And that's exactly what happened as more than 500 residents showed up Monday night, mostly in opposition to the bridge, at the Grapevine Convention Center for the city's public hearing on potential bond projects.
Potential bond projects include:
- a new animal shelter,
- relocating and replacing Firehouses No. 2 and No. 3,
- extending Heritage Avenue from Mustang Road to SH 26,
- elevating Dove Road so that will it not flood,
- reconstructing the Grapevine Golf Course Clubhouse and Concourse,
- connecting Euless-Grapevine Road between Hughes Road and SH 360, and
- constructing a bridge to connect north and south Heritage Avenue.
Here are 5 things to know about Monday's public hearing:
1. A couple of speakers spoke of the importance of a new animal shelter
Although most residents who came to the podium spoke about the Heritage Avenue bridge, some spoke in favor of putting a new animal shelter on the bond.
In a presentation about the potential new animal shelter, Police Chief Eddie Salame said the new shelter would be built on the same property at the existing facility. It would total 9,604 square feet, including 2,856 square feet from the existing shelter.
In March, council heard a needs assessment study on the animal shelter. The study indicated the existing shelter was too small and was subpar when compared to other shelters across the nation. For more about the study, click here.
2. Impact on Parr Park a factor from opposition crowd
A common theme throughout the night from those in opposition of the Heritage Avenue bridge was the potential negative impact the bridge would have on Parr Park. Residents said the bridge would take away about 7 acres of park land, harm wildlife and increase noise and pollution.
3. Safety of school children a concern
Some of the residents of neighborhoods that would be directly affected by the bridge, such as Western Oaks, said they feared for the safety of their children who walk home from nearby Heritage Elementary School. There were also two children who spoke about how they would not feel safe riding their bike or walking to school if the bridge was constructed.
4. Completion of bridge to increase mobility
Those in favor of the bridge stated the connection would help residents avoid traffic-congested highways, improve access and reduce the amount of time and gas it takes to travel from south Grapevine to north Grapevine.
5. Emergency response time a topic of discussion
Fire Chief Darrell Brown said the bridge connection would help emergency responders reach the Heritage Avenue area within the expected 4-minute timeframe. However, opposers said they feel as if there are other options than building the bridge to help increase response time. Those other options included building another fire station and adding an ambulance at Fire Station No. 4, which currently does not have one.
No action was taken at the public hearing. Council will make a decision on the bond and its projects in August. If called, the bond would be held in November.
