HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8483 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8483
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
Date: April 1, 2003
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Page 1 of 3
SUBJECT: Residential Construction Requirements Special Study Committee
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This Informal Report is in response to questions from the March 251' Pre-Council Briefing on the
Development Standards Task Force. The questions related to the present status of the Residential
Construction Requirement Special Study Committee in response to concerns from a number of
neighborhoods on the quality of infill products being constructed as site built homes and industrialized
buildings. Over the past two years a number of infill projects have not been viewed as compatible with the
existing architecture of the older neighborhoods. The following addresses the Council's questions
regarding this Study Committee.
Purpose of the Residential Construction Requirements Special Study Committee
This group was established to study the efforts of quality and compatible residential construction
throughout Fort Worth. While either the Zoning Ordinance or Building Codes address many aspects to
residential construction, concerns have arisen that new construction or infill projects are not compatible
with surrounding structures. The objective of the Special Study Committee is to identify issues related to
w,1 quality and compatible residential construction, research possible alternatives or best practices, and
recommend to the Council Committee action the City should consider.
Committee Membership
The original committee make up was to be two Council Members, two non-profit homebuilders, three
building industry representatives and two citizen/neighborhood representatives. The members were as
follows:
Frank Moss, Council Member
Wendy Davis, Council Member
Gage Yager, Habitat for Humanity
Donald Cager, Fort Worth Housing Department
Verlie Edwards,Greater Fort Worth Association of Realtors
Ron Formby, Builders Association of Fort Worth and Tarrant County
Cain McKnight, ACM Homes (Industrialize Buildings)
Iona Smith, Citizen/neighborhood representative
Mick Trusty, Citizen/neighborhood representative
Additional individuals have participated in the process. Those individuals include the following:
Faye Povero, Realtor.
Kenneth Jones, Realtor
Mary Ann Jones, Citizen/neighborhood representative
Edward Briscoe,Citizen/neighborhood representative
J.R. Kimball, Citizen/Real Estate interest
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8483
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Date: April 1, 2003
4 Page 2 of 3
SUBJECT: Residential Construction Requirements Special Study Committee
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Housing Standards Being Addressed
Earlier committee meetings discussed a number of standards for consideration. Those standards included
the public areas of residential properties (views from the street, building materials, building height to first
level, roof slopes, porches, placement of main structure on lot, landscaping and setbacks), private areas
within structures (square footage, floor area ratio) and areas of storage (accessory buildings, garages and
off street parking). Additionally the committee reviewed the existing Conservation Overlay District
provisions in the Zoning Ordinance.
The committee has held four meetings and one field trip. They also have reviewed the recent changes to
the City of Arlington's residential standards.
Consensus on issues has been limited to a small number of items. The committee believes changes to the
Conservation Overlay District requirements would be helpful to neighborhoods that desire to establish their
, own regulations concerning the conservation of buildings and structures. Presently the Conservation
Overlay District nomination process requires at least 51 percent of the total land area and at least 66-2/3
percent of all owner-occupied land area, lots or tracts in each block face to initiate an application. The
committee recommends the nomination percentages be the same as Historic Preservation Overlay Districts
that is 50 percent of the individual tracts, parcels or platted lots and 50 percent of the land area located
within the boundaries of the district. Additionally it was recommended that an application for a
conservation district go directly to the Zoning Commission instead of through the Historic and Cultural
Landmarks Commission.
Three other items the committee has come to consensus on deal with roof pitch, the height the structure
above the finish grade and the requirement of skirting on pier foundation structures. The committee
recommended that all hip and gable roof systems have a minimum of 6 to 12 slope. While there was
consensus on the roof pitch, it was not unanimous. The non-profit builder was concerned that a roof pitch
would be too steep and would eliminate roofing being performed by volunteers. Regarding the height of
the first level above the finish grade, the committee recommends a maximum of 33". The maximum height
would apply to any side to the structure that is fronted by a street. In most cases, this would only apply to
the front elevation of a residential structure. The committee recommended that any pier type foundation
must be skirted with a material that resisted rot(hardy board material was recommended).
Items that the Committee has not completed study on or made a recommendation on include the
requirement of garages, a ratio of front elevation to the side elevation length, setback requirements and
building materials (i.e.,percent masonry construction).
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8483
Ij To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Date: April 1, 2003
ft•4 Page 3 of 3
SUBJECT: Residential Construction Requirements Special Study Committee
Next Steps for the Committee
The Committee still needs to meet one to two more times to address the outstanding issues and complete
their final report. Staff believes these meetings can be conducted over the next 45 days. Upon completion
of the Committee's work, their recommendations would be forwarded to the Economic and Community
Development Committee for review. Upon direction from the Economic and Community Development
Committee, staff would develop the appropriate text amendments and process through the necessary
commissions and/or boards. This would be the appropriate time to review the Residential Construction
Special Study Committee's recommendation with the Development Standards Task Force.
Should Council members have additional questions regarding this Committee's work, please contact
Development Director Bob Riley at(817) 871-8901.
Gary W. ckso
City Ma alter
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS