Rockwall City Council votes down late night liquor sales

The Rockwall City Council  unanimously voted down a proposal to extend mixed liquor sales until 2 a.m. at last week’s council meeting.

According to City Manager Julie Couch, there was no indication that any of the 31 license holders for the sale of mixed beverages in Rockwall would oppose the decision.

The proposal was first brought before the Council two months ago, suggesting that extending the sale would increase revenues for Rockwall restaurants and grocery stores, plus prevent traffic accidents by allowing Rockwall residents to drink closer to their homes.

Rockwall City Council votes again to annex Lake Rockwall Estates

The Rockwall City Council voted again Tuesday night to annex Lake Rockwall Estates by the same 6-1 margin as it did about two weeks ago.

The lone dissenting vote was cast by Mark Russo, who said one of his election promises was to try to keep city taxes low.

No other details are currently available.

Rockwall City Council votes to annex Lake Rockwall Estates, 6-1

Houses, mobile homes, autos and more are crowded into the generally run-down Lake Rockwall Estates area, located South of I-30 off Horizon Rd.

In an effort to clean up a generally run-down portion of the  community where over 1,000 children live, the Rockwall City Council voted last night to annex Lake Rockwall Estates, 6-1.

More city services will now be provided to the area, plus police will add patrols to the area troubled by high crime.

Read the details on the blogs of two City Council members:

RockwallTalks by Glen Farris

Margo Nielsen

Tom Thumb food store coming to Rockwall

There will be a new Tom Thumb food store coming to Rockwall soon.

Owned by one of the nation’s largest supermarket chains, Safeway Inc, the new grocery store will be located North of Rockwall at the intersection of State Highways 205 (N. Goliad) and 552, in the new Stone Creek retail center.

Hwy. 552 is the same road that Williams Elementary and Williams Middle Schools are on.

Tom Thumb was just granted a variance on the height of lights it wants for the interior of the parking lot by the Rockwall City Council last week.

For more details, visit www.rockwallrocks.com and see the headline at: Light pole height variance granted for shopping center at FM 552

Rockwall City Council selects architect to develop master plan for hill above Harbor

The Rockwall City Council voted 6 to 1 Aug. 16 to approve the hiring of an architectural firm to begin developing a master plan for the the Hill above The Harbor.

According to City Council member Glen Farris, who wrote the story on his new blog “Rockwall Talks,” the hill is considered the most important undeveloped land in Rockwall, if not the entire metroplex.

The Council approved Talley and Associates, after the firm was recommended by a subcommittee comprised of Farris, Mayor Bill Cecil, and Council member Margo Nielsen after an extensive selection process during which five firms were considered.

“Talley and Associates will go through a fairly extensive process in order to identify the best mixed use recommendation for this piece of land,” wrote Farris.

“This process will be developed through brainstorming with the City Council and staff as well as working with a team of individuals, including a marketing firm and architectural firm, in order to arrive at the best concept plan proposal for development of this site,” he added.

“A market analysis would be conducted to identify market trends for the type of development that is most ideal as well as an associated estimate on the potential value of the land once it is developed. There will also be a set of design standards that would be brought forth for adoption by the City as well as a concept plan and parking recommendations. View corridor and graphic depiction of the proposed elevation recommendations would also be included in the concept.”

For more details, visit Farris’ blog Rockwall Talks.

Rockwall City Council agrees not to exceed tax rate of 50.88 cents

After an all day meeting on August 15th, the Rockwall City Council agreed to a tax rate not to exceed 50.88 cents for the upcoming fiscal year.

For more details, see City Council member Glen Farris’ new blog “Rockwall Talks.”