Park West CC(6)-CS051117CASE:
CITY OF COPPELL
PLANN1NG DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
Park West Commerce Center Lot Block 5
Site Plan Amendment
P & Z HEARING DATE:
C.C. HEARING DATE:
November 17, 2005
December 13, 2005
STAFF REP.:
Gary L. Sieb, Planning Director
LOCATION:
At the southwest comer of Beltline Road and Airline Drive.
SIZE OF AREA:
14.28 acres of properly containing a 151,304-square-foot building.
CURRENT ZONING:
LI (Light Industrial)
REQUEST:
Site Plan amendment request to allow the construction of a dock
door and loading area, with a revised Landscape Plan, for the
northeast comer of the existing building.
APPLICANT:
HISTORY:
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IBM
1507 LBJ Freeway
Suite 1154
Dallas, TX. 75234
(972) 561-7393
Fax: (972) 490-1889
Arch.: Jacobs and Assoc.
Allen Coronett
4101 McEwen Rd.
Suite 150
Dallas, TX. 7524
(972) 490-1888
Fax: (972) 490-I 890
Them has been considerable development history on this parcel and the
surrounding land area. The original platting of this property was in large
blocks and took place in 1990. Replatting occurred periodically, resulting in
almost all of the orig/nal Prentiss Properties land holdings being developed.
The parcel in question was replatted into this 14.28~acre parcel in 1997 with
subsequent construction of the existing IBM call center.
Item # 6
TRANSPORTATION:
Beltline Road is an existing P6D six lane divided major arterial
concrete street contained within a 120-foot right-of-way. Airline
Drive is a C4U, four-lane undivided concrete street constructed
within a 60-foot right-of-way.
SURROUNDING LAND USE & ZON1NG:
North - Existing office/warehouse/distribution facilities; LI (Light Industrial)
South - Existing office/warehouse; LI (Light Industrial)
East - Radio towers, North Lake; City of Dallas
West - Existing warehouse/distribution structures; LI (Light Industrial)
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN:
The Comprehensive Plan of May 1996 shows the property as
suitable for industrial and showroom uses.
DISCUSSION:
In addition to remodeling approximately one-quarter of the IBM Call
Center at the comer of Beltline Road and Airline Drive, this applicant has
need for an additional track court. As explained to staff, this track court
would be used on an occasional basis to deliver products to the remodeled
area, essentially a computer filled room located at the northeast comer of
the building. Although the applicant wishes to simply add a truck court
and loading dock to an existing building, staff is concerned with the
location of the truck dock and the lack of adequate screening from the
public right-of-way, particularly Beltline Road. Because of staff concern,
the applicant has submitted two plans for consideration.
Option Number One (Sheets SP 2.1 and 4.1) shows the track bay
concealed by new landscaping generally located along Beltline and
Airline, with no screening wall to hide the court from passing traffic on
Beltline, a Primary Image Zone. In the past, we have allowed landscape
plantings to substitute for the more appropriate solid screening walls, with
disappointing results. One only needs to look at the CiCi's building along
Bethel Road to observe the inadequate screening. Since that approval, we
have been very consistent in requiring solid walls. The same applies here.
Staff feels that no amount of natural screening can conceal vehicles using
this track court; therefore, we do not support this option.
Option Number Two (Sheets SP 2.2 and 4.2) shows the truck court
partially concealed by a 40-foot-long, six-and-one-half-foot high concrete
screening wall located in an approximate 70-foot-long island. In addition,
one Shumard Red Oak is proposed to be located in the landscape island,
which is primarily a grassed area. With some modification, this option is
much more appealing.
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Item # 6
In the past, parking has been a problem on this site. However, with
remodeling of the building, the occupant count will be reduced from
approximately 1000 people to somewhere between 750-800 occupants,
thus reducing the parking requirement. When originally approved, this
building was required to provide 505 spaces. By actual count, 931 spaces
were constructed on-site. With the truck court design, 12 spaces will be
eliminated, leaving a total of 919 spaces for employees. With the reduced
staffing count, parking should be adequate for the building.
One final comment needs to be directed to the exhibit submittal. Sheet SP
4-1 is a bit unclear. The photos show additional landscaping (the lime
green hatched areas) which does not show on the Landscape Plan itself,
specifically along Airline Drive, west of the proposed track court. It
appears that at least one bank of landscaping has been left off the
Landscape Plan. That concern needs to be clarified and discussed at the
public meeting.
RECOMMENDATION TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION:
Staff can recommend approval of the Option Two submittal with some
additional comments.
1) The screening wall should be at least 1 O-feet tall to screen
vehicles using the truck bay.
2) Landscaping, in addition to the Oak tree, needs to be added to
the east side of the wall to soften its appearance. Crape Myrtle
or Dwarf Holly would be suitable here.
3) Remove all notes on all exhibits that refer to the side yard and
parking setback dimensions.
4) Clarify location of the landscape screening shown on Sheet
SP4-1.
ALTERNATIVES
1)
2)
3)
4)
Recommend approval of the request
Recommend disapproval of the request
Recommend modification of the request
Take under advisement for reconsideration at a later date.
ATTACHMENTS:
1) Package of Site Plan, Landscape Plan, Elevations, etc. (8 sheets)
Item # 6
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