Item 6E and 6F - Narrative, Renderings and Variance RequestsProject Summary
1.1 General Overview
The following document is intended to serve as the submittal for the Site Plan
for Lot 3R1, Block 16 located in the City of Southlake, Texas. Additionally, this
document seeks to serve as an application for a Special Use Permit for the
expansion of the existing parking garage structure located in Lot 1R of the same
Block.
The Site Plan application is for a 5 Story Class “A Office Building to be located
along the north-west edge of Southlake’s Town Square, at the intersection of
State and Division Streets. The project is consistent with the Town Square
Concept Plan, The City’s 2035 Corridor Plan and all applicable development
zoning ordinances, except for two requirements related to site design and for
which we are seeking variances.
1.2 Project Description
The proposed project consists of a new Class A Office Building to be located south-
west of the existing Granite Southlake Office 1 and proposes the expansion of the
existing pre-cast parking structure to accommodate the new office building’s parking
demands.
Given that the proposed development is located along the north-west edge of
Southlake Town Square and that it is also part of the City’s 2035 Corridor Plan, the
design has incorporated all applicable zoning standards and will be applying for a
variance for two site requirements which could not be achieved due to site area
constraints.
Project Metrics
· Site Acreage: +/- 2.6178 acres
· Parking Structure Expansion: 243 spaces (5 levels)
· Surface Parking: 34 spaces
· Office Building: +/- 151,000 GSF (5 levels)
1.3 Design Approach
Site Orientation and Access
The site is designed to allow for the proper circulation, storage and services related
to the operational aspects of the garage and office building.
There are two key access points into the site. The first is an entry/egress point
directly off Division Street to the south of the site. This entryway gains access to the
parking garage extension as well as provides service access for both trash and
loading functions. The second entry to the site is from the existing opening from
State Street on the eastern border of the site. This entry feeds through the existing
garage and subsequently gains access to the new garage expansion.
Site Design
Site development includes landscaping and hardscape surfaces within the
undeveloped area of the site. There is an employee courtyard between the parking
garage and the office building. The primary automobile ingress and egress will
remain unchanged (directly off the Highway 114 frontage road) minimizing internal
traffic within Southlake Town Square.
Parking Garage Addition
The project proposes to expand the existing parking structure to the south and
provide an additional 243 parking spaces to accommodate the new office building’s
parking demands. The addition would be 5 levels and is intended to match the
existing garage aesthetically and structurally in all respects. It will include an
additional exit stair as well as one passenger elevator for the convenience of the
users. There will be a covered walkway connecting the south face of the parking
structure to the north entry of the new office providing protection from the elements.
A total of 12 additional surface parking spaces, immediately adjacent to the Western
face of the existing parking structure, to accommodate future uses on Lot 3R2 will be
constructed as part of this project.
Office Building
The new Office Building is to be a Class A speculative office of approximately
151,000 GSF. It will have 5 levels and therefore classified as a high-rise building by
the City of Southlake Building Code. A centralized main lobby will be located at the
ground floor which will be accessible from both the north entry coming from the
parking garage as well as from the south entry which would serve as the main
pedestrian entry.
The new office façade design intends to match the architectural style of Office 1
which was based in the merging of traditional brick construction and integrated
colored precast concrete with contemporary elements which include simple
massing, transparency, and openness.
The proposed building meets the intent of the Downtown District Guidelines:
· The proposed design seeks to add a new point of interest and
is compatible with neighboring buildings.
· Building orientation along the street seeks to enhance the
pedestrian environment.
Special Use Permit
2.1 Parking Garage Expansion
The DT Downtown District Zoning allows for parking structures to be approved by
applying for a Special Use Permit. To accommodate the increase in parking
demands on the site by Office 2 employees and visitors, the project proposes to
expand the existing parking garage structure currently serving Office 1. The
expansion would happen along the south of the existing structure and would
increase its capacity by 243 spaces, the architectural style of the addition would
match the style of the existing parking structure in every aspect.
Requested Variances
3.1 Parking Space Quantity
As noted, the addition to the existing parking structure allows an increase
capacity of 243 spaces as well as 34 on-street spaces. The total required on
site is 925 spaces.
Based on a Shared Parking Analysis report from 2015, there is a surplus of
approx. 484 shared parking spaces within the “DT” Downtown District. We are
providing a total of 816 spaces and request that the balance of 109 spaces be
provided by the surplus parking provided within the Downtown District.
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This parking space quantity variance request was previously granted for Phase 1
and is requested again for this phase (Phase 2).
3.2 Off-Street Loading
Per Section 37 of the City’s Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, an Office project
between 150,000 SF and 249,999 SF is required to have 2 Off-Street Loading
Spaces. Two regular spaces are required to be 10' x 25'
Due to site constraints, only 1 loading space (10’ x 50’) is being proposed for the
project. Per Granite’s market experience, the quantity currently provided would
align with the expected service and deliveries for a project of this scale and
therefore, should not pose any issues or problems to potential tenants.
This off-street loading variance request was previously granted for Phase 1 and
is requested again for this phase (Phase 2).
3.3 Driveway Variance
.3 Driveway Variance
We are seeking a variance request for the stacking depth from the
State Street right of way. This is a variance to Driveway Ordinance
No. 634 which requires 150’ of stacking depth, to allow a stacking
depth of approximately 16’ given the site constraints.
This driveway variance request was previously granted for Phase 1
and is requested again for this phase (Phase 2).
Materials Variance 3.4Materials Variance
We received City comments stating that the 46” metal parapet
provided at each floor level does not appear to be similar or match the
proposed office building materials.
The DT Downtown District requires a solid parapet wall adjacent to
the ROW. We are requesting a variance allowing the design shown
with stronger vertical elements and finer horizontal elements to
enhance the design of the garage. Additionally, this will provide
visual continuity between the garage expansion and existing garage.
This materials variance request was previously granted for Phase 1
and is requested again for this phase (Phase 2).