Minutes May 9, 2005
CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
May 9, 2005
After determining that a quorum was present, the City Council convened in a Special Called
Meeting on Monday, May 9,2005 at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Work: Session Room at City Hall.
PRESENT:
Mayor Brock:, Mayor Pro Tem McNeill, Council Members Kamp, Montgomery,
Mulroy, Redmon, Thomson.
AB SENT:
None
1. The Council received a report, held a discussion and gave staff direction regarding
proposed amendments to the Development Code and Criteria Manual related to improving
multi- family and single-family development in the City of Denton.
Kelly Carpenter, Director of Planning and Development, stated that the Council and Planning
and Zoning Commission held a Work: Session in November and directed staff to prepare
amended regulations related to multi-family development. Staff had identified two regulatory
approaches to improving the quality of multi-family developments.
Land Use-multi-family would only be allowed with a Specific Use Permit (SUP); or as part of a
mixed-use development; or in conjunction with a master plan development; or if the
development received zoning approval allowing multi-family use within one year prior to
effective date of the new regulation; or if allowed by a City Council approved neighborhood
plan.
Design Standards - Staff proposed amendments to the current standards - consolidation of
standards for all multi-family developments with the increased standards for multi-family
developments in a Pedestrian district; and changes to the standards for ( a) adj acency to single-
family, (b) architecture including facade modulations/articulations, stairways, building materials,
and roof line, ( c) on-street park:ing, and (d) accessory structures.
Discussion followed regarding Downtown University Core zoning districts and the Community
Mixed-Use zoning district. The Council agreed that they did not want to exempt Community
Mixed-Use zoning districts (CM-G and CM-E) from the amendments.
The Council stated that the definition for "master plan development' was vague and wanted
additional information added to it.
Carpenter reviewed the existing and proposed changes to the site design and architectural
standards.
Council Member Thomson left the meeting.
Council Member Mulroy felt the Chamber of Commerce and some developers should look: at
these amendments and have an opportunity to provide input.
Council Members McNeill and Mulroy both stated the City should not regulate the colors of
building materials.
The Council agreed to discuss this item further in another work: session.
City of Denton City Council Minutes
May 9, 2005
Page 2
2. The Council received a report, held a discussion and gave staff direction on multi-family
Texas Bond Projects and Tax Credit Projects.
Kelly Carpenter, Director of Planning and Development, stated that applicants for funding under
the Revenue Bond or Tax Credit Programs must seek: approval from the local municipality in
which they proposed to locate a proj ect, if that municipality had more than twice the state
average of units per capita supported by the programs.
Council Member Mulroy stated that a constituent had contacted him regarding this proj ect and
wanted to be heard at a City Council meeting. Mulroy stated that the Council should hear what
the developer had to say regarding the proj ect.
Discussion followed as to whether these should be examined by the Council on a case-by-case
basis and whether to support additional Tax Credit Proj ects in Denton.
Ed Snyder, Interim City Attorney, advised the Council that the City could require an overlay
district to incorporate specific design standards or a development agreement where the program
applicant agreed that if the final site design did not conform to the agreed standards, the City
could withhold all building permits.
The Council ask:ed for the following information: length of ownership requirement; what other
tax credit projects were in Denton County and what community they were in; had any other low-
income housing tax credit proj ects been approved by other cities since the new requirement for
local government approval; and had any conditions been placed on those projects.
Consensus of the Council was to discuss it further in another work: session.
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
EULINE BROCK
MAYOR
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS
JANE RI CHARD SON
ASST. CITY SECRETARY
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS