Amazon Tours-CS000817CASE:
CITY OF COPPELL
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
AMAZON TOURS SITE PLAN
P & Z HEARING DATE:
C.C. HEARING DATE:
LOCATION:
SIZE OF AREA:
August 17, 2000
September 12, 2000
At the northeast comer of S. Denton Tap Road and Bethel Road.
Approximately 2.7 acres of property.
CURRENT ZONING:
R (R~mil)
REQUEST:
Site Plan approval.
APPLICANT:
Phil Marstellar
1203 Crestside Dr, #110
Coppell, Texas 75019
972-304-1656
FAX: 972-304-5262
Architect:
Charles Reagan, AIA
Alliance Architects
1600 N. Collins Blv&,
Suite 1000
Richardson, Tx 75080
972-233-0400
FAX: 972-233-2259
HISTORY:
This property was platted as Lot 1, Block A of Creek View, Phase II
as a 2.716 acre tract in 1993.
TRANSPORTATION:
Demon Tap Road is a P6D, six lane improved major thoroughfare
contained within a 100 to 120 foot right-of-way. Bethel Road is a
residential street east of Denton Tap Road, with an 80 foot right-of-
Item # 8
SURROUNDING LAND USE & ZONING:
North- office; C
South - office; R
East - single family; SF-12
West - undeveloped; C
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN:
The Comprehensive Plan shows the property as suitable for
flood plain, however, a portion of the subject property is no
longer in the flood plairr The areas to the north and south of
this property are designated for Mixed Uses. The proposed
office use is compatible with the uses recommended for this
area.
DISCUSSION:
Amazon Tours, Inc desires to construct a 5,800 square foot office building on
this site to house their headquarters. The office use is compatible with the
offices that have been conslmcted to the no~h and south of this site along S.
Denton Tap Road. The elevations indicate a green standing seam metal roof
with a 6:12 pitch that is similar to others located on Denton Tap Road. The
exterior is proposed to be a combination of limestone and tinted glass. There
will be a loading door that will be visible from S. Denton Tap Road. The
proposed color of this loading door needs to be specified on the east
elevation. Architectural features_of this building also include timber posts, in
keeping with the Amazon motif of the intended owner/occupant of this office
building. The sigrmge will be limited to a monument sign, which meets the
siie requirements for this district. However, the colors and materials of this
sign need to be specified on the elevation sheet.
The configuration of this property is triangular, the rear portion is heavily
treed and in the flood plain. Of the 2.7 acres, approximately one acre is
om of the flood plain and buildable. The building is oriented towards the
intersection, with most of the parking along S. Denton Tap Road. A fire
lane (driveway) is being provided from Bethel Road to Denton Tap Road.
Given that this lot has already been platted, this fire lane can either be
established through a re-plat via a separate instrument.
Site Plan Comments
Per Section 33-1 of the Zoning Ordinance, a six (6) foot screening fence
would be required between this use and the residential subdivisions to the
north and east. This fence would be required to be placed within the
heavily treed, flood plain area. Note # 1 on this site plan is a request to
City Council to waive this screening fence requirement, per sub-section
33.1.8 of this Ordinance. This heavily treed area should be a sufficient
visual buffer between this office and the existing residential uses and staff
is in support of this request.
Item# 8
The site plan indicates two parking spaces along the eastside of the
building. Section 34-1-803)(3) of the Landscape Ordinance states a
"single row of parking shall have landscape islands separating no more
than 15 spaces or less than 5 spaces." Note #2 on the site plan is
requesting a special exception to this provision of the Ordinance.
However, the Board of Adjustment needs to consider this special
exception to this section of the Ordinance, and this note needs to be
removed.
Parking is being provided at a ratio of one space per 300 square feet,
however, the spaces are substandard in length. Per section 31-5.1 of the
Zoning Ordinance, minimum parking stall length is 19 feet, unless
additional landscaping is provided. Revisions will be required, unless a
variance is sought through the Board of Adjustment.
Finally there are several minor drafting corrections that are needed to the
site plan. Specifically,
· Need to add zoning designation on subject property and zoning on
surrounding properties.
· Add the existing curb line at the northeast comer of Bethel Road and
Denton Tap Road.
· Sidewalk needs to be 5 feet in width, and needs to be extended to the
north of the proposed driveway.
· The site plan needs to be revised to reflect the correct address to be
650 S. Denton Tap Road.
Landscape Plan
As noted above, although this property contains almost three acres, only
slightly over one acre is builclable due to the flood plain. The flood plan
area will be preserved, and therefore may fulfill some of the non-vehicular
landscaping requirements. Staff's analysis of the landscape plan concluded
that the amount of area devoted to landscaping and the quantity of landscape
materials illustrated appear to be in accordance with the requirements of the
Landscape Ordinance. However, the calculations of the landscaping
provided by the Architect and those on the Landscape Plan, are in conflict,
and neither appear correct. The plant materials proposed are on the city's
Plant Palette, and recommended in the design criteria in the Streetseape Plan
for a Primary Image Zone. The only exception is the proposed Yucca Plants.
If the required landscaping is fulfilled with permitted plant materials, other
plant materials may be included to augment the landscape design.
Item# 8
RECOMMENDATION TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION:
Staff is recommending approval subject to:
1. No improvements (trees, structures,
etc.) will be allowed in the 100 year
floodplain without an approved floodplain permit.
2. City Council waiver of the screening fence adjacent to the flood plain, per
Section 33.1.8 of the Zoning Ordinance.
3. Board of Adjustment approval of a variance to Section 34-1-8(BX3) of the
Landscape Ordinance which states a "single row of parking shall have
landscape islands separating no more than 15 spaces or less than 5 spaces",
allowing for two (2) spaces along the south side of the building.
4. Parking stall length being increased to 19 feet, unless additional landscaping
is provided or Board of Adjustment approval is obtained.
5. Need to add zoning designation on subject property and zoning on
surrounding properties.
6. Add the existing curb line at the northeast comer of Bethel Road and Denton
Tap Road.
7. Sidewalk needs to be 5 feet in width, and needs to be extended to the north of
the proposed driveway.
8. The site plan needs to be revised to reflect the correct address to be 650 S.
Denton Tap Road.
9. Need to specify colors and materials of the proposed monument sign.
10. Need to specify color of loading doo[.
11. Need to correct the Landscape Calculations on the Landscape Plan.
ALTERNATIVES: 1) Recommend approval of the request
2) Recommend disapproval of the request
3) Recommend modification of the request
4) Take under advisement for reconsideration at a later date.
A~rACHMENTS:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
Department Comments
Planning Department
Engineering Department
Landscape calculations prepared by Alliance Architects
Site Plan
Elevations
Landscape Plan
Irrigation Plan
Item# 8
07/20/00 THU 13:27 FAX 97223~9 ALLIANCE_ARCHITECTS
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