Waterside P2-CS 990520 CITY OF COPPELL
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
CASE NO.: PD-120R2, Waterside Estates, Phase H
P & Z HEARING DATE: May 20, 1999
C.C. HEARING DATE: June 8, 1999
LOCATION: 902 Spyglass Cove
SIZE OF AREA: 15,027.6 square feet
CURRENT ZONING: PD-SF-9 (Planned Development, Single Family-9)
REQUEST: PD amendment to change a 25' front building line to a 15' side
building line on Lot 8, Block D.
APPLICANT: Owner:
Sammy A. Thornton and Patsy R. Thornton
902 Spyglass Cove
Coppell, TX 75019
(972) 471-1071
FAX: (972) 745-2662
HISTORY: On January 12, 1995, the Board of Adjustment granted a variance
of 10' to the 25' front platted building line to allow the construction
of 4 ft. open wrought iron fence to be set back 15' from the right-
of-way along Spyglass Drive.
TRANSPORTATION: Spyglass Drive is a residential street in a 50'-wide right-of-way.
Spyglass Cove is a residential cul-de-sac measuring approximately
200' in length and also in a 50'-wide right-of-way.
SURROUNDING LAND USE & ZONING:
North- residential subdivision; "PD-138" zoning
South - residential subdivision; "SF-9" zoning
East - residential subdivision; "SF-7" zoning
West - residential subdivision; "SF-9" zoning
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COMPREHENSIVE PLAN: The Comprehensive Plan shows the property as suitable for
medium density residential.
DISCUSSION: This is a corner lot with street frontages on both Spyglass Drive and
Spyglass Cove. The Zoning Ordinance states "on comer lots both street
frontages are to be treated as front yards, with one exception [see Section
32-2 (1)]". The one exception is when the City approves a plat showing
a building line less than the required front yard setback, but in no case
less than 15 feet [see Section 32-3 (1)]. This means that, on the plat,
when 25' building lines are shown along both streets of a corner lot, they
are both front yards. The fence code prohibits fencing front yards.
As stated in the history subsection, four years ago the Board of
Adjustment granted a variance of 10' to the 25' front platted building line
to allow the construction of 4 ft. open wrought iron fence to be set back
15' from the right-of-way along Spyglass Drive. With this request, the
applicant is requesting to designate the Spyglass Drive frontage as a 15'
side yard building line to permit a pool to be built in the back yard.
Pools and accessory structures can not encroach on any building lines.
Staff does not have a problem recommending the designation of the
Spyglass Drive frontage as a side yard. However, we would recommend
that the designation should be expanded to a 15' building line and fence
line. The reasons for such stipulation is that the fence code allows a
fence to be built beyond the side yard.
Street-side appearance is one of the reasons for requiring a front yard
setback along Spyglass Drive. In this particular case, Spyglass Drive
serves as the entry to the entire neighborhood. Houses face the street on
both sides. Any fence extending beyond the 15' side yard setback would
limit comer visibility along Spyglass Drive and Spyglass Cove. Staff is
extremely apprehensive to any fence extension beyond the 15' set back
that would adversely affect the front yard views of the homes on the east
and west sides of Spyglass, as well as the lot immediately to the north
(Lot 9, Block D) of the lot in question.
The designer of the subdivision oversized this comer lot. It contains
approximately 15,028 square feet, while the minimum lot size is 9,000
square feet. Undoubtedly the design took into account the privacy needs
of the homeowners and provided sufficient area behind the platted lines
to accommodate those needs.
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The third party management company hired by the Waterside Estates,
Phase II Homeowners' Association contacted staff informing that the
covenants and restrictions state that any improvements on any lots within
the subdivision will have to be reviewed and approved by the
Architectural Review Committee.
RECOMMENDATION TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION:
The planning staff recommends approval of the zoning change request subject to
restricting to a 15' side yard building line and fence setback. Also, the proposed
pool will have to abide by setback requirements for in-ground and above-ground
swimming pools and spas stated in Section 35-3 of the zoning ordinance.
ALTERNATIVES: 1) Recommend approval of the request
2) Recommend disapproval of the request
ATTACHMENTS: 1) Zoning application
2) Overview of Waterside Estates//2
3) Current Plat
4) Proposed Change
5) Board of Adjustment minutes
6) Front View of 902 Spyglass Cove
7) Side View of 902 Spyglass Cove
8) Comparison Pictures//1-5
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