U-Haul/SPAm-CS000921 (2)CITY OF COPPELL
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
CASE: U-HAUL INTERNATIONAL SITE PLAN
P & Z HEARING DATE:
C.C. HEARING DATE:
LOCATION:
SIZE OF AREA:
September 21, 2000
October 10, 2000
Along the south side of S.H. 121, approximately 350 feet east of
Denton Tap Road.
Approximately 2.02 acres of property.
CURRENT ZONING:
HC - Highway Commercial
REQUEST:
Site Plan approval for a three-story, 72,000 square foot warehouse
faciliW
APPLICANT:
U-Haul International, prospective purchaser
2727 N. Central Avenue
Phoenix, AZ. 85004
(602) 2634502
Fax: (602) 277-1026
HISTORY:
There has not been development activity on this parcel although the
Council approved a Jack-in-the-Box Restaurant on property to the
west of this parcel in May of this year.
TRANSPORTATION:
State Highway 121 will eventually be built here as a six-lane divided
freeway. The subject tract is adjacent to the eastbound one way
service road of this highway and consists of three lanes of pavement.
SURROUNDING LAND USE & ZONING:
North- State highway 121; City of Lewisville zoning
South - Denton Creek Middle School; SF-7
East - Denton Creek Middle School; SF-7
West - vacant site for Jack-in-the-Box restaurant; HC zoning
Item # 14
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN:
The Comprehensive Plan shows the property as suitable for
regional retail uses of which this proposal is questionable at
best.
DISCUSSION:
This is a request for a use not allowed in the base-zoning category of HC,
Highway Commercial. In addition, there are several concerns with the plan
that merit mentioning in an overall analysis of the proposal.
For example, details of the request show a three-story warehouse to be nm by
the U-Haul It organization. The facility is shown to have several overhead
storage access doors on the first level that continue around the building. In
addition, there are other, large access doors that create a rather unusual and
somewhat awkward scale to the building. The building is also shown to have
a series of different color schemes ranging from orange parapet slripe, to tan
Dryvit (an imitation of stucco) elevation, to forest green metal panels, to tan
brick facade, to light tan brick horizontal stripes, to vast areas of glazing, to
an undefined reddish colored series of overhead metal doors encompassing
the building. This jumble of building colors, materials, and finishes results in
a building that is very awkward looking. There are also several over-sized
parking spaces at the front of the building which are obviously placed there
for outside storage/advertising, which is not allowed. Landscaping
calculations are not in the proper form. There are no dimensions on the
sidewalk. Appropriate landscape screening of parking spaces is not reflected
on the site plan. Although there are three examples of monument signage, it
is unclear which one is preferred. In addition, the sign should be the same
masonry material as shown for the majority of the building. A fifteen foot
monument sign setback needs to be specified on the site plan. Plant material
does not indicate size/caliper of landscaping. Fire lane radii do not meet
minimum guidelines.
The use proposed here is troubling in that it does not reflect a use recognized
by the Comprehensive Plan. As indicated by the Plan, regional retail uses are
those with good access to highways such as restaurants and retail centers. A
warehouse is not defined as a regional retail use, so from the Plan's vision for
the future, it is not recommended for this site.
RECOMMENDATION TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION:
Staff recommends denial of this request for a variety of reasons-several stated above-
and the fact that HC zoning does not allow general warehousing activities of any
1)
2)
3)
Recommend approval of the request
Recommend disapproval of the request
Recommend modification of the request
Item # 14
4) Take under advisement for reconsideration at a later date.
ATTACHMENTS:
1) Packet of Information including:
Site/landscape plan, elevations, signage, survey information
Item# 14