2019-117 Denton Square District StandardsDate: May 31, 2019 Report No. 2019-117
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Incorporation of changes requested by City Council into the draft Denton Square District
ordinance.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Staff has incorporated changes related to temporary construction screening and vacant lots that
were requested by City Council on March 26 into a revised Denton Square District Ordinance.
This ordinance has been reviewed by the City Attorney’s Office
BACKGROUND:
On March 25, 2019, a public forum was held at the Development Services building. Approximately
30 individuals attended, including business and property owners, residents, and generally
interested citizens from across the city. Overall, those in attendance were supportive of The Denton
Square District and associated standards and guidelines, and provided feedback which particularly
focused on murals, painting unpainted brick, historic preservation, and building heights.
On March 26, 2019, City Council held a work session to discuss the results of the public forum
and staff’s proposed changes to the standards and procedures. Staff proposed that projects be
reviewed by City Council rather than a board, proposed that murals on facades facing the Square
proper be limited to 25% of the area of the façade, provided clearer standards for window glass on
the first and second stories, and provided strengthened language on historic preservation. Staff also
responded to public forum concerns by proposing that new building heights be limited to two
stories on the Square. City Council gave consensus support for staff’s proposed changes, requested
more detailed standards related to temporary construction barriers and vacant lots, and directed
staff to prepare an ordinance incorporating those changes and to bring it to Planning and Zoning
Commission and City Council for consideration for approval. Planning and Zoning Commission
recommended approval of the revised ordinance 6-0 on May 29, 2019. The ordinance will be
presented to City Council on June 4, 2019 for consideration.
DISCUSSION:
In response to the request to provide more detailed standards for temporary and long-term
screening of construction areas and vacant lots created by demolition within the Denton Square
District, staff has incorporated the following changes into the Denton Square District draft
ordinance:
Temporary Construction Barriers:
o Requirement and design standards for Temporary Construction fencing to be
installed following any demolition or catastrophic loss of a building.
o City Council approval required for any graphics on the screening.
Vacant Lots:
o Requirement for Post-Demolition Redevelopment Plan, subject to City Council
approval, for all proposed non-emergency demolitions.
Date: May 31, 2019 Report No. 2019-117
o Requirement that the temporary screening of a vacant lot, created by an
emergency demolition or catastrophic loss, be replaced with either a masonry
wall, a landscaped area, or another City Council-approved plan, if building
construction activity on the lot has not begun within one year.
CONCLUSION:
Staff has made revisions to the Denton Square District and Design Standards as requested by
Council and is presenting the revised Denton Square District Ordinance to Council for
consideration for adoption.
STAFF CONTACT:
Scott McDonald
Director of Development Services
(940) 349-8539
scott.mcdonald@cityofdenton.com