Southlake: XTO Energy Request to Drill Denied
Southlake residents who don't want a 16" natural gas pipeline near their homes got their wish last Friday. Southlake P & Z voted 4-1 to deny XTO's request to drill near Brumlow Avenue and HWY 26. The specific use permit has been denied and Southlake homeowners can rest easy...for a little while.
The City Council can override P & Z vote only by a vote of six of the seven council members. XTO Energy's has requested the Southlake City Council (expected to vote Feb. 15) to delay the hearing and vote on the issue at the March 1 meeting instead. There is another drill site located in Keller that will also affect Southlake homeowners the Keller City Council will meet about on Feb. 15. located near Union Church Road and HWY 26. The proposal is to drill up to 21 wells here.
The residents who spoke at the P & Z meeting opposed the pipeline route because it would pass through the Timarron Golf Course and also homes on Timber Line Lane, Johnson Road and Randol Mill Road. The line would carry gas from numerous sites in Colleyville and possibly Keller to the market. Officials from Energy Transfer presented an alternate route.
The commission also voted 4-1 to deny variance requests, including a request to drill within 1,000 feet of four Southlake homes, nothing new here. Southlake P & Z did however vote 3-2 to recommend approval for the last variance allowing pipeline construction to go on 24 hours a day and exempts the company from noise restrictions, allowing for quicker pipe installation so I guess they made a little headway at the meeting. It doesn't really matter though if they can't get approval to drill in the first place.