Carrollton Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting – September 6, 2018

The Carrollton Planning & Zoning Commission met on Thursday, September 6, 2018. The briefing session began at 6:00 PM and the regular meeting was called to order at 7:03 PM; the meeting adjourned at 7:19 PM. The commission consists of nine members; Commissioner Romo was absent, leaving eight members voting. All votes taken during the meeting were unanimous 8-0.

Briefing Session

• At 6:00 PM, staff made a presentation to commissioners concerning Carrollton’s new Small Business Program in the City Council Briefing Room. No public testimony was allowed during the briefing.

Consent Calendar

• Agenda item 2 – Case No. 09-18PP1 Grace Woods: The commission approved the preliminary plat for an approximately 2.5-acre tract at 1501 N. Perry Road, with staff stipulations plus the additional stipulation that alleys shall not be required. Approved unanimously.
• Agenda item 3 – Case No. 09-18RP1 Marsh Lane Golf Center Revision: The commission approved the replat of an approximately 6.4-acre tract on the west side of Tarpley Road approximately 150 feet north of Kellway Drive to remove an abandoned unimproved right-of-way. Approved unanimously as part of the consent agenda.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public came forward to speak during the public hearing on the Garages of Texas zoning case. The applicant, Fred Gans, spoke as part of the case presentation.

Discussion Items

• Agenda item 4 – Case No. 09-18Z1 Garages of Texas: The commission held a public hearing on a proposed ordinance amending zoning on an 8.548-acre tract at 2346 and 2342 Marsh Lane, currently zoned Light Industrial (LI) and Office (O-2), to establish a Planned Development district allowing mixed-use garage condominiums and retail, and amending the official zoning map.
• Staff recommended approval with stipulations, including permitted and prohibited uses, special development standards, a requirement that Building H meet the base office district’s minimum 80% brick and stone requirement on the northwest and south elevations, revocation of SCP 450, and a single row of evergreen shrubs along the south property line to screen a bay door on Building A.
• Fred Gans, owner of Cornerstone Development Corporation, said he agreed with staff recommendations except for the masonry requirement on the Marsh Lane frontage. He explained that the revised Tarpley frontage consolidates what were originally many garages into one almost 24,000-square-foot building for five users, including his own company and automotive-related businesses. He said the project includes about 130,000 square feet of tilt-wall buildings; phase one is about 94,000 square feet. He stated that changing from 100% tilt-wall masonry to tilt-wall with 80% brick and stone would essentially double the building cost and was 'overkill.' He also said he met with the HOA of the residential neighborhood across the street, who were 'very impressed and supportive.'
• Commissioner Kaiser expressed concern that deleting the masonry requirement would set a dangerous precedent, stating it is a city ordinance and he saw no reason to treat this group of buildings differently from others.
• Commissioner Chadwick requested a change to the stipulations under tract one prohibited uses, replacing the word 'otherwise' with 'expressly permitted.'

Staff Reports

• Staff reported that at the prior Tuesday’s City Council meeting, the Certified Autoplex SUP for covered parking and the Java Gaming Cafe SUP were both approved unanimously; these were items the commission had considered the previous month.

Key Outcomes

• The August 2, 2018 Planning & Zoning Commission meeting minutes were approved unanimously.
• The commission closed the public hearing and approved Case No. 09-18Z1 Garages of Texas unanimously, 8-0, with staff stipulations, the prohibited-use wording change to 'expressly permitted,' and no change to the masonry requirement.
• The consent agenda items for Grace Woods and Marsh Lane Golf Center Revision were approved unanimously, 8-0.