Arlington council approves Unified Development Code corrections and three rezonings, denies one short‑term rental appeal

The Arlington City Council on May 13 approved a set of 27 miscellanous amendments to the city’s Unified Development Code and granted three rezoning requests, while voting not to advance an appeal that would have allowed a short‑term rental use on North Center Street.

Assistant Director Richard Gertzen told the council, "We have before you tonight an ordinance that includes 27 miscellaneous amendments to the unified development code." He said the annual package corrects errors and updates substantive content, and that staff had solicited input from the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Developers Roundtable and the nonprofit Arbor group.

The ordinance included three items Gertzen highlighted as new since the council last reviewed the package: adding office as a permitted use in the Flex Hybrid zoning district (an omitted allowance tied to the Lehi hybrid zoning adoption); matching updates in the Unified Development Code to changes the council recently made to the city code for boarding home facilities; and an adjustment to the alternate equivalent compliance provision to allow staff administrative authority to modify dimensional standards by up to 50 percent (the proposal previously limited that administrative change to 15 percent).

Council approved the UDC amendments on a motion from Councilmember Bridal, seconded by Councilmember Odom Wesley.

Separately, the council approved three rezoning cases the same evening:

- 2598 Northwest Green Oaks Boulevard (about 2.415 acres): The council changed zoning from RS‑7.2 (single‑family residential) to Limited Office (LO) to allow an architectural studio and a large‑format 3‑D printing business. Applicant Gary Nightingale told the council the facility will provide office and makerspace functions; Nightingale described the venture as "a large format 3 d printing business" he and his wife are starting. The motion to approve was made by Councilmember Pham, seconded by Councilmember Gonzales, and passed.

- Rear portion of 3000 South Cooper Street (about 0.464 acres): The council amended zoning from Community Commercial (CC) to Flex Hybrid (FH) so the parcel can be combined with an adjacent Flex Hybrid lot to complete a proposed development. The applicant, Cadlip Design Building, was represented by David Dowling. Councilmember Hogg moved approval, seconded by Councilmember Odom Wesley; the motion carried.

- 5101 and 503201 South Collins Street (about 16.57 acres): The council rezoned a mostly undeveloped site to add an Airport Overlay and Office‑Commercial zoning to accommodate an office planned by the Trinity River Authority. Click Engineering representatives Matt Kane and Ryan Van Zuen attended on behalf of the applicant. Councilmember Boxall moved approval, Councilmember Pham seconded, and the motion passed.

The council also considered an appeal by property owner Bill (Bill Glanton on the public record) seeking to have a Planning and Zoning Commission denial reheard as a council public hearing so he could add a short‑term rental use at 1218 North Center Street. Mayor Jim Ross explained that the council was limited to deciding whether to call a hearing on the appeal and noted extensive prior work establishing the city’s short‑term rental boundaries. Ross said, "our hands are really tied because of all of the work that has gone in and making sure that we have a very defensible short term rental area." A motion to call a public hearing (moved by Councilmember Bridal, seconded by Councilmember Hogg) failed.

Council members and staff said the UDC corrections are intended to reduce conflicts in code language and reflect prior council policy choices. The UDC package and the separate rezoning ordinances will be reflected in final ordinance language at subsequent readings or in posted ordinances where applicable.