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2011-04-11 Meeting Report (Zoning Ordinance Changes) SPIN MEETING REPORT CASE NO. Ordinance No. 480-HHHH PROJECT NAME: Revisions to Zoning Ordinance No. 480 regarding Fencing, Screening and RV Storage; and the incorporation of the Masonry Ordinance. SPIN DISTRICT: Citywide MEETING DATE: April 11, 2011; 6 PM MEETING LOCATION: 1400 Main Street, Southlake, TX Training Rooms 3A 3B TOTAL ATTENDANCE: Fifteen (15) SPIN REPRESENTATIVE(S) PRESENT: Ray Tremain (# 9); Wendy Carlucci (# 5); Ron Evans (# 10) APPLICANT(S) PRESENTING: City Staff Dennis Killough, Deputy Director of Planning & Development Services; Richard Schell, Planner II OTHER STAFF PRESENT: Lorrie Fletcher, Planner I STAFF CONTACT: Richard Schell, Planner II, (817)748-8602; rschell@ci.southlake.tx.us EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Details The the Masonry Ordinance and to revise the sections that address fencing, screening and recreational vehicle storage. The proposed revisions are as follows: Proposed revisions to fencing and screening regulations Î The attachment of secondary screening materials to ornamental metal or wrought iron fences is not permitted unless approved by City Council as part of a Concept Plan, Site Plan or Development Plan. materials. Clean up miscellaneous inconsistencies. Proposed revisions to recreational equipment regulations Î If not wholly contained in an enclosed garage or carport: If the dwelling is located on a lot which is less than two (2) acres in size, recreational equipment shall be parked on a paved all- weather surface. The ordinance currently requires that recreational equipment be parked on a driveway. Recreational equipment shall be stored no closer to a property line than the minimum required building setback for the district or, height adequate to fully screen the recreational equipment from adjacent properties shall be provided. Such screening device and recreational equipment Proposed revisions to masonry regulations Î Incorporate the regulations currently in the Masonry Ordinance into the Zoning Ordinance (No changes to regulations regarding materials or coverage). No additional application or fee is required for Council to grant a variance to the masonry regulations as part of a concept plan, site plan, or development plan. If a concept plan, site plan or development plan is not required, an application and fee would be required as is currently stated in the ordinance. QUESTIONS / CONCERNS The following are in reference to the recreational vehicle regulation revisions: My house is on the corner. Can I park it on the side? I have an acre on the side. Yes, as long as it meets the requirement to be located behind the front portion of Î nearest portion adjacent to a street. Are these ordinance revisions to solve a problem? Yes. Adjacent property owners have been impacted and the screening Î requirement will lessen that issue. The City Code Enforcement receives complaints. How many calls? Î So out of 26,000 people who populate Southlake, you are allowing 6 to 12 complainers to force ordinance revisions? I am very concerned with this getting out of control. Where do you stop? Writing complaint driven ordinancesDo we have too much regulation? We have been here for years. We bought in a non-HOA neighborhood for this very reason. Will we be grandfathered under the old ordinance? Two acres is arbitrary. Who came up with that number? Two acres has always been in the ordinance. The change is that parking will be Î permitted on a paved all-weather surface instead of a driveway. We should try and provide a solution and not just submit complaints. The purpose of this SPIN meeting is to get your feedback. Please send us email Î or letters or whatever you can to let us know your opinions and suggestions. This is not a health & safety issue; why is there a change? Which Council member asked for this? What meeting was it? I want you (the City) to City Council proposes ordinance changes; this came forward for this year. It was Î likely discussed during a work session. these situations on an individual basis and not create universal rules that can create hardships. The setbacks are too wide, making it impossible to comply. You are pushing us out. What if we got a neighborhood waiver? Again, please send us all of your comments and suggestions for consideration. Î Carports are legal? They are so ugly. You would allow an ugly metal carport over an RV in a driveway? Carports are allowed in non-residential districts with the approval of an SUP. Î Residential districts allow carports as an accessory building but they must meet ordinance setbacks for that district. Is the screening device only for the side? Yes; to screen the vehicle from the adjacent property owner. Î regulation? We have to pay for storage or sell our RV? for them. With the height requirement of the screening, it could be more of an eyesore than the RV. No unive Someone could have a deep lot and have their home located all the way in the back. There would be no way they could park in the rear of their house or meet setback requirements. You should leave You can write to us regarding your comments. The ordinance will also be open to Î public hearing at Planning & Zoning as well as City Council. Do trees count as screening? Yes Î New residents coming in may not be aware. What if they buy a home and have an RV that will not be able to be parked due to these restrictions? How would they know? What information is available? We have all of our ordinances on the city web site. A new resident can also meet Î with staff to ensure the property they are looking at will not come with any surprises. Screening needs to be specific. The following are in reference to the fencing regulation revisions: What is the purpose of the revisions? To eliminate added material, such as cedar planks, to ornamental metal or Î wrought iron fences that are required with a Council approved plan. What if you want more privacy? You can ask for approval or add landscaping. Î Does this apply to everybody? Yes, it is a city-wide ordinance. Î For installed and required or both? This revision is intended for ornamental metal and wrought iron fences that are Î required by Council as in an R-PUD. There were no comments or questions regarding the masonry ordinance. SPIN Meeting Reports are general observations of SPIN Meetings by City staff and SPIN Representatives. The report is neither verbatim nor official meeting minutes; rather it serves to inform elected and appointed officials, City staff, and the public of the issues and questions raised by residents and the general responses made. Responses as summarized in this report should not be taken as guarantees by the applicant. Interested parties are strongly encouraged to follow the case through the Planning and Zoning Commission and final action by City Council.