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W Sandy Lk Addn-CS051117CASE: CITY OF COPPELL PLANNING DEPARTMENT STAFF REPORT West Sandy Lake Road Addition Lot Block Site Plan Amendment P & Z HEARING DATE: C.C. HEARING DATE: November 17, 2005 December 13, 2005 STAFF REP.: Marcie Diamond, Assistant Planning Director LOCATION: North side of Sandy Lake Road, approximately 1,300' east of S.H. 121. SIZE OF AREA: CURRENT ZONING: 31.6 acres of property containing a 605,000-square-foot warehouse building. LI (Light Industrial) REQUEST: APPLICANT: Site Plan amendment approval to allow the construction of a combination of decorative metal and chain-link fencing along the north, east and west property lines. Ferguson Realty Company c/o Myers & Crow Company, Ltd. 3811 Turtle Creek Blvd. #730 Dallas, Texas 75219 Phone: (214) 520-7800 FAX: (214) 520-2015 Architect: John Taylor azimuth architecture, inc. 3809 Parry Avenue, # 205 Dallas, Texas 75226 Phone: (214) 261-9060 FAX: (214) 261-9049 HISTORY: Page 1 of 4 The owners of this property, who also own the abutting property to the west, participated when the City initiated the rezoning of 200+ acres of property from Light Industrial to Highway Commercial along S.H. 121 frontage. The triangular tract of land between the subject tract and S.H. 121, north of Sandy Lake Road, is now zoned Highway Commercial. Item #9 In June 2004, City Council approved a Site Plan and Minor Plat to allow the development an approximate 605,000-square-foot office/warehouse building on this tract of land, which is currently under construction and expected to be completed in the near future. TRANSPORTATION: Sandy Lake Road is designated as a C4D/6 on the Thoroughfare Plan. Construction is scheduled to begin during the first quarter of next year to improve this existing two-lane asphalt road to a four- lane divided thoroughfare within 110-120 feet of right-of-way. The median has been designed to be wide enough to accommodate the additional two lanes, if warranted in the future. SURROUNDING LAND USE & ZONING: North - Undeveloped LI (Light Industrial) South - Undeveloped - AmberPoint Business Park, LI (Light Industrial) East - Office/Warehouse under construction - LI (Light Industrial) West- Undeveloped LI (Light Industrial) and HC (Highway Commercial) COMPREHENSIVE PLAN: The Comprehensive Plan of May 1996 shows the property as suitable for Light Industrial and Showroom uses. DISCUSSION: Page 2 of 4 As stated in the HISTORY section of this report, the Site Plan approval for construction of an approximate 600,000-square-foot building was approved in June of last year. Given the prominent location of this building and existing tree cover, there were two major issues during deliberations of this project -- the aesthetics of the building and tree mitigation. This request is to allow seven-foot-tall black-coated chain-link fencing to be erected along the east and west property lines, with small sections of decorative metal along Sandy Lake Road. In terms of the prominence of this location, this project will be one of the first industrial buildings along this western gateway to the City of Coppell and it's important that attractive buildings and sites are developed here. Staff has concerns with the proposed seven-foot-tall black-coated chain- link fencing. The west property line (over 1,300 feet in length) is currently visible from S.H. 121. Once the adjacent property is developed, this property line will be less visible, of course, but the existence of a chain- link fence will not be compatible with the types of uses envisioned for this freeway frontage. Item//9 Page 3 of 4 Also, you may recall that tree mitigation was a major discussion point during the Council hearing. Soon after the approval of this Site and Landscape Plan, City Council approved an amendment to the Tree Preservation Ordinance eliminating tree retribution under the footprint of industrial buildings. This building greatly benefited from that action. In filing this request, the applicant stated that this fence would not be visible due to the significant amount of landscaping that would be provided. As indicated on the Site Plan, a seven-foot-tall chain-link fence wilt be located two feet behind the curb; 91 evergreen trees (Eastern Red Cedars and Wax Mrytles) will be planted 15 feet on-center, five feet from the fence, and 34 Cedar Elms (25 feet on-center) at the property line -- all being within a 10- to 20-foot-wide landscape buffer. The separation between the evergreen tree row and the overstory tree row is as close as 10 to 15 feet. John Elias, the City's Certified Arborist, has stated that the industry standard for tree separation, to ensure survival at maturity, is a minimum of 20 feet, and preferably 30 feet. The survivability of the trees and the fence in this overcrowded buffer strip is very questionable. It must be noted that only 26 trees are required along this 1305'-long property line per the Landscape Ordinance. There are similar concerns along the east property line, where 51 Eastern Red Cedars are proposed (15-feet on-center), approximately five feet from the fence. Again, it appears that upon maturity, this tree line and chain-link fence cannot co-exist in such close proximity. There is also a potential conflict with some of the preserved trees and the new plantings, whereas upon maturity, the new trees will crowd the existing tree line. The applicant has stated that the existing and proposed trees would obscure the view of the fence on both the east and west property lines; however, it is very questionable that the trees would suvive next to this fence. Therefore, the City would be left with a very visible black-coated seven-foot chain-link fence. The applicant has submitted a letter from a horticulturist stating that erecting a fence five feet from the evergreen trees would be appropriate. However, considering that at maturity these trees have a 25- to 35-foot spread, staff questions this conclusion. The applicant has stated that this is a speculative building and securing truck courts is for marketing purposes. If security is truly an issue, then staff would recommend a decorative-metal fence along the west property with landscaping as provided recently on similar projects in our industrial area (i.e., UPS in Gateway Business Park and the east end of the Container Store building). As indicated in the attached memo from John Elias, the City's Arborist, a decorative-metal fence is much more tolerant of the impact of evergreen trees being in close proximity than a chain-link fence. Given lesser visibility along the east property line and the industrial Item #9 adjacency, the black-coated chain-link fence could be tolerated. However, as discussed, the placement of a chain-link fence would negatively impact the existing and proposed trees at the density currently indicated. Therefore, if this fencing is pursued, the density of the proposed trees must be significantly reduced. It is recommended that the tree density of the Eastern Red Cedars be reduced to a minimum of 30~feet on-center, a 50% reduction in number of trees. This reduction in number of trees required should off-set the additional cost of providing a decorative-metal fence versus the chain-link along the west property line. Also included in this requested Site Plan amendment is the addition of entry features along both sides of the two main driveways, which traverse the drainage areas. These will consist of stone pillars, which match the retaining wall, and decorative-metal railings. The pillars will be approximately 10-feet on-center. Staff recommends approval of the inclusion of these entry features. RECOMMENDATION TO THE PLANN1NG AND ZONING COMMISSION: Staff recommends: 1) DENIAL of the chain-link fence along the west property line, and APPROVAL of a decorative-metal fence. 2) APPROVAL of the black-coated chain-link fence along the east property line only. 3) Prior to the erection of any fencing, a revised Landscape Plan and Tree Mitigation Plan must be submitted indicating a reduction in density of the Eastern Red Cedar trees to be compatible with the type of fencing proposed. 4) APPROVAL of the inclusion of the entry features at the driveways, as submitted. 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: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Memo from John Elias Letter from Horticulturist Rendering Site Plan Amendment Entry Feature Details Page 4 of 4 Item #9 From: To: Date: Subject: John Elias Marcie Diamond 11/11/2005 7:53:12 AM SPR-05-0056, West Sandy Lake Road Addition Marcie, Review of the original Tree Removal Permit for this project shows a credit balance of 826.5" (DBH). The areas for the proposed fencing are too heavily planted with over story trees and evergreen trees, to allow room for a fence. The proper spacing for the plant material shown in those areas should be as follows: Eastern Red Cedar should be spaced at 20' - 30'. Wax Myrtle should be spaced at 8' - 12'. Cedar Elm should be spaced at 20' - 40'. Would suggest removing up to 50% of the evergreen trees (wax myrtle & eastern red cedar) to allow space for the fence. Due to the credit balance on the Tree Removal Permit, there will be no fees associated with the reduction of trees. The (DBH") removed will be deducted from the credit balance. Would suggest an iron fence to a chain link. The fence fabric of a chain link fence tends to snag the growth of plant material, eventually damaging the fence and affecting proper growth of the trees. Thank You John Elias Parks Department Peterman & Associates Inc. LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION · MANAGEMENT · EROSION CONTROL .Ion Mttchella ttorticulturist Projec Manager November 7, 2005 John Taylor Azimuth Architecture 3809 Parry Avenue; Suite 205 Dallas, TX 75226 RE: Sandy Lake 121 Distribution Center. Coppell, TX Mr. Taylor: I have reviewed the revised plan showing the fence location along the west side of the property. PIanting 5' from the fence is appropriate and adequate space for the wax myrtle and eastern red cedar. I have also reviewed the fence location along the east side of the property. The fence can be installed with out disturbing the existing trees. In addition there is adequate space to for the new plantings. If you have any questions please call at your convenience. Sincerely, Jon Mitchella Horticulturist Project Manager P.O. Box 531807 · Grand Prairie, TX 75053 · Phone 972/263-3500 · Fax 972/642-8850