From
Chris Hartmann
Title
TA181002 - Text Amendment - Appendix F, Corridor Overlay District. Amendment to Unified Development Code Appendix F, Corridor Overlay District Standards and related articles to update standards for commercial development within designated Corridor Overlay zones. The owner/applicant is the City of Grand Prairie. (On March 4, 2019, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of this request by a vote of 9-0).
Presenter
Savannah Ware, AICP, Senior Planner
Recommended Action
Approve
Analysis
SUMMARY:
Amendment to Unified Development Code Appendix F, Corridor Overlay District to update standards for commercial development within designated Corridor Overlay zones.
PURPOSE OF REQUEST:
Over the past several years, Grand Prairie has seen an increase in the number of projects within the Corridor Overlay Districts. Many of these projects have required variances to Appendix F: Corridor Overlay District Standards. The frequency and number of requests for variances demonstrate that Appendix F is not functioning as intended. The purpose of the text amendment is to allow more flexibility while maintaining high development standards.
NEW APPROACH:
The revised Appendix F takes a different approach to development than the existing Appendix F. The revised document focuses on results instead of regulation, prioritizes high quality places instead of a particular style of building, and allows flexibility and creativity instead of requiring adherence to rigid standards.
DOCUMENT STRUCTURE:
The revised Appendix F is organized around four elements: Usable Open Space and Pedestrian Linkages, Site Design and Building Orientation, Building Design, and Healthy, Smart, and Sustainable Community. It includes a combination of guidelines and standards, some of which are presented as a menu of options. The guidelines illustrate the character and quality of desired development and act as performance criteria. This approach gives developers the flexibility to decide how best to create high quality places. The intent is to encourage creativity, innovation, and context-sensitive design.
PLANNING AND ZONING RECOMMENDATION:
At the March 4, 2019 meeting, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted 9-0 to recommend approval with the recommendation to add language that limits the clustering of restaurants with a drive-through.
Body
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS, AMENDING APPENDIX F, “CORRIDOR OVERLAY DISTRICT STANDARDS”, OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE, AND REPEALING APPENDIX I, “IH-30 OVERLAY DISTRICT”, APPENDIX L, “SH-360 OVERLAY DISTRICT”, APPENDIX P, “BELTLINE OVERLAY”, APPENDIX S, “I.H. 20 OVERLAY DISTRICT”, APPENDIX T, “S.H. 161 OVERLAY DISTRICT”, AND APPENDIX U, “LAKERIDGE PARKWAY OVERLAY DISTRICT”, OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE, ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE NUMBER 4779, PASSED ON NOVEMBER 20, 1990; TO CREATE additional standards and revisE existing standards for new COMMERCIAL development WITHIN A CORRIDOR OVERLAY DISTRICT AND TO ADD BELT LINE CORRIDOR OVERLAY DISTRICT TO THE LIST OF DISTRICTS TO WHICH THESE STANDARDS APPLY; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; CONTAINING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; AND TO BECOME EFFECTIVE UPON ITS PASSAGE AND APPROVAL.
WHEREAS, Development in Corridor Overlay Districts will shape the overall character and identity of Grand Prairie, Texas; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to adopt standards for the purpose of creating high quality places that enhance the quality of life for people, strengthen economic development efforts, and contribute to the positive image of the City; and
WHEREAS, Section 1.11.3.1 of the Unified Development Code of the City of Grand Prairie, Texas states: “Amendments to the text of the Unified Development Code shall be initiated only by action of the City Council directing the City Manager to initiate such a request on behalf of the City or by the City Manager's own initiative.”; and
WHEREAS, a review and briefing was held by City Manager staff before the City Council Development Committee of the City of Grand Prairie, Texas, in the City Hall Plaza Building at 4:00 P.M. on September 17, 2018 and January 14, 2019, for consideration of a proposal to initiate said amendments; and
WHEREAS, on January 14, 2019, after consideration of said amendments, the City Council Development Committee of the City of Grand Prairie, Texas directed City Manager staff to initiate the preparation of an ordinance amending the Unified Development Code for submittal to the Planning and Zoning Commission of Grand Prairie, Texas for consideration of a recommendation to the City Council; and
WHEREAS, Notice was given of a public hearing on said amendments to be held by the Planning and Zoning Commission of Grand Prairie, Texas, in the City Hall Plaza Building at 6:30 P.M. on March 4, 2019, such Notice of the time and place of such hearing having been given at least ten (10) days prior to such hearing by publication in the Fort Worth Star Telegram, Fort Worth, Texas, a newspaper of general circulation in such municipality; and
WHEREAS, after consideration of said amendments, the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Grand Prairie, Texas voted 9-0 to recommend to the City Council of Grand Prairie, Texas, that said amendments should be approved since its provisions are in the public interest and will promote the health, safety and welfare of the community; and
WHEREAS, a review and briefing was held by City Manager staff before the City Council Development Committee of the City of Grand Prairie, Texas, in the City Hall Plaza Building at 4:00 P.M. on March 18, 2019 for consideration of the proposed amendments; and
WHEREAS, after consideration of said amendments, the City Council Development Committee of the City of Grand Prairie, Texas voted to recommend to the City Council of Grand Prairie, Texas, that said amendments should be approved since its provisions are in the public interest and will promote the health, safety and welfare of the community; and
WHEREAS, Notice was given of a further public hearing to be held by the City Council of the City of Grand Prairie, Texas, in the City Hall Plaza Building, at 6:30 o'clock P.M. on March 19, 2019 to consider the advisability of amending the Code of Ordinances and the Unified Development Code, with Notice of the time and place of such hearing having been given at least fifteen (15) days prior to such hearing by publication in the Fort Worth Star Telegram, Fort Worth, Texas, a newspaper of general circulation in such municipality.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS:
SECTION 1
THAT, Appendix F, “Corridor Overlay District Standards”, attached hereto as ‘Exhibit A’, hereby replaces the existing Appendix F, “Corridor Overlay District Standards”, of the Unified Development Code, City of Grand Prairie, Texas.
SECTION 2
That, Appendix I, “IH-30 Overlay District”, Appendix L, “SH-360 Overlay District”, Appendix P, “Beltline Overlay”, Appendix S, “I.H. 20 Overlay District”, Appendix T, “S.H. 161 Overlay District”, and Appendix U, “Lakeridge Parkway Overlay District”, of the Unified Development Code are repealed.
SECTION 3
THAT sections of the amended articles not included in this amendment shall remain in full force and effect, save and except for necessary modifications to the “Table of Contents” affecting page numbering, and for necessary modifications to related terminology or phrases that have been modified by this amendment that will affect a similar modification to interrelated terminology and phrases cross-referenced in other Articles in the Unified Development Code.
SECTION 4
THAT if any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this ordinance is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such provisions and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions thereof.
SECTION 5
THAT all of the regulations provided in this ordinance are hereby declared to be governmental and for the health, safety and welfare of the general public. Any member of the City Council or any City official or employee charged with the enforcement of this ordinance, acting for the City of Grand Prairie, Texas, in the discharge of his duties, shall not thereby render himself personally liable; and he is hereby relieved of all personal liability for any damage that might occur to persons or property as a result of any act required or permitted in the discharge of his said duties.
SECTION 6
THAT any person, firm, association of persons, company, corporation, or their agents, servants, or employees violating or failing to comply with any of the provisions of this article shall be fined in an amount not to exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000.00), and each day any violation of noncompliance continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. The penalty provided herein shall be cumulative or other remedies provided by state law, and the power of injunction as provided in V.T.C.A. Local Government Code Section 54.016 and as may be amended, may be exercised in enforcing this article whether or not there has been a complaint filed.
SECTION 7
THAT this ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage, approval and publication.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS, THIS THE 19th DAY OF MARCH, 2019.
ORDINANCE NO. 10616-2019
CASE NO. TA181002