Item 7 - Narrative and Variance Request Letter1 | P a g e C a s e N o.: Z A 1 9 -0 0 7 9
January 06, 2020
Project Narrative-
THE HILLS CHURCH - RENOVATION and EXPANSION PROJECT
Case No.: ZA19-0079
Site Location:
The Hills Church – Southlake
Site: 2417 W. Southlake Blvd (Building address 2501 W Southlake Blvd.)
Southlake, TX 76092
Project Summary:
Church Renovation and Expansion Project
Renovations to +29,000 sq. ft. of existing two stories
Expansion of +16,760 sq. ft. two story expansion
The scope of the project includes renovations on both levels of the existing building and
expanding the seating capacity of the Worship Center to approximately 600 seats. The number
of parking spaces is proposed to decrease from 279 space to 262 spaces.
A multi-use trail and masonry faced retaining wall along W. Southlake Blvd. is proposed to be
included in the project with City participation.
Variance Request/s:
Variance to Ordinance Ord. No. 480, Section 33.19 Sidewalk Requirements
Request to eliminate five (5)-foot wide sidewalk requirement along Brock Drive due to existing
property limitations i.e. existing trees, elevation change from FM 1709 walk, drainage ditch,
proposed new fencing, and landscape requirements combined make a sidewalk implausible.
Note Recent commercial tract across the street does not have a sidewalk along Brock Drive.
Variance to Ordinance 480 Section 39.6.a Screening and Fencing Non-Residential Districts
Request continuation of previously approved Variance as approved with Concept Plan (ZA96-
152) to allow a plant screen with evergreen mix to meet this requirement along the south and
west property line. The request includes utilizing the evergreen mix screening in place of the
accent tree and shrub requirement within the buffer yard. It should also be noted the
Development Plan approved for Stony Brook (ZA17-064) shows a wood or ornamental metal
fence on the boundaries abutting the church property to be constructed with their
development.
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Variance to Ordinance No. 480 – Section 42.10 – Use of Bufferyards & Section 43 Overlay Districts –
9.c.2 (b) Development Regulations b. Parking Area Restriction
Request continuation of previously approved Variance as approved with Concept Plan (ZA96-
152) to allow existing parking to be located within required bufferyard and request an additional
6 spaces be allowed as shown on current site plan.
Variance to Driveway Ordinance No. 634 – 5.2 General Design Criteria c. Driveways Prohibited
Request a limited access drive to Brock Drive which is a local residential street.
Proposing to close two of the four existing driveways onto W. Southlake Blvd. and to add a
Limited Access Driveway connection to Brock Drive in order to gain access to a full median
opening on W. Southlake Blvd. Limited Access Drive to Brock Drive to meet the requirements of
design standards in Section 5.1.
Brock Drive limited access drive is proposed to be gated and intended only for use during the
following specified times and uses:
Sunday Morning 8:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.
Use: Church Services
Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 – 2:30
Use: Mother’s Day Out Program
The Hills Church would also like to utilize the Brock Drive entrance on special occasions for non-
recurring church-wide events. This will be done sparingly and will only be utilized for significant
non-recurring church-wide special events.
During the times access to Brock Drive is allowed, The Hills Church plans to have personnel at
the connection with Brock Drive to prevent vehicles from accessing Brock Drive when there are
three (3) northbound vehicles at the stop bar at the FM 1709 intersection. During all other
times, a gate will prohibit access between the church property and Brock Drive.
Variance to Driveway Ordinance No. 634 - Section 5.2.d Required Internal Storage (stacking /
Minimum Throat Length)
The required stacking depth is 100’
Request an 85’ stacking depth be allowed for the east driveway on W. Southlake Blvd.
Variance to Ordinance 544-B Section 3.4 Parking Lot Landscape Area Requirements
Request existing planter islands, that are less than minimum widths, be allowed to remain
within the existing parking lots. Planting requirements will be added per the landscape plan.
Use and Operation:
Existing House of Worship Service times on Sunday at 9:00am and 10:45am
Other typical ancillary activities associated with a House of Worship
Existing Mother’s Day Out on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00am – 2:00pm
https://www.thehills.org/visit/
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Introduction and Overview:
The Hills Church project will include an addition to and renovation of their existing facility on Southlake
Blvd. Included in that work is proposed site work that would include eliminating two of the existing four
drives along Southlake Blvd. (FM 1709), making other improvements along Southlake Blvd. (in
cooperation and conjunction with the City of Southlake), including a new retaining wall and
sidewalk/trail, site grading, and landscaping. To take the place of the reduced access along FM 1709, the
plan also includes adding an entrance along Brock Drive. The church is planning on a first quarter 2020
building permit submittal and plans to start construction in mid-May 2020. Construction will consist of a
phased approach, which is designed to allow the church to maintain operations through most of the
construction period. Construction duration is estimated at 12 to 14 months. Approximate construction
value is $8.7 million dollars.
Note that several former residential structures exist on the church’s property, one facing Southlake
Blvd., and two facing Brock Drive. These structures are currently being used by the church, primarily as
office space for staff and for student ministry gatherings.
Building Construction:
The scope of the project includes renovation of approximately 29,000 SF on both levels of the existing
building. The renovation includes but is not limited to remodeling of the Worship Center, including
adding an automatic fire sprinkler system, replacing the air conditioning/heating system, replacing
lighting with energy efficient LED fixtures, and expanding seating capacity to approximately 600 seats;
upgrading of existing restroom facilities to meet TAS accessibility requirements; new finishes
throughout, including flooring, base, ceilings and walls, new energy efficient lighting and reworked HVAC
systems.
The building expansion, approximately 16,760 SF on two levels, is primarily public spaces designed for
fellowship and gathering, as well as enhanced services to meet the needs of the growing congregation.
Included is fellowship and gathering areas, a coffee bar, a catering area, new restrooms to service the
expanded capacity of the Worship Center, and additional adult classrooms and a children’s play area. A
second primary entrance and exit on the lower level is designed to enhance access to the classroom
area from new parking at the lower level. A new monumental stair between floors is also included.
The new construction is designed to enhance the church’s visibility and street presence. Forms and
materials being proposed will take inspiration from the existing building, while bringing a new and fresh
look to the church. A new entrance canopy will allow drop off under cover in inclement weather. The
new lower level entrance will provide direct access from lower level parking and Southlake Blvd. along
an accessible route to the education wing of the facility.
Site Construction:
A key to the success of this project is improving access to the church’s facility from Southlake Blvd.
Currently, there are four vehicle access drives along Southlake Blvd. Two of these are very steep and of
limited function. The church intends to eliminate these less than optimum drives as part of this project.
After discussion, we believe the City staff are in favor of this.
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In conjunction with this, the church and City off Southlake staff have discussed working together to
make improvements to the frontage along Southlake Blvd. The goal would be to enhance the aesthetics,
provide safe, continuous pedestrian access, and to comply with the corridor planning per City standards.
This nominally includes creating a sidewalk/trail by regrading and introducing retaining walls along this
frontage. This will allow completion of the trail that currently stops on both sides of the church’s
property. Enhanced landscaping would also potentially be included. In previous conversations, the
church understood that the City would fund the improvements necessary to create the walking trail.
This would include the necessary retaining walls. By voluntarily eliminating two of the four existing
drives, the construction of these improvements along Southlake Blvd is simplified and potentially more
cost effective for the City. While the remodel of the facility and the improvements along FM 1709 could
be performed as separate projects, it is the church’s desire that they be completed together to minimize
the disruption to the church’s operation.
Visitors to the church don’t currently have an opportunity to make a left turn directly into the site from
FM 1709. Those approaching in vehicles from the east must travel to Watermere Drive and make a U
turn and approach the site from the west. This results in a less than ideal traffic flow and increased turns
into the site from the west. Safety to those traveling on Southlake Blvd. is compromised in both making
the U Turn at Watermere, but also the increased volume of west bound traffic slowing down to turn
right into the facility, which requires a downhill approach.
The solution proposed is to request a variance to add a two-lane driveway access from the church’s
property to Brock Drive, in place of the two eliminated drives from Southlake Blvd. This drive will allow
visitors to the site, including first responders, access to the church’s property when traveling from the
east via a left turn at Brock. This should result in better overall traffic flow to and from the site and
enhanced safety for all drivers along Southlake Blvd. The church acknowledges that because this is a
residential street, access from a commercial property is not allowed by ordinance without a variance
being granted. Adding this entrance will also have an impact on traffic movement and volume along
Southlake Blvd. The church has engaged a traffic engineer to perform a traffic impact analysis (TIA) to
study the effects of this change and make recommendations. The traffic impact analysis report is
included with this submittal.
The church will be a good neighbor to the adjacent property owners who also have access to Brock
Drive. They have been meeting with these property owners prior to this meeting to explain the church’s
plans and request feedback. The church has also taken part in a SPIN meeting to receive public comment
of their plans. The church will locate the drive to minimize the impact to the property owners across the
street. They are willing to make improvements along their frontage on Brock Drive to soften and
enhance this frontage and provide a buffer to the adjacent properties. Finally, they also are willing to
limit access from Brock Drive to their site to specific days and times, to minimize the impact on traffic.
This would be accomplished by a non-intrusive gate.
Other site improvements would include revisions to parking, including additional handicap accessible
parking, and enhanced landscaping.
Project contacts:
Craig Stone – Hills Church Cell 817.253.6031
Tom Rutledge – TNP Engineering Cell 817.371.1668
Scott Gibson – TNP Engineering Cell 817.300.6152
Charles Dietrick – BOKA Powell Architects Cell 817.343.0337
Jill P. Styron-Smith – Agent Cell 817.313.0567
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Aerial Location: