2021-07-12 CC Minutes City of Farmers Branch Farmers Branch City Hall
13000 Wm Dodson Pkwy
Farmers Branch,Texas
75234
Meeting Minutes
City Council
Monday, July 12, 2021 4:00 PM HUB Meeting Room
Joint City Council & Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting
City Council: 6 - Mayor Robert C. Dye, Mayor Pro Tem Cristal Retana, Council Member Traci Williams,
Council Member Terry Lynne, Deputy Mayor Pro Tern Michael Driskill and Council
Member David Merritt
Planning and Zoning 7 - Chairman David Moore, Commissioner Giovanni Zavala, Commissioner Linda Bertl,
Commission: Commissioner Patrick Byrne, Commissioner Amber Raley, Commissioner Andrew
Jones, and Alternate Commissioner Roger Neal
Staff: - City Manager Charles Cox, Deputy City Manager John Land and City Secretary Amy
Piukana, Tina Firgens Director of Planning, Surupa Sen Senior Planner, Brian
Campbell Planning Technician
A. CALL TO ORDER - JOINT MEETING (4 P.M.)
Mayor Dye and Planning Chairman Moore called the meeting to order at 4 p.m. Mayor Dye
requested all members in attendance provide introductions.
B. AGENDA ITEMS
B.1 21-336 Presentation and discussion related to amending the Beer and Wine
Overlay District and Alcoholic Beverage (On-Premise) Overlay District
to include the properties south of LBJ Freeway, north of the Elm
Fork-Trinity River, and generally west of Luna Road
Director of Planning Tina Firgens explained Hampton Inn has approached the City to
request retail sale of alcoholic beverages for on premise consumption for their guests. She
explained they do not have a restaurant to meet the current food to alcohol beverage ratio
requirement, and they are not located within the Alcohol Beverage On Premise Overlay
District, or the Beer and Wine Overlay District for off premise. Ms. Firgens explained by
expanding both Beer and Wine and Alcoholic Beverage On Premise Overlay Districts to
include the peninsula tract, it could allow more services to other limited stay hotels.
The City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission discussed benefits to area hotels
and retail businesses.
After discussion, the City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission agreed to move
forward with expanding both Beer and Wine and Alcoholic Beverage On-Premise Overlay
District to include the peninsula tract.
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City Council Meeting Minutes July 12, 2021
B.2 21-341 Review and discuss the draft multi-family development policy
Director of Planning Tina Firgens briefed City Council regarding a proposed Multi Family
Development Policy. Ms. Firgens explained the two goals are clear expectations and to
encourage high quality multi-family development.
Ms. Firgens reviewed the proposed policy content starting with the Introduction. She
reviewed the Key Take-Aways: recommendations to collectively define high-quality MF
development; existing zoning regulations prevail; MF policy supplements adopted
comprehensive plans; Zoning requests evaluated against MF policy; recommendations for
evaluating attainable MF housing.
Ms. Firgens provided questions for consideration and the City Council and Planning and
Zoning Commission discussed multifamily development preferences such as greenery,
walkability, tree variety, transition of spaces, and urban style developments.
Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Driskill asked if multiple inquiries for multifamily has been made in
other areas. Ms. Firgens replied stating the majority of requests are from the east side.
Council Member Lynne suggested limiting the amount of choices on the east side.
Mayor Dye recommended more connectivity within the Mustang Station area, noting
multifamily and condos would work best on the east side. He recommended being strategic
with multi family.
Mayor Pro Tern Retana suggested keeping multifamily on the outer areas of the City noting
she supports the Chase building use.
Council Member Merritt suggested adding language to the policy requiring a 3 to 5-year
review, to see if any amendments are necessary.
Ms. Firgens reviewed the Location noting key take awards are: sustainable neighborhoods,
avoid isolated MF development unless additional residential can be accommodated;
Promoting MF which supports other development goals of the city (e.g. live/work/ play); No
MF on West Side; Not all properties in six sub-districts on the East Side may be appropriate
for MF; Station Area/IH-35E Corridor - MF continues to be appropriate; Four Corners - MF
should be considered to support businesses(Four Corners and Central Area Plan).
Ms. Firgens reviewed the Density Policy content noting the following: establishes 45 to 80
du/acre range; facilitates structured parking; promotes more efficient use of land; less than
45 du/acre may be considered if: Development is consistent with other policy
recommendations; facilitates attainable housing goals, or the MF use is not appropriate.
Mayor Dye suggested higher density at properties near freeway locations.
Mayor Pro Tem Retana suggested buffers and more green space except along highways.
Ms. Firgens asked if 45 to 80 du/acre was appropriate.
Deputy Mayor Pro Tern Driskill asked what surrounding city minimums and maximums are.
Ms. Firgens replied noting Plano and Richardson have 40 minimum density requirements,
noting maximums are typically regulated by height restrictions.
Mayor Pro Tem Retana suggested considering areas individually instead of an entire
overlay.
After discussion, Planning and Zoning Chairman Moore stated he is comfortable with the
proposed 45 to 80 du/acre and suggested higher density of 80 du/acre near freeways.
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City Council Meeting Minutes July 12, 2021
Planning and Zoning Commissioner Amber Raley recommended staff provide property
value as standard data with each development request.
Planning and Zoning Commissioner Patrick Byrne suggested a minimum of height of 4
stories.
Ms. Firgens reviewed the Site Design with the following benefits: promotes urban form
development; collectively focus on improving public street realm and walkability; uses
proposed appropriate; addresses land use adjacency; open space ratio minimum 150 SF
per dwelling unit; promotes structured parking; surface parking may be appropriate;
landscaping placement; and incorporating CPTED practices.
Mayor Pro Tern Retana suggested additional visitor parking at multifamily developments,
with security cameras inside structured parking garages and gates to provide safety.
(Council Member Lynne departed the meeting at 5:56 p.m.)
Planning and Zoning Commissioner Amber Raley discussed open space and the need for
more sustainable products such as permeable pavers.
Mr. Cox explained the City plans to update the drainage manual to include permeable
pavers and addresses water runoff and drainage issues.
After discussion, both City Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission agreed with
the proposed 150 sf/du.
Mayor Dye noted we could require a fee in lieu of park land to offset and provide amenities
to the east side.
11(Is •Firgens reyjevyed the proposed Building Design Policy Content, with the following key
benefits: using building modulation (facade off-sets) to address building massing; materials
and color; SF residential adjacency; enhance building façade treatment (articulation);
varying rooflines, building entrances, window placement, enhance ground floor uses;
enclosed stairwells and building corridors(climate controlled); durable and quality materials.
Planning and Zoning Commissioner Andrew Jones suggested creating a single-family
checklist.
Council Member Merritt explained once the policy is complete, the process would be to
create a checklist.
(Commissioner Zavala and Mayor Pro Tem Retana and Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Driskill
departed the meeting at 6:19 p.m.)
City Manager Charles Cox suggested concluding the meeting to allow all Council Members
to be present for discussion.
Mayor Dye recommended moving attainable housing to the August City Council meeting for
further discussion.
Ms. Firgens reviewed the next steps, noting a draft policy would be created, with test
projects to report findings prior to policy adoption with Fall 2021 as the target approval date.
She further stated an amendment to the comprehensive plan and public hearing process is
required.
Council Member Merritt suggested allowing multifamily developers review the draft policy to
provide feedback.
Planning and Zoning Commissioner Raley suggested addressing transportation needs to
include reduction of curb cuts, potential shared mobility, and drive share. Ms. Firgens
explained these items could be included with the comprehensive plan.
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City Council Meeting Minutes July 12, 2021
C. CITIZEN COMMENTS
Resident Pat Edmiston expressed her dissatisfaction, that attainable housing was not
discussed. —•
D. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor Dye and Planning and Zoning Chairman Moore
adjourned the meeting at 6:31 p.m.
Signed by:_ 0, / / 0
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Mayor Robert C. Dye
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PZ Chairman David Moore
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Brian Campbell
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