Willow Park City Zoning Code
ARTICLE 14
03 ESTABLISHMENT OF REGULATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS
§ 14.03.001 Height regulations.
(a)
The height prescribed herein shall not apply to television and radio towers, church spires, belfries, monuments, tanks, water towers, stage towers, cooling towers, ornamental towers and spires, chimneys, elevator bulkheads, smokestacks, conveyors, and necessary and allowable appurtenances.
(b)
No structure may be erected to a height in excess of that permitted by the regulations of such airfield zoning ordinance as it may exist at the time and whose regulations apply to the area in which the structure is being erected.
(Ordinance 414-97, ex. C, sec. 12.201, adopted 12/16/1997)
§ 14.03.002 Special front yard regulations.
(a)
Where the frontage on one side of a street between two intersecting streets is divided by two or more zoning districts, the front yard shall comply with the requirements of the most restrictive district for the entire frontage.
(b)
When a building line has been established by plat or ordinance and such line requires a greater or lesser front yard setback than is prescribed by this chapter for the district in which the building line is located, the required front yard shall comply with the building line so established by the most restrictive of such ordinance or plat.
(c)
The front yard shall be measured from the property line to the front face of the building, covered porch, covered terrace, or attached accessory building. Eaves and roof extensions may project into the required front yard for a distance not to exceed four (4) feet and subsurface structures, platforms, or slabs may not project into the front yard to a height greater than forty (40) inches above the average grade.
(d)
Where lots have a double frontage, running through from one street to another, a required front yard shall be provided on both streets unless a building line for accessory buildings has been established along one frontage on the plat or by ordinance, in which event only one required front yard need to be observed.
(e)
If thirty (30) percent or more of the frontage of one side of a street between two intersecting in any residential district is improved with buildings prior to the effective date of this chapter that have been observed an average front yard line with a variation in depth of not more than six (6) feet, then the average front yard so established shall be observed provided, however, that this regulation shall not be interpreted as requiring a front yard line of more than thirty (30) feet.
(f)
Gasoline service station pump islands may not be located nearer than eighteen (18) feet to the front property line.
(Ordinance 414-97, ex. C, sec. 12.202, adopted 12/16/1997)
§ 14.03.003 Side yard regulations.
(a)
On a corner lot the width of the yard along the side of the street shall not be less than any required front yard on the same side of such street between intersecting streets, provided, however, that the buildable width of a lot of record shall not be reduced to less than thirty (30) feet.
(b)
No accessory building shall project beyond a required yard line along any street.
(c)
For the purpose of the side yard regulations, an attached dwelling or multifamily dwelling shall be considered as one building occupying one lot.
(d)
Where a lot of record at the time of the effective date of this chapter is less than one hundred (100) feet in width the required side yard may be reduced to provide a minimum buildable width of fifty (50) feet, provided, however, that no side yard shall be less than ten (10) feet.
(e)
The area required in a yard shall be open to the sky, unobstructed except for the ordinary projections of window sills, belt courses, cornices, or other ornamental features.
(f)
A roof overhang, an open fire escape or an outside stairway may not project more than four (4) feet into a required side yard.
(Ordinance 414-97, ex. C, sec. 12.203, adopted 12/16/1997)
§ 14.03.004 Private club regulations.
(a)
In all districts, no person shall operate or cause to operate a private club licensed by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission as part of any business within 300 feet of:
(1)
A church.
(2)
A public or private elementary or secondary school.
(3)
Residentially zoned property.
(4)
A public park.
The distance between any private club and the uses listed above shall be measured in a straight line, without regard for intervening structures or objects, from the closest exterior wall of the structure where a private club is conducted, to the nearest property line of a church or school, or to the nearest boundary of a residential district or public park. |
(b)
(1)
In all districts, no person shall operate or cause to operate a private club licensed by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission as part of any business within 350 feet of another club.
(2)
The distance between any two businesses containing private clubs shall be measured in a straight line, without regard for intervening structures or objects, from the closest exterior wall of the structures in which such businesses are located.
(Ordinance 414-97, ex. C, sec. 12.205, adopted 12/16/1997)
§ 14.03.005 Fire protection access.
(a)
No building except single-family dwellings shall be constructed in such a way that any part of the structure may be erected at a greater distance than the one hundred fifty (150) feet, if the owner thereof dedicates, constructs and maintains a fire lane or access easement having a minimum width of twenty-four (24) feet and a minimum height clearance of fourteen (14) feet terminating within one hundred (100) feet of the farthest point of the structure.
(b)
Any such fire lane or access easement more than one hundred fifty (150) feet long shall either connect at both ends to a dedicated street or be provided with a turn-around having a minimum radius of fifty (50) feet.
(c)
All fire lanes or access easements dedicated to the City of Willow Park for such use, shall be of concrete surface for the entire width thereof and maintained and kept in a state of good repair at all times by the owner of the premises, and the City of Willow Park shall not be responsible for the maintenance thereof. Such fire lanes shall be permanently marked as fire lanes and the owner of the property shall insure that the same such markings are kept and obviously displayed.
(Ordinance 414-97, ex. C, sec. 12.206, adopted 12/16/1997; Ordinance 811-20, sec. 2(A), adopted 11/10/2020)
§ 14.03.006 Exterior construction requirements and standards.
(a)
Definitions.
For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1)
"Masonry" construction shall include all construction of stone material, brick material, concrete masonry units, or concrete panel construction, which is composed of solid, cavity, faced, or veneered-wall construction. The standards for masonry construction types are listed below:
(A)
"Stone" material.
Masonry construction using stone material may consist of granite, marble, limestone, slate, river rock, and other hard and durable naturally occurring all-weather stone. Cut stone and dimensioned stone techniques are acceptable.
(B)
"Brick" material.
Brick material used for masonry construction shall be hard fired (kiln fired) clay or slate material which meets the latest version of ASTM standard C216, Standard Specification for Facing Brick (Solid Masonry Unit Made of Clay or Shale), and shall be Severe Weather (SW) grade, and type FBA or FBS or better. Unfired or underfired clay, sand, or shale brick are not allowed.
(C)
"Concrete" masonry units.
Concrete masonry units used for masonry construction shall meet the latest version of the following applicable specifications: ASTM C90, Standard Specification for Hollow Load Bearing Concrete Masonry Units: ASTM C145, Standard Specification for Solid Load Bearing Masonry Units; ASTM C129, Standard Specification for Hollow and Solid Nonload Bearing Units. Concrete masonry units shall have an indented, hammered, split face finish or other similar architectural finish as approved by the city council. Lightweight concrete block or cinderblock construction is not acceptable as an exterior finish.
(D)
"Concrete panel" construction.
Concrete finish, pre-cast panel, tilt wall, or cementitious composition reinforced panel construction shall be painted, fluted, or exposed aggregate. Smooth or untextured concrete finishes are not acceptable unless painted.
(2)
Glass and metal standards are as follows:
(A)
"Glass walls"
shall include glass curtain walls or glass block construction. Glass curtain wall shall be defined as an exterior wall which carries no structural loads, and which may consist of the combination of metal, glass, or other surfacing material supported in a metal framework.
(B)
"Metal walls"
shall include profiled panels and deep ribbed panels. Exterior finish shall be film-laminated or baked-on enamel painted to the wall manufacturer's standards.
(b)
Construction standards.
(1)
Construction standards.
The standards and criteria contained within this section are deemed to be minimum standards and shall apply to all new, altered or repaired construction occurring within the city.
(2)
Residential.
(A)
All residential buildings and structures shall be of exterior fire resistant construction having at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the total exterior walls above grade level and below the first floor plate line, excluding doors and windows, constructed of brick, stone, or material of equal characteristics in accordance with the city's building and fire codes. Strict adherence to this rule shall not be such as to prevent architectural creativity.
(B)
All principal buildings and structures located in the MF districts shall be of exterior fire resistant construction having at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the total exterior walls, excluding doors and windows, constructed of brick, stone, or other material of equal characteristics in accordance with the city's building and fire codes.
(C)
Concrete or metal exterior construction is not permitted on any residential structure.
(D)
Exemptions.
(i)
Accessory buildings two hundred and forty (240) square feet or less are excluded from these provisions.
(ii)
Barns on property of three (3) acres or more, provided that such barns are used solely for agricultural purposes as distinguished from commercial or industrial purposes, shall be exempt from provisions of this section.
(iii)
Mobile homes otherwise lawfully existing under the provisions of the zoning ordinance shall also be excluded from provisions of this section.
(iv)
Historic structures.
(3)
Nonresidential.
(A)
All nonresidential structures shall be of exterior fire resistant construction having at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the total exterior walls above grade level, excluding doors and windows, constructed of masonry or glass wall construction, in accordance with the city's building and fire codes. Strict adherence to this requirement shall not be such as to prevent architectural creativity.
(C)
Use of other exterior construction materials may be permitted by the city council at the time of site plan approval.
(4)
Temporary construction buildings.
Temporary buildings and temporary building material storage areas to be used for construction purposes may be permitted for a specific period of time in accordance with a permit issued by the building official and subject to periodic renewal by the inspector for cause shown. Upon completion or abandonment of construction or expiration of permit, such field offices/buildings and material storage areas shall be removed at the satisfaction of the building official.
(5)
Procedure for determining alternative exterior materials.
(A)
All requests for alternative exterior building materials shall be noted and described on the site plan. If requested by the city, a sample(s) of the proposed exterior finish material(s) may be required to be submitted with the site plan.
(B)
The city may approve an alternative exterior material if it is determined to be equivalent or better than the exterior materials cited in this section, subsection (a), "Definitions," subparagraphs (1) (masonry) and (2) (glass and metal) above as part of the approval of the site plan.
(C)
Consideration for exceptions to the above requirements shall be based only on the following:
(D)
The request shall be reviewed by the planning and zoning commission, and shall be approved or disapproved by the city council.
(c)
Exterior design standards.
(1)
Purpose.
To ensure the aesthetic value and visual appeal of nonresidential land uses and structures.
(2)
Facade articulation (i.e., offsets) of at least five feet (5') in depth shall be required for every fifty feet (50') in surface length.
(3)
Facade offsets shall be shown, along with calculations verifying that the building elevations meet the above requirement, on a building facade/elevation plan, and shall be submitted and approved as part of the site plan approval process.
(Ordinance 515-04 adopted 4/20/2004)
§ 14.03.007 Accessory building and use regulations.
(a)
R-1 Single-family residential district (40,000 sq./ft. or larger):
(1)
The combined area of all accessory buildings on a lot shall be no greater than fifty percent (50%) of the residence. Gutters and downspouts are required on all accessory buildings larger than two hundred (200) square feet.
(2)
Front yard setback: No accessory building is permitted in the front yard setback.
(3)
Side yard setback: Where building lines, setback lines or side yard lines are shown on a recorded plat, the minimum side yard setback shall be as shown on the plat. In all other locations, the minimum side yard setback shall be ten (10') feet.
(4)
Rear yard setback: Accessory buildings shall be located towards the rear of the property. Accessory buildings shall be located no closer than ten (10') feet from the rear property line.
(5)
Accessory buildings shall not be permitted within a utility easement, drainage easement or drainageway or floodplain.
(6)
The maximum exterior wall height of an accessory building in the R-1 district is fourteen (14') feet.
(7)
All accessory buildings shall be constructed of materials which are of a comparable color pallet to the main use building and have a roof pitch similar to the main use building.
(b)
R-1/S Single-family residential district with sewer (20,000 sq./ft. or larger):
(1)
The combined area of all accessory buildings on a lot shall be no greater than five percent (5%) of the lot area. Gutters and downspouts are required on all accessory buildings larger than two hundred (200) square feet.
(2)
All lots must be platted prior to issuance of a permit.
(3)
A maximum of five (5) accessory buildings/uses.
(4)
Front yard setback: No accessory building is permitted in the front yard setback.
(5)
Side yard setback: Where building lines, setback lines or side yard lines are shown on a recorded plat, the minimum side yard setback shall be as shown on the plat. In all other locations, the minimum side yard setback shall be ten (10') feet.
(6)
Rear yard setback: Accessory buildings shall be located towards the rear of the property. Accessory buildings shall be located no closer than ten (10') feet from the rear property line.
(7)
Accessory buildings shall not be permitted within a utility easement, drainage easement or drainageway or floodplain.
(8)
The maximum exterior wall height of an accessory building in the R-1 district is fourteen (14') feet.
(9)
All accessory buildings shall be constructed of materials which are of a comparable color pallet to the main use building and have a roof pitch similar to the main use building.
(c)
R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5 Residential districts (single-family residence):
(1)
There shall be one (1) accessory building per lot no larger than two hundred (200) square feet.
(2)
Front yard setback: No accessory building is permitted in the front yard setback.
(3)
Side yard setback: Where building lines, setback lines or side yard lines are shown on a recorded plat, the minimum side yard setback shall be as shown on the plat. In all other locations, the minimum side yard setback shall be ten (10') feet.
(4)
Rear yard setback: Accessory buildings shall be located towards the rear of the property. Accessory buildings shall be located no closer than ten (10') feet from the rear property line.
(5)
Accessory buildings shall not be permitted within a utility easement, drainage easement or drainageway or floodplain.
(6)
The maximum exterior wall height of an accessory building in these zoning districts is eight (8') feet.
(7)
All accessory buildings shall be constructed of materials which are of a comparable color pallet to the main use building and have a roof pitch similar to the main use building.
(d)
Detached accessory buildings are prohibited in all residential districts in front of the main building.
(e)
Detached carports shall be located no closer than the front of the main building and observe all building setback requirements.
(f)
Detached carports are considered as accessory buildings and shall meet the requirements of the zoning district. All carports must be secured and anchored in compliance with building code regulations.
(g)
Accessory buildings are not permitted without a main use building, unless on tracts of two (2) acres or more and used solely for agricultural purposes. Workshops, garages, or similar uses shall not be considered as agricultural purposes. In such case, a one hundred (100') foot front building setback from all property lines is required.
(h)
Portable buildings, including storage containers, overseas shipping containers, cargo, or freight containers are prohibited to be used as accessory buildings. The use of storage containers may be allowed for a maximum sixty (60) day period during moving or construction with issuance of a permit.
(Ordinance 755-17 adopted 7/11/2017; Ordinance 774-18 adopted 8/14/2018)