09.07.1989 PZ MinutesPage 299
Minutes of
Planning and Zoning Commission - September 7, 1989
Special Meeting
Chairman, Bill Cromer called the meeting to order at 7:40 PM.
Members present were Bill Cromer, Mary Salinas and Roger Hurlbut. Thomas
Boone arrived late. Mike McCarty, Glynn Cavasos and Joe Moniz were absent.
Mr. Mike Monroe, representing Cheatham & Associates was present to brief
members on landscaping and side /rear yard requirements.
Mr. Monroe advised members that the state law has allowed setback for
yards to be established in zoning ordinances. He stated that if we took
all the zoning ordinances in the Dallas /Ft. Worth area and made a complex
table, in general, you had residential, retail and industrial, and made a
chart of what each city required, you would have as many answers as you
have zoning ordinances. Every city is different. Usually, the more
intensive the classification, the more yard is required. In Kennedale's
case, the city requires a yard in residential but not in the commercial or
industrial areas.
There are a number of variations that can affect this: 1) what type of
property on the same side of the street, the property next to the building
or adjacent to the building, and 2) whether or not you can park in the
setback area. It is Mr. Monroe's understanding that lawyers defending
ordinances are comfortable with the requirement of having specific distances
for yard setbacks.
Mr. Monroe then addressed landscaping. He stated that some cities do not
require anything and then there are those cities that have very stiff,
elaborate requirements. Mr. Monroe presented sample ordinances from the
cities of Southlake and Grapevine. He said landscaping requirements will
appear independently or will appear in the zoning ordinance. Attorneys
would rather have landscaping requirements in a different code rather than
in the zoning ordinances. This would prevent the entire ordinance from being
thrown out of court. Landscaping is legal as long as you keep it reasonable.
Have a firm minimum setback. If you want landscaping, add that in addition
to the setback requirements, and you must define landscaping to prevent just
anything from being put in (eg. how many plants, how big they need to be, and
how many per square foot), and make it uniform.
Mr. Cromer questioned the maintenance of the landscaping? Mr. Monroe replied
that a lot of cities require drought free plants and must enforce that the
occupant maintain the landscaping.
Mr. Rowe addressed side yard requirements. Fire Chief Smith had indicated
that he required room between commercial buildings in order to fight fires
or a four -hour wall between adjoining buildings. Mr. Monroe suggested to
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Special Meeting - September 7, 1989, Con't.
allow enough space to get a mower through otherwise it becomes an ugly place
for weeds and storage. Either have no side yard or at least five feet. Also,
said it would be a benefit to the city to have illustrations to show developers
examples of side yard requirements and to include them for odd shaped lots.
Mr. Rowe stated that money was put in the upcoming budget to get the code book
recodified.
Mr. Monroe said that the city should select a firm to work with. There is
GSA in Dallas and a Florida firm called Municipal Code Corporation. He
recommended for P & Z to make a list of items and provisions they would
like to see and have this with them and address the firm. The firms have
information on computer systems and can draft an ordinance and would identify
most of the conflict items that needed to be resolved. Then the ordinance
would be available to submit to our city attorney for his review to see if
it would meet legal considerations.
Mr. Hurlbut suggested calling other cities to see who put together their
landscaping ordinances and invite those companies to a P & Z Meeting or
have them submit a proposal to the city on their charges and guidelines on
how they address ordinances.
Mr. Monroe said he would counsel with Mr. Rowe and the firm whom we would
select and work with them through the ordinance.
Mr. Rowe then spoke of the Mansfield Highway Committee. He stated he had
talked with Mr. Rocky Walton from the City of Arlington Planning and Zoning
Commission. Mr. Walton was concerned whether or not the City of Kennedale
wanted to continue working on what to do with Mansfield Highway. He has
looked into additional authorities within the surrounding areas. Wanted us
to know they are ready to help our committee in any way that they can. Will
work with our conntittee or staff members. He feels there should be a staff
meeting between the Arlington Committee and Kennedale Conniittee. Mr. Rowe
is supposed to call Mr. Walton back and let him know the status of what we
want to do.
Mr. Hurlbut mentioned one item the committee needed to do was pass out a
questionnaire to the citizens and get their response before meeting with the
Arlington Committee. He needed to get with Mr. McCarty and go over a few
things before this was done. Mr. Hurlbut said he would call Mr. Walton with
the City of Arlington.
There being no further -discussion,the meeting adjourned at 9:30 PM.
ATTEST:
Pl:. nin
and Zoning Secretary
APPROVED: /)./, 9e e%
Bi 1 Cromer, Chairm