HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff ReportSTAFF REPORT
Case No.: 96-116
Request: Rezone-14.74 acres north of Holleman to Wolf Pen Creek & east of Texas
Avenue to the Arbors of Wolf Pen Creek Apartments (known as the
Pooh's Park Subdivision) .from WPC - Wolf Pen Creek to C-1 General
Commercial.
Applicant: Dondaco, Inc., General Partnership by Dixie Dale for Pooh's Park
Development, Ltd. -owner
ITEM SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATION
The particular property under consideration for rezoning is a tract with Texas Avenue
frontage and. frontage on he future Kyle extension. It has a large amount of creek
frontage and is on the periphery of the WPC district at the upper end of the creek near the
Texas Avenue / SH 30 intersection. Property .owners have expressed concern over their
ability to market the property and develop it for retail use under the WPC. regulations. It is
a large tract of land that is attractive to the big box retailer or shopping center. These
business. orient to major arterials and draw: vehicular traffic to their sites from these
adjacent roadways. It is not likely that this particular piece of property will be divided up
into the kind of small commercial establishments envisioned to develop along the creek
corridor.
Allowing this property to develop oriented to Texas Avenue and without the architectural
review of the WPC .district will not harm the future implementation of the Wolf Pen Creek
Master Plan as long as certain conditions are placed on this rezoning. Conditions. should
include those that would. not. preclude. improvements to the creek and the minimum
reservation area that are necessary to implement the plan. The best mechanism is a
development. agreement whereby the City has some assurance that this cam occur, similar
to the agreement executed for the Wolf Nursery project. A development agreement could
also address other items such as the extension of Kyle through this property. Only half of
the right-of-way will be coming from this tract and the City will be constructing the street
at some future date.. An agreement wouhd,tie down responsibilities in this matter.
Staff recommends approval of this rezoning with the condition that a development
agreement be prepared and approved addressing drainage, erosion control and other
master plan. elements related to the creek. and minimum reservation area.
ZONING AND LAND USE
Subject Tract: WPC -office and commercial uses (furniture store,
chiropractic office, resale shop)
North: WPC.- church
East:. WPC -Arbors Apartments
South: C-1 General commercial
West: C-1 General Commercial
Proposed Use: Redevelop into retail commercial shopping center
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Land Use Plan: Reflected as Wolf Pen Creek master plan
Thoroughfare Plan: The extension of Kyle South will come through this
property along the eastern boundary
Development Policies: The development policies of the Comprehensive Plan
relative to the Wolf Pen Creek area state that the purpose is to provide a
drainage plan together with creating opportunities for open space and park use.
The park development is supposed to complement adjacent pnvate property and
its future improvements. To achievethis, open space areas should be for active
andpassiveuse and the creek's natural setting should be preserved. To further
achieve;this'there are general guidelines for creek treatment as well as for private
development. that were adopted as part of the Wolf Pen Creek zoning district.
Rezoning to C-1 with conditions can assure the open space and park use, the
preservation of the. natural creek and the prevention of erosion but will not
achieve the standards recommended for the private development in terms of
architectural control and creek orientation.
Parkland Dedication: Not applicable for commercial development but as part of
development agreement there should be provision for implementation of the Wolf
Pen Creek open space and park use.
ENGINEERING
This site has adequate public infrastructure to support this rezoning request. Drainage will
be addressed in a development .agreement, but the site will be reviewed for detention at the
time of site plan review. According to FEMA floodplain maps,. a portion of this site is
located within the 100-year floodplain.
HISTORY
The WPC district was created and applied to properties in 1989 to begin implementation
of the Wolf Pen Creek Master Plan.. Since rezoned there have been several. projects that
have been reviewed under these regulations.. Wolf Nursery was the first followed by some
additions to Taco Bell, he University Commons Apartment project on Colgate and the
Arbors Apartment Project on Holleman. The LaCour property on SH 30 adjacent to Taco
Bell is currently developing under these regulations. Additional multi-family development
is being proposed along Holleman adjacent to the Arbors while Phase 2 of University
Commons is being planned. adjacenf to the existing complex on Colgate.
The district regulations require an added level of review not found in other zoning
districts. There is a Design Review Board that makes recommendation to the P&Z
regarding site plans as well as other architectural features of any project. The WPC
regulations. also call for a developer to either develop the property adjacent to the
floodway in compliance with. the master plan,. which calls for a trail system and series of
lakes, or to dedicate that. property to the City for future development in accordance with
the plan. The vision of the plan was to have a series of lakes serving drainage control
while having a park setting with hiking trails surrounding the creek and lakes. The park
and drainage improvements were envisioned. to .stir private development of the area thus
enhancing. the economic vitality of the community. The plan calls for public and private
partnership in achieving the ultimate goal.