRES CONVEYED TO BECK
PROPERTIES TROPHY CLUB, L.P. BY DEED RECORDED IN CLERK FILE NUMBER
93-R0087516 DEED RECORDS, DENTON COUNTY, TEXAS. (SUP -04-007)
Chairman Hill read Section 431, subsection C, (3) of Town Ordinance No. 2003-11 P&Z
for the benefit of the audience. Chairman Hill called on the Commissioners for
discussion.
Mr. Durbin addressed the Commission and explained the limitations of the horizontal
well bore length. The operator will be drilling horizontal wells, which results in the
number of well sites being reduced. Horizontal wells produce along the entire length of
the well bore in the Barnett Shale.
Mr. Curry stated that seismic testing was conducted in their lease area and the data
from the testing showed faulting in the Barnett Shale, As a result of horizontal drilling,
the number of pad sites has been reduced and relocated to avoid contact with faults.
These wells are positioned in the southwestern corner of the operator's lease area to
avoid the faulting. The well bore's positioning and the pad site location combined give
the operator the best chance to avoid the fault and to recover the mineral reserves.
Mr. Durbin added that on this particular portion of the lease, there is a "bottleneck", in
that the Army Corps of Engineers property comes a substantial distance into the Town
of Trophy Club, There is a State spacing requirement for drill sites to be at least 330 feet
from lease lines. Mr, Durbin stated if the operator moved the proposed site, the State
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Planning & Zoning Commission
Public Hearing & Regular Session Meeting
19 August 2004
spacing rule would be violated, Therefore, Star of Texas has placed the well site as
close to the "bottleneck" as possible so that another drill pad would not have to be
added nearby.
Chairman Hill clarified with the applicant that they reduced the number of drill pads by
doubling the wells in this location. Mr. Durbin confirmed.
Mr. Durbin went on to say that the wells drilled to date had not yet been fractured.
They will not be fraced until the pipeline is installed.
Mr, Doug Mitchell addressed the Commission. The traffic route for pad site 8/9H will
come off Marshall Creek Road, head south on Trophy Club Drive and then turn east into
the location.
Mr. Mitchell addressed concerns about leakage/spills from the drill site. He said that
Star of Texas drills in sensitive areas regularly. The location has been designed with
special provisions. The reserve pits will be lined and there will not be a flowback of
produced water. The water will either be trucked out or pumped out by way of a
pipeline.
Chairman Hill stated that according to the Town's drilling ordinance, gas flaring is
prohibited. The ordinance calls for a flowline carrying frac water during the production
stages to the pipeline central gathering station located outside the Town limits. As a
result, there would not be any on-site storage of flowback water from the frac process
or any gas flares in the proximity of these wellheads.
Mr. Mitchell stated the only flowback that takes place is that water which goes into the
frac tank in order for the operator to get it pumped down the wellbore. As far as
flowing back in a tank and trucking the water out of the site, that will not occur on this
site.
Commissioner Reed asked the applicant about the potential loss of reserves if the pad
site was relocated further north. Originally, the applicant planned to drill directional
wells, however, since the change to horizontal drilling, there has been no information
about the bottom hole locations, what area a well will drain and where the faults are in
relation to the well. Commissioner Reed asked to see visual data to backup the request
for distance waiver.
Discussion ensued among the Commission and the applicants.
Mr. LeDesma addressed the Commission and attempted to provide an answer to
Commissioner Reed's questions.
A motion was made to table action on this agenda item until a date certain of 2
September 2004 in order to get more detail from the applicant, justifying what was
verbally discussed during this meeting, i.e. golf course property line, lease lines, Corp of
Engineers boundary lines and possible alternative sites.
Motion; Sheridan
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a]
Planning & Zoning Commission
Public Hearing & Regular Session Meeting
19 August 2004
Second: Moss
Ayes: Hill, Bradley, Stephens, Reed, Rodgers
Nays: None
Action: Approved, 6-0
Motion carried.
This item will be on the Commission's 2 September 2004 meeting.
7. REVIEW AND APPROVE MINUTES:
A. 5 AUGUST 2004
A motion was made to approve the minutes.
Motion:
Sheridan
Second:
Rodgers
Ayes:
Hill, Bradley, Moss, Reed, Stephens
Nays:
None
Action:
7-0
Motion carried.
9. ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Hill adjourned the meeting at approximately 8:20pm.
Gen Hill, Chairman OF rRoo
Kern C. Fleck, Planni
& Zoning Coordinator
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