Staff ReportITEM # 6
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CITY OF COPPELL
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
PD-303-H, RVIS Office Expansion (Vaughan Addition, Lot 1R2R, Block 1)
P&Z HEARING DATE: June 18, 2020
C.C. HEARING DATE: July 14, 2020
STAFF REP.: Matthew Steer, Development Services Administrator
LOCATION: 412 W Bethel Road
SIZE OF AREA: 0.6 acres of property
CURRENT ZONING: H (Historic)
REQUEST: A zoning change request from H (Historic) to PD-303-H (Planned Development-
303-Historic), to approve a Detail Site Plan to allow for an approximate 1,782
square foot expansion and additional parking to an existing 1,548 square foot
professional office
APPLICANT: Applicant:
Tommy Watters, TWKW Enterprises, LLC
520 Greenridge
Coppell, Texas 75019
twattersjr@msn.com
Representative:
John Valentine, President
Valentine Premier Construction, LLC
556 S. Coppell Road, Suite 100
Coppell, TX 75019
972-538-4400
john@valentinepremierconstruction.com
HISTORY: Since the initial site plan and platting approval for the conversion of the residence
to a professional office in 2005, this property has been replatted several times. In
November 2008, the Vaughan Addition was replatted to divide off a 20-foot strip
of land from the eastern rear of the property (4,490 total square-feet) into Lots 3,
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4, and 5, Block 1, Old Coppell Estates. In 2011, another replat was approved that
divided off 0.9 acres from the northern portion of the subject property into the
rear portion of Lots 4 & 5, Block 1, Old Coppell Estates.
The property was yet again replatted in March 2019, to increase the size of the
property to 0.6 acres by reincorporating the 0.3 acres from Old Coppell Estates
Addition, Lot 4R2, Block 1 (formerly Lot 4, Block 1). Concurrent with the
platting, a rezoning of the property took place to align the Historic District
boundary with the eastern property line.
The property directly to the east of this office abutting Bethel Road also has a
unique history. It was formerly zoned Historic and owned by Paragon Cable
utility company. A small brick fiber optic equipment structure with a couple of
parking spaces for maintenance were located here. It was purchased by the
adjacent property owners to the east in the first two lots of Old Coppell Estates. In
October 2012, it was rezoned to Planned Development-256-SF-9 and incorporated
into the rear yards of these residential lots.
HISTORIC COMMENT: This property is part of the Historic Resource Survey published by the Historical
Society in May 2009. The Survey shows this property as a priority A, which means
this property is architecturally and historically significant. The property is described
as follows: This asymmetrical Craftsman style home was built by P.A. Phillips
and once served as the home to Ernest and Pearl Gentry. The wooden structure,
built sometime around 1940, features a cross gabled roof with an extended front
porch flanked by wooded columns.
TRANSPORTATION: Bethel Road is a two-lane road with variable width right-of way, with head-in
parking.
.
SURROUNDING LAND USE & ZONING:
North – Barn with livestock & Hunterwood Park; H (Historic)
South - Residential and Old Town Medical Center; H (Historic) & PD-108R6-H (Planned
Development-l08 Revision 6-Historic);
East - PD-256-SF-9 (Planned Development-256 -Single Family-9); H (Historic)
West - Office; H (Historic)
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN: The Comprehensive Plan of March 2011 shows the property as suitable for a
use allowed within the Historic District (office use is appropriate).
DISCUSSION: This request is the result of a building permit application for the proposed addition of
approximately 1,782 square feet onto an existing 1,548 square foot RV insurance office.
An addition of this size requires additional parking and a site plan amendment. The
parking required for office is one per 300 square feet, resulting in the need for five
additional parking spaces. These are being provided for within a proposed asphalt drive
extension to the north from the existing parking area. The drive extends through a gate
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and accesses 3 of the 5 proposed parking spaces for the business. There is an additional
4,500 square feet of asphalt area proposed for parking of a Recreational Vehicle (RV).
This area is screened with an 8’ tall fence and is not visible from the road. An 8’ tall
fence is proposed to be constructed on the western property line; therefore, exempting the
northern portion of the lot from the interior landscaping requirements of the Zoning
Ordinance. Along the rear perimeter, proposed are eight 3”-caliper Red Oaks with 16
Crepe Myrtles evenly spaced. One Red Oak will be planted at the end of the parking row
south of the fenced-in, exempted area.
The proposed building expansion is architecturally compatible with the existing office,
utilizing the same materials (hardi-lap horizontal siding) and colors. As mentioned in the
Historic Significance section above, this building was originally constructed in 1940 and
is architecturally and historically significant in the area. The Historic Society has been
made aware of the request and staff does not anticipate any opposition, as the rear
building addition will not be readily visible from Bethel Road.
The reason for the Planned Development request as opposed to a straight Site Plan
amendment is to allow for two exceptions to the Zoning Ordinance. Both are supported
by staff. The first is to allow for the western 10’ landscape perimeter encroachment. In
order to reach the rear of the property with a maneuverable driveway, the drive is
proposed to increase in width and eliminates the 10’ landscape perimeter area for 63
linear feet. The 10’ landscaping resumes at the new portion at the back of the site. Staff
supports this to allow for greater maneuverability to access the required parking spaces.
Overall, the landscaping requirement on this site has been met.
The second exception requested, is to the brick screening wall requirement when adjacent
to residential. This is also supported by staff, as this office predates the residential
zoning on the street facing property to the east on Bethel Road, the building and site
improvements are not visible from the right-of-way and is supported by the adjacent
property owners to the east, as documented in the attached letters of support from the
neighbors. As mentioned in the history section, this property and the adjacent properties
to the east have a long history of platting, replatting and zoning. Staff is recommending
approval of the request.
RECOMMENDATION TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION:
Staff is recommending APPROVAL of PD-303-H, RVIS Office Expansion (Lot 1R2R, Block 1, Vaughan
Addition), subject to the following conditions:
1. Building Plans are not fully reviewed at this time. Comprehensive building plan review will take place
with the building permit submittal.
2. On drainage plan, show the tie-in to the city’s system. Detailed engineering review will be performed
during engineering permit process. Plans will need to show sizes and slopes of proposed storm drains.
3. A 63 linear foot encroachment into the 10’ landscape perimeter area on the western property line.
4. Allowing for the existing 8’ fence in lieu of a brick wall screening requirement on the eastern and
northern property lines.
5. Note the staining, maintenance and replacement responsibility of the fence is that of the property owner
and will performed annually and as needed.
6. Include a plant list outlining the quantity, size and species of all proposed landscaping.
7. The Landscape and Irrigation Plan shall be signed and sealed by a Landscape Architect.
ITEM # 6
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ALTERNATIVES:
1. Approval of the request
2. Denial of the request
3. Modification of the request
4. Take the case under advisement to a future date
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Site Plan
2. Landscape Plan
3. Elevations
4. Letters of support from the adjacent property owners to the east.