Staff ReportITEM # 9
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CITY OF COPPELL
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
CASE NO.: PD-260R4-R, Trinity River Kayak Company
P&Z HEARING DATE: February 17, 2022
C.C. HEARING DATE: March 8, 2022
STAFF REP.: Matthew Steer, AICP, Development Services Administrator
LOCATION: 1601 E. Sandy Lake Road
SIZE OF AREA: 1.5 acres of property
CURRENT ZONING: PD-260R3-R (Planned Development-260-Revision 3-Retail)
REQUEST: A zoning change request to PD-260R4-R (Planned Development-260-Revision 4-
Retail) to revise the Planned Development to allow for an increase in the height/size
and to allow for changeable letters on a proposed monument sign previously
approved.
APPLICANT: Owner: Representative:
Jeff Varnell Aaron Duncan
1601 E. Sandy Lake Rd. Mesa Design Group
Coppell, Texas 75019 2001 N Lamar Street
214-714-5051 Dallas, Texas 75202
jeff@trinityriverkayak.com 214-871-4417
Aduncan@mesadesigngroup.com
HISTORY: This property has been zoned Retail for over 25 years and was formerly occupied by a bait shop
and a residence. In 2013, the property owner was granted a rezoning to allow a convenience
store in addition to canoe, kayak, paddleboard storage, rentals and sales (no residence). Given the
challenges imposed by reusing existing buildings and incorporating new construction, this
property was rezoned to a Planned Development District to allow for variances to regulations of
the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances to accommodate this use, including:
• Variance to the building setback requirements.
• Variance to the masonry requirements for the existing and proposed
buildings.
• Allowance for outside storage.
• Variance to the paving requirement – the fire lane was required to be
concrete, the parking areas were permitted to be asphalt/crushed lime stone.
• Monument sign was permitted to be located 7.5 feet vs. 15 feet from the
R.O.W.
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• Perimeter landscaping requirement was waived along the east and north
property lines.
• No parking lot landscaping was required.
• Alternative fencing was permitted along the west property line abutting the
residential subdivision.
• The property owner was permitted to retain the Septic System, subject to it
being inspected, certified and brought up to code.
On January 8, 2013 City Council approved this rezoning. A ¾ vote of Council was
required due to over 20% opposition from the abutting homeowners.
After the establishment of this ordinance, the Director of Planning approved a
revised sign plan which allowed for a sign on the fence/wall instead of the approved
monument sign and approved the design and location of the attached sign.
In 2016, a request to amend the allowed uses and signage was approved.
In 2019, a request to amend the site plan to allow for a canopy and storage building,
an enclosed metal storage container and to use the existing building as a live/work
residence was approved by allowing variances to the Zoning Ordinance.
In 2020, a request to demolish a garage structure and build a 2,500 square foot new
structure which included a garage, additional enclosed storage space and a covered
pavilion area was approved.
HISTORIC COMMENT: There is no historic significance associated with the subject property.
TRANSPORTATION: Sandy Lake Road is a C4D, four-lane divided collector concrete roadway contained
within a 110-foot right-of-way.
SURROUNDING LAND USE & ZONING:
North – R. L. Turner FFA Project Center (CFBISD); A (Agriculture)
South - Single Family; Trinity Shores PD-190-SF-9
East - Trinity River; Cities of Dallas and Carrollton
West - Single Family; Trinity Shores PD-190-SF-9
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN: The Coppell 2030 Comprehensive Master Plan, adopted March 22, 2011,
shows the property as suitable for Residential Neighborhood.
DISCUSSION: In 2019, this site was approved to have a live/work use. The site is home to Trinity River
Kayak (TRK). As noted in the history section, the site has undergone several amendments
to the Planned Development over the past few years. Most recently in 2020, an amendment
was approved to allow for the demolition of an old garage, replacing it with a newer
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structure. This 2,500 square foot structure includes a garage, additional enclosed storage
space and a covered pavilion area.
This request is to replace a previously approved monument sign with one that has
changeable letters. TRK is very unique in comparison to the other businesses in Coppell.
TRK is considered a live/work use, consisting of the kayak business and a residence. It is
not open year-round. The applicant would like to advertise when they are open and closed
during certain periods of the year and when they have events for boy & girl scout troops
and other organizations. The changeable letter sign will help communicate to passers-by
when they are open and closed for the season and prevent cars from stopping at the front
gate to see if they are open.
The size of the proposed sign has slightly increased in height and width from the one that
was previously approved. Because it is proposed to be located in a depressed area, staff
can support the increase in height to allow for better visibility. The location of the sign
was reexamined and would not block the visibility from Trinity Shores and would not block
the visibility of anyone entering or exiting the site. The proposed design can be seen on
the attached Sign Elevations Exhibit.
RECOMMENDATION TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION:
Staff is recommending APPROVAL of the PD amendment with no outstanding conditions.
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 Plan
2. Sign Elevations.