To: Planning and Zoning Commission
From: Sarah Hensley, Assistant Director of Community Development
Subject:
Title
PUBLIC HEARING: Consider a request to approve amendments to the City of Keller Unified Development Code (UDC), adopted by Ordinance No. 1746 dated July 7, 2015, by replacing Article Eight - Zoning Districts, Development Standards, Tree Preservation, with a new Article Eight - Zoning Districts; by replacing Article Nine - Appendices, with a new Article Nine - Development Standards; and by adding a new Article Ten - Tree Preservation; and a new Article Eleven - Appendices; authorizing publication; providing a penalty; and establishing an effective date. (UDC-22-0010)
Action Requested:
Conduct a public hearing and consider a request to amend the City of Keller Unified Development Code (UDC) by replacing Article Eight - Zoning Districts, Development Standards, Tree Preservation, with a new Article Eight - Zoning Districts; by replacing Article Nine - Appendices, with a new Article Nine - Development Standards; and by adding a new Article Ten - Tree Preservation; and a new Article Eleven - Appendices.
Background:
Staff recently began identifying features of the online version of the Unified Development Code (UDC) that make navigating the code challenging for users, including staff, residents, developers and other members of the public. Staff also found multiple documents in the UDC that included outdated processes and guidelines or that held information that is formally updated and posted elsewhere on the city website (i.e. the permit fee list). Staff believes the proposed changes will make specific portions of the code easier and quicker to find online and eliminate old and confusing language no longer relevant to the development process.
Proposed Amendments:
See Exhibit “A
Summary:
The proposed UDC Amendments include:
1. Change the content of Article Eight to include only Zoning Districts and “bookmark” each zoning district in the Municode system. (No content change.)
2. Remove Development Standards from Article Eight and create a new Article Nine - Development Standards. (No content change.)
3. Remove Tree Preservation from Article Eight and create a new Article Ten - Tree Preservation. (No content change.)
4. Change the current Article Ten - Appendices to Article Eleven - Appendices and remove the following documents that have outdated/irrelevant information:
-Development Review Committee Members (changes depending on individual department staffing)
- Fees (updated and posted as part of annual budget process)
-Sign Formulas (mistakenly left in during 2015 UDC update; UDC Sections 8.09 and 8.18 are now used to calculate sign area)
-Utility Companies Serving the City of Keller (subject to change without city knowledge)
-Keller CAD Standards Manual (outdated per city GIS staff)
-City of Keller Organization Chart (updated and posted as part of annual budget process)
-Development Process Schedule (contains exact dates from 2017-2019 that are no longer relevant)
Supporting Documents:
- Exhibit A: Proposed Draft UDC Amendments
Citizen Input:
An amendment to the text of the UDC requires a public hearing notice to be published in the local newspaper ten (10) days prior to the scheduled Planning and Zoning Commission meeting date and fifteen (15) days prior to the City Council Meeting Date. The notice for the Planning and Zoning Commission public hearing was published in the October 30, 2022 edition of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. As of today, Staff has not received any comments from the public.
Alternatives:
Planning and Zoning Commission has the following options when considering an amendment to the text of the UDC:
- Recommend approval as submitted.
- Recommend approval with modifications or additional amendments(s).
- Tabling the agenda item to a specific date with clarification of intent and purpose.
- Recommend denial.
City Council Action:
If the Planning and Zoning Commission takes action and makes a recommendation on this agenda item, then this UDC Text Amendment application will be scheduled for City Council action on December 6, 2022.