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Solicitors Ordinance Memo to PZ City of Southlake Department of Planning M E M O R A N D U M December 30, 2003 TO: Planning and Zoning Commission FROM: Bruce Payne, Planning Director SUBJECT: Discussion Item – Review Proposed Changes to Zoning Ordinance 480 and the Peddlers and Solicitors Ordinance as a Result of the Proposed Revisions to Solicitation/Outdoor Sales and Mass Gathering Regulations. ________________________________________________________________________ Purpose of the Discussion Item: Review proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance and peddlers and solicitors ordinance as a result of needed revisions to the solicitation/outdoor sales and mass gathering regulations. The planning staff has been working with the City Attorney’s Office and the Department of Public Safety during the past year to review regulations effecting solicitation, outdoor sales and mass gathering activities as a result of recent issues facing the city. A few of these issues include (Staff will th provide more detail on these issues during the presentation at the January 8 meeting):  Overlapping/redundant regulations (i.e. snow cone stands regulated by the Zoning and Seasonal Sales Ordinance).  Antiquated language (i.e. detailed lists and standards for medical supplies, water supply, sanitation facilities, etc. required for a mass gathering event).  Current ordinances do not address solicitation issues facing the city (i.e. solicitation in the public right-of-way/proliferation of donation bins).  Multiple departments administering/enforcing solicitation/outdoor sales/mass gathering regulations. As a result of this year long review, major revisions to the city’s Peddlers and Solicitors ordinance and the Zoning Ordinance are proposed. The Planning and Zoning Commission will not take a formal action on the peddlers and solicitors ordinance. However, it is critical that the Planning and Zoning Commission understand the peddlers and solicitors ordinance and its relationship to the proposed zoning ordinance amendments. Also, the Planning and Zoning Commission may desire to make general recommendation to the City Council regarding the content of the peddlers and solicitors ordinance. The Planning and Zoning Commission will make a formal recommendation to City Council on the proposed changes to the zoning ordinance. A public hearing on this item is tentatively scheduled for the th, February 52004 meeting. Memo to P&Z Commission 1 1/24/2024 Background: Currently there are six different city ordinances/regulations that have been adopted over the past twenty years which in some manner regulate outdoor sales or service activities (i.e. solicitation sales, outdoor sales, seasonal sales). These ordinances/regulations are as follows: (1) Peddlers and Solicitors Ordinance; (2) Seasonal Sales Ordinance; (3); Mass Gathering Ordinance; (4) special events (found in the City’s Zoning Ordinance); (5) temporary uses (found in the City’s Zoning Ordinance); and (6) Street Curb Painting Ordinance. The multiple ordinances/regulations which govern outdoor sales and service activities have resulted in an inefficient and sometimes confusing process in terms of administration and enforcement. For instance, the Planning Department, the Department of Public Safety, the City Secretary’s office and the City Manager’s office currently administer and/or enforce at least one of the ordinances listed above. Also, many of the existing regulations need to be updated to adequately address the outdoor sales and service issues currently facing the City. In an attempt to streamline, address issues facing the city and simply administration and enforcement, staff has proposed to place all applicable solicitation/outdoor sales/mass gathering regulations into either the Peddlers and Solicitors Ordinance or the Zoning Ordinance. It is proposed that solicitation/sales activities that are mobile in nature (door-to-door sales/ice cream truck) or conducted on public property be regulated by the Peddlers and Solicitors Ordinance, while outdoor sales or services on private property will be regulated by the Zoning Ordinance. As a result, all regulations governing solicitation/outdoor sales/mass gathering activities will be located in just two ordinances and would be administered and enforced by either the Director of Public Safety (Peddler and Solicitors Ordinance) or the Zoning Administrator (Zoning Ordinance). Proposed Changes: Below are overviews of the ordinances affected and a summary of the changes to each ordinance as proposed by staff. Peddlers and Solicitors (Ordinance. 643) /Code of Ordinances of the City of Southlake, Chapter 13 Overview of Existing Ordinance Adopted November, 1996. The solicitor’s ordinance was the city’s first comprehensive attempt to regulate itinerant merchants and solicitors operating within its limits. The ordinance applies to mobile solicitors, moving either by foot or by vehicle, within the city limits. The predominant regulatory language of the ordinance pertains to information required in making application; requirement for a bond; allowed hours; and required display of identification. The ordinance does not regulate what a solicitor sells, nor where items may be sold. The ordinance also does not make a distinction between soliciting on private property vs. public property, and does not differentiate between profit and non-profit solicitation activities. Memo to P&Z Commission 2 1/24/2024 Summary of Proposed Changes  The peddlers and solicitors ordinance will regulate solicitation activity that is mobile in nature (door to door sales) or conducted on public property, while outdoor sales or services on private property (i.e. hot dog stands/Christmas tree sales) will be regulated via the zoning ordinance.  The definition of solicitation is expanded to include: 1) the collection of money for any purposes; and 2) the distribution of handbills or leaflets.  Canvassing activities are now regulated.  A person commits an offense if that person engages in a solicitation or canvassing activity within the roadway, or on any median or traffic island within the right-of-way of any street or highway within the city.  A person commits an offense if the person engages in solicitation or canvassing in an aggressive or intimidating manner.  A person commits an offense if a person engages in a solicitation or canvassing activity at a residence after sunset.  A person commits an offense if the person engages in a solicitation activity with the occupant of any vehicle stopped or traveling or traveling on Highway 114, FM 1709, FM 1938, any street or highway within the Town Center Designation of the City’s land use plan, or any street or highway in the city which is designated as an arterial or collector on the Master Thoroughfare Plan.  A person commits an offense if the person engages in solicitation activity on a sidewalk within the Town Center designation of the City’s land use plan.  Solicitation activity in conjunction with a city sponsored event (i.e. Art-in- the Square) is not regulated.  A non-profit organization or person conducting solicitation activity on behalf of a non-profit organization is exempt from payment of a permit fee.  Ordinance solely administered and regulated by the Department of Public Safety. Mass Gathering Ordinance (198-1)/ Code of Ordinances of the City of Southlake, Chapter 3-Article II. Overview of Existing Ordinance Memo to P&Z Commission 3 1/24/2024 Adopted June, 1982. Based upon review of the content of the ordinance, it would appear that it was originally adopted to contend with the possibility of a “Woodstock” style rock concert occurring in Southlake. The ordinance applies to all gatherings of 500 or more people for more than six continuous hours and goes into great detail about required supplies of water, emergency aid supplies (i.e. band-aids), number of porta-potties, etc. Given that the type of large scale event the ordinance was designed for never materialized (resulting in the ordinance being applied rarely- if ever), in-house memory of the ordinance faded. Consequently, the provisions of the ordinance had not been invoked in some time. During the ordinance review phase conducted by the planning department, it was discovered that the literal interpretation of the ordinance would require mass gathering permits to be processed for children’s soccer leagues and little league teams, the July 3rd celebration, special events such as Art in the Square and Oktoberfest, etc. Following up on the recognition of the requirements of this ordinance, its provisions were recently applied to the Jewel outdoor concert that was held during the 2003 Art in the Square event. Summary of Proposed Changes  Rescind the Mass Gathering Ordinance (198-1).  The zoning ordinance will regulate most events or gatherings attended by 200 or more people in a single day via the Special Use Permit (SUP) requirements.  Some mass gathering events will be considered an Accessory Use if it occurs in a structure designed to handle the occupancy load of the event or if the event is held on a tract of land which is at least 10 acres in size and the mass gathering event is at least 200 feet from adjacent property.  Events or gatherings that are customary to the principal use (schools, shopping centers, football stadium, and youth sports) are not subject to the regulations of the ordinance.  Specific city standards for medical care, toilet facilities, food sanitation, water supply, first-aid supplies etc. will be eliminated from the regulations. Regulations will refer to the requirements of the Tarrant/Denton counties health departments and the Texas Department of Health.  Site renderings and other documentation will be required to demonstrate compliance with ordinance. Sale of Seasonal Items Ordinance (419)/Code of Ordinances of the City of Southlake, Chapter 5-Article III Memo to P&Z Commission 4 1/24/2024 Overview of the Existing Ordinance Adopted February, 1988. This ordinance attempts to bridge the gap between permanently established uses controlled by the zoning ordinance and temporary retail sales operations related to seasonal events. The seasonal sales ordinance also functions similarly to a solicitor ordinance via the application and registration requirements of the vendors. The ordinance authorizes the temporary sale of Christmas trees, snow-cones, firewood and similar seasonal goods. Vendors are required to have a seasonal sales permit in order to conduct the authorized activities and are specifically prohibited from conducting such activities without a permit. The ordinance stipulates the specific zoning districts where authorized seasonal sales operations are allowed to be conducted, therefore, it performs as a hybrid zoning ordinance designed to regulate temporary retail uses. Permits are limited to the following specific zoning districts: AG, CS, R-1, R-2, I-1, & I-2. Please note that two of the named zoning districts no longer exist within the city, due to the adoption of Ordinance 480, which converted the R-1 and R-2 districts to C-1 and C-2 (inexplicably, the ordinance language in the updated city code presently references the C-1 and C-2 districts, however, there is no record of an amendment to Ordinance. 419 accomplishing this task). It should also be pointed out that the locations that have been traditionally used for seasonal sales activities (Dallas Foam site, NW corner of FM 1709 & Randol Mill, etc.) are not in any of the aforementioned zoning districts. Summary of Proposed Changes  Rescind the Sales of Seasonal Items Ordinance (419).  The zoning ordinance will regulate the sale of traditional seasonal sale items (now referred to as Outdoor Sales or Services) via Special Use Permit (SUP) requirements. Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance 480) Overview Adopted September, 1989. The initial version of this comprehensive revision to the city’s zoning ordinance did not include language governing special events or temporary uses. Outdoor vending in the O-1, O-2, C-1, C-2, C-3 & C-4 zoning districts is dealt with through the standard floor area requirement that “Each store, shop or business shall have a minimum of 500 square feet of floor area (“floor area” being limited to the interior of the primary structure), which would indicate that no outside vending may occur within the aforementioned zoning districts. However, hot dog, popcorn & drink vendors notwithstanding, a quick review of existing businesses within the city quickly reveals that there are dozens of otherwise legitimate “stores, shops or businesses” within these zoning districts that do not meet the floor area standard (i.e. accounting, insurance, landscaping, banks, Memo to P&Z Commission 5 1/24/2024 and other uses). Therefore, it is apparent that the floor area provision, as written, has not been rigorously applied over the years. The zoning ordinance was amended to allow for temporary tents for the purposes of promoting retail sales by Ordinance. 480-H. Outdoor vendor sales and special events were allowed as an SUP through adoption of the Town Square NR-PUD in 1997, and subsequently remained an SUP when the PUD was converted to the Downtown zoning district in 2003. In 2001, regulations were provided to govern the display of seasonal goods and merchandise associated with the principle commercial building. Note- A few of the changes proposed to the Zoning Ordinance are clean-up items from previous ordinance amendments and not as a result of solicitation/outdoor sales/mass gathering activities. Summary of Proposed Changes (Proposed changes highlighted/Deletions indicated by a strikethrough)  Section 3-Administration and Enforcement Added statement that an application will not be forwarded to the Planning and Zoning Commission or City Council until the Zoning Administrator determines that the application is complete and all required information has been submitted (3-p 3). This is a clean-up item.  Section 4-Definitions--Added the following terms: -Donation Bin (4-p. 5) -Mass Gathering Area (4-p.14) -Mass Gathering Event (4-p.14) -Outdoor Commercial Displays (4-p. 16) -Outdoor Sales or Services (4-p. 16) -Private Property (4-p.18) -Promoter (4-p. 18) -Promote (4-p.18) -Refuse (4-p.18) -Sanitary Facilities (4-p.19)  Section 18 O-1 District, Section 20 C-1 District, Section 21 C-2 District, Section 22 C-3 District, and Section 23 C-4 District--Made the following changes. - Deleted the minimum 500 square foot floor area requirement.  Section 34-Accessory Uses--Made the following to the accessory use table (Section 34.1): -aa. Deleted Tents for the purpose of retail sales (34-p.3). Moved to the SUP section. Memo to P&Z Commission 6 1/24/2024 - dd. Added outdoor commercial display items (34-p. 5) - Also provided specific regulations for this activity in section 34.3 (p.6). - ee. Added yard or garage sales (34-p. 5) (Not addressed previously in the zoning ordinance). - ff. Added fund raising/sales (34-p. 5). - gg. Added mass gathering event (34-p.5).  Section 37-"DT" Downtown District--Deleted the following from Section 37.2-Schedule of Uses: -Outdoor temporary removable displays and sales for fairs, festivals, and other outdoor spaces (Now regulated by Mass Gathering in the Zoning Ordinances). -Outdoor vendor sales (Not permitted in the DT district per the solicitor's ordinance). -Added parking standards for office and retail uses that reflect those in Town Squares’ original PUD (37-p.11). This is a clean-up item from 480- SS and not related to the proposed solicitors ordinance change.  Section 39 - "Screening"--Made the following changes to Section 39.5. -e. Deleted references to seasonal merchandised (39.5.e-p.4). Now proposed to be permitted as an accessory use (outdoor commercial displays- -regulations included in the accessory use section). - f. Deleted reference to “Outdoor storage by transient salespersons is prohibited”, and added “Outdoor Commercial Displays as permitted by Section 34 are exempt from the requirement herein” (39.5(f). -g. Added screening requirements for primary outdoor storage  Section 43 - "Corridor Overlay"--Made the following change. - 43.9.4.f Eliminated references to seasonal merchandised (43-p. 10). Proposed to be permitted as an accessory use (regulations included in the accessory use section).  Section 45-Specific Use Permits--Made the following changes. -38. Deleted outdoor temporary removable displays and sales at fairs, Memo to P&Z Commission 7 1/24/2024 festivals, and other special events and replaced with a “Mass Gathering Event (45.1-p.6) permitted as an accessory use in accordance with Section 34, subject to the requirements set forth in Section 45.15 of this ordinance”. Also see associated requirements on (45.15-p. 24). -40. Added “Outdoor sales or services (45.1-p. 6), subject to the requirements set forth in Section 45.12 of this ordinance”. Also see associate requirements on (45.12-p. 23). -41. Added “Donation bins (45.1-p. 7), subject to the requirements of Section 45.13”. Also see associated requirements on (45.13- p. 23). -42. Added tents for the purpose of promoting retail sales (Now required by SUP-previously listed as an accessory use only) (45.1-p.7). Street Curb Painting Ordinance (644)/Code of Ordinances of the City of Southlake Chapter 5-Article VI Overview Adopted July, 1996. The purpose of this ordinance is to regulate and register persons engaged in the address numbers on street curbs. Summary of Proposed Changes  Provide regulations in the peddlers and solicitors ordinance.  Require the use of reflective paint. Memo to P&Z Commission 8 1/24/2024