Minutes January 11, 2005
CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
January 11,2005
After determining that a quorum was present, the City Council convened in a 2nd Tuesday
Session on Tuesday, January 11, 2005 at 4:00 p.m. in the City Council Work: Session Room at
City Hall.
PRESENT:
Mayor Brock:; Council Members Kamp, Montgomery, Mulroy, and Thomson.
ABSENT:
Mayor Pro T em McNeill; Council Member Redmon
1. The Council received a briefing, held a discussion and gave staff direction on the 1999-
2020 Denton Plan, its implementation and its use as a framework: for policy discussion and
decision - mak:ing.
Kelly Carpenter, Director of Planning and Development, stated that the purpose of the session
was to review the Denton Plan and how the plan could be used as a framework: for policy
discussion and decision-mak:ing. Provisions of the Plan included: it was adopted by ordinance;
was prepared for Denton's long term community future; was a framework: for the growth and
balance of Denton; was a vehicle that defined the community's vision; was the strategy that dealt
to future specific actions; and was the basis to create regulating tools and funding. The Plan was
not a regulation, zoning ordinance, or subdivision code which was enforceable by law; the
funding mechanism for proj ects such as roads and park:s, CIP proj ects, design guidelines
performance standards and standards for utilities. General goals of the Plan were to maintain
diversity; maintain and strengthen the uniqueness and quality of Denton; represent the best of the
community's aspirations; create environmental stewardship within Denton; manage growth and
enhanced quality of life; improve infrastructures; nourish partnerships with neighborhoods and
universities; protect neighborhoods; protect Denton's natural resources; and create economic
growth and partnerships. The Plan contained population forecasts, growth management
assumptions, a land use plan and potential growth areas. Carpenter reviewed the Denton
Mobility Plan. That plan was a broad-brush planning tool showing generally the location and
size of the proposed transportation infrastructure needed to move traffic effectively given the
specified assumptions. The current status of the Plan was a local, citywide scope. Issues
currently under review by City Council included infill regulations, Downtown regulations,
housing value questions, capacity analysis on zoning cases, application of "new urbanist" type
principles to the entire city instead of specific smaller areas, park:ing in front of buildings,
application of overlay zoning, single family/multiple family mix, encouragement/requirements
for mixed use development, commercial corridors and neighborhood centers, annexation
policies, tie to mobility plan and plans to use it as guidance to CIP and other master plans.
Council discussion included:
.
Was there any divergence where the Plan was not work:ing as well as it was
originally thought it would - there was a need to look: at the application of some
of the zoning categories and not apply to the entire city, look: better at small area
plans.
.
Wealrnesses to the plan as seen by staff - large areas of new development to be
supported by the plan and coordinate utilities.
.
Coordination of all master plans throughout the city was needed.
City of Denton City Council Minutes
January 11,2005
Page 2
.
An annexation policy needed to be coordinated with the City's Certificate of
convenience and necessity.
.
Urban design standards - different standards for different parts of the city were
needed. Council directed staff to begin look:ing at that concept.
.
"Elastic" standards were needed for infill developments.
.
There was a need to k:eep on top of the mobility plan - the mobility plan was good
for the big planning picture but did not have enough specific detail - also look: at
potential development of neighboring property for connectivity. Consider such
options at the Council Mobility Committee.
.
Transit opportunities - k:eep ahead of the work:s.
.
Street construction - ditch line construction standards.
Council Member Redmon arrived at the meeting.
.
Investigate the potential requirement of a 2-year security bond.
Council Member Montgomery left the meeting.
2.
.
The Code and the Plan addressed saving the floodplain and there was a need to
look: at that when considering "new urbanist" principles to developments.
.
Sidewalk:s and walk: ability, bicycles need to be emphasized.
.
Concepts to relate to community - minimize urban sprawl - communicate to
community so that back:drop is already set for developers.
.
Reshape terms based on what trying to accomplish.
.
Challenge to look: around at other areas and think: about how might change past
mistak:es, k:eep a better vision. - potential for areas outside of city for future use.
.
Look: at floodplain regulations - not work: against self and encourage developers
to privatize some of those areas.
Suggestions for Agenda Committee on future agenda items and/or placement of items for
upcoming agendas.
City Manager Conduff stated that the police staffing report and police vehicles reports would not
be ready for the January 25th meeting. Those would be included in the Council's February 8th
meeting.
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January 11,2005
Page 3
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5 :45 p.m.
EULINE BROCK
MAYOR
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS
JENNIFER W ALTERS
CITY SECRETARY
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS