To: Mark Hafner, City Manager
From: Iván Gonzalez, AICP - Planning Consultant
Subject:
Title
Consider a resolution approving a Site Plan with variances for new sport fields and renovations to existing fields, for the Keller Sports Park, an existing sports complex, on an approximately 192-acre property, legally described as Lot 1, Block 1, Keller Athletic Complex Addition, Abstract 457, Tract 14D of the John Edmonds Survey and Abstract 70 Tract 7C of the Jesse Billingsley Survey, located on the south side of Golden Triangle Blvd, southwest of the South Main Street and Keller Parkway intersection, zoned Single Family Residential 36,000 square-foot lots (SF-36), Single Family Residential 8,400 square-foot lots (SF 8.4) and Commercial (C) and addressed as 265 Golden Triangle Blvd. Parkhill, Applicant; City of Keller, Owner. (SP-23-0021)
Zoning: Residential Single Family (SF-36), Residential Single Family (SF-8.4), and Commercial (C)
Background: The Keller Sports Park is a city-owned facility that includes fields, courts, pavilions, playgrounds and trail uses. The property is currently 140 acres of developed amenities and 52 acres of undeveloped land. The proposed site plan includes new sport fields with parking and renovation of some existing fields. Variances to the Unified Development Code (UDC) submitted are specifically for existing portions of the sports complex.
Analysis: The proposed site plan is in conformance and meets all the requirements addressed in the UDC with one condition, the full site must be platted before construction permits are issued.
Site Layout: Meets requirements designated in the UDC including all building setbacks and height requirements.
Landscaping: Meets requirements designated in the UDC with the exception of existing landscaping detailed in the variance request.
Tree Preservation: Meets requirements designated in the UDC.
Sidewalks and
Trails: Meets requirements designated in the UDC.
Parking: Meets requirements designated in UDC based on the information submitted from the Institute of Traffic Engineers Parking Generation Manual and similar uses described in the UDC.
Existing Roadway
Access: Current roadway access meets requirements and no change is being proposed.
Variances Requested:
All variances requested are related to Landscape Requirements in UDC Section 9.03 for existing conditions at the Sports Park.
1. Variance to UDC requirement for a ten-foot (10’) landscape buffer west of the proposed parking lot at the Rugby/Multipurpose field. The buffer is offset six-feet (6 ft) from the property line at the lower right corner adjacent to the land leased from the City by the Blue-Sky sports facilities.
2. Per UDC Section 9.03, all parking lot islands must be a minimum of nine feet (9') in width and twenty feet (20') in length. A variance is requested to keep the existing parking islands the same size to maintain parking count.
3. The UDC states no more than twelve (12) consecutive parking spaces shall be allowed without the interruption of a landscaped island. Variance to keep the existing parking lot spaces to maintain parking count. Landscape has been added along the edge of existing parking spaces.
4. The UDC requires an island the size of one (1) parking space shall contain one (1) large three-inch (3") caliper canopy tree and an island the size of two parking spaces shall contain two (2) large three-inch (3") caliper trees. Variance to not provide the required trees in parking lot islands.
5. The UDC requires a minimum of 15% of all parking lots shall be landscaped. Variance to keep the existing parking spaces to maintain the parking count. Additional planting has been added along the edge of the parking lot to help soften the space.
Citizen Input: A Site Plan application, even with variances, does not require a public hearing, so no public hearing notifications were sent out to the surrounding property owners for this request. The public will have an opportunity to speak on this agenda item at “Persons To Be Heard”.
Planning and Zoning Commission Recommendation:
At the August 22, 2023, Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, Commissioners unanimously recommended approval of the site plan with variances as presented.
Alternatives: The City Council has the following options when considering a Detailed Site Plan:
§ Approve as submitted
§ Approve with modified or additional condition(s)
§ Table the agenda item to a specific date with clarification of intent and purpose
§ Deny