The Ledger

Fate City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission Tour of Exemplary Projects - February 11, 2023

Fate Gazette

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The Fate Gazette — Ledger

Meeting Record

City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission Tour of Exemplary Projects
Date: February 11, 2023
Type: Educational tour (no posted meeting actions)

Purpose of Tour

  • The City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Fate conducted a tour of exemplary mixed-use development projects in the Dallas–Fort Worth region.
  • The tour was initiated by the City to support implementation of the adopted Forward Fate Comprehensive Plan.
  • There was no developer participation.
  • The tour was educational in nature.
  • No motions were made and no action was taken.

Attendance

City Council Members Present

  • David Billings, Mayor
  • Heather Buegeler
  • John Brandt, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem
  • Scott Kelley
  • Allen Robbins, Mayor Pro Tem
  • Jim Deland
  • Lance Megyesi

City Council Members Absent

  • None

Planning and Zoning Commissioners Present

  • Steve Dann, Chairman
  • Kerry Wiemokly
  • Clinton Sykes
  • Aaron Jackson
  • Daryell Harmon

Planning and Zoning Commissioners Absent

  • Chelsea Priest
  • Karen Kiser

City Staff Present

  • Michael Kovacs, City Manager
  • Justin Weiss, Assistant City Manager
  • Jon Thatcher, City Attorney
  • Victoria Raduechel, City Secretary
  • Spencer Foster, Assistant to the City Manager
  • Ryan Wells, Director of Planning and Development Services
  • Michelle Alvarado, Planning Technician
  • Yvonne Lane, Economic and Community Development Specialist

Tour Itinerary and Observations

Departure

  • Departed Fate City Hall, 1900 C.D. Boren Parkway, Fate, Texas at 9:30 a.m.

Site Visit: The Canals at Grand Park (Frisco, Texas)

  • Arrival: 10:22 a.m.
  • Walking tour led by Ryan Wells, Director of Planning and Development Services.

Project Background

  • Initiated in 2014
  • Redevelopment of the Frisco Jetport brownfield site
  • Overall project area: 152 acres
  • Landscape architect served as prime consultant
  • Designed as a four-generation community

Key Design Concepts

  • Intentional mix of housing types
  • Canals function as regional detention and design feature
  • Alley-loaded townhomes and single-family detached units
  • Mews lots
  • Narrow lots with full-size buildings
  • Transition from two- to four-story development
  • Porch design standards to support active street frontage
  • Mix of architectural styles
  • Ground-floor apartments adaptable to office use
  • Tour concluded at 11:10 a.m.
  • Departure immediately following conclusion.

Site Visit: Austin Ranch (The Colony, Texas)

  • Arrival: 11:30 a.m.
  • Walking tour led by Ryan Wells, Director of Planning and Development Services.

Project Background

  • Initiated in 1998
  • 2008 Planned Development combined three existing PDs
  • Multiple PD amendments since adoption
  • Overall project area: 1,700 acres
  • Homeowner’s Association responsible for maintenance of open space, common areas, screening walls, and fences
  • Project abuts Plano and Carrollton

Key Design Concepts

  • Vertical mixed-use development around public green and along major thoroughfare
  • Traditional and townhouse-style multifamily
  • On-street, interior, and tuck-under parking
  • 30-foot street tree spacing
  • Mix of architectural styles
  • Intimate walkways and mews
  • Parks and water features
  • Some single-family detached product
  • Decorative street lighting
  • Approximately 25% of residential buildings are four stories
  • Trail system throughout

Lunch

  • Café Mila at Austin Ranch
  • 12:16 p.m. to 1:20 p.m.

City Secretary’s Note

  • Council Member Scott Kelley departed the tour at 1:20 p.m.
  • Walking tour resumed at 1:20 p.m.
  • Tour concluded at 1:35 p.m.
  • Departure immediately following conclusion.

Site Visit: Watters Creek (Allen, Texas)

  • Arrival: 2:12 p.m.
  • Walking tour led by Ryan Wells, Director of Planning and Development Services.

Project Background

  • Initiated in 2005
  • Part of the 500-acre Montgomery Farm master-planned development
  • One of the first retail developments in Texas to achieve LEED certification
  • Overall project area: 53 acres
  • Includes approximately 520,000 square feet of specialty retail and leisure space
  • Includes 285 residential units and a 135-room hotel

Key Design Concepts

  • High ratio of commercial to residential uses
  • Structured and on-street parking
  • Chimney and open space as focal point and activity center
  • Natural creek incorporated within open space
  • Traditional retail at project periphery
  • Walkable internal layout with connections to adjacent residential areas
  • Paved waterfront trail
  • Decomposed granite trails
  • Multi-story hotel and apartments above retail
  • Street trees and narrow curved streets to manage speeds and support walkability
  • Tour concluded at 2:59 p.m.
  • Departure immediately following conclusion.

Return

  • Tour concluded upon arrival at Fate City Hall at 3:51 p.m.

Record Note
This Ledger entry records the publicly observable proceedings of the meeting listed above. It does not offer analysis or commentary.

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