The Dallas Planning Commission will decide Thursday afternoon on whether to grant a Special Use Permit for allowing gas drilling on city park land in Council District 6 in Northwest Dallas. This is for fracking drilling in a flood plane/park area that the Planning commission has previously denied. This is the case that sets the stage to decide whether gas drilling will be allowed in Dallas city parks. Trinity East Energy is requesting a Special Use Permit, which would allow them to place up to 20 gas wells in each of the following areas during the next 20 years with an automatic 10-year renewal period, so this will affect us for many years to come:   

• North of Northwest Highway and west of Luna Road
• South side of Royal Lane and west of Luna Road
• East side of Luna Road and north of Ryan Road

For the next 20-30 years, gas drilling will be permitted in these park areas if this is approved by the Planning Commission. City staff has recommended approval of this permit, so unless citizens show up to fight this, it is likely to pass.

If this fails at the Planning Commission then it would require a super majority vote in the City Council to get the permit. The Planning Commission is being pressured to pass this so that it would only require a minimal vote of the City Council to move forward. Your chance to take a stand on fracking in Dallas and gas drilling in city parks is tomorrow.

If you have an opinion on gas drilling, either for or against, in Dallas parks, please attend the Thursday's Planning Commission meeting. The meeting will be held Thursday afternoon in the Dallas Council Chambers on the 6th floor of Dallas City Hall at 1:30pm.