Gateway BP(2.3)-CS020221CITY OF COPPELL
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
CASE: Gateway Business Park, Lot 2, Block A
Site Plan Amendment
P & Z HEARING DATE:
C.C. HEARING DATE:
STAFF REP.:
LOCATION:
SIZE OF AREA:
CURRENT ZONING:
February 21, 2002
March 19, 2002 (Date changed from March 12 because of C.I.S.D.
Spring Break)
Marcie Diamond, Assistant Planning Director
555 Dividend Drive
7.31 acres of property, containing a 104,000 square-foot office
building.
LI (Light Industrial)
REQUEST:
Amendment to the Site Plan to allow the addition of a screened
enclosure with landscaping to house an emergency generator.
APPLICANT:
HISTORY:
Tomas Stastny, AIA
BOKA Powell
13727 Noel Road, Suite 300
Dallas, Texas 75240
972-701-9000
FAX: 972-991-3008
In December 1998, Council approved a site plan and preliminary plat
with three lots totaling 32.82 acres for this tract of property. The
final plat for 7.31 acres was approved by the Planning and Zoning
Commission in 1999. The approved site plan was for a 103,611
square-foot (2 story) office building, which has since been
constructed.
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TRANSPORTATION:
LBJ Freeway is a full-service freeway built to standard. This tract
may be accessed from the Freeport Parkway exit. Dividend Drive
was constructed with this development and is located at the eastern
edge of this tract. This street contains enhanced pavement and
landscaping and is the entry road into the Gateway Business Park.
SURROUNDING LAND USE & ZONING:
North- vacant; LI (Light Industrial)
South - LBJ Freeway
East - Coppell Middle School West; LI (Light Industrial)
West - vacant; LI (Light Industrial)
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN:
The Comprehensive Plan shows the property as suitable for
freeway commercial uses.
DISCUSSION:
As stated in the HISTORY section of this report, the site plan for this
approximately 104,000 square-foot office was approved in 1998. Brinks
Security intends to occupy the northern half of this building, which contains
approximately 50,000 square feet. This tenant requires a back-up poxver
source for their main computer system. They are proposing to place an
emergency generator along the north side of the building to be in close
proximity to the main computer.
Staff has concems with the placement of this emergency generator.
Normally, staff would recommend that this be placed along the rear wall of
the building. However, given that this is a 100% office building, there are
two fronts and two sides, with first and second story windows on all sides.
The side of the building selected for the placement of this generator is
visible from LBJ Freeway, as well as Dividend Drive, both of which are the
"front doors" to this development.
Considering that there is no logical place to conceal this generator on the
site, the applicant has offered to screen this emergency generator to the
greatest extent possible. This generator will be just less than 10 feet tall. A
10'6" concrete wall will be constructed on three sides, which will have
reveals and be painted to match the existing building. To soften the
appearance of these walls, landscaping has been added. This additional
landscaping includes a new Live Oak tree, Asian Jasmine on the north and
south sides and Dwarf Burford Holly will surround the base of the screerdng
enclosure. Finally, Boston Ivy will also be planted, which will eventually
obscure the view of the wall.
This emergency generator enclosure, including the proposed landscaping,
will occupy approximately 600 square feet, which is presently three parking
spaces and a landscape island. Since, the parking for this office building
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exceeds the minimum required by 71 spaces, this reduction will not
negatively impact the parking.
Staff is supportive of the efforts that the applicant has made to obscure the
view of this generator from the public; however, it will still impact the
occupants of the offices abutting this generator. Therefore, as a condition of
approval, staff is recommending that in the event this generator is no longer
needed (i.e., if a new tenant occupies the space), this generator and
associated enclosure must be removed.
RECOMMENDATION TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION:
Staff is recommending APPROVAL of the amendment to the site plan for Gateway
Business Park, Lot 2, Block A, subject to:
1. The screening wall enclosure shall match the color, texture and materials of the main
building, as indicated on the attached site plan, elevations and details.
2. In the event this generator is no longer needed, the generator, screening walls and
non-required landscaping shall be removed.
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.
ATTACHMENTS:
I) Site and Landscape Plan with Details and Elevations
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