Katy City Zoning Code
§ 9B
“OKD” “OLD KATY” DISTRICT.
The "OKD" Old Katy District is primarily intended to encourage adaptive reuse of existing structures in the historic downtown area of Katy. The Old Katy District includes original small lots and should consist of pedestrian-oriented development and the regulations of this district are designed to aid rehabilitation of existing structures and promote infill and redevelopment. The following regulations shall apply:
9B.1
Uses Permitted.
9B.1-1
Any use permitted in the "R-1" district granted by special use permit. No special use permit is required for any nonconforming single-family use if established before March 24, 1983 and has not been structurally changed to accommodate a nonresidential use.
9B.1-2
Bed and Breakfast establishments with a Special Use Permit in accordance with Section 15 of the Zoning Ordinance.
9B.1-3
Bakeries.
9B.1-4
Dry cleaning establishment, provided that only nonexplosive cleaning fluids be used.
9B.1-5
Teahouses and Coffee Shops.
9B.1-6
Offices, Business or Professional, including Banks.
9B.1-7
Parking as a Primary Use, including parking garages that have a maximum height of 45 feet and meet the architectural standards listed in subsection 9B.2-3.2.
9B.1-8
Restaurants (No Drive-Thru) with a maximum gross area of 3,500 square feet.
9B.1-9
Retail Sales.
9B.1-10
Micro-Industrial (brewery, winery, distillery, roastery) with a maximum gross area of 3,000 square feet.
9B.1-11
Municipal Facilities (Administrative Office, Fire Station, Police Station, etc.).
9B.1-12
Personal Service Shop.
9B.1-13
Any retail business for use of a similar character to those listed above and not included in or excluded from any other district described herein, provided that such use is not noxious, or offensive by reason of vibration, noise, odor, dust, smoke or gas, or unsightly appearance.
9B.2
Exterior Building Standards.
9B.2-1
This article applies to all nonresidential buildings constructed after October 1, 2019.
9B.2-2
If existing building structures are expanded by 40 percent or more of their building, or if improvements constitute at least 51 percent of the current value of the structure as established by the most current value established by the applicable Appraisal District, the entire structure shall be brought into compliance with these Building Standards.
9B.2-3
Definitions - As used in these regulations, the following words, terms, and phrases shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this section:
9B.2-3.1
Metal buildings - Shall mean a metal structure fabricated with steel for the internal support, and metal sheeting for the exterior or any fabricated structure with any material for internal support but uses metal sheeting for the exterior.
9B.2-3.2
Category "A" exterior wall finishes - Shall be applicable to nonresidential buildings and shall mean exterior wall finishes of fiber concrete siding (hardieplank), brick veneer, face brick, clay brick, stucco/dry-vit, cement (tinted), stone, concrete tilt walls for parking structures (must be designed to blend with surrounding architecture), or other comparable masonry, or other materials of equal characteristics. The following will not be allowed: unfired or under-fired clay, sand, or shale brick: unfinished concrete block, lightweight concrete block, metal panels and smooth or untextured concrete and fluorescent finishes, wood, and glass.
9B.2-3.3
Corner lot - Shall mean a lot abutting upon two (2) or more streets at their intersection. A corner lot shall be deemed to front on that street on which it has its least dimension, unless otherwise specified by the Planning Department.
9B.2-3.4
Front of a building - Shall mean the side of each building or structure located on a lot facing a required front yard.
9B.2-3.5
Rear of a building - Shall mean the side of each building or structure located on a lot facing a required rear yard.
9B.2-3.6
Side of a building - Shall mean the side of each building or structure located on a lot facing a required side yard.
9B.2-4
Facade and exterior standards.
All nonresidential buildings located in this district shall comply with the following minimum standards:
9B.2-4.1
Front Facade - One hundred (100) percent of any exposed exterior wall forming the front of a building, exclusive of windows, doors, roofs, or sidewalk and walkway covers, shall be constructed to finished grade using Category "A" exterior wall finishes. However, if the building is on a corner lot and/or the lot abuts more than one street, each street side of the building exterior shall meet the front wall requirements.
9B.2-4.2
Side Facades - No less than eighty (80) percent of any exposed exterior wall forming a side of a building, exclusive of windows, doors, roofs, or sidewalks and walkway covers, shall be constructed to finished grade using Category "A" exterior wall finishes.
9B.2-4.3
Rear Facades - No less than eighty (80) percent of any exposed exterior wall forming the rear of a building exclusive of windows, doors, roofs, or sidewalks and walkway covers, shall be constructed to finished grade using Category "A" exterior wall finishes.
9B.2-5
Roof mounted mechanical or other equipment - Roof mounted mechanical or other equipment shall be screened from view so that such equipment is not visible from the ground. All rooftop equipment on flat roofs is to be enclosed with a parapet wall constructed at least 42" high or as high as the equipment it is designed to screen from view, whichever is higher. The parapet shall be constructed with building materials that match the structure or is visually compatible with the structure. This provision shall not apply to satellite earth station antennas, or any communication electronic facilities protected by the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 (47 USC 251 et seq.).
9B.2-6
Exterior ground mounted equipment - Exterior ground mounted equipment including, but not limited to, mechanical equipment, utility, meter banks and heating or cooling equipment, shall be sufficiently screened so that no portion of said equipment is visible from an adjacent street. The screening required by this subsection may be accomplished with vegetative landscaping material or with a solid structure using Category "A" exterior finishes compatible in architecture, design and color with the building or structure the equipment serves.
9B.2-7
Architectural detailing - Use of architectural detailing that supports the quality and character expressed by these building design guidelines is required. The following are examples of such details:
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9B.3
Height and Area Requirements.
9B.3-1
Height.
Buildings shall not exceed forty (40) feet.
9B.3-2
Front Yards.
Same as District "R-1" except where established buildings in this district within the same block have front yards of less depth. In which case the front yard shall be a minimum of ten (10) feet. There will be no exceptions made for less front yard where the lot fronts on a major thoroughfare (i.e., twenty-five (25) foot minimum).
9B.3-3
Side Yards.
No side yards required in this district.
9B.3-4
Rear Yards.
The depth of a rear yard shall be a minimum of fifteen (15) feet from any structure. Commercial lots that have a public alley at the rear of the property, which has not been abandoned, shall subtract one-half the width of the alley from the calculation.
9B.3-5
Width of Lot.
A minimum width shall be no smaller than the original lot size as set out in the Katy Townsite Map filed in Volume 2, page 38, of the Maps Records of Harris County, Texas.
9B.3-6
Corner Lots.
A minimum of fifteen (15) foot front yards and side yards adjacent to streets shall be required on all corner lots.
9B.3-7
Lot Area Per Family.
Same as district "R-3."
9B.4
Off-Street Parking
For all existing and new nonresidential uses/developments within this district, no off-street parking is required. Any new off-street parking lots shall not be developed in front of the principal/primary building, within any portion of the Old Katy District boundaries.
EXHIBIT "A" "OLD KATY District"  |
NORTH | - | South side of George Bush Drive. |
EAST | - | West side of Avenue A between the south side of George Bush Drive and the north side of First Street. |
West side of Avenue B between the north side of First Street and the north side of the Railroad Right-of-way. | ||
SOUTH | - | North side of First Street between the west side of Avenue A and the west side of Avenue B. |
North side of Railroad Right-of-way between the west side of Avenue B and the east side of Avenue D. | ||
WEST | - | East side of Avenue D. |
(Ordinance 2916 adopted 8/12/19; Ordinance 3037 adopted 5/23/2022; Ordinance 3117 adopted 10/23/2023)