From
Chris Hartmann
Title
TA180201A - Amending Appendix W, "Residential Development Standards" of the Unified Development Code of the City of Grand Prairie, Texas, to comply with recently adopted state legislation governing the regulation of building materials and construction methods. (On September 9, 2019, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of this request by a vote of 7-0).
Presenter
David P. Jones, AICP, Chief City Planner
Recommended Action
Approved
Analysis
In response to HB 2437, which prohibits cities from passing an ordinance prohibiting or requiring developers use certain materials, staff proposes the following changes to Appendix W -Residential Development Standards:
Landscaping Requirements: Increase landscaping requirements for residential from 1 tree in front yard + 1 tree anywhere on the property to 2 + 2, but allow credit to be claimed for using recommended building materials (similar to Article 6).
Multi-Family Incentives: Allow increase in density, reduction in garage parking, or reduction in landscaping for multi-family developments that provide preferred materials.
Variance Language: The city receives frequent requests from developers for variances to a range of items, including lot sizes and garage orientation on single-family residential lots, and to limitations on 1-bedroom units and enclosed garage parking on multi-family residential developments. Staff proposes to modify the existing variance language for single-family and townhomes to allow for reduction in lot widths, setbacks, and garage orientation if recommended materials are used, and modify language for multi-family to establish that a credit may be granted towards 1-bedroom restrictions and number of enclosed garages if preferred materials and methods are used.
Multi-Family Amenities: The current ordinance contains three categories of amenities and requires that a developer select a certain number from two of the three categories to receive a...
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