[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6578760,"mediaKeyId","3142268-27170c52c9c9b073ea7a70fa627fa3d2","parentId",3142268,"title","Richardson council approves sale of 2025 general obligation bonds and certificates of obligation; ratings affirmed","audioSeconds",643,"startMs",612000,"endMs",1255000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3142268-27170c52c9c9b073ea7a70fa627fa3d2&start=612&end=1255","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3142268-27170c52c9c9b073ea7a70fa627fa3d2/thumbnail_612000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6578760/Richardson/Dallas-County/Texas/Richardson-council-approves-sale-of-2025-general-obligation-bonds-and-certificates-of-obligation-ratings-affirmed","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6578760-afe4e1f359219e5f557e6a5c238607db/orig.mp4?Expires=1770866621&Signature=STDahTpGQwumqYDQuu6y3OPO6Bl0upfkzaillOY8NiG~EC~yuRBxRvudo2B44Nld9LCzcTP6VnwBGN8U0fNdxaaYrB2f8qcrnh6uAi1VCkhkZf0vOWFFbR3vrlVxXnMlslNfj9vjy7U90aFdDxp3XAy~U4E-V-AurjWB9UxhPS01W3yk1fYBaXiENvr9YHEH8dZ-Df~gzsHjHWrddcaaUneluNdbIGINlwakkOpRwkG6f6Z4XuQGkPdXHM6rMd8uKZ7PtFezaTklplK8vZ9ZE6dPiY6SUaoXRwWuEspCsebkv~I~k0QaYP8FfrM-5BSQ2idDLcEkDbvYLXgLWfbniw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Richardson","date","2025-04-28T00:00:00Z","article","The Richardson City Council voted Thursday to approve matters incident to the sale of the city’s 2025 debt issues, including a $61.31 million general obligation (G.O.) bond series and two certificate of obligation issues, one tax-exempt and one taxable for golf-course improvements.

George Willeford of Hilltop Securities reported on the negotiated sale. He told council the deals performed well in the market: Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s affirmed the city’s AAA ratings, and underwriters were able to secure substantial investor interest. Willeford said the G.O. bonds had a par amount of $61,310,000 and would generate roughly $63,670,000 of project funds, because of premiums achieved in the sale; the effective true interest cost for the G.O. bonds was 4.14%.

Willeford said the city’s tax-exempt certificate of obligation had a par amount of about $20,575,000 and would produce roughly $21,735,000 of project proceeds, with a true interest cost near 4.20%. The smaller taxable certificate of obligation—identified in the presentation as approximately $6,095,000—was described as financing golf-course improvements and carried an effective rate of about 5.47%; Willeford noted the taxable rate compares favorably with current mortgage rates.

Bob Dransfield of Norton Rose Fulbright, the city’s bond counsel, told council that closing was expected about a month after the sale (the presentation cited a late-May target). Staff asked council to approve ordinances and other matters incident to each sale. Council moved, seconded and approved ordinances authorizing the issuance and sale of the three financings; City staff identified Stifel, Nicolaus; Raymond James; and BOK as underwriting managers for the negotiated sales.

Why it matters: Council said the affirmed high ratings and competitive pricing preserve the city’s capacity to finance capital improvements at a lower cost. Presenters credited Richardson’s tax base, conservative financial management and reserve position as reasons rating agencies maintained the top ratings.

What the council approved: Motions and ordinances were adopted for (a) City of Richardson, Texas general obligation bond series 2025, (b) combination tax and revenue certificates of obligation series 2025A, and (c) combination tax and revenue certificates of obligation taxable series 2025B (golf course improvements). Staff and bond counsel said proceeds would be delivered at closing in late May and project funds would be available thereafter.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Richardson - City Council - Apr 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Richardson City Council approved ordinances authorizing the negotiated sale of the city’s 2025 general obligation bonds and two certificates of obligation after Hilltop Securities and bond counsel reported favorable market interest and affirmed AAA ratings.","taxTitle","Richardson, Dallas County, Texas","taxId",2786,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6578764,"Richardson officials briefed on DART plan to share sales-tax growth with cities through interlocal TIF-like agreements",2292,1378000,3670000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3142268-27170c52c9c9b073ea7a70fa627fa3d2&start=1378&end=3670","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3142268-27170c52c9c9b073ea7a70fa627fa3d2/thumbnail_1378000.jpg","/articles/6578764/Richardson/Dallas-County/Texas/Richardson-officials-briefed-on-DART-plan-to-share-sales-tax-growth-with-cities-through-interlocal-TIF-like-agreements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6578764-4199cc772c70a627e5b3921bf40c3803/orig.mp4?Expires=1770866621&Signature=QuHQOFCyOGwbsBPlBt3iEfhpAyJmt~h955tTdD5KetlNLq0SUzULl74dXfElebpoIJWuhX2VX8vTZ2cspA9ert0USN5GbQ-xYQZHHrWHtDrCMjes5l85gq3WpwOBRc5ODabzPCVAIvwPCbNtfYAetTUSg3D5J3wcKfWgKvWTsb5dnviTopBU7Po8COIPLTYUFKTCUA-3hcvVHVfXVfbSN65lI2hcm7OJ6JVKLGAzjH~pTSgNY02UTZDfQntB5r3kUFXeG8a-Acl~E-4qbJYIrI1kse~KSTYqQJ12P58Hz3dQyS83xsMUpKSOnXhtHzDD3IpzRstK5epSD7fp-gn8aw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City of Richardson staff and Dallas Area Rapid Transit officials on Thursday briefed the Richardson City Council on a proposed regional approach to allow DART to participate in tax-increment finance-style projects using municipal sales tax.

City Manager Don (last name not specified) and DART board chair Gary Slagle described a draft master interlocal agreement, developed by DART staff and a working group of city managers, that would allow DART to commit a share of municipal sales-tax growth inside defined zones to support transit-oriented development (TOD) near transit anchors such as stations, park-and-rides and transit centers.

The proposal responds to limits in existing Texas law for a transit agency’s direct participation in tax increment reinvestment zones (TIRZ/TIF). Council staff said the draft uses a master ILA and subsequent city-level letters of concurrence to create a “quasi-TIF” that shares incremental sales-tax receipts with DART for a 10-year term from the activation date. DART staff described safeguards intended to keep the agency “whole” for baseline sales tax—DART would use the higher of a one- or two-year look-back to set a base remittance and would share only the incremental growth thereafter.

Under the draft approach, DART’s participation in any project would generally be capped at 50% of the sales-tax increment, with some exceptions (for example, federally funded stations) where DART might participate at a higher share. Cities would be required to match DART dollars with city funds for every DART dollar spent. The ILA template under discussion would last five years; cities would opt into the master ILA and then activate specific zones or projects that would trigger up to 10 years of DART payments.

Richardson staff highlighted eligible uses that are more transit- and mobility-focused than typical TIF uses: streets, sidewalks, parking structures at TOD sites, mobility improvements, TOD project costs and other items allowed under Chapter 452 (as referenced in the briefing). Council members asked about administration, distance to anchors, how base years are set and safeguards if DART service at an anchor changes. DART and city managers said the proposal allows substitution of a transit anchor within a zone (for instance, replacing one station with another within the same zone) and permits the DART board to review one-off requests outside the template.

Council members broadly praised the collaborative effort. Gary Slagle said the approach could help cities compete regionally and boost both ridership and sales-tax growth. Council members urged prompt action at the state level to avoid legislation that would limit DART’s ability to participate; several council members suggested sending a letter to state legislators explaining the regional agreement. Staff said the DART board would review the master ILA at its upcoming meetings and that cities would have time to opt in before a December deadline specified in the template.

Why it matters: The proposal would provide a new funding tool to align development around transit stations across the DART service area, using shared sales-tax growth to finance public infrastructure that supports transit-oriented development. Supporters said it could speed projects and increase regional coordination; critics and some council members urged careful local oversight and clear public engagement about where funds would be invested.

What happens next: DART staff planned to brief their board and the committee of the whole in May; Richardson staff said they would return to council with additional materials and recommended language after the DART board’s action. Council members also discussed sending an informational letter to the state legislature about preserving local and regional flexibility.","City of Richardson staff and DART representatives described a draft master interlocal agreement that would let the transit agency share municipal sales-tax growth with member cities to finance transit-oriented projects for up to 10 years after activation.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6578751,"Council OKs special permit for Zipline operations and maintenance center at 1155 Cass Drive; docking tower limited to site",778,4634000,5412000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3142268-27170c52c9c9b073ea7a70fa627fa3d2&start=4634&end=5412","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3142268-27170c52c9c9b073ea7a70fa627fa3d2/thumbnail_4634000.jpg","/articles/6578751/Richardson/Dallas-County/Texas/Council-OKs-special-permit-for-Zipline-operations-and-maintenance-center-at-1155-Cass-Drive-docking-tower-limited-to-site","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6578751-cd04089d7f52b3bbfb2bc093adff1e65/orig.mp4?Expires=1770866621&Signature=bh38HaouRdOHpqn5FuIa5AR0PlEYf3Oi60vvpNrZdJbWIVpMCpOHyMRxSbVLh0ZANTITmwBg33whielz-46aiKCgtG70IuG6zAJ3GeEzWcG9IX2JV~9o30Kj5Rg2J1r5HF~gXEHWRz4HgPjXOPzeiAeP-A4o~nGFbF-TBQjfOJymOtflAcEzeI1z4~9aJMc7rUjyymvnRfeRyhsAT7ymm2SBtpwVHkz48pcW~95vkK4oGc7xCAqjBqHwpwz-TJzY3T3wOaN1qjV8WDsT4jZpDRcbGgXN3LZb2oJLzzbFNlkVtfo0dzvRmOzn~gPLAs65YiOX4YNeXgjETne5QPXolQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Richardson City Council on Thursday approved a special permit for Zipline International to operate an operations and maintenance center at 1155 Cass Drive. The permit, authorized through the Collins‑Arapaho plan‑development employment subdistrict rules, limits outside equipment to the docking station shown on the applicant’s concept plan and requires maintenance activity to occur inside the building except for the single docking tower.

City staff reminded council that under local land‑use authority the city may regulate ground‑based operations but not aircraft operation rules under federal jurisdiction. The supplemental PD requirements cited in staff materials require a minimum 300‑foot separation from single‑family or multifamily properties for a drill/maintenance facility; staff noted the Cass Drive site is roughly 1,700 feet from the nearest residential neighborhood.

Zipline representative Stephanie Cook told council the company plans to use the suite as a regional hub for maintenance, training, customer support and a small showroom. The outside structure would be a low, double‑dock tower (about 28 feet tall, per the applicant) located in a rear utility yard. Cook said the docking procedure is a brief undocking and redocking cycle used to validate maintenance work rather than routine point‑to‑point delivery flights from this address; she said most maintenance work happens inside and aircraft are driven to the site rather than flown in for repair.

Cook described safety and privacy features Zipline uses globally, including redundant systems, onboard obstacle‑detection sensors (FlightIQ), parachutes on aircraft and automated preflight inspections. She said the company conducts community and first‑responder outreach and offered contact information for neighborhood questions. No members of the public signed up to speak for or against the special permit at the meeting.

Council discussion touched on sound, weather constraints and incident reporting. Staff and Zipline representatives said the docking and undocking noise profile is in the range of roughly 53–64 decibels and that any major safety incident would be reported to federal authorities and coordinated with local first responders. Several council members expressed enthusiasm about the technology and its local economic potential; one council member asked for a mechanism to review operations in the future if issues arise.

The council adopted the special permit ordinance with conditions limiting outside equipment to the docking station and confining maintenance activities primarily to the interior of the building.","Council granted a special‑permit planned‑development amendment allowing Zipline International to use a suite at 1155 Cass Drive as a drone operations and maintenance center with a single outside docking tower for brief undock/dock validation flights; speakers emphasized the limited nature of the permitted activity and community engagement plans.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6578755,"Council approves rezoning for 89-unit townhome development on Shiloh Road despite neighborhood concerns",4350,2440000,6790000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3142268-27170c52c9c9b073ea7a70fa627fa3d2&start=2440&end=6790","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3142268-27170c52c9c9b073ea7a70fa627fa3d2/thumbnail_2440000.jpg","/articles/6578755/Richardson/Dallas-County/Texas/Council-approves-rezoning-for-89-unit-townhome-development-on-Shiloh-Road-despite-neighborhood-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6578755-932a3a0c640ea40b5715bf4787362321/orig.mp4?Expires=1770866621&Signature=KXioW3sct4t74tTodlQFBz61PoXKKeK7V~Ss6L5DkwEE9JY9bUiM3SE7DWlnwneSbuIDtw4VctjE20-sPvqGk7hweOPPZrvsHZmEg2NNbhfrUIV8k2aQekTcg2kYhwMKdMAV7Snrl4tL9DER4ERBfVjpK9GUdxCtjyGv02OP3Dk0W1Pq9x9ZTv6Fn4BoYEz4hMulxtmE9JiMlSwNSfPjiAWGOtJiOAO2X9MaFb5I3REWf8dCzBrTr8TcAGD19o7cN6ZOo5ExobipiLoj~sw2TBD5euqCGLrdmj2R7KWHoK4I8LdPGqXfyeCcB1PTu-diNn8PtcDi5iSNy1M4zoS6yw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Richardson City Council voted Thursday to rezone about 7 acres at 3600 Shiloh Road to a planned-development district allowing an 89-unit townhome community proposed by Pulte Group.

City senior planner Derek Peters described the project as a 20-building, primarily three‑story townhome plan with two points of access from Shiloh Road, a 60‑foot setback from Shiloh that will include a 30‑foot drainage and utility easement plus a 30‑foot landscaped buffer, a network of private streets and 27% open space. The plan showed a 2,000‑square‑foot dog park and a 5,000‑square‑foot central open area with seating and lighting. The applicant proposes a 6‑foot masonry screening wall on the east and south property lines and an extension of an existing 8‑foot masonry wall along the north property line.

Pulte’s presenter, Matt Dunwall, said the planned product will primarily be three‑story townhomes with an average price point “in the low to mid $500s” (as stated by the applicant) and that the company prefers three‑story units but included two‑story elevations as a market-flexibility option. He said parking is provided through two‑car garages plus approximately 0.75 guest spaces per unit, located principally along the eastern and southern property edges.

Resident Larry Moore, who lives north of the site, spoke in opposition at the public hearing. Moore said the area was long envisioned as a medical cluster tied to the nearby hospital and that the proposed three‑story townhomes do not fit the neighborhood character. He also said prior uses approved for the parcel (a nursing facility was developed and a private‑school special permit had been approved but not built) reflected an earlier plan for the property.

Council members debated the fit with the city’s Envision Richardson future‑land‑use map, which lists neighborhood‑service and neighborhood‑residential place types and identifies attached single‑family as a contemplated use in the area. Several council members, including Councilmember Jennifer Justice, said the requested use aligns with the city’s plan and the council approved the planned development ordinance and associated variance allowing lots without direct frontage and the requested height exceptions. The council passed the ordinance by unanimous vote.

Why it matters: The parcel has been vacant for years and has seen several prior zoning approvals that did not result in construction. The change brings a denser residential product bordering single‑family housing and light industrial/office uses; staff said screening, setbacks and the homeowners association maintenance obligations are intended to reduce impacts on adjacent properties.

What’s next: Staff and the applicant will finalize platting, engineering and permitting. The applicant indicated it would seek grading and construction approvals to begin work, with an anticipated ground‑breaking in 2026 if schedules and market conditions hold.","The council approved a planned-development district to allow 89 attached townhome units on an approximately 7-acre parcel at 3600 Shiloh Road; planner and applicant described setbacks, open space, architecture and screening walls; one nearby resident opposed, citing a prior medical‑campus vision.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Richardson council approves sale of 2025 general obligation bonds and certificates of obligation; ratings affirmed

Richardson officials briefed on DART plan to share sales-tax growth with cities through interlocal TIF-like agreements

Council OKs special permit for Zipline operations and maintenance center at 1155 Cass Drive; docking tower limited to site

Council approves rezoning for 89-unit townhome development on Shiloh Road despite neighborhood concerns