2007-069
S:\Our Documents\Ordinances\07\CA07-0003.doc
ORDINANCE NO. .;!001-06Q
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, PROVIDING FOR AN
AMENDMENT TO THE DENTON PLAN, 1999-2020, THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF
THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND AN
EFFECTIVE DATE. (CA07-0003)
WHEREAS, on December 7, 1999, the City of Denton adopted the Denton Plan, 1999-
2020, the Comprehensive Plan of the City of Denton, Texas; and
WHEREAS, on March 14, 2007, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended
approval of the Denton Plan Amendment; and
WHEREAS, the requested change was not initiated by any property owner(s); and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the Denton Plan Amendment is in the best
interests of the health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of the City of Denton, Texas;
NOW, THEREFORE
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DENTON HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION I. The findings and recitations contained in the preamble of this ordinance are
incorporated herein by reference, and the City Council hereby finds that all legal criteria for
approval have been satisfied, including those set forth in 935.3.3.B of the Denton Development
Code.
SECTION 2. The Denton Plan is hereby amended as described in Exhibit "A".
SECTION 3. If any provision of this ordinance, or the application thereof, to any person
or circumstance is held invalid by any court, such invalidity shall not affect the validity of other
provisions or applications, and to this end the provisions of this ordinance are severable.
SECTION 4. This ordinance shall become effective immediately from and upon its
passage and approval.
PASSED AND APPROVED this the2..7-f1ay of
PE
,2007.
S:\Our Documents\Ordinances\07\CA07..Q003.doc
ATTEST:
JENNIFER WALTERS, CITY SECRETARY
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM:
EDWIN M SNYDER,-GFf-Y A TT~EY
/-
S:\Our Documents\Ordinances\07\CA07-0003.doc
EXHIBIT A
Page 31 Land E/ements Section - Denton Plan
3. Residential Land Use Classifications Neighborhood Districts
a. Existino Residentialllnfill Compatibilitv
Within established residential areas. new development should respond to existing
development with compatible land uses. patterns. and design standards. The plan
recommends that existing neighborhoods within the city be vigorously protected and
preserved. Housing that is compatible with the existing density. neighborhood
service. and commercial land uses is allowed. Comprehensively planned large-scale
development projects 125 acres and above may be developed in existing
residential/lnfill compatibility district classifications.
b. Neiohborhood Centers/New Neiohborhoods
Within the undeveloped urban and urbanizing areas of the city. new neighborhoods
may develop in conventional patterns. Mixed-use and mixed housing types will also
be allowed to develop in a pattern of 'neighborhood centers'. These are oriented
inwardly. focusing on the center of the neighborhood. These neighborhoods will
exemplify the inter-relationship between quality of development. density, services
and provision for adequate facilities. These developments should locate the center
of the neighborhood within a 5- to 1 O-minute walking distance from the edge of the
neighborhood. The center contains uses necessary to support the surrounding
neighborhood. These support uses could include service-oriented retail such as a
small grocery. hair salon. dry cleaner or small professional offices. Residential uses
may occur at higher densities with town homes or residential flats above service
oriented uses. Open space is encouraged in neighborhood centers with park uses
including central neighborhood "greens" and floodplain preservation. Civic uses such
as fire stations. schools, libraries. and mass transportation nodes are encouraged to
be essential elements of neighborhood centers as landmarks that are a focus to the
neighborhood. Limited multistory development in the neighborhood may be
developed to incorporate shops on the ground floor and offices or residences on the
upper floors. Neighborhood centers may develop with uses to serve individual
neighborhoods as well as the entire city and surrounding area if designed as part of
a comprehensively planned large-scale development of 125 acres and above.
S:\Our Documents\Ordinanccs\07\CA07..Q003.doc
Page 43 Land Elements Section - The Denton Plan
2. Commercial Land-Use Classifications
a. Reqional Mixed-Use Activitv Center
For a regional activity center, the focus area contains the shopping, services,
recreation, employment, and institutional facilities supported by and serving an entire
region. A regional activity center could include a regional shopping mall, a number of
major employers, restaurant and entertainment facilities, a large high school or
community college, and high-density housing. A regional activity center is
considerably larger and more diverse in its land uses than any other activity center.
It includes vertically integrated uses where different uses may occur on each floor of
the building. Areas within the Regional Mixed Use Activity Center may develop in
conventional patterns with supportive residential and commercial uses if designed as
part of a comprehensively planned development of 125 acres and above.
b. Communitv Mixed-Use Activitv Center
The focus area of a community activity center contains the shopping, services,
recreation, employment, and institutional facilities that are required and supported by
the surrounding community. Thus, a community activity center could contain a
supermarket, drug store, specialty shops, service stations, one or more large places
of worship, a community park, mid-size offices, and employers, high- to moderate-
density housing, and perhaps an elementary or middle school. It includes vertically
integrated uses where different uses may occur on each floor of the building. Areas
within the Community Mixed Use Activity Centers may be developed with uses to
serve the entire city and with supportive residential and commercial uses if designed
as part of the comprehensively planned development of 125 acres and above.
c. Neiqhborhood Mixed-Use Center Services
The focus area of a neighborhood center contains facilities vital to the day-to-day
activity of the neighborhood. A neighborhood center might contain a convenience
store, small restaurant, personal service shops, church or synagogue, daycare,
individual office space, or a small park. These diverse facilities are ideally located in
close proximity to one another in the center, so that all the essential neighborhood
facilities are in one convenient location, accessible in a single stop or by walking or
biking. It includes vertically integrated uses where different uses may occur on each
floor of the building. Neighborhood 'Mixed-Use centers may develop with uses to
serve individual neighborhoods as well as the entire city and surrounding area.
These areas may also develop with mixed-uses and mixed housing types if designed
as part of a comprehensively planned large-scale development of 125 acres and
above.
S:\Our Documents\Ordinances\07\CA07-D003.doc
Page 50 Land Elements Section - The Denton Plan
2. Industrial Land-Use Classifications
a. Industrial Centers
Industrial centers are intended to provide locations for a variety of work processes
and work places such as manufacturing, warehousing and distributing, indoor and
outdoor storage, and a wide range of commercial and industrial operations. The
industrial centers may also accommodate complementary and supporting uses such
as convenience shopping and child-care centers. There will most likely be instances
where residential uses will be incompatible with industrial and manufacturing
processes used in industrial centers. Adequate public facilities shall be a criterion by
which zoning is granted.
b. Emplovment Centers
Employment centers are intended to provide locations for a variety of workplaces,
including limited light manufacturing uses, research and development activities,
corporate facilities, offices, and institutions. Employment centers are also intended
to accommodate secondary uses that complement or support the primary workplace
uses, such as hotels, restaurants, convenience shopping, and child-care. Adequate
public facilities shall be a criterion by which zoning is granted. Employment Centers
may be developed apart from or in combination with other residential and
commercial land uses if designed as part of a comprehensively planned large-scale
development of 125 acres and above If developed with uses other than
employment center, other lands within the development should be designated for
employment center use.
Page 58 Land Elements Section - Denton Plan
Comprehensively Planned Large-Scale Developments
In furtherance of the vision of the Denton Plan, stakeholders, the Planning and Zoning
Commission, and the City Council, comprehensively planned large-scale developments (e.g.,
Master Planned Communities) that are comprehensively planned, and incorporates the goals
and objectives of the Denton Plan should be developed These areas will likely be developed,
so the city needs to be actively involved to insure they are compatible with and complementary
to the existing city. Master planning these areas as part of the city also allows better integration
into Denton's plans for transportation, infrastructure, and services and may include multiple land
uses of various densities and scales.
A comprehensively planned large-scale development is a long-range plan that directly
addresses the sensitive issues of the long-range environmental, economic, social and political
impacts on surrounding areas in a positive, problem-solving manner. The creation of a
successful comprehensively planned large-scale development requires a team effort by the
developer, City of Denton, planners, engineers, economic and marketing consultants,
environmental specialists and landscape architects. A comprehensively planned large-scale
development offers the developer, residents, neighboring property owners and public officials a
level of assurance that development will be consistent with the goals of the community at large
and that a high level of quality will always be maintained. A comprehensively planned large-
scale development may be appropriately developed within any of the future land use categories
of the Denton Plan.