HomeMy WebLinkAboutPZ Item 04 - Business Park District Zoning Ordinance
MEMO TO: PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
FROM: ERICA MAROHNIC, PLANNING SERVICES DIRECTOR
MEETING DATE: MAY 17, 2022 WORKSHOP
SUBJECT: RECEIVE A REPORT, HOLD A DISCUSSION, AND PROVIDE
STAFF DIRECTION REGARDING CREATION OF A DEFINITION
FOR THE SALE AND RENTAL OF HEAVY MACHINERY AND
EQUIPMENT IN SECTION 12, DEFINITIONS AND TO AMEND
OTHER RELATED SECTIONS OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE
FOR THE SALE AND RENTAL OF HEAVY MACHINERY AND
EQUIPMENT.
BACKGROUND:
Currently, the Sale and Rental of Heavy Machinery and Equipment is a use that is only
permitted with approval of a conditional use permit in the “LI” Light Industrial District but
has no corresponding definition in Section 12, Definitions of the Zoning
Ordinance. Planning Services staff has subsequently evaluated other zoning districts in
which the Sale and Rental of Heavy Machinery and Equipment may be appropriate under
certain circumstances and an opportunity exists to better regulate the use with use-
specific standards.
ISSUES:
Create Definition
No definition of Sale and Rental of Heavy Machinery and Equipment exists in the Zoning
Ordinance today. Planning Services staff is requesting the opportunity to create a
definition and better distinguish uses such as the Sale, Storage, Lease, and Repair of
Mobile Homes, Camper and Trailer Sales and Service, Lease and Rental, and Truck and
Trailer Rental from each other. The definition could include greater specificity about land
use and examples of equipment.
Proposed Definition for Discussion Purposes: A building or open area, other than
a right-of-way or public parking lot, used for the display, sale, rental, and storage
of heavy machinery. Heavy machinery includes but is not limited to track loaders,
excavators, backhoe loaders, skid steers, telehandlers, tractors, farm machinery,
bulldozers, street graders, and paving devices. This definition does not include the
sale, storage, lease, or repair of living units such as mobile homes and commercial
vehicles such as recreational vehicles (RVs), campers, trailers, trucks, vans, and
any other vehicles licensed by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
1
Expand Use to Other Zoning Districts
Currently, businesses engaged in the sale and rental of heavy equipment are not
permitted by right in any zoning district and are only permitted with the approval of a
conditional use permit in the “LI” Light Industrial District. Planning Services staff has
identified additional zoning districts that permit similar land uses and would like to discuss
the appropriateness of expanding this use to other zoning districts with use-specific
standards to mitigate any potential nuisances such as screening and limitation on the total
lot area that can be dedicated to the use. There may also be opportunities where this use
is accessory to a primary use and appropriate in other zoning districts.
Proposed Expansion for Discussion Purposes: “BP” Business Park District and “PID”
Planned Industrial Development.
Proposed Use-Specific Standards for Discussion Purposes:
1. Outside storage for the purposes of display, sale, rental, and storage of heavy
machinery and equipment shall be restricted to no more than 30% of the total lot
area or an area of common development clearly delineated on the property’s
approved site plan.
2. Display, sale, rental, and storage of heavy machinery and equipment shall not be
a standalone use or occur without a primary structure on a property.
3. The placement or storage of heavy machinery and equipment shall take place
behind the front building line of the primary structure on the property.
4. The placement or storage of heavy machinery and equipment shall be screened
from adjacent properties and rights-of-way with a solid screen wall, a minimum 8-
foot-tall and of masonry construction.
5. The placement or storage of heavy machinery and equipment is prohibited
immediately adjacent to residential uses or residential zoning districts unless
separated by a public right-of-way.
Amend Parking Requirement
The current parking requirement for the sale and rental of heavy equipment is not
specifically mentioned in Section 56, Off-Street Parking Requirements of the Zoning
Ordinance. Planning Services staff relies on the closest use available and applies it to a
development which is typically Warehousing and Enclosed Storage Areas. This next
closest use may not be appropriate as the peak parking demands may be much lower or
much higher than the standard parking ratio of one parking space per 2,000 square feet.
Planning Services staff requests the Commission consider creating a specific parking
ratio in-line with actual demand loads or continue the policy of utilizing the closest
available use.
2
DIRECTION:
1. Ask Planning Services staff to do nothing.
2. Ask Planning Services staff to study the topic further and bring back more
information for discussion and consideration at a future date.
3. Ask Planning Services staff to prepare an agenda item to be discussed at a future
joint workshop with the Commission and City Council.
3