PD183-NR 991214PLANNING & ZOI~NG MEETING: 12/16/99 CO~C~~~ ~ ~,~-4~
REPLY FOR THE PLANNING & ZONING CO~I~3IC~C 1 41§§9
CASE NO.: PD-183, CooDell High SU~o~¢I
C and SF-12 to PD-C
The City of Coppell Planning & Zoning Commission would like to receive your comments on this
case in order that it may make a better informed recommendation to the City Council. If you desire
to express an opinion, please complete this reply form and return it to the following address by the
date of the Public Hear:-ng:
City of Coppell
Planning & Zoning Department
P.O. Box 478
Coppell, TX 75019
This reply form in no wa,v affects your fight to attend the Public Hearing, and we encourage all
interested parties to attend and comment if they wish.
If you have any questions pertaining to the case, please call the Planning Department at 304-3677.
REPLY
( ) I am in favor of this plan.
'lx~' I am opposed to this plan.
( ) I am undecided about this plan.
My comments are as follows:
Signature: ~_ ~.
Address: .~.g t ~Ta/ /~.,- /__.~,o,_-
?~ '7~:, ~ ~i
Phone ~: ':i' g 2 - C~.~ ~/ - 7 1 ~ I
James K. Kendrick
331 Martel Lane
Coppell, Texas 75019
(972) 304-8131
December12,19998, ~r'~ }4 ~i '
City of Coppell
Planning & Zoning Depaz
P.O. Box 478 ..... ~ .......
Coppell, TX 75019
RE: Case No.: PD-183 Coppell High School C and SF-12 to PD-C
Members of the Commission:
I am in receipt of your letter in which you respectfully and graciously invited my
comments as an impacted residential homeowmer to a proposed zoning variance request.
The requested variance, whereby Coppell High School will construct an iron fence in lieu
of a masonD' fence as required by former and existing code requirements along the
northern edge of the property, directly impacts my adjacent property. I am also in receipt
of a letter dated December 9 from William O. Echols, Jr. of the Coppell Independent
Independent School District whereby Mr. Echols presented the District's view regarding
the variance request. Unfortunately, business travel out of state prohibits me from
attending the scheduled public hearing on December 16. I submit this letter in lieu of an
opportunity to testiS' at that meeting.
Please be advised that after reviewing all of the arguments as presented by Mr.
Eehois, I remain in full opposition to the requested variance. My position has not
changed from the position I took as I testified before the Commission during its meeting
earlier this year when this issue arose and, as I believed at the time, was resolved with the
Commissions decision not to grant the variance. As a resident of Coppell, I am
concerned that a resolved matter may be permitted to resurface within such a short time
frame. This matter once again, and without merit, draws on the public resources for
which we all support and rely on.
My objections are based on the following which I urge you to consider individually and
collectively in your decision to oppose the requested variance.
1. A masonry wall significantly differentiates from an iron fence and trees as it provides
significant, reliable sound insulation protection against traffic noises. This is the
reason the code requirement was put into effect originally. This is also the reason that
major streets (Parkway, MacArthur, Denton Tap, etc.), as a rule, are lined with
masonry walls, not iron fences with shrubs. I believe I am entitled to the same degree
Ci~' of Coppell
Planning and Zoning Department - Variance Request
Page 2
of quality and protection as all of the homeowners that live adjacent to these major
streets.
2. A masonry wall is necessary to insulate surrounding residential properties in areas of
high traffic and congestion. The Coppell High School parking lot is used Monday
through Friday, from early moming hours to late in the evening. It is used during
weekends and at night for sporting events. When not in use, it appears to be the
testing ground for students to test their respective cars' ability to squeal tires and roar
engines. May I submit to you the Coppell High School parking lot is the single
most congested, most utilized, most traffic intense 1/2 square mile area in all of
Coppell. This congestion includes all types of vehicles including delivery trucks,
autos, school buses (local and non-local), and motor cycles. An iron fence is
insufficient sound and property insulation.
3_. The High School proposes to suplement the iron fence with trees and shrubeD:. Such
living items are not permanent and subject to the care of the High School which
already has a questionable reputation in this regard as discussed in the last meeting.
A masonry fence will provide lasting protection to current and future homeowners
subject to normal wear and tear, not constant maintainance which may or may not
exist.
4_. As to a masonry wall being the target of vandals and graffiti artists, I concur, )'et this
is no different than any other wall which already exists on the High School campus.
This argument is not sufficient.
5_:. I am challenged to understand why the High School is so adamant in their demand for
a variance if for nothing more than to save a relative small amount of money (when
compared to the entire project). The requirement for a masonry wall has been in
existence since prior to the inception of the High School expansion project. Perhaps
they under budgeted? Perhaps they budgeted from the onset for a cheaper fence
knowing that they could push the Planning and Zoning Commission into granting a
variance? Or perhaps they opted to grant some other special feature in the
construction project in the hopes of getting a variance? They have tried and failed.
Now back again. Why so much effort? Why should I and my neighbors suffer the
consequences of their negligence?
1 purchased my home at a substantial investment. I purchased by home with the
understanding that Coppell was a good place to live and that my property values would
maintain and grow with the protection of this "planned community". Now', within a short
two years I find that my property may not be protected at the whim of the High School.
Once again, I urge you to say no to this variance request, for me, for my neighbors,
for Coppell.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
.. James K. Kendrick