Carrollton Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting – May 7, 2020

The Carrollton Planning & Zoning Commission held a telephonic/Zoom meeting on May 7, 2020. The meeting was called to order at 7:06 p.m. and adjourned at 8:19 p.m. All nine commission members were present. The commission unanimously approved the March 5, 2020 minutes, a replat, a planned development office building amendment, companion comprehensive plan and zoning changes for Metrocrest Services, and a used-car sales special use permit. It continued a proposed Residence Inn hotel to the June 4, 2020 meeting.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes (March 5, 2020): Approved unanimously (motion by Commissioner Kaiser, second by Commissioner Chadwick; vote 9–0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Sonoma House Office Building (Item 3): Sharon Wilkins, 2021 Robin Hill Lane, expressed concern that a larger office workforce would increase employee use of the alley across from her home, including smoking, noise, and privacy issues. Shannon Gleason Dion, 3209 Squireswood Drive, called for accountability regarding COVID-19 precautions and disclosure at the senior facility. The applicant responded that the new building would include a dedicated employee area and stated that no employees or residents had tested positive for COVID-19.
• Residence Inn Carrollton (Item 7): Multiple residents spoke in opposition before the continuation was granted. Albert Aragon (1609 Sutter's Mill Drive) opposed due to traffic, lighting, and crime concerns. Tommy Stewart (1606 Railhead Place) cited crime statistics for extended-stay hotels and predicted depreciation for more than 100 nearby homes. Danielle Boudreau (2814 Creek Drive) echoed crime and property-value concerns. A speaker identifying herself as Mo Elmandu's wife opposed the six-story building on elevated ground, citing traffic, privacy, property values, and existing hotel capacity issues. Adam Poulter (4180 Creek Hollow Drive) described privacy loss and a $10,000 property-value reduction caused by a nearby apartment building and opposed the extended-stay use. Benjamin Locke (1649 Blackstone Drive) cited concerns for children walking to school and the tendency of extended-stay hotels to deteriorate. Sarah Nunn (1601 Railhead Place) described problems with the existing neighboring hotel, including early-morning construction, trash, noise, and lighting, and noted the same ownership. Ellen Owen (1600 Reunion Circle), in a written statement read into the record, opposed due to lighting, noise, inability to control residents, and direct views into her home.
• No public testimony was offered on Items 4, 5, or 6.

Discussion Items

• Replat – Weathers-Tarpley Addition Block 1, Lot 1R3 (Case PLRP 2020-33): The applicant requested a replat of an approximately 5.92-acre tract at 2424 Marsh Lane to reroute and partially remove an existing Oncor easement to the eastern property line. Staff recommended approval, conditioned on proof of Oncor's consent before the plat is filed. The applicant said Oncor was coordinated and agreeable. Approved unanimously with the staff stipulation.
• Sonoma House Office Building (Case PLZ 2020-4X1): The applicant sought an amendment to Planned Development 167 on an approximately 9-acre tract at 2048 E. Hebron Parkway to allow an administration office building for the existing assisted living and memory care community. The building would be one story, not exceed 25 feet, have a roof pitch of at least 6:12, and be designed so the rear elevation facing Hebron Parkway resembles the front. Staff recommended approval with a stipulation that the building be in general conformance with the applicant's conceptual exhibits. The applicant explained the site selection avoided drainage, utility, and neighbor-view conflicts. Approved unanimously.
• Companion Metrocrest Services Cases (Items 4 and 5): Metrocrest Services requested a Future Land Use Map amendment from single-family detached residential to medium intensity office for an approximately 5-acre tract at 1835 Walnut Street (Case PLCP 2020-4X1), and a companion rezoning from SF-8.4/16 to a planned development for the O-2 office district to allow an Other Individual & Family Services facility with ancillary uses (Case PLZ 2020-4X2). The proposal included a single-story, approximately 50,000-square-foot building with administrative offices, food pantry and storage, community garden, no vehicular access to Walnut Street, a sidewalk along Pearl Street, and a landscaped buffer with an ornamental metal fence. Staff recommended approval with stipulations. CEO Tracy Ubanks said Metrocrest had served the community for nearly 50 years, and the new location would be closer to clients, on a DART route, in an empowerment zone, and would consolidate Farmers Branch offices. She noted the address would change to 1145 North Josie. Both cases were approved unanimously on separate votes.
• AutoDallas.com Special Use Permit (Case PLSUP 2020-34): The applicant requested a special use permit for used automobile or light load truck sales in an approximately 7,875-square-foot lease space at 3333 Earhart Drive, Suite 120, zoned Light Industrial. Sales would be primarily online, with some showroom display and access to two overhead doors. Staff recommended approval with a stipulation that all vehicle inventory be displayed and stored indoors only. Approved unanimously.
• Residence Inn Carrollton (Case PLSUP 20-1X1): The applicant requested that the case be continued to the June 4, 2020 Planning & Zoning Commission meeting. The proposed hotel would be on an approximately 4.6-acre tract zoned PD-189 (O-4), about 800 feet north of E. Trinity Mills Road between Raiford and McCoy roads. The commission opened the public hearing, heard opposition comments, and Commissioner Kaiser asked that staff provide information about police calls/complaints involving hotels and extended-stay properties. The commission voted unanimously to keep the public hearing open and continue the case to June 4, 2020.

Other Business / Staff Reports

• Staff reported that at the April 7 City Council meeting, the QuikTrip case near I-35 and Sandy Lake was denied by the City Council. A Walmart drive-through ATM zoning case was withdrawn by the applicant. Commissioner Chadwick asked about the QuikTrip denial, and staff explained council concerns about truck idling/parking, compatibility with the I-35 corridor, and a desire to avoid that use at that location. Commissioner Kaiser noted a teleconference issue: when speakers were talking, commissioners using only a computer could not see the presentation plans. Staff said they would look into a technical solution.

Key Outcomes

• Approved March 5, 2020 minutes by a 9–0 vote.
• Approved the Weathers-Tarpley replat with the Oncor consent stipulation by a 9–0 vote.
• Approved the Sonoma House Office Building PD amendment with staff stipulations by a 9–0 vote.
• Approved the Metrocrest Services Comprehensive Plan amendment by a 9–0 vote.
• Approved the Metrocrest Services zoning/planned development by a 9–0 vote.
• Approved the AutoDallas.com special use permit with the indoor-display stipulation by a 9–0 vote.
• Continued the Residence Inn Carrollton case and kept the public hearing open until June 4, 2020 by a 9–0 vote.
• Staff to bring information on police calls/complaints related to hotels and extended-stay properties to the June 4, 2020 meeting.