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2.0 Existing Plans and StudiesFINAL DRAFT November 3, 2004 Southlake 2025 Plan Davis Boulevard/F.M. 1938 Phase II Analysis & Recommendations 5 2.0 EXISTING PLANS & STUDIES Understanding past planning efforts with respect to land use, transportation, and design is critical to developing the Southlake 2025 Plan. Specifically, the 1995 Corridor Plan, the 1998 Land Use Plan, and the Master Thoroughfare Plan are the most relevant to current planning efforts. This planning effort will also coordinate adopted plans for trails, parks, and open space (Southlake Pathways Plan and the Southlake Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan). 2.1 1995 Corridor Plan. The 1995 Southlake Corridor Study was undertaken to provide guidelines to the city on issues relating to development along the city’s most prominent roadways. These issues included providing the city with its own unique character which is reflective of the quality of residential development and ensuring the long term health and vitality of these corridors. One of the corridors identified for specific recommendations included Davis Boulevard and F.M. 1709 (Southlake Boulevard). Recommendations were divided into land use and urban design recommendations. The following section summarizes the recommendations from the 1995 Corridor Study. Land Use Recommendations: • Intended primarily as a service area for Southlake, Keller, and North Richland Hills. • Uses are intended to be a mixture of light industrial, large scale retail and wholesale uses, including auto service and repair uses. • Appropriate zoning districts to include I- 1 for industrial uses and B-2, C-1, C-2, C-3, B-1, and O-1 districts for business service uses. 1995 Corridor Study Land Use Recommendations for Davis Boulevard & Southlake Boulevard FINAL DRAFT November 3, 2004 Southlake 2025 Plan Davis Boulevard/F.M. 1938 Phase II Analysis & Recommendations 6 Design Recommendations: The 1995 Corridor Plan recognized F.M. 1938 (Davis Boulevard) as a critical entry-way into the city that needed enhancements as a portal into the city. Further, the study recommended a “vertical marker” as an identification graphic. Other Recommendations of the 1995 Corridor Plan include – • Elimination of concrete erosion control along the corridor and utilization of retaining walls of natural materials and plantings. • Increasing in bufferyard standards with respect to width and required plantings to differentiate the corridor. • Canopy trees planted along the corridor in groupings to buffer surface parking and frame private development. • Plant material should be limited to selected hardy plants and trees should be a minimum of 2” – 4” caliper to achieve a “natural tree grove” corridor edge. 2.2 1998 Land Use Plan The 1998 Land Use Plan (LUP) is the primary element of the city’s existing comprehensive plan. The Southlake City Charter establishes the Comprehensive Master Plan as a policy instrument that guides “…the growth, development, and beautification of the City.” Presently, the Comprehensive Master Plan consists of various related policy components. Collectively, they are the basis for short-term and long-term decisions on the physical development of Southlake. Components of the Comprehensive Master Plan include: 1. Land Use Plan; 2. Thoroughfare Plan; 3. Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan; 4. Water, Sewer, and Drainage Master Plans; and 5. Solid Waste Disposal Master Plan. Particularly, the Land Use Plan is a guide to the physical development of Southlake by establishing a general pattern of land uses. It allocates the appropriate location, concentration, and intensity of future development within the City by land use categories. As such, the 1998 Land Use Plan consists of a map illustrating the pattern of land uses by category and text with descriptions of the individual land use categories. The following section describes the application of the existing 1998 Land Use Plan on the Davis Boulevard/F.M. 1938 Corridor. FINAL DRAFT November 3, 2004 Southlake 2025 Plan Davis Boulevard/F.M. 1938 Phase II Analysis & Recommendations 7 The adopted 1998 Land Use Plan as it applies to the Davis Boulevard, to a large extent, reflects the recommendations made in the 1995 Corridor Study. Significant portions along Randol Mill are designated Low Density Residential in an effort to preserve and limit the existing character of residential development. The majority of the Retail Commercial designation is limited to the intersection of F.M. 1709 and F.M. 1938 while a smaller scale retail center has been identified at the intersection of Davis and Continental. Industrial and mixed use designation is predominant along the eastern portion of Davis Boulevard. The western portion of Davis between Michael Drive and F.M. 1709 is designated Low Density Residential in keeping with its existing character. Transition to adjoining neighborhoods is achieved by locating Office Commercial areas as buffers between higher intensity commercial and lower intensity residential uses. The western edge of the plan area is traversed by the 100-year flood plain. The 1998 Land Use Plan designation along the flood plain recommends its preservation as a “natural open area”. However, the plan allows the reclamation of land in the flood plain (not in the floodway) if it meets Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) standards. FINAL DRAFT November 3, 2004 Southlake 2025 Plan Davis Boulevard/F.M. 1938 Phase II Analysis & Recommendations 8 2.3 1997 Master Thoroughfare Plan The 1997 Master Thoroughfare Plan (MTP) provides standards, definitions, and cross- section characteristics of the different roadway configurations. The city uses the plan to require dedications of new and expanded rights-of-way as triggered by new development. This plan is also used during the Capital Improvements Program (CIP) process to prioritize transportation improvements. The next part of the analysis summarizes the relevant roadway section details from the MTP. F.M. 1709 and F.M. 1938 are two principal arterials in the city with the primary function of serving regional and major traffic generators. The focus on these roadways is access management to limit intersections and traffic signals. Both roadways are designated with a right-of- way (R-O-W) of 130 feet. The extension of F.M. 1938 along Randol Mill is designated with a R-O-W of 140 feet to include median. F.M. 1709 is slated to be a 6-lane divided arterial with center and right turn lanes at intersections. F.M. 1938 is designated to be a 5-lane undivided cross section with a continuous two-way left turn lane. The only other arterial in the study area is Continental Boulevard which is designated as a 3-lane undivided roadway with an 84-foot R-O-W. FINAL DRAFT November 3, 2004 Southlake 2025 Plan Davis Boulevard/F.M. 1938 Phase II Analysis & Recommendations 9 Continental Boulevard – A3U – 84’ Legend: C=Curb, L=Lane, M=Median, P=Parkway, T=Trail, D=Bar Ditch Arterial: 3-Lane Undivided Design Speed = 35 mph Maximum Service Level Volume (LOS “D”) = 14,500 vehicles per day Union Church Road - C2U – 84’ Collector: 2-Lane Undivided Design Speed = 35 mph Maximum Service Level Volume (LOS “D”) = 8,400 vehicles per day Union Church Road –C2U 84’ R-O-W Johnson Road – C2U 70’ R-O-W Johnson Road - C2U – 70’ Collector: 2-Lane Undivided Design Speed = 35 mph Maximum Service Level Volume (LOS “D”) = 8,400 vehicles per day FINAL DRAFT November 3, 2004 Southlake 2025 Plan Davis Boulevard/F.M. 1938 Phase II Analysis & Recommendations 10 2.4 2001 Southlake Pathways Plan. The 2001 Southlake Pathways Plan is a pedestrian, bicyclist and equestrian non-motorized system master plan for transportation and recreation. It builds on an earlier (1995) trail system master plan and expanded it to include greenway connections with present and future development wherever possible. The following section identifies the specific recommendations of the 2001 Southlake Pathways Plan as they pertain to the Davis Boulevard/F.M. 1938 Corridor. The 2001 Pathways Plan identifies on-street bicycle facilities along F.M. 1709 and F.M. 1938. The Plan recommends requiring 15’ outside lanes to accommodate bicyclists on roadways with speeds of 45 mph or more. F.M. 1709 and F.M. 1938 are the major regional connectors in the Northeast Tarrant County area and thus provide opportunities for non-automobile access to adjoining cities of Keller, Grapevine, Westlake, Trophy Club, and North Richland Hills. This system of on-street bicycle facilities are to be complemented by a network of multi-use trails along arterials and sidewalks along collectors and residential streets. Opportunities to improve non-motorized network in the form of new development and street improvements should be maximized.