2019-075 Information on April 10 Denton Development Code Public HearingDate: April 12, 2019 Report No. 2019-075
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Information on the Denton Development Code public hearing held on April 10.
BACKGROUND:
The first of two public hearings on the revised Denton Development Code was held Wednesday,
April 10 at a special called Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. Staff presented to City
Council the plan to address residents coming to testify at the public hearing during a work
session on April 9. Staff’s plan did not anticipate the large number of residents that attended the
April 10 meeting and alternate measures were required to accommodate the residents and
address concerns. Staff estimates approximately 250 people were in attendance filling the
Council Chambers, Work Session Room, and Downstairs Conference Room. Denton Television
staff provided live streaming of the meeting in the Work Session and Downstairs Conference
Room for those not in the Council Chambers.
DISCUSSION:
Property owners’ concerns were largely due to an unclear messaging in the proposed zoning
change notifications. Development Services staff initiated presentations to the groups in each
room to further explain the proposed changes and address the primary concerns expressed
regarding proposed zoning changes being consistent with current zoning, there are no impacts on
property taxes, and address other residents’ questions. This satisfied the majority of residents’
questions and they did not stay for the entirety of the meeting. During and following those
presentations, planning staff met one-on-one with residents to discuss specific questions
regarding their or neighboring properties. Many of those questions were regarding allowed uses
on their property or the possibility of developments being constructed near them.
There were eight people that spoke on the Denton Development Code and 14 people on the
zoning map. The individuals spoke about the designation of their properties and their preferred
zoning. Staff is taking those properties along with others discussed with residents on April 10
and will bring them for further discussion and possible city-initiated zonings in the near future.
At approximately 6:20 p.m. there was a large influx of individuals with a line extending out the
City Hall door. Unfortunately, during this time there may have been individuals who left without
having their concerns addressed because staff was unable to assist all of the individuals arriving
in a timely manner. In response to the comments heard during staff’s discussion with residents,
we are taking a number of measures to proactively address outstanding questions and concerns
regarding the proposal in the community. The following measures are actively being taken by
staff:
Adding two links to the homepage (zoning map and frequently asked questions) to attend
to discussion of difficulty in finding the zoning map.
Preparing a press release for issuance addressing the majority of concerns raised on April
10.
Date: April 12, 2019 Report No. 2019-075
Rearranging frequently asked questions currently on the Denton Development Code
update page to place them prominently at the top of the page and simplify the language.
Developing alternative strategies to prepare for the possibility of having similar number
of residents attend the April 23 City Council meeting.
Zoning is a difficult topic explain to an individual with little or no prior knowledge of the topic at
a level satisfying their concerns, some residents continued to be opposed even after explaining
the changes will have a minimal to no impact to their respective property. Another concern that
was difficult to address were those residents who were concerned about the growth of Denton in
general. Staff has received a number of letters in opposition on the basis of the rapid growth and
increasing traffic, and continue to be opposed because of the proposed Development Code’s
relation to growth. Development Services made every effort to address resident concerns while
remaining professional throughout the April 10 public hearing.
CONCLUSION:
Staff will continue to be as responsive as possible to individuals contacting the Development
Services Department. Development Services staff are contacting individuals who have sent
letters of opposition, and communicating with the community to the best of their ability.
Information will be presented during the April 16 City Council work session to discuss plans for
the April 23 City Council public hearing on the Denton Development Code.
STAFF CONTACT:
Scott McDonald
Director of Development Services
(940)349-8539
Scott.McDonald@cityofdenton.com