That's a Gas

Dallas finally passes strict gas drilling rules after years of debate

It's been a long road for Dallas gas drilling opponents and proponents alike. The journey that began in 2007 reached a conclusion of sorts on December 11, when the Dallas City Council approved a new gas drilling ordinance that is among the strictest in the nation.

The new ordinance, which was proposed by the City Plan Commission, passed 9-6. The main issue at stake was the setback distance between drilling sites and homes and other protected properties like parks and schools.

The 2007 ordinance prescribed a 300-foot setback, but a gas drilling task force (appointed by then-mayor Dwaine Caraway) recommended a 1,000-foot distance. In September, the City Plan Commission recommended its own setback figure of 1,500 feet. This is in line with other cities in Dallas-Fort Worth. Flower Mound also has a 1,500-foot rule, while Denton sets the limit at 1,200 feet.

As you may recall, Trinity East Energy unsuccessfully tried to obtain gas drilling permits in August. Had they been approved, the permits would have paved the way for gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing in parklands and the floodplain — both of which are currently against city code. The permits appeared destined for approval, but a slew of vocal opponents swayed the City Plan Commission (and ultimately, the City Council) into an across-the-board denial.

The Texas Campaign for the Environment backed the ordinance, though spokesperson Zac Trahan says it's not perfect. "We'd prefer to have a complete ban on drilling, or any industrial activity on parklands," he says. The 1,500-foot setback effectively does that, though the council can allow drilling closer to protected spaces with a three-fourths approval vote.

Drilling proponents worry that the new ordinance will make any natural gas or hydraulic fracking activity impossible in Dallas County and have hinted at taking legal action. Interim director of sustainable development David Cossum says this new ordinance is now the law of land in Dallas "until someone wants to amend it again."

Fracking opponents have been vocal and organized in their efforts to keep gas drilling out of Dallas.

Photo by Claire St. Amant

Fracking opponents have been vocal and organized in their efforts to keep gas drilling out of Dallas.

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Senior News

Unique homecare service Seniors Helping Seniors opens Dallas office

Seniors Helping Seniors

Seniors helping seniors.

An innovative service that helps out senior citizens has come to Dallas. Called Seniors Helping Seniors, it's an in-home care service in which some senior citizens help out other senior citizens with tasks and chores — whether it's running errands, a ride to the grocery, cleaning out the cat litter box, or just basic companionship.

The service has been in the Dallas area for more than 15 years, but mostly in the suburbs. Now longtime Dallas native Lauren Walters, a former PR and communications pro, has opened a location that serves Dallas proper. This new location marks the 14th in Texas and focuses on serving the communities within Dallas, Grand Prairie, Irving, Duncanville, and Mesquite.

The services offered do not include medical consults but otherwise run the gamut: meal preparation, shopping, bathing, light housekeeping, lightbulb changing and other small repairs, yardwork, and more.

Walters gravitated to the industry after she found herself caring for her own aging parents and family members, navigating the challenges of finding compassionate, consistent care for them.

The demand for in-home care for mature populations continues to grow, with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reporting that nearly 70 percent of retirees will require some form of long-term care.

Seniors Helping Seniors was founded in 1998 by husband-and-wife Philip and Kiran Yocom, who began franchising in 2006. There are now more than 400 locations across the U.S.

Home care allows people who might need a little help to stay in their own home, rather than moving into an assisted living facility.

What's special about Seniors Helping Seniors is that it not only services seniors, it hires them as caregivers. The seniors and mature adults who are hired are still active, with a passion for serving others, helping clients who might be a little less active.

The Seniors Helping Seniors mission is based on two ideas:

Seniors can help each other age more happily and gracefully
Seniors who provide help, and those who receive it, benefit equally

"Senior caregivers often bring more life experience and perspective to the job," Walters says. "Some are seniors who aren't ready to fully retire. It's beneficial for both sides."

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