[00:00:03]
WELCOME TO THE CITY OF ANNA PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING FOR DECEMBER 2ND, 2024.
[1. Call to Order, Roll Call, and Establishment of Quorum.]
THE TIME IS NOW 6:02 P.M..WE ARE MISSING COMMISSIONER HERMANN AND A QUORUM HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED.
LET'S PRAY. FATHER, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN TOGETHER TODAY.
THANK YOU, LORD, FOR THIS SEASON THAT WE JUST THIS HOLIDAY THAT WE JUST COMPLETED WITH THANKSGIVING.
LORD, AND I PRAY THAT EVERYBODY HAS A HEALTHY AND SAFE HOLIDAY SEASON, AND I HOPE THOSE THAT ARE IN NEED GET THEIR NEEDS FILLED AND THOSE THAT AND PEOPLE CAN HELP SUPPORT THOSE PEOPLE.
EACH PERSON WILL BE ALLOWED UP TO THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
NO DISCUSSION OR ACTION MAY BE TAKEN AT THIS MEETING ON ITEMS NOT LISTED ON THIS AGENDA, OR THAN TO MAKE STATEMENTS OF SPECIFIC FACTUAL INFORMATION IN RESPONSE TO A NEIGHBOR'S INQUIRY, OR RECITE EXISTING POLICY IN RESPONSE TO THE INQUIRY.
NOW FOR AN UPDATE FROM STEPHANIE SCOTT-SIMS, THE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKER CARDS TODAY?
[Consent Items]
MOVING ON TO CONSENT ITEMS AT THIS TIME, DOES ANY COMMISSIONER WISH TO PULL AN ITEM FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA? CAN WE PULL ITEM NINE? WE REQUEST TO PULL ITEM NINE.DO YOU WANT US TO MOTION THE REST OF THEM OR TALK ON ITEM NINE? MAKE A MOTION. WE APPROVE ITEM SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT AND TEN.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
I HAVE AN APPROVAL FROM COMMISSIONER VOLLMER AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MARTIN.
ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
ITEM NUMBER NINE IS A MINOR PLAT FOR THE G2 MOTORSPORTS PARK.
MY ONLY QUESTION WAS, THEY'RE CONSOLIDATING A LOT OF THINGS.
ARE THEY CHANGING ANYTHING, OR DO ALL OF THEM ALREADY HAVE THE EXACT SAME RESTRICTIONS, CODE ALL THAT? IT'S JUST CONSOLIDATION FOR THEIR PURPOSE? VALIDATING THE EIGHT LOTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY EXISTING, WHICH INCLUDES TWO HOMES.
CORRECT. THEY RECEIVE ONE TAX BILL INSTEAD OF EIGHT.
ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS HAVE QUESTIONS ON ITEM NINE? NO. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NINE? I MAKE A MOTION WE APPROVE ITEM NINE.
I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER VOLLMER AND A SECOND BY BLANSETT.
ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION PASSES. UNANIMOUS.
[Items for Individual Consideration]
MOVING ON TO ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.[00:05:02]
DISCUSS ACTION ON A RESOLUTION REGARDING THE SUNDSTORM ADDITION.BLOCK A LOTS ONE AND TWO REPLAT.
THIS ITEM WOULD BE A MINOR PLAT.
SINCE THAT TIME, WESTMINSTER REVOKED THEIR CHARTER AND SO NOW THEY FALL WITHIN OUR ETJ.
THE APPLICANT HAD SUBMITTED A BUILDING PERMIT WITH THE COLLIN COUNTY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, WHICH WAS APPROVED PREVIOUSLY UNDER THAT ORIGINAL DONATION PLAT, AND THEN THE APPLICANT HAS COME BACK WITH A MINOR REPLAT OF THE FOUR LOTS INTO TWO LOTS.
HOWEVER, THE ISSUE IS THAT WITH PROPERTIES IN THE ETJ, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A 25 FOOT BUILDING SETBACK, AND PROPERTIES IN THE ETJ ARE REQUIRED TO PROVE THAT THEY ARE PROVIDING SOME SORT OF WASTEWATER.
THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING WAIVERS FROM THOSE TWO REGULATIONS.
THE TWO LOTS WOULD BE ESSENTIALLY NOT VERY DEVELOPABLE.
THE RECOMMENDATION IS FOR APPROVAL, SUBJECT TO A WAIVER FROM CITY COUNCIL FOR THE SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR SECTION 9.02.088(C), WHICH IS THE BUILDING LINE REQUIREMENT, AND SECTION 9.02.090 AS IT PERTAINS TO THE WASTEWATER REQUIREMENTS.
THE APPLICANT IS PRESENT AS WELL.
LAUREN, THEY CURRENTLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET WASTEWATER AND WATER AT THIS SITE, DO THEY NOT? THEY HAVE WATER.
THERE'S NO ISSUE WITH THE WATER.
THEY'RE UNDER THE WESTMINSTER CCN.
HOWEVER, THIS AREA DOES NOT HAVE SEWER.
DO THEY ALSO HAVE A 20 FOOT SETBACK ON THOSE BUILDINGS ON THOSE PROPERTIES? I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH WHAT WAS REQUIRED BACK WHEN WESTMINSTER WAS ITS OWN TOWN.
THEIR HISTORICAL BUILDINGS, THEY DON'T HAVE THE SETBACK.
SO IF THIS IS GOING TO BE DEVELOPED LIKE A DOWNTOWN AREA, LIKE A STRIP LIKE THAT, YOU'LL SEE IN SOME MUNICIPALITIES THAT MAYBE THE 25 FOOT SETBACK IS NOT NECESSARY BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF LIKE AN ESTHETIC, A LOOK THAT YOU'RE GOING FOR.
THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? OKAY. DO I HAVE A MOTION ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 11? BEFORE YOU DO THAT, DID THE APPLICANT WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? OH, I WAS TOLD NO.
OH, SORRY. ANY QUESTIONS? GOTCHA. WELL, I'LL MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
I HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL BY MYSELF, AND A SECOND BY NYLEC.
COMMISSIONER NYLEC. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUS.
CONSIDER. DISCUSS ACTION ON AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND AN EXISTING PLAN.
DEVELOPMENT TO ALLOW FOR COMMERCIAL DRONE DELIVERY.
LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF BUDDY HAYES BOULEVARD.
265 PLUS OR MINUS FEET NORTH OF WHITE STREET ZONED PLANNED DEVELOPMENT.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:11 P.M..
THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS WALMART.
IT WAS ORIGINALLY ANNEXED AND ZONED IN 2003, AND THEN IN 2014, THE CITY REPEALED THOSE TWO ZONING ORDINANCES AND REPLACED IT WITH THE CURRENT PLANNED DEVELOPMENT THAT'S IN PLACE.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING IN OUR ZONING ORDINANCE THAT COVERS DRONES.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE HAVING TO AMEND THIS PLAN DEVELOPMENT SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS REQUEST.
[00:10:01]
THEY HAVE A LOT MORE STAFF THAN WE DO, AND SO I KNOW THAT THEY VETTED IT.COMPATIBILITY FOR THIS REQUEST.
SUGGESTED STANDARDS INCLUDE RESTRICTING THE AREA THAT THESE DRONES WOULD BE IN.
THAT'S SHOWN ON THE SITE PLAN THAT IT BE A MAXIMUM OF 5000FT².
THE AREA THAT THEY'RE REQUESTING IS UNDER 5000FT², BUT OVER 4000.
TYPICALLY WE REQUIRE MECHANICAL SCREENING.
ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE SUGGESTING THAT THEY ADD ADDITIONAL ORNAMENTAL TREES.
THEY ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE ONE CANOPY TREE PER 40 LINEAR FEET ALONG BUDDY HAYES BOULEVARD, AND WE'RE SUGGESTING THAT THEY ADD ADDITIONAL ORNAMENTAL TREES FOR EVERY 20 LINEAR FEET OF THE FENCING TO GIVE IT A SCREENING EFFECT FROM BUDDY HAYES BOULEVARD.
THIS REQUEST WILL NOT REDUCE THE PARKING.
IT WILL HAVE A SLIGHT MODIFICATION TO CIRCULATION FOR THE PHARMACY PICKUP.
STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL AS PRESENTED.
AS I MENTIONED, THE APPLICANT HAS REQUESTED FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE DEFINITION AND WE RECEIVE ONE NEUTRAL RESPONSE FROM AN ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER, AND THE APPLICANT'S REPRESENTATIVES ARE HERE WITH THEIR OWN PRESENTATION.
DO ANY COMMISSIONERS HAVE QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE RED LINE? YES. THANK YOU.
DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH WEIGHT THEY'RE PLANNING ON TRYING TO TAKE OFF FROM THE AREA? THE APPLICANT IS HERE AND CAN ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
I'LL ASK IT LATER. I'LL WAIT FOR EVERYBODY ELSE.
I'M SORRY IF I MISSED IT. WHERE WOULD THIS BE? WHICH SIDE OF THE CURRENT WALMART WOULD THIS BE? I'M CONFUSED BY THAT. SO WHEN YOU'RE COMING FROM WEST WHITE STREET AND YOU TURN ONTO BUDDY HAYES BOULEVARD, WHERE THAT INTERESTING INTERSECTION AT WALMART, IT WOULD BE STRAIGHT AHEAD IF YOU WERE TO KEEP GOING STRAIGHT RIGHT WHEN YOU TURN OFF OF WHITE.
SO IT'S LIKE THE SOUTH SIDE OF WHERE WALMART IS NOW? YES. ARE THEY WILLING TO CHANGE THE EXIT ROUTE COMING OUT FROM OVER THERE TO ALLOW FLOW TO EASE A LITTLE BIT BETTER OFF OF WALMART, LIKE TO CONNECT TO THE BACK ROAD? I SAW ON THEIR PRELIMINARY THAT THEY DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ANY KIND OF EXITING CHANGES COMING OUT OF THAT AREA.
THEY'RE UTILIZING THE PROPERTY AS IT IS, BUT WOULD THEY BE WILLING TO, SINCE THEY'RE ALREADY THERE? LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO DO SOME MINOR CONCRETE WORK IF THEY WOULD ADD A ROAD OUT TO THE EAST.
THE CHALLENGE WITH THAT IS THE ELEVATION FROM THIS AREA, THIS PART OF THE PROPERTY TO BUDDY HAYES BOULEVARD IS A DECENT DROP, THAT THERE'S A RETAINING WALL ALONG THAT SIDE THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO FIX WITH THIS CHANGE THROUGH THE CIVIL PLANS, BUT I THINK THAT GRADE CHANGE IS TOO SIGNIFICANT FOR AN EXIT.
I CAN PULL UP THE SITE PLAN THAT HAS THE WHOLE SITE.
ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS HAVE QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? IS THIS OUR FIRST DRONE COMPANY? ANNA RIGHT NOW? CORRECT. SO WE HAVE NOT BEEN ASKED FOR DRONE DELIVERIES PREVIOUSLY.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE SETTING A PRESENCE HERE GOING FORWARD, RIGHT? CORRECT. OKAY.
THANKS. I JUST DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT IT.
DOES THE APPLICANT WISH TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION OR IS THE APPLICANT PRESENT? PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND THE COMPANY YOU WORK FOR.
[00:15:06]
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS STEVEN GRAVES, 702 SOUTHWEST 8TH STREET, BENTONVILLE.WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, ESPECIALLY SINCE 2020, AND COVID WAS A BIG GROWTH AND BIG PUSH BY OUR CUSTOMERS FOR EASE AND SPEED, AND HOW CAN THEY TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR LOVED ONES AND DO THIS QUICKLY AND REALLY PUT IT INTO EACH AND EVERY DAY ASPECTS OF THEIR LIFE? SO WHAT WE'VE REALLY TRIED TO DO WITH WALMART DELIVERY IS LOOK AT DIFFERENT THINGS, SUCH AS IN-HOME, BEING ABLE TO TAKE WHATEVER THEY ORDER, TAKE IT INSIDE THE HOUSE, PUT IT INTO THE REFRIGERATOR PICKUP.
YOU KNOW, WHETHER THEY WANT TO COME PICK IT UP AT THE STORE.
SAY THEY'RE COOKING. THEY FORGOT SOMETHING.
THEY HAVE SOMEBODY THAT'S SICK.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE ASKED FOR.
THEY'VE DONE DELIVERIES FOR US IN PEA RIDGE TO GREAT SUCCESS AND THEY'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, AND THEY'LL TALK ABOUT THEIR TECHNOLOGY AS WELL TOO, AND THEN WE'VE ALSO PARTNERED WITH KIMLEY-HORN, WHO IS THE ENGINEERING FIRM THAT'S GOING TO DO THE PRESENTATION AS WELL TOO.
JUST LIKE I SAID, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL.
TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND, THIS IS A LABOR OF LOVE FOR ME.
AS PART OF THAT, I HAVE A SON THAT HAS AUTISM.
MY WIFE HAD CANCER LAST YEAR AND THIS IS WHY I'M EXCITED ABOUT DRONE DELIVERY.
MY WIFE DOESN'T HAVE TO GO OUT.
WE GET THAT, YOU KNOW, QUICKLY.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY I TRULY BELIEVE IN THIS.
I'M NOT, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY THAT IS COMING FROM WALMART JUST TO TALK ABOUT A PROJECT.
SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND HAND IT OFF TO KIMLEY-HORN.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CAROLYN COOK WITH KIMLEY-HORN, 6160 WARREN PARKWAY IN FRISCO.
AS STATED, WE ARE THE CIVIL ENGINEER FOR THE PROJECT, AND I JUST WANTED TO WALK YOU ALL QUICKLY THROUGH THE SITE PLAN AND KIND OF WHERE THIS WAS GOING TO BE LOCATED ON THE SITE.
SO WE ARE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE SITE THERE BY THE PHARMACY DRIVE-THRU.
THERE'S CURRENTLY KIND OF JUST A BIG OPEN CONCRETE AREA THAT'S NOT REALLY BEING UTILIZED.
SO THAT IS WHERE WE PLAN ON PLACING THE DRONE DELIVERY IN RED.
SO IT'S CURRENTLY ON A LESS POPULATED TRAFFIC AREA OF THE SITE.
WE ALSO WANTED TO KEEP IT AWAY.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE SITE PLAN THAT I CAN ANSWER? THAT I WILL PASS IT OVER TO CONNOR WITH ZIPLINE.
THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.
CONNOR WILKINSON WITH ZIPLINE INTERNATIONAL 333 CORY WAY IN SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.
FIRST OFF, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR HEARING OUR PRESENTATION.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'LL GO THROUGH A QUICK PRESENTATION, AND THEN IF WE'RE ABLE TO ADDRESS, YOU KNOW, PROACTIVELY A LOT OF THOSE QUESTIONS AND THEN I'LL TAKE SOME AFTERWARDS, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE RED LINE AND OTHER ITEMS, IF THAT WORKS FOR YOU ALL.
SO YOU MAY HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN OR HEARD ABOUT ZIPLINE.
OUR TECHNOLOGY IS REALLY GREAT.
WE'VE ACTUALLY EARNED A LOT OF MEDIA, EVERYTHING FROM WALL STREET JOURNAL TO CBS NEWS, DALLAS MORNING NEWS, PRINCETON HERALD, AND KAUFMAN HERALD AS WE'RE LIKE BUILDING AND SETTING UP THESE SITES, LOTS OF EXCITEMENT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND THE WORLD THAT WE'RE BUILDING.
OVERALL, ZIPLINE IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST DRONE DELIVERY COMPANY.
WE'VE DONE OVER 1.2 MILLION COMMERCIAL DRONE DELIVERIES.
[00:20:04]
WE GOT OUR START IN AFRICA DELIVERING BLOOD AND BLOOD PRODUCTS WHERE WE'RE SAVING LIVES.WE'VE SINCE EXPANDED OUR USE CASES IN AFRICA AS WELL AS THE UNITED STATES.
WE STARTED DELIVERIES IN THE UNITED STATES IN 2020, IN ARKANSAS WITH WALMART, AS WELL AS A HEALTHCARE USE CASE IN UTAH, WHERE WE'RE DELIVERING PRESCRIPTION GOODS, AS WELL AS ABOUT 80% OF THE ITEMS FROM A WALMART STORE, AND A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE GET ASKED IS LIKE, WHY ZIPLINE? WHY DRONE DELIVERY? WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT NOT ONLY DOES IT SAVE PEOPLE TIME, WE ACTUALLY CAN LEAD TO INCREASED SAFETY ON ROADS BECAUSE WE'RE REDUCING TRAFFIC AS WELL AS THERE'S ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESSES, SMALL AND LARGE, AND IMPROVED ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE GOODS.
THAT CAN BE LIKE AN EIGHT MINUTE DRIVE OR THAT CAN BE A 40 MINUTE DRIVE, BUT WHAT WE FOUND IS WHEN WE IMPLEMENT OUR AIRCRAFT THAT WE CALL ZIPS, WE'RE GENERALLY ABLE TO MAKE THOSE FLIGHTS IN ABOUT SEVEN MINUTES.
SO WHEN THERE'S LIKE COLD CHAIN ITEMS THAT NEED TO STAY COLD, WHETHER THAT'S YOUR ICE CREAM OR THAT'S YOUR INSULIN, WE'RE ABLE TO GET THEM THERE VERY QUICKLY AND IN A CONDITION THAT PEOPLE NEED THEM TO BE.
SO THIS VIDEO, IF WE CAN GET IT TO PLAY HERE.
I THINK THE NEXT ONE MIGHT PLAY AND WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN USE THAT ONE.
I WILL TALK THROUGH IT AND WE'LL SEE HOW WE CAN DO.
SO WHAT YOU CAN SEE HERE IS ESSENTIALLY A DOCK STRUCTURE.
THAT'S WHAT WE CALL A DOUBLE DOCK.
THE LOWER DOCK IS WHERE THE AIRCRAFT IS ABLE TO STAY.
SO THE ITEMS GET LOADED INTO THE DROID BY A WALMART ASSOCIATE.
THE DROID THEN GOES INTO THE MAIN AIRCRAFT, THE DRONE.
THE ZIP THEN RUNS THROUGH OVER 500 AUTOMATED PREFLIGHT CHECKS, AND THEN IT'LL TAKE OFF FROM THE DOCK, FLIES UP TO ABOUT 300FT, AND THEN IT FLIES AUTONOMOUSLY TO THE DELIVERY SITE. SO YOUR HOUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THEN THE REALLY UNIQUE PART IS THAT IT STAYS AT 300FT.
SO WE'VE DESIGNED A TWO PART STRUCTURE THAT BASICALLY KEEPS THE MAIN AIRCRAFT WAY UP HIGH, AND JUST THE DELIVERY DROID COMES DOWN AND YOU CAN SEE IT HAS SOME FANS ON THE SIDE AND ON THE BACK. THAT ALLOWS US TO MAKE A REALLY PRECISE AND SAFE DELIVERY, EVEN WHEN THERE'S LIKE WIND GUSTS OR WIND CONDITIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHILE ALSO REDUCING THE NOISE PROFILE, THE ACOUSTICS AS THE AIRCRAFT STAYS WAY UP HIGH.
SO A COUPLE OF KEY ELEMENTS HERE IS THE AIRCRAFT ARE FULLY AUTONOMOUS.
THE PAYLOAD IS UP TO ABOUT 8 POUNDS.
THE MAXIMUM SERVICE RADIUS IS ABOUT TEN MILES THAT WE INTEND TO START WITH, ABOUT A TWO MILE SERVICE RADIUS HERE IN ANNA, FLIES UP TO ABOUT 70 MILES AN HOUR AND THE WINGSPAN IS ABOUT EIGHT FEET.
WE BELIEVE THAT OUR DELIVERY DROID IS QUITE CUTE.
LIKE, I WANT TO GET MY DONUTS OR MY COOKIES DELIVERED FROM IT, BUT WE CAN DO EVERYTHING FROM FRESH PREPARED FOOD, ELECTRONICS, GROCERY ITEMS, AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND THAT LIKE 8 POUNDS. AS WE'VE GONE AROUND, IS PEOPLE TEND TO CHUCKLE WHEN THEY THINK ABOUT 8 POUNDS OF BRISKET BEING DELIVERED TO THEM IN ABOUT TWO MINUTES, AND A BIG ELEMENT IN QUESTION THAT WE GET OFTEN IS NOISE, WHICH I'M SURE SOME OF YOU GUYS HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT.
SO WE ARE VERY, VERY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION.
ONE OF THE KEY LIKE DESIGN FACTORS FOR US IS BUILDING SOMETHING THAT WE'RE COMFORTABLE OPERATING IN OUR OWN BACKYARDS AND THAT, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS SAY THAT WE DON'T WANT YOUR NEIGHBOR TO HATE YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE GETTING SOMETHING CONVENIENT.
SO THROUGH A SERIES OF ENGINEERING CHALLENGES AND THE TWO PART ARCHITECTURE, THE LOUDEST THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MEASURE ZIPS AT WITH MAXIMUM PAYLOAD AT 100FT AWAY IS 64DB, AND FOR REFERENCE, THAT IS JUST ABOUT QUIETER THAN A NORMAL CONVERSATION, AND THE QUIETEST THAT IT IS WHEN WE'RE DELIVERING IS RIGHT AROUND THAT 53DB, WHICH IS ABOUT LIKE ONE FOURTH AS LOUD AS A NORMAL CONVERSATION.
SO THE REFERENCE POINT THERE IS LIKE A REFRIGERATOR IN THE NEXT ROOM, AND THE REASON WHY WE PUT THIS LITTLE CHART ON THE RIGHT SIDE IS WHEN I WAS TOLD, HEY, 53DB AND 64DB, I SAID, I'M NOT AN ENGINEER. I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND EXACTLY HOW LOUD THAT IS.
SO FOR REFERENCE, THAT'S WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO FIND THAT TO THE HUMAN EAR, 53DB IS ABOUT A QUARTER AS LOUD AS THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE HAVING RIGHT NOW, AND WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT. SO 1.2 MILLION COMMERCIAL DELIVERIES AND OVER 90 MILLION MILES FLOWN AUTONOMOUSLY.
[00:25:05]
WE DO THIS BECAUSE WE DESIGN, BUILD, ENGINEER, TEST AND OPERATE OUR OWN AIRCRAFT.SO WE DESIGNED SAFETY CRITICAL SYSTEMS WITH MULTIPLE REDUNDANCIES.
WE HAVE THAT TWO PART ARCHITECTURE.
WE TEST THE AIRCRAFT AT OUR TEST RANCHES IN CALIFORNIA, AS WELL AS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.
THIS ALLOWS US TO GET ULTRA COLD AS WELL AS ULTRA HOT AND EXTREME WEATHER.
SO IT'S DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR DELIVERY OPERATIONS.
SO AS I JUST MENTIONED, I WAS OUT WITH DALLAS ISD JUST THE OTHER WEEK.
WE COMPLETED IT, AND THEN WE WERE ABLE TO DO LIVE DELIVERIES OF ICE CREAM FOR THE STUDENTS AS A REWARD FOR SITTING THROUGH THE PRESENTATION, AND ONE THING THAT WAS REALLY EXCITING FOR US IS ONE OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS, SHE'S ABOUT THREE YEARS OLD, WROTE US A LETTER AFTERWARDS AND SAID, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.
THE LAST THING THAT I'LL MENTION IS, I KNOW THAT THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE RED LINES, AND SO THE CAVEAT THERE IS, WELL, THERE HAS BEEN AT LEAST ONE CITY THAT'S IMPLEMENTED ORDINANCES WITH A 50 POUND WEIGHT LIMIT, AND THOSE DRONES CAN OPERATE FROM THEIR UAS STAGING AREAS IN THAT CITY.
MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE 50 POUND, 55 POUND WEIGHT LIMIT IS ADOPTED FROM 14 CFR PART 107, WHICH PERTAINS TO ONLY SOME PARTS OF COMMERCIAL DELIVERIES OR COMMERCIAL DRONE OPERATIONS.
GENERALLY SPEAKING, IT'S LIKE REAL ESTATE AND PHOTOGRAPHY AND THAT IS NOT AUTHORIZED PACKAGE DELIVERY BEYOND VISUAL LINE OF SIGHT WHICH IS WHAT MOST DELIVERY COMPANIES, INCLUDING ZIPLINE, WING AND AMAZON ARE ALREADY DOING.
SO WITH THAT, ANY QUESTIONS? I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
SO YOU HAD A LIST OF ALL THE ITEMS THAT YOU TYPICALLY WILL FLY FROM SOME OF YOUR LOCATIONS.
DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT YOU'RE PLANNING ON DRONING FROM THIS WALMART OUT AND I'M CURIOUS ON LIKE AGE RESTRICTED ITEMS LIKE SOME MEDS HAVE TO HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE. YOU HAVE TO HAVE BE SO OLD TO GET THE MEDICATIONS.
HOW WILL THAT WORK WITH THE DRONE DEPLOY? THAT'S A THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
SO GENERALLY SPEAKING WE'RE LOOKING AT BEING ABLE TO DELIVER ABOUT 80% OF THE ITEMS FROM THE WALMART, WHICH INCLUDES EVERYTHING FROM, YOU KNOW, GROCERY ITEMS TO OVER-THE-COUNTER GOODS, AND AS OF RIGHT NOW, I'M CURRENTLY NOT AWARE OF ANY PLANS TO DO ANY LIKE AGE RESTRICTED ITEMS. CURRENTLY, IT WILL LAUNCH WITH ITEMS THAT YOU'D BE ABLE TO PURCHASE WITHOUT A DRIVER'S LICENSE VERIFICATION, BUT SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO PHYSICALLY REMOVE THE ITEMS FROM THE FROM THE DRONE, CORRECT? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I WAS HOPING TO BE ABLE TO SHOW THE VIDEO BECAUSE IT DOES SHOW IT ON THE DELIVERY DROID.
YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THERE'S DOORS ON THE VERY BOTTOM.
SO WE DESIGNED THE SYSTEM SO THAT NOBODY, LIKE A CONSUMER, HAS TO INTERACT WITH THE AIRCRAFT AT ALL.
SO IT'LL JUST DEPOSIT THE ITEMS AT THE ADDRESS.
[00:30:09]
THEM. WILL IT REQUIRES SOMEBODY TO, THROUGH THE APP, SAY, "I'M HERE; I'M READY TO TAKE MY DELIVERY?" WITH THIS SYSTEM, THE FAA APPROVALS DO NOT REQUIRE THAT YOU DO THAT, AND WE'RE EXPECTING DELIVERIES TO HAPPEN IN UNDER 30 MINUTES, AND WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT USERS ARE GENERALLY QUITE ANTICIPATORY OF THEIR ITEMS, AND IT GIVES THEM DOWN TO THE SECOND TRACKING. SO THEY'RE ABLE TO SEE THAT THEIR ITEMS WILL BE LANDING IN LIKE 6 SECONDS OR 5 SECONDS.HAVE YOU GUYS DEPLOYED ANY OF THESE AT ANY EXISTING WALMART LOCATIONS? GREAT QUESTION. SO SPECIFICALLY THIS GENERATION WITH LIKE THESE DOTS, WE HAVE NOT DEPLOYED AT A WALMART, BUT WE ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT OTHER WALMARTS WITHIN THE DFW AREA AS WELL AS COMPLETED CONSTRUCTION IN ARKANSAS.
NO BEARING ON THIS PART, BUT IS THERE LIKE AN EXTRA DELIVERY CHARGE ASSOCIATED TO THE.
I DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT THIS.
SO, YOU KNOW, YOU GET YOU GET CHARGES FOR UBER EATS AND ALL THIS OTHER STUFF.
YOU KNOW I DON'T DO ANY OF THAT, BUT DO PEOPLE PAY EXTRA FOR THE SERVICE TO DELIVER? I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WORKS.
I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR YOU.
OKAY. WELL, I'LL LET STEVEN ANSWER THIS QUESTION REAL QUICK AND THEN I'LL JUMP BACK.
IT'S NOT DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU'RE AT OR HOW OFTEN YOU USE IT.
THANK YOU, AND I REALIZE THAT OKAY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GETTING THIS VIDEO TO PLAY.
THE DOORS ON THE BOTTOM OPEN, WHICH ALLOWS THE PACKAGE TO BE DEPLOYED.
THE DROID GOES BACK UP INTO THE ZIP AND THEN THE ZIP GOES BACK TO A DOCK.
SO YOU SAID THAT IT'S USING FLAT IQ WITH SOUND AND VISUAL SENSORS, RIGHT? DOES IT ALSO HAVE LIKE 4K CAMERAS? GREAT QUESTION. SO THERE ARE THE VISUAL SYSTEMS AS WELL AS THE ACOUSTIC SYSTEMS, BUT THE AIRCRAFT DOES NOT HAVE 4K CAMERAS, BUT IT DOES USE THOSE VISUAL AND ACOUSTIC SENSORS TO UNDERSTAND THE ENVIRONMENT.
OKAY. SO DELIVERY JUST BASED ON SENSOR DELIVERY JUST BASED ON SENSORS.
YES. IT USES A COMBINATION OF ALL OF ITS SENSORS.
SO GPS, ACOUSTIC AND VISUAL SENSORS TO UNDERSTAND MAKE THAT DELIVERY.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION. YES.
OKAY. THANK YOU. SO IT SOUNDS LIKE I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT THE ROLLING IT OUT ACROSS DFW.
YOU SEE A FEW UNDER CONSTRUCTION OR IN THE WORKS, AND IT WOULDN'T BE THE FIRST.
THERE'D BE OTHER LOCATIONS IN DFW THAT WOULD OPEN UP BEFORE ANNA.
THEORETICALLY, THAT IS CORRECT AT THIS TIME, YES.
GREAT QUESTION. SO USING FLIGHT IQ, WE'RE ABLE TO SENSE THOSE OBSTACLES AND THEN DO DYNAMIC ROUTING.
GREAT QUESTION. THERE WILL BE A TEAM BASED IN TEXAS.
HOWEVER, RIGHT NOW OUR FLIGHT OPERATORS OR OUR REMOTE PILOTS ARE BASED IN NORTH CAROLINA, AND BASED OFF THE SYSTEM APPROVALS WITH THE FAA, THEY'RE ABLE TO RUN MULTIPLE AIRCRAFT TO A SINGLE OPERATOR AT A REMOTE SITE, AND WHAT KIND OF FAILURE RATES HAVE YOU SEEN IN THE PAST? SO IN OVER 1.2 MILLION COMMERCIAL DELIVERIES, WE'VE NOT HAD ANY LIKE SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES OR INCIDENTS, AND PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE THE AIRCRAFT IS DESIGNED WITH MULTIPLE REDUNDANCIES SO WE CAN LOSE, YOU KNOW, SINGLE MOTORS, THE AIRCRAFT IS STILL ABLE TO FLY AND IT HAS, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE PROPELLERS.
DOES IT REQUIRE CLEAR WEATHER TO FLY OR DOES IT FLY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER? GREAT QUESTION. THE AIRCRAFT IS DESIGNED AND TESTED TO OPERATE IN INCLEMENT WEATHER.
GENERALLY SPEAKING, WHEN WE LAUNCH A SITE, WE TYPICALLY USE A CRAWL WALK RUN APPROACH.
SO JUST LIKE WE'RE STARTING WITH A TWO MILE RANGE, WE'LL GENERALLY START WITH, YOU KNOW, POSITIVE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THEN AS WE'RE ABLE TO OPERATE AND DEMONSTRATE, WE'LL GENERALLY MOVE INTO WINDIER CONDITIONS, MORE RAIN, ETC..
SO ONE MORE QUESTION FROM ME, PLEASE.
HOW MANY OF THESE MIGHT BE IN THE AIR AT ONE TIME OVER ANNA? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER.
I WOULD HAVE TO CHECK AND FIND OUT ON THAT, AND I DO WE KNOW HOW MANY DOCKS WE HAVE.
[00:35:06]
USE LIKE PARTIALLY CHARGED AIRCRAFT.WE USE FULLY CHARGED AIRCRAFT FOR EACH DELIVERY.
SO ONE WOULD THEN MOVE FROM A CHARGING DOCK TO A LOADING DOCK.
SO I WOULD EXPECT, YOU KNOW, LESS THAN 18 AT ANY GIVEN TIME THROUGHOUT THE TEN MILE AREA.
I'M SORRY. SO AS MANY AS NINE.
IS THAT WHAT I'M HEARING? AS MANY AS 18 WOULD BE THE THEORETICAL MAXIMUM.
SO HAVE YOU RUN INTO ANY PRIVACY ISSUES? BECAUSE THESE WILL BE A BIRD'S EYE VIEW RATHER THAN ROAD TRAVEL.
YEAH. GREAT QUESTION. SO FLIGHT IQ IS IS DESIGNED REALLY LIKE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE AIRCRAFT.
SO THE CAMERAS AND VISUAL SENSORS CAN'T BE LIKE POINTED ANYWHERE.
WE CAN'T LIKE LISTEN TO A CONVERSATION.
SO OVERALL WE'VE NOT RUN INTO LIKE ANY PRIVACY ISSUES.
OKAY. EARLIER YOU SAID THERE WERE NO CAMERAS.
THERE'S NO 4K CAMERAS, NO 4K CAMERAS.
OKAY, SO THEY DO HAVE SHORT RANGE CAMERA.
SO WHETHER IT'S LIKE INFRARED OR NOT.
DID I ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YEAH. OKAY. I JUST WANT TO BE SURE, AND I SUPPOSE THE PEOPLE RUNNING IT IN NORTH CAROLINA COULD SEE THROUGH THOSE CAMERAS.
CORRECT. THERE'S NO LIVE VIEW TO THE OPERATOR.
THE VISUAL SENSORS ARE USED ONBOARD PERCEPTION SYSTEM TO UNDERSTAND THE ENVIRONMENT.
SO IT UNDERSTANDS THAT SOMETHING HAS CHANGED AND THEN IT CAN WAIT OR CHANGE THE DELIVERY SITE.
SAME THING WHEN WE'RE FLYING, RIGHT? WE'RE LOOKING FOR AIRCRAFT, HELICOPTERS, PLANES, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
THERE'S NOT A LIVE VIEW TO ANY OPERATOR.
WE'RE VERY, VERY PROTECTIVE OF THAT DATA.
SO HOW FAST CAN IT REACT TO A SMALL PLANE COMING TOWARD IT? VERY FAST, TO PUT IT SIMPLY.
ARE THERE ANY MORE COMMISSIONERS THAT HAVE TECHNICAL QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? I DON'T HAVE ONE FOR THE APPLICANT.
IS THAT GOING TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE CITIZENS START COMPLAINING OR IS THAT EVEN SOMETHING I NEED TO WORRY? THAT'S NOT SOMETHING. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
ALL RIGHT. SO ALSO THE WAIVER OF THE WAIT, THAT'S AN FAA REQUIREMENT.
CAN WE EVEN APPROVE THAT? YEAH I JUST WANTED TO ASK THE QUESTION, SO I JUST WANT TO MENTION A COUPLE OF THINGS.
SO WE DO MAKE AN EMAIL ADDRESS AVAILABLE.
SO DFW@FLYZIPLINE.COM SO IF PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS THEY CAN EMAIL US AND I CAN SAY SO I USED TO RUN OUR OPERATIONS IN UTAH AND IN OVER TWO AND A HALF YEARS OF OPERATIONS, WE NEVER HAD A SINGLE COMPLAINT.
SO HOPE THAT ANSWERS THAT, AND THEN DID YOU HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION FOR ME OR FOR HER? OKAY. CAN YOU ANSWER THE FFA QUESTION OR IS THAT ONE FOR STAFF? WOULD YOU MIND REPEATING THE QUESTION FOR ME? WELL, MY QUESTION WAS IF IT'S AN FAA REQUIREMENT, CAN WE ACTUALLY APPROVE A WAIVER TO THAT? WELL, I THINK WHAT THE APPLICANT WAS SAYING WAS THAT IT'S NOT AN FAA REQUIREMENT THAT ACTUALLY THE FAA HAS OTHER REQUIREMENTS, THAT WHAT WE INCLUDED WAS INCORRECT, THAT THEY DON'T OPERATE UNDER THAT FAA, THAT SECTION OF THE CODE, AND SO THAT'S WHY THEY'RE LOOKING TO HAVE THAT.
DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT? I DON'T KNOW, HONESTLY.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO REFER TO OUR CITY TO THE CITY ATTORNEY.
CAN WE APPROVE THIS WITHOUT MAKING THAT WAIVER? WE COULD, YOU COULD.
SO YOU COULD RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
HAVE YOU RUN INTO ANY AIRSPACE OWNERSHIP ISSUES? CAUSE I KNOW THAT'S A VERY GRAY AREA.
[00:40:02]
WE HAVE NOT. SO THE SHORT ANSWER.ANY MORE QUESTIONS? THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO YOU'RE ASKING TO AMEND THE DEFINITION RIGHT.
SO IS THERE NO CURRENT DEFINITION.
SO ARE WE DEFINING IT RATHER THAN AMENDING SOMETHING.
THAT'S WHAT THE DEFINITION THAT THEY USE.
YEAH. SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE NONE.
SO IN OUR ZONING ORDINANCE, AND SO WE WANTED TO INCLUDE SOME TYPE OF DEFINITION WITHIN THIS PD.
SO ARE WE ADOPTING PLANO'S, AND THEN NOW WE'RE AMENDING THAT.
YES, WE WOULD BE AMENDING THAT.
WHAT WE CAN DO IS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS PROJECT, YOU CAN YOU CAN RECOMMEND APPROVALS AND THEIR REQUEST TO STRIKE THAT DEFINITION YOU CAN LEAVE THAT UP TO COUNCIL.
SO WHAT I WAS SAYING IS BY THE TIME.
SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL GET WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY IN THE MEANTIME BEFORE COUNCIL AND STRAIGHTEN ALL OF THAT OUT AND THEN COME TO COUNCIL WITH A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE OR THE VERBIAGE OF THE DEFINITION.
CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE DEFINITION? THANK YOU.
WE'RE TRYING TO IMPOSE, YOU KNOW, UNDER 55 POUNDS, TAKEOFF WEIGHT.
WELL, THAT MAY BE OKAY FOR TODAY, BUT YOU THINK ABOUT IT.
IN THE FUTURE, AS TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES, THEY MAY BE ABLE TO CARRY MORE AS THESE DRONES GET BETTER BY CONFORMING TO THE FAA REGULATIONS. THAT'S JUST GOING TO NOT REQUIRE THEM TO COME BACK FOR AMENDMENTS IN THE FUTURE.
SO AS LONG AS IT CONFORMS WITH THE FAA, I THINK IT'S FINE.
LAUREN, ARE THERE ANY SPEAKER CARDS FOR THIS ITEM? I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:44 P.M, AND CONFINE COMMENTS TO THE COMMISSION AND STAFF.
DO ANY OF YOU SEE AN ISSUE WITH THE WAIT? I KNOW IT'S MENTIONED, BUT IF YOU WAIVE IT NOW, IF YOU WAIVE IT NOW, THEN IF THEY DECIDE TO COME BACK WITH MUCH LARGER DRONES AT A LATER POINT, THEY WON'T HAVE TO TALK TO US OR ANYBODY AT THE CITY.
RIGHT. PROVIDED IT IS APPROVED BY THE FAA.
SO THE FAA IS GOING TO PUT RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT THEY CAN DO.
THEY CAN'T COME BACK AND TRY AND DRONE A C-130.
YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE WHATEVER FALLS UNDER THE FAA.
SO I GUESS IT'S US PUTTING FAITH IN THE FAA THAT THEY'RE GOING TO IMPOSE PROPER WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS.
SO THEY CURRENTLY HAVE WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS NOW? I THINK SO.
I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT FAA REGULATION THERE.
IT'S BEING USED IN ALL SORTS OF FIELDS NOW.
YOU MENTIONED BEFORE THE DRONES DELIVERIES.
I DON'T REMEMBER THE CODE YOU MENTIONED, BUT A VERY SPECIFIC CODE FOR THIS.
IT'S HIGHLY REGULATED AND VERY FEW COMPANIES ARE IN THERE AND THERE'S A LOT OF TESTING.
SO I THINK THAT IF WE'RE TRYING TO DEFINE SOMETHING, WE'RE JUST GOING TO HANDCUFF US LATER WHERE WE'RE TAKING OURSELVES OUT OF THE BEST OR THE MOST RECENT OR THE MOST USEFUL TYPE AT THE TIME, AND THE TECHNOLOGY IS ALWAYS GOING TO STAY BEHIND.
TO DEAL WITH THIS. YOU KNOW, AT WORK WITH, YOU KNOW, CAMERAS AND DOJ AND DRONES AND THE TECHNOLOGY.
SO I'M GOING TO MOTION TO APPROVE WITH THE MARK-THROUGHS FOR THE 55 POUND TOTAL TAKEOFF WEIGHT AS DEFINED IN SECTION 44801 OF TITLE 49 UNITED STATES CODE.
[00:45:02]
SECOND. I SECOND.SO I HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL BY MYSELF, AND I HAVE A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BLANSETT.
ALL IN FAVOR? THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
CONSIDER DISCUSS ACTION ON A RESOLUTION REGARDING THE WALMART ANNA ADDITION BLOCK A LOT.
ONE SITE PLAN OWNER IS MATT PHILPOTT.
THIS ITEM IS THE SITE PLAN FOR THE WALMART SITE BECAUSE OF THE CHANGES THEY ARE PROPOSING, IS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH THAT THEY NEEDED TO SUBMIT A NEW SITE PLAN FOR THE WHOLE SITE. SO THIS IS CONTINGENT UPON APPROVAL OF ITEM 12.
CORRECT. IS THERE A MOTION ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 13? I MOTION TO APPROVE.
I HAVE A MOTION OF APPROVAL FROM COMMISSIONER MARTIN AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER NYLEC.
ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUS.
BEING IN THE SCHOOL, I KNOW HAS PUT A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE FOR ALL OF US THAT ARE UP HERE.
AT LEAST I CAN SAY THAT FOR MYSELF.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING ON OUR COMMISSION.
I'VE ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU AND KUDOS TO YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? I MOTION TO ADJOURN.
I HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MARTIN AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LONGMIRE.
ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUS.
WE'LL CLOSE THE MEETING AT 6:49 P.M..
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.