Back to Calendar Return |
GARLAND PLANNING REPORT
|
|
Agenda Item 8.k. |
City Council Regular Session Agenda |
|
|
REQUEST |
Consider amending Section 4.24, “Multifamily Developments,” of Chapter 4, “Site Development,” the Land Use Matrix, and Table 7-1, “Downtown District Land use Matrix” of chapter 7 of the Garland Development Code of the City of Garland, Texas; and amending Table 2-4 of Section 2.34 and Section 2.39 of Chapter 2, “Zoning Regulations,” and the Chapter 2 Land Use Matrix, of the Garland Development Code of the City of Garland, Texas. |
PLAN COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION |
During their September 12, 2022 meeting, the Plan Commission, with an eight (8) to zero (0) vote, recommended approval to amend Section 4.24, “Multifamily Developments,” of Chapter 4, “Site Development,” the Land Use Matrix, and Table 7-1, “Downtown District Land use Matrix” of chapter 7 of the Garland Development Code of the City of Garland, Texas; and amending Table 2-4 of Section 2.34 and Section 2.39 of Chapter 2, “Zoning Regulations,” and the Chapter 2 Land Use Matrix, of the Garland Development Code of the City of Garland, Texas. In addition, while not part of the Commission's formal recommendation motion, the Commissioners had a discussion during the pre-meeting which included the following notes:
- A suggestion was made to reduce the covered parking requirement to a middle-ground such as 25%.
- A question was asked if eliminating covered parking requirements affects the quality of multi-family developments.
- A question was raised whether it would be better to allow developers to continue to request deviations through the PD process rather than exempt specific requirements.
- A suggestion was made to require some of the covered parking through tree canopy shading.
- For the MF-0 amendment, confirmation that building elevations must be varied per single-family standards.
- A question was asked about bedroom to bathroom proportionality for single-family and two-family dwellings.
- For MF-0, consider a maximum of three (3) or four (4) units per building.
|
BACKGROUND |
The Development Services Committee of the City Council has made additional recommendations to amend the Garland Development Code (GDC) regarding multi-family development requirements. The Committee proposes to add an “MF-0” District, which would allow and regulate a “horizontal multi-family”, or oftentimes called “single-family style rental”, development. An additional recommendation from the Committee is to remove covered parking requirements for all multi-family development. Covered parking requirements often trigger deviations from developers, whether to reduce the amount of required covered parking, or to reduce setback requirements as a result of providing the required amount of covered parking. The City Council was briefed by a Development Services Committee report during the August 15, 2022 City Council Work Session. The Plan Commission reviewed the proposal on September 12, 2022. The proposed GDC amendments are further described in the Considerations below. |
CONSIDERATIONS |
MF-0 District 1. Similar to a recent GDC amendment approved by City Council creating an “MF-2” District which allows a higher density and building heights for multi-family development, the proposal is to create a Multi-Family-0 [“MF-0”] District which would allow the trending single-family rental, or “horizontal multi-family”, style of development by right should a zoning request to MF-0 be approved. The MF-0 District is intended for multiple dwelling units, developed in a single-family style, but not on individually platted lots. An example of an approved project in Garland is the ParcHaus development [Z 21-62] recently approved near Firewheel Parkway and Castle Drive. 2. As drafted the MF-0 District would allow a maximum density of twelve (12) units per acre. Development under MF-0 would follow multi-family standards for amenities, parking, and screening from single-family residences. However, it would follow single-family standards for building design and perimeter roadway screening. The Committee further recommended eliminating a roof pitch requirement for this style of development; that buildings shall be placed a minimum of ten (10) feet apart, versus the multi-family standard of twenty (20) feet; and there shall be one (1) attached enclosed garage parking space per unit. Covered Parking 3. With the exception of the abovementioned requirement proposal for MF-0 developments, the Committee has also recommended the elimination of a general covered parking requirement for multi-family developments. Covered parking includes carports and garages. As a result of this elimination, developers would propose the desired amount of covered parking for their residents rather than responding to a City requirement. 4. The draft ordinance language is attached for the Council's review and consideration. |
|
|
|