Cambridge Phase 2-CS 960919CITY OF COPPELL
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
~;TAFF REPORT
CA qE NO: PD-131RR, THE ESTATES OF
CAMBRIDGE MANOR
P & Z HEARING DATE: September 19, 1996
C.C. HEARING DATE: October 8, 1996
LOCATION:
Within The Estates of Cambridge Manor subdivision located along
the north side of DeForest Road, approximately 1,600 feet east of
MacArthur Boulevard
SIZE OF ARF~:
Entire subdivision is 33.713 acres with 46 single-family lots.
Total affected area is 1 lot, approximately 12,539 s.f. in size (Lot
16, Block D).
CURRENT ZONING:
PD-SF-12 (Planned Development, Single Family-12)
REQUF~T:
PD-SF-12 (Planned Development, Single Family-12), amending
the development conditions on 1 corner lot to permit the fence
enclosing the side yard to come within close 5 feet of the street
right-of-way.
APPLICANT:
HISTORY:
Owner/Representative:
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Higgins
705 Castle Creek Drive
Coppell, TX 75019
(214) 304-6155
FAX-(214) 448-7100
The original planned development was approved on March 10,
1994, with several conditions. One of the conditions stipulated
that fences shall not extend beyond the platted building line on any
lot. On January 9, 1996, City Council approved an amendment
to the conditions of the planned development as applied to Lot 1,
Block E; Lot 7, Block A and Lot 7, Block B to permit fences
within 5 feet of street right-of-way.
Item # 6
TRANSPORTATION:
Deforest Road is to remain a local street in the thoroughfare plan
requiring 50 feet of fight-of-way and 27 feet of paving.
SURROUNDING LAND USE & ZONING:
North
South
East -
West
vacant; mLI" Light Industrial zoning
existing single-family; PD-140 (Planned Development)
existing scattered single-family, farming; mA' Agriculture
existing scattered single-family; mAre Agriculture
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN:
The Comprehensive Plan shows low density residential use.
DISCUSSION:
This proposal requires a visual judgment on the part of the Planning and Zoning Commission,
therefore, staff strongly urges the Commissioners to visit the lot in question. As one stands at
the southwest comer of Castle Creek Drive and Kings Canyon Court looking northwards, there
are 4 lots which have side yards adjacent to Castle Creek Drive. The lot in question (Lot 16,
Block D) is between two existing homes (Lot l, Block D and Lot 13, Block D) that comply with
the yard requirements of the planned development. To better visualize this fence proposal,
Commissioners may want to look at the fence treatment on Lot 7, Block B and decide if the
same treatment would be appropriate for Lot 16, Block D. From a design perspective, setback
requirements prevent overcrowding of the land, as well as provide the necessary visibility for
traffic safety.
The lot in question has approximately 8,500 s.f. of privacy space. There are over 25 existing
residential subdivisions in Coppell that have an average lot size of 7,000 s.f. with a total of
4,250 s.f. of privacy space. A question of staff: Why is it that other builders have managed
to provide privacy sufficient to satisfy the market without additional planned development
concessions?
Staff fails to see how this request would benefit the public interest. Approximately 620 s.f. of
public open space will be enclosed by a fence for private use. In return, the applicant is
proposing to plant 3 new crape myrtle trees, assumably for public enjoyment.
If the requirement were changed for this lot or the entire subdivision it would not be fair to the
18 existing homes in the subdivision and the 7 homes under construction which observe the
existing setback regulations.
RECOMMENDATION TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION:
From staff perspective the only equitable solution is to recommend denial of this proposal.
The proposal does not serve the public interest and the City should not be called upon to solve
problems between a buyer and a seller.
Item # 6
1) Recommend approval of the change
2) Recommend disapproval of the change
3) Recommend modification of the change
4) Continue the public hearing
ATTACHMENTS:
1) Subdivision Map
2) Plot Plan
3) Floor Plan
4) Left Side Elevations
Item # 6