To: Mark Hafner, City Manager
From: Julie Smith, Community Development Director
Subject:
Title
Consider a resolution approving a site plan amendment with one variance for The Hills Church, situated on 5.4 acres, located on the northwest corner of Florence Road and Randol Mill Avenue (Davis Blvd), being Lot 1R, Block A, Anchor Church Addition, at 2525 Florence Road, and zoned Single-Family 36,000 square-foot minimum lots (SF-36). The Hills Church, Owner/Applicant. (SP-21-0007)
Background:
The site was developed as a Church in 1999 and has since remained a church operation.
The owner, The Hills Church, purchased the property in late 2020 and wishes to update the site for their expanding Church. One of the updates includes the landscaping of the entire property. The Church provided all the proper landscaping inside the landscape buffers and will be replacing the dead landscaping across the property with fresh vegetation. Currently, there are two islands that are narrow and have existing light poles. Instead of adding two trees to these islands, the Church is requesting to place the two trees at the two entrances to the Church’s property.
Landscaping:
The Church is requesting a variance for two landscape islands. Section 8.08 (3) (f) of the Unified Development Code (UDC), states that one three-inch large canopy is required in each end island. The islands contain site lighting in the middle of the islands. If the tree were to be planted within these two islands, it would obstruct the existing lighting. Additionally, the islands are too narrow to accommodate a maturing, large canopy tree.
The Church is proposing to plant each of the two large canopy trees at each drive entrance along Florence Road. (See Exhibit A.)
Variances Requested:
1. Allow the two large canopy trees to be located at the drive entrances instead of in the two small landscape islands.
Summary:
Section 2.07(A)(2) of the UDC lists criteria for approval of a variance, the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council shall consider the following factors:
a. That there are special circumstances or conditions affecting the land involved such that the strict application of the provisions of this Code would deprive the applicant of the reasonable use of his land.
b. That the granting of the variance will not be detrimental to the public health, safety or welfare, or injurious to other properties in the area.
c. That the granting of the variance will not have the effect of preventing the orderly subdivision of other lands in the area in accordance with the provisions of this Code.
d. That the granting of the variance will not constitute a violation of any other valid ordinance of the City of Keller.
e. That strict compliance with the regulations, and/or that the purpose of the regulations will be served to a greater extent by the alternative proposal.
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 during “Persons To Be Heard.”
Planning and Zoning Commission Recommendation:
On May 11, 2021, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval as submitted.
City Council Alternatives:
The City Council has the following options when considering a Site Plan with variances:
§ Approve as submitted (with requested variances).
§ Approve with modified or additional condition(s).
§ Table the agenda item to a specific date with clarification of intent and purpose.
§ Deny.