To: Planning and Zoning Commission
From: Alonzo Liñán, Director of Public Works
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 amending Article Five - Subdivision Design and Improvement Requirements, Section 5.06 - Sidewalks and Trails, relating to sidewalk width requirements, Section 5.12 - Blocks, relating to sidewalk width requirements and removal of the maximum, Section 5.24 - Design Standards, relating to sidewalk construction requirements, and Appendix C - Subdivision Design and Improvement Requirements, Section 1 - Building Services, relating to sidewalk fee assessment; providing penalties; authorizing publication; and establishing an effective date. (UDC-22-0008)
Action Requested:
Conduct a public hearing and consider a request to amend the City of Keller Unified Development Code (UDC) by amending the requirements for minimum sidewalk widths.
Background:
The UDC defines sidewalk widths to be a minimum of four (4) feet if in the parkway and five (5) feet if it is against the back of the curb. However, the utility of this width limits the ability of pedestrians to enjoy this public asset when encountering other pedestrians or if it is adjacent to a vertical feature like walls, shrubs, trees.
At the Commission’s September 13, 2022 work session, the Commission discussed the proposed changes and were in support of:
• Increasing the minimum sidewalk width requirements to five (5) feet for new construction
• Targeting five (5) foot sidewalks in repairs, reconstructions, and infill operations, but aware that this width may not be achievable in all circumstances
• Removing the eight (8) foot maximum sidewalk width around schools
• Assessing the actual cost of sidewalk construction rather than limiting assessments to $1,500
• Considering indexing the cost of sidewalk construction to an external source
Proposed Amendments:
See Exhibit “A"
Summary:
The proposed UDC Amendments include:
• Increase the minimum sidewalk width requirements to five (5) feet for new residential construction
• Require five (5) foot widths, as conditions permit, for sidewalk repairs, reconstructions, and infill operations
• Remove the eight (8) foot maximum sidewalk width around schools
• Assess the actual cost of sidewalk construction.
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 days prior to the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting date. The notice was published in the September 18th, 2022, edition of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. To date, staff has not received a response 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 Amendment will be scheduled for City Council action on October 18th, 2022.