THE LEDGER

Meeting Entity: City of Fate, Texas
Meeting Type: Public Presentation / Comprehensive Plan Workshop
Date: January 28, 2021
Time: 6:00pm
Location: Fate City Hall (in-person with online participation)

Source: https://fatetx.new.swagit.com/videos/112253

Attendance

Not stated

Members Present

Not stated

Members Absent

Not stated

Staff Present

• Justin Weiss, Assistant City Manager, City of Fate

Consultants / Presenters

• Chuck Marohn, Founder and President, Strong Towns

Agenda Items Addressed

Item #1: Presentation on fiscal sustainability, development patterns, and implications for the City of Fate comprehensive planning process.

Item #2: Public questions and discussion related to development patterns, transportation, zoning, and long-term fiscal responsibility.

(Only items actually discussed are listed.)

Summary of Proceedings

1. Opening and Introduction

• Assistant City Manager Justin Weiss opened the meeting.
• Weiss introduced guest speaker Chuck Marohn and read a biographical summary outlining Marohn’s professional background, publications, and role as founder of Strong Towns.
• Weiss stated the City of Fate has followed Marohn’s work for an extended period and welcomed him as part of the comprehensive planning process.

2. Presentation by Chuck Marohn (Strong Towns)

• Marohn stated this was his second presentation in Fate, referencing a prior visit in 2019.
• He described Fate as a model community engaged in advanced conversations about fiscal responsibility, growth, and resilience.
• Marohn stated the purpose of the presentation was to frame the comprehensive planning process with an understanding of long-term fiscal and development dynamics.

Core Concepts Presented

• Marohn distinguished between complex adaptive systems and complicated systems, using natural and mechanical analogies.
• He stated traditional cities evolved incrementally through adaptive development, while post–World War II development patterns emphasize efficiency and replication.
• He asserted modern development patterns prioritize job creation and economic transactions but lack adaptability and long-term fiscal sustainability.

Historical and Comparative Examples

• Marohn presented historical imagery and examples from:
  • Brainerd, Minnesota
  • Fresno, California
  • Lafayette, Louisiana
  • Buffalo, New York
• He described shifts from incremental, pre-war development to post-war horizontal expansion.
• He cited infrastructure metrics showing increased per-capita infrastructure liabilities over time.
• He presented examples of residential, commercial, and business park developments and discussed projected payback periods relative to infrastructure maintenance costs.

Fiscal Modeling and Infrastructure

• Marohn described cash-flow modeling illustrating how initial growth can create an “illusion of wealth.”
• He stated that continued growth delays, but does not eliminate, long-term infrastructure liabilities.
• He referenced Urban3 productivity modeling showing differences in tax productivity by land use pattern.
• He stated that older, mixed-use development patterns often generate higher tax productivity per acre than newer auto-oriented development.

Application to the City of Fate

• Marohn stated Fate is experiencing rapid growth and has the capacity to sustain growth for an extended period.
• He stated long-term liabilities must be considered in development decisions.
• He emphasized flexibility, adaptability, and fiscal transparency as guiding principles for comprehensive planning.
• He stated Fate’s position within the Dallas–Fort Worth metro area affects the type of development proposals the city receives.

3. Public Questions and Responses

• Questions were received both in-person and online.
• Topics included:
  • Integration of residential and non-residential land uses
  • Transportation infrastructure and frontage road development
  • Building codes and adaptive reuse
  • Examples of Texas cities exhibiting desired development characteristics
• Marohn responded by discussing:
  • Mixed-use neighborhood patterns
  • Long-term commitments versus short-term development lifespans
  • The role of building codes and staff expertise
  • Examples of Texas cities and neighborhoods with varying development approaches

4. Closing Remarks

• Marohn encouraged continued public participation in the comprehensive planning process.
• He referenced Strong Towns resources and stated content is available under a Creative Commons license.
• Assistant City Manager Justin Weiss closed the meeting by outlining that this event was one of multiple public sessions planned and directed attendees to the ForwardFate website for future participation.

Presentations Given

• Chuck Marohn, Strong Towns: Comprehensive presentation on development patterns, fiscal sustainability, and implications for comprehensive planning.

Questions Asked

• Questions were asked by attendees during the public Q&A portion of the meeting.

Public Comment

• Public questions were addressed during the meeting.
• No separate public comment period was stated.

Actions Taken

• No formal action was taken.

Record Note

This Ledger entry records the publicly observable proceedings of the meeting listed above. It does not offer analysis, interpretation, or commentary.