HomeMy Public PortalAboutPlanning and Zoning Minutes 02-26-2019RICHLAND HILLS PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
CITY HALL, 3200 DIANA DRIVE
FEBRUARY 26, 2019
MINUTES
Members Present:
Erick Sabin, Place 1
Michael Wilson, Place 2
Jackson Durham, Place 3
Ricky Head, Place 5
Mary Witt, Alternate 1
Absent
Kyle LaPointe, Chairman
Staff
Kay Duffy, Development Manager
Candice Edmondson, Assistant City Manager
James Donovan, City Attorney
1. CALL TO ORDER
Vice-chair Erick Sabin called the meeting to order at 5:39 pm and noted a quorum was
present.
2. APPROVAL OF THE DECEMBER 18, 2018 MEETING MINUTES
Jackson Durham motioned to approve the minutes with the correction of a typo. Ricky
Head offered a second and all approved.
3. PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION OF A ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT TO
SUBSECTION 2.03.05, MF-2 MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY AND
2.03.06, MF-3 MULTIFAMILY HIGH DENSITY DISTRICT CLASSIFICATIONS TO
ALTER THE MINIMUM UNIT SIZE
Staff presented a zoning text amendment that would change the minimum apartment sizes
in the MF-2 and MF-3 districts. Currently the minimum sizes are 1500 square feet fora 3
bedroom unit, 1200 square feet fora 2 bedroom, and 1000 square feet fora 1 bedroom. A
developer proposing to build a small complex on the last remaining piece of land zoned
multi-family pointed out that the current unit-sizes were impractical. Staff did some research
and found that minimum sizes in surrounding cities are smaller than the minimums in the
Richland Hills ordinances. In addition, many of the apartment homes already built in the city
are smaller than the ordinance currently specifies. Commissioners brought up many
questions that may need to be addressed in the future regarding the density regulations and
whether our ordinances should include a maximum percentage of units at the minimum size
and also pointed out some inconsistencies between the MF-2 and MF-3 districts. The
public hearing was opened at 5:58 pm. There were no speakers and the hearing was
closed at 5:59 pm. Mr. Durham motioned to approve changing the minimum unit sizes for
the MF-2 and MF-3 districts unit sizes for one, two, and three-bedroom units to 600, 900,
and1200 square feet respectively. Mr. Wilson seconded the motion and all approved.
4. PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION OF A ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT TO
SUBSECTION 3.02, USE CHART TO ADD FOOD PROCESSING AS AN ALLOWED
USE IN THE CITY IN THE BUSINESS PARK DISTRICT AND TO ADD A DEFINITION
OF THE NEW CLASSIFICATION TO SUBSECTION 8.01, DEFINITIONS
Staff presented a request to add a new definition to the zoning use chart for food processing
and to make the new use available in the business Park District. A company called TexPac
Protein, a new division of TexPac Hide and Skin in Fort Worth, is interested in moving into a
warehouse in the Business Park district. The public hearing was opened at 6:07 pm. There
were no speakers and the hearing was closed at 6:08. Mr. Head mentioned that he felt this
was a good business for the Business Park and perhaps even other districts. Mr. Wilson
mentioned that smell may be a concern. The commissioners debated which districts should
allow the use and discussed the advantages of requiring an SUP to allow vetting of potential
businesses that would fall into this use. Mr. Durham made a motion to add food processing
to the use chart with an SUP for the Business Park, Industrial, Light Commercial and Heavy
Commercial districts and adopt the proposed definition. Ms. Witt placed a second an all
approved.
5. DISCUSSION OF PARKING REQUIREMENTS IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE
Staff gave an overview of parking trends in city planning circles and a short summary of our
previous discussions about changing requirements for parking. Commissioners had an
extended discussion about what could be changed including the pros and cons of moving
parking out of the zoning ordinance. Mr. Durham suggested the idea of leaving the existing
ordinances alone but adding the capability for a business to apply for exceptions to the rules
when they have reason to do so. Commissioners labeled the idea an SPP, "Special
Parking Permit" and James Donovan agreed to look for ordinance examples from other
cities.
6. EXECUTIVE SESSION
No executive session was required at this meeting.
7. SET THE DATE AND TIME OF THE NEXT MEETING AND ADJOURN
The commissioners scheduled the next meeting for March 26 at 5:30pm and the meeting
was adjourned at 7:04 pm.
ATTEST APPROVE
Kay Duffy, Development Manager " 111t1 aPointe, Chairman
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