Carrollton Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting - January 2, 2020

On January 2, 2020, the Carrollton Planning & Zoning Commission held a briefing session at 6:00 p.m. followed by a regular meeting at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall, 1945 E. Jackson Rd. All nine commission members were present. The commission approved minutes and consent items, held public hearings on development requests, continued two cases, approved one case, denied the companion Kelly Cove cases, and elected officers before adjourning at 7:54 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the December 5, 2019 meeting minutes unanimously, 8-0, with corrections discussed in the work session/briefing.
• Approved the consent agenda, items 2-4, 9-0, with staff stipulations and amended stipulations on agenda item 3.
  • Item 2 (PLRP 2020-1X1): Replat of Furneaux Creek Center, Phase 2, for an approximately 2.05-acre tract located about 400 feet west of the northwest corner of Old Denton Road and MacArthur Drive, amending the dividing lot line between Lots 2R and 3R.
  • Item 3 (PLRP 2020-1X2): Replat of Carrollton Commerce Center, Lots 1-6, Block F, for an approximately 12.6-acre tract at the northeast corner of Carter Drive and Crowley Drive, combining three adjoining lots into one lot and modifying easements (Wisdom Academy).
  • Item 4 (PLMD 2020-1X1): Variance to the required distance between median openings on Marsh Lane near Hebron Parkway, between Edinburgh Drive and Running Duke Drive.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 5 (Flite ATM): James Lee, an adjacent property owner, stated support for the ATM use.
• Item 6 (Heritage at Creek Valley): Richard D. Kelly, part-owner and asset manager of Windance Apartments, said he was generally in favor of the rezoning and liked the use, height, density, and elevations, but conditioned his support on correct stormwater detention engineering because drainage from upstream properties crosses his property.
• Items 8/9 (Kelly Cove): Several residents of the nearby Morningside/Big Bend area spoke or recorded positions:
  • Emily Crawford supported residential zoning instead of heavy commercial and said neighbors supported families moving to Carrollton, but asked that traffic and speeding concerns be addressed.
  • Zachary Rambo supported family residential use but was worried about added alley traffic, safety, and the existing small intersection; he requested an 8-foot fence and opposed uncontrolled connection to Driftwood.
  • Chris Reynolds supported the development if conditions were met, including addressing traffic and providing a taller fence, noting the developer had presented the current zoning alternative to neighbors.
  • Other residents voiced support for the townhome concept but opposed additional traffic being routed into Morningside by any route.

Discussion Items

• Item 5 (PLZ 2020-1X1 Flite ATM): Staff recommended denial because a complete resubmittal was not received by the deadline, but the applicant requested a continuance and staff supported it. The commission voted unanimously to keep the public hearing open and continue the case to the February 6, 2020 meeting.
• Item 6 (Heritage at Creek Valley): Staff recommended approval of amendments to Planned Development 123 for a 141-unit retirement facility on approximately 4.5 acres at SH 121 and Creek Valley Boulevard. The proposal includes 54 independent living units, 62 assisted living units, and 24 memory care units. Although the agenda description included skilled nursing as an allowed use, the applicant and staff stated no nursing home care is proposed. The building would be up to three stories or 50 feet, with a tower element up to 102 feet. The transcript identifies the case as PLZ 2020-1X1, while the agenda lists it as PLZ 2020-1X2. The commission approved the case 9-0 with staff stipulations.
• Item 7 (PLZ 2019-X1 Kensington Place): The applicant requested a continuance to meet with residents and staff and to provide revisions. The commission voted unanimously to keep the public hearing open and continue the case to the February 6, 2020 meeting.
• Items 8 and 9 (Kelly Cove companion cases, PLCP 2019-133 and PLZ 2019-131): Staff recommended denial because the applicant had not submitted a complete resubmittal, including a traffic impact analysis, detailed landscape plan, Trinity Mills buffer and screening wall, and detailed elevations. The applicant representative from Harlan Properties argued that townhomes were the best transition use, that 79 units were the economic minimum, and that limiting density pushes housing farther from Carrollton. Several commissioners said they supported the townhome concept but could not support the cases without a traffic impact analysis and meaningful cooperation with staff. Commissioner Christman recused.

Other Business

• Commissioner Larry Kaiser was re-elected Vice Chair by acclamation.
• Commissioner Mel Chadwick was re-elected First Vice Chair by acclamation.
• No staff reports were presented.

Key Outcomes

• Approved December 5, 2019 minutes 8-0.
• Approved consent agenda 9-0.
• Continued Flite ATM and Kensington Place to the February 6, 2020 meeting.
• Approved Heritage at Creek Valley 9-0.
• Denied the Kelly Cove Comprehensive Plan amendment; only two commissioners voted in favor and Commissioner Christman did not vote.
• Denied the Kelly Cove zoning amendment 8-0, with Commissioner Christman not voting.
• Adjourned at 7:54 p.m.