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Gatew-2.2/PP,SPRv-AG020319T H E ~, I T Y · 0 F COFFELL AGENDA REQUEST FORM March 19, 2002 ITEM # CITY COUNCIL MEETING: March ITEM CAPTION: Consider approval of an amendment to the Gateway Business Park, Lot 2, Block A, Site Plan, to allow the addition of a generator with a screening wall enclosure and landscaping on 7.31 acres of property located at 555 Dividend Drive. APPROVED CITY cOUNCIL SUBMITTED :~~G~y~ DATE/ 3.1~-o~.- TITLE:k~... Director of P~and Community Services t,~.,444 ~ STAFF COMMENTS: Date of P&Z Meeting: February 21, 2002 Decision ofP&ZCommission: Approved (6-0) with Commissioners McCaffrey, Clark, Kittrell, McGahey, Halsey and Dragon voting in favor. None opposed. Approval is recommended, subject to the following conditions: '~ ..... ; ....... '~ *" by **' .... n,,..,. (CONDITION MET) 2) In the event this generator is no longer needed, the generator, screening walls and non-required landscaping shall be removed. Staff recommends approval. DIR. INITIALS: q~5 o FIN. REVIEW: ~ CITY MANAGER REVIEW: ~'~ Agenda Request Form - Revised 5/00 ~2GBP2Aspal-agenda request CITY OF COPPELL PLANNING DEPARTMENT STAFF REPORT CASE: Gateway Business Park, Lot 2, Block A Site Plan Amendment P & Z HEARING DATE: February 21, 2002 C.C. HEARING DATE: March 19, 2002 (Date changed from March 12 because of C.I.S.D. Spring Break) STAFF REP.: Marcie Diamond, Assistant Planning Director LOCATION: 555 Dividend Drive SIZE OF AREA: 7.31 acres of property, containing a 104,000 square-foot office building. CURRENT ZONING: 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: Tomas Stastny, AIA BOKA Powell 13727 Noel Road, Suite 300 Dallas, Texas 75240 972-701-9000 FAX: 972-991-3008 HISTORY: 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. Item//5 Page 1 of 3 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 power source for their main computer system. They are proposing to place an emergency generator along the east side of the building to be in close proximity to the main computer. Staff has concerns 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 screening enclosure. Finally, Boston Ivy will also be planted, which will eventually obscure the view of the wall. Item # 5 Page 2 of 3 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 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: 1) Site and Landscape Plan with Details and Elevations Item # 5 Page 3 of 3