Title
Conduct a Public Hearing to Consider/Discuss/Act on a Request by the City of McKinney to Amend Chapter 146 (Zoning Regulations), Section 146-132 (Fences, Walls, and Screening Requirements) and Section 146-139 (Architectural and Site Standards) of the Code of Ordinances, and Accompanying Ordinance
Summary
COUNCIL GOAL: Operational Excellence
(2E: Continuously provide a high level of customer service to our citizens)
MEETING DATE: May 19, 2020
DEPARTMENT: Development Services - Planning Department
CONTACT: Jennifer Arnold, AICP, Director of Planning
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
• Staff recommends approval of the proposed ordinance.
ITEM SUMMARY:
• Staff proposes an amendment to Section 146-132 (Fences, Walls, and Screening Requirements) and Section 146-139 (Architectural and Site Standards) of the Zoning Ordinance to modify the screening requirements for mechanical, heating, and air conditioning equipment.
• Specifically, Staff proposes to eliminate an explicit screening requirement for mechanical, heating, and air conditioning equipment in multi-family developments currently found in Section 146-139 and relocate an updated version of the provision to Section 146-132.
• Modernizing the requirement and relocating it to Section 146-132 with the other mechanical screening requirements will improve the usability of the ordinance and will allow for the requirement to be considered as part of the screening variance process which already exists within Section 146-132 of the Ordinance.
• In addition to relocating and updating the mechanical screening requirements for multi-family uses, Staff also proposes to incorporate minimum standards for vertically integrated mechanical equipment in non-residential, mixed use and multi-family developments.
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
Staff proposes the following modification to Section 146-132 (Fences, Walls, and Screening Requirements):
“j. Mechanical and heating and air conditioning equipment in mixed use and non-residential , mixed use, and multi-family uses shall be screened from view from the public right-of-way and from adjacent residential property.
1. For such equipment located on the roof, the screening of the equipment shall be a minimum of one foot higher than the height of the equipment. Screening material shall be consistent with the building materials of the structure on which the equipment is placed.
2. For such equipment mounted flush to and completely contained within the exterior of a building or structure, such equipment shall be disguised to integrate into the overall exterior of the building and shall not be readily visible or identifiable as mechanical, heating, and air conditioning equipment.
k. Mechanical and heating and air conditioning equipment in multi-family uses shall be screened from view as follows:
1. For such equipment located on the roof, said equipment shall be screened from view from the public right-of-way and from adjacent residential property. The screening of the equipment shall be a minimum of one foot higher than the height of the equipment. Screening material shall be consistent with the building materials of the structure on which the equipment is placed.
2. For such equipment mounted flush to and completely contained within the exterior of a building or structure, said equipment shall be disguised to integrate into the overall exterior of the building and shall not be readily visible or identifiable as mechanical, heating, and air conditioning equipment.
3. For such equipment located on the ground level, said equipment shall be required to be completely screened from view. The screening materials provided shall be opaque and at a height equal to or greater than the height of the equipment being screened.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
• Currently, Section 146-139 includes a provision for multi-family uses that requires ground level mechanical, heating and air conditioning equipment to be completely screened by a masonry screening wall that is at least six feet tall. While this provision has existed in Section 146-139 for quite some time, it has historically been included as one of several options that could be utilized to satisfy the city’s site enhancement requirements for multi-family uses.
• However, as part of the legislative updates made to the Zoning Ordinance in the fall of 2019 (in response to House Bill 2439), the above-mentioned masonry screening requirement became a minimum standard for ground level equipment as opposed to one of several available options for a site enhancement. Now that Staff has had the opportunity to implement these new changes, we’ve found that such strict masonry screening requirements for ground level mechanical, heating and air conditioning equipment is problematic from a functional and aesthetic standpoint.
OPPOSITION TO OR SUPPORT OF REQUEST: Staff has not received any letters of support or opposition to this request.
BOARD OR COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
• On April 28, 2020, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted 7-0-0 to recommend approval of the proposed amendment.