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Arlington City Council approves gas well permits in final vote despite opposition

Arlington City Council unanimously passed the final vote for a specific use permit for Total E&P Barnett USA, LLC, to create the maverick drill site and drill zone at 2020 S. Watson Road during their Tuesday meeting. All council members were present and also unanimously passed a vote on 10 gas well permits for the site. Any future drilling permits within the approved drilling zone will not require a vote from the city council and will be forwarded by the director of Planning and Development Services Department. The 5.406 acre tract of land sits approximately 1,063 feet north of The Mother’s Heart Learning Center, a daycare serving about 100 children, according to previous Shorthorn reporting. The land also sits 911 feet from the closest residential area and 2,200 feet from the closest school which is further than the required 600-foot setback ordinance. The council gave preliminary approval for the site during a meeting last month in which nearly 30 residents from around the Dallas-Fort Worth area raised their concerns. During Tuesday’s meeting, over a dozen individuals spoke in opposition with TotalEnergies spokesperson Leslie Garvis speaking in support. TotalEnergies has owned the site’s land since 2008 and has made multiple attempts to get a permit approved for the wells within the past five years, according to previous Shorthorn reporting. Wanda Vincent, owner of The Mother’s Heart Learning Center, said the health and safety of the children is of utmost importance. “We keep coming out because we believe that our voices matter and that the people in this community matter,” Vincent said. Following the vote, council member Raul Gonzalez said he would ask to have an informal staff report in March on increasing the distance setbacks for wells. “We’re not ignoring you,” he said. “I’m not ignoring you, we care about you. We understand how important it is.” In response to community backlash, Arlington Mayor Jim Ross said each city council member took an oath to obey the law and the Texas Constitution, and the council could not make decisions based outside of their legal limits. “I’m disappointed that our community doesn't always take in the whole picture, and that we stick with a very narrow focus on what your passion is about,” Ross said. “I appreciate the passion, although sometimes I think it can be misguided.” Following the mayor’s speech, residents against the drill site began to leave. Ranjana Bhandari, Liveable Arlington executive director, said that she created the environmental advocacy organization over a decade ago because of how fracking was harming the community. Bhandari and Liveable Arlington have advocated with Mother’s Heart Learning Center for five years. She said advocacy and speaking up to their government is an American right. Arlington resident Nathan Gilbert, 36, said if something happens in any part of the city, it affects everyone. “I knew that it might turn out this way, and they might approve it, but I know that we need to oppose these things,” he said. “If not, they're going to do it more and we have to show resistance.” @wall035203
By James Ward, The Shorthorn staff | Wed, Feb 26, 2025

Arlington City Council approves gas well permits in final vote despite opposition

Arlington City Council members unanimously approve a specific use permit to create the maverick drill site and drill zone during an Arlington City Council meeting Feb. 25 at Arlington City Hall. The vote was contested by speakers who opposed the drill site.

Arlington City Council unanimously passed the final vote for a specific use permit for Total E&P Barnett USA, LLC, to create the maverick drill site and drill zone at 2020 S. Watson Road during their Tuesday meeting.

All council members were present and also unanimously passed a vote on 10 gas well permits for the site.

Any future drilling permits within the approved drilling zone will not require a vote from the city council and will be forwarded by the director of Planning and Development Services Department.

The 5.406 acre tract of land sits approximately 1,063 feet north of The Mother’s Heart Learning Center, a daycare serving about 100 children, according to previous Shorthorn reporting. The land also sits 911 feet from the closest residential area and 2,200 feet from the closest school which is further than the required 600-foot setback ordinance.

The council gave preliminary approval for the site during a meeting last month in which nearly 30 residents from around the Dallas-Fort Worth area raised their concerns.

During Tuesday’s meeting, over a dozen individuals spoke in opposition with TotalEnergies spokesperson Leslie Garvis speaking in support.

Arlington City Council approves gas well permits in final vote despite opposition

Wanda Vincent, owner of The Mother’s Heart Learning Center, speaks at an Arlington City Council meeting Feb. 25 at Arlington City Hall. Vincent brought a drawing that was given to her by a child that said, “The time is always right to do the right thing.”

TotalEnergies has owned the site’s land since 2008 and has made multiple attempts to get a permit approved for the wells within the past five years, according to previous Shorthorn reporting.

Wanda Vincent, owner of The Mother’s Heart Learning Center, said the health and safety of the children is of utmost importance.

“We keep coming out because we believe that our voices matter and that the people in this community matter,” Vincent said.

Following the vote, council member Raul Gonzalez said he would ask to have an informal staff report  in March on increasing the distance setbacks for wells.

“We’re not ignoring you,” he said. “I’m not ignoring you, we care about you. We understand how important it is.”

In response to community backlash, Arlington Mayor Jim Ross said each city council member took an oath to obey the law and the Texas Constitution, and the council could not make decisions based outside of their legal limits.

“I’m disappointed that our community doesn't always take in the whole picture, and that we stick with a very narrow focus on what your passion is about,” Ross said. “I appreciate the passion, although sometimes I think it can be misguided.”

Following the mayor’s speech, residents against the drill site began to leave.

Arlington City Council approves gas well permits in final vote despite opposition

Arlington Mayor Jim Ross speaks to attendees during an Arlington City Council meeting Feb. 25 at Arlington City Hall. Ross expressed his displeasure with some speaker’s comments.

Ranjana Bhandari, Liveable Arlington executive director, said that she created the environmental advocacy organization over a decade ago because of how fracking was harming the community.

Bhandari and Liveable Arlington have advocated with Mother’s Heart Learning Center for five years. She said advocacy and speaking up to their government is an American right.

Arlington resident Nathan Gilbert, 36, said if something happens in any part of the city, it affects everyone.

“I knew that it might turn out this way, and they might approve it, but I know that we need to oppose these things,” he said. “If not, they're going to do it more and we have to show resistance.”

@wall035203

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