Kennedale planning commission reviews major draft update to development code, seeks public input

The Kennedale Plan and Zoning Commission on March 27 reviewed a near‑final draft of the city's Unified Development Code, with staff presenting proposed edits that clarify residential definitions, add a transit‑oriented mixed‑use overlay, and adjust administrative approval thresholds before the draft goes to City Council and public hearings.

Staff member Nathan told commissioners the draft consolidates and trims the existing code, clarifies definitions for housing types, and adds a transit‑oriented mixed‑use development overlay. "We did create in this draft ... a transit oriented mixed use development overlay district," Nathan said, describing edits meant to reduce confusion for applicants and staff and to remove redundancies.

The draft redefines multifamily and related housing types so definitions align with how developments are reviewed. Under the draft, "multifamily" is defined as five or more attached residential units; triplexes and quadplexes are now defined and distinguished from multifamily. The draft also introduces upper‑floor dwellings and mixed‑use lofts in certain commercial districts, and adds smaller single‑family attached options such as row houses and villas.

Why it matters: the rewrite is intended to simplify review, reduce accidental nonconformities and provide clearer routes for proposed infill and mixed‑use projects. Nathan said the draft is hyperlinked for easier…