No wells are planned for the city, but the aldermen want to get in line with their neighbors.
By Christina Rodriguez
Star-Telegram staff writer
The Westlake Board of Aldermen will consider restrictions on oil and gas drilling at tonight's meeting, even though no company has expressed plans to drill there, Town Manager Trent Petty said.
"I don't think there's any concern at this point," he said. "That's why we're doing it. If you plan for something and think through it early enough you can avoid the surprise factor."
Petty predicted that the board will approve a 90-day moratorium on oil and gas drilling and work on ordinances during that time. Restrictions on noise and distance from residences are expected, he said.
"I'm sure it won't be radically different from other cities around us," he said. "The limitations of cities around us are pretty clear. I don't think we'll be paving new ground, we don't really need to, but we do need to be able to respond to a request if it's presented."
Gas rigs have multiplied along the Alliance Corridor, prompting residents to complain about noise and dust.
The Trophy Club Town Council voted to keep wells 1,000 feet from any property line, to set noise limits and to require public hearings before approving a permit.
Last spring, Flower Mound lifted a moratorium on permits but approved restrictions that will probably limit wells on the town's west side.
The Haslet City Council has voted to allow drilling anywhere in the city, but it also agreed that residents could form co-ops, lease land and receive royalty checks.
Ross Perot Jr., whose Hillwood Development Co. operates Alliance Airport business parks in far north Fort Worth, announced plans in September to drill 100 wells on his Alliance holdings, but Petty said he doesn't think there will be wells at Perot's Circle T Ranch in Westlake.
The 2,500 acres of open ranchland, with two corporate campuses and one residential development, make up about 60 percent of the town.
"Nobody's going to do something on their own property that's going to hurt ultimate value of their property," Petty said. "That's what sets us apart and gives us a little bit of advantage. The land owners here have significant interest in their property."
Hillwood isn't pursuing oil drilling in Westlake currently, but if it does the company will work with the city, Hillwood spokesman David Pelletier said.
"We'd be lending whatever expertise we have to their policies on drilling," Pelletier said. "Really, it's beneficial for everyone to have a good policy in place so everyone knows what you're working with when developing the property."
Petty said oil and gas wells could be both good and bad for Westlake.
"The city collects some revenue as a result of taxable value," he said. "But I think the thing you have to balance is they also don't come without a cost."
The cost could include aesthetic and safety factors, he said.
"If you have a piece of property zoned residential with $1 million home on that property, it's probably not the best place to build a well if you want to build more $1 million homes," Petty said.
Meeting
The Westlake Board of Aldermen meets at 7:30 p.m. at 3 Village Circle in Solana; phone (817) 430-0941.