FORNEY, Texas – The Forney Planning and Zoning Commission tabled a developer request to amend an existing planned development located south of Bowie Street after traffic and crime concerns were raised by neighbors at their July 10, 2014, meeting.
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The 40.8540-acre, 184 lot planned development was first approved by the Forney City Council on February 3, 2004, and later amended on May 15, 2007. The original concept plan included alleys which were removed in the 2007 amendment. The developer is seeking to re-add those alleys and make other changes to current planned development requirements including a name change to Brooklyn Village.
In requesting the changes, the developer hopes to achieve a “New England cottage style” appearance. The developer proposes lot sizes averaging 4,500 square feet with a minimum lot area of 4,000 square feet – a smaller lot size than the require 4,950 square feet. The minimum square footage of the homes is listed at 1,350 square feet.
Each required two-car garage will be placed at the rear of the home with alleyway entry only. The developer is requesting a larger setback in the rear to allow for driveway parking at the rear of the home.
The developer is also requesting a roof pitch of 6:12 instead of the required 8:12 and is requesting 20-year textured composite or better roof material opposed to the required 25-year material.
To achieve the New England cottage style appearance, the developer is requesting between 20 and 55 percent masonry material on the exterior of the homes as opposed to the zoning ordinance which requires 90 percent masonry for the first floor and 75 percent masonry for the second floor. The developer proposes the use of cement board.
10-foot alleyways are proposed which would be maintained by the homeowners association who will also maintain all drainage easements and common areas. The developer is also requesting only one side of the street be required to have a 5-foot sidewalk.
The developer is also requesting, instead of a stained cedar-board fence with masonry columns, a 6-foot precast masonry wall along the portion of Bowie Street the planned development borders.
A portion of the planned development on the east side of the property will be dedicated for use in the Master Park Trail. The developer will construct an 8-foot wide trail matching the Mustang Creek Trail, build a boundary fence along the east side of the property, and dedicate 1.089 acres to extend the Mustang Creek Park on Longhorn Lane. Fees will be paid in lieu of additional park land required for dedication.
Neighbors opposed the request at the June 5, 2014, meeting and again showed up in opposition of the proposed changes at the July 10, 2014, meeting citing concerns over additional traffic congestion on Bowie Street which would serve as the main throughway to the neighborhood. Two entrances of the neighborhood feed directly onto Bowie Street and the third entrance is an extension of Longhorn Lane which also feeds onto Bowie Street.
Additional crime was also a concern of the neighbors who stated alleyways generally attract crime.
The commissioners tabled the proposed amendments and scheduled a new public hearing during their August 7, 2014, meeting to address the nieghbors concerns and the developers requests. If approved, the amendments could be presented to the Forney City Council at their August 19, 2014, council meeting.
In requesting the changes, the developer hopes to achieve a “New England cottage style” appearance. The developer proposes lot sizes averaging 4,500 square feet with a minimum lot area of 4,000 square feet – a smaller lot size than the require 4,950 square feet. The minimum square footage of the homes is listed at 1,350 square feet.
Each required two-car garage will be placed at the rear of the home with alleyway entry only. The developer is requesting a larger setback in the rear to allow for driveway parking at the rear of the home.
The developer is also requesting a roof pitch of 6:12 instead of the required 8:12 and is requesting 20-year textured composite or better roof material opposed to the required 25-year material.
To achieve the New England cottage style appearance, the developer is requesting between 20 and 55 percent masonry material on the exterior of the homes as opposed to the zoning ordinance which requires 90 percent masonry for the first floor and 75 percent masonry for the second floor. The developer proposes the use of cement board.
10-foot alleyways are proposed which would be maintained by the homeowners association who will also maintain all drainage easements and common areas. The developer is also requesting only one side of the street be required to have a 5-foot sidewalk.
The developer is also requesting, instead of a stained cedar-board fence with masonry columns, a 6-foot precast masonry wall along the portion of Bowie Street the planned development borders.
A portion of the planned development on the east side of the property will be dedicated for use in the Master Park Trail. The developer will construct an 8-foot wide trail matching the Mustang Creek Trail, build a boundary fence along the east side of the property, and dedicate 1.089 acres to extend the Mustang Creek Park on Longhorn Lane. Fees will be paid in lieu of additional park land required for dedication.
Neighbors opposed the request at the June 5, 2014, meeting and again showed up in opposition of the proposed changes at the July 10, 2014, meeting citing concerns over additional traffic congestion on Bowie Street which would serve as the main throughway to the neighborhood. Two entrances of the neighborhood feed directly onto Bowie Street and the third entrance is an extension of Longhorn Lane which also feeds onto Bowie Street.
Additional crime was also a concern of the neighbors who stated alleyways generally attract crime.
The commissioners tabled the proposed amendments and scheduled a new public hearing during their August 7, 2014, meeting to address the nieghbors concerns and the developers requests. If approved, the amendments could be presented to the Forney City Council at their August 19, 2014, council meeting.