Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Downtown Design Waiver Church topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Garland planning commission clears major downtown design waivers for church rebuild at 801 West Avenue D
Summary
The Garland Plan Commission approved a downtown major waiver allowing a church to demolish and rebuild at 801 West Avenue D with multiple design deviations from the Garland Development Code, including a monument sign and reduced window glazing requirements.
The Garland Plan Commission voted to approve a set of major waivers to the downtown development code that will let a church demolish most of its existing building and rebuild at 801 West Avenue D.
The waivers approved May 12 cover six deviations from the Garland Development Code (GDC): a monument sign in the Uptown subdistrict, reduced at-grade and above-grade window glazing on several elevations, modified streetscaping/tree-spacing, exceptions for build-to-zone encroachments (canopies/overhangs), and relief from the GDC's architectural tripartite requirement. Staff recommended approval on the grounds that the project is a permitted church use in a form-based downtown district and the GDC standards are written primarily for retail/mixed-use buildings.
The applicant and design team told commissioners the church will demolish roughly two-thirds of the structure and rebuild to provide worship and chapel spaces that do not lend themselves to the large street-level glazing typical in retail buildings. Architect Tobias Noem of Beck Architecture said the design balances large, mostly solid worship volumes with a transparent glass lobby at the prominent Glenbrook/Avenue D corner "to help alleviate some of that balance with the amount of glass and the amount of solid within the facade." Landscape architect Shane Garthoff explained the site constraints limiting tree spacing on Glenbrook and Ninth Street, showing where required trees could be planted and where underground utilities reduce spacing options.
Commissioners asked about the level of detail that will be enforced (staff said the exhibits submitted with the major waiver will be binding) and whether construction traffic will be controlled (applicants will need traffic approvals and a study if road disruptions are required). Commissioner Jenkins moved to close the public hearing and approve the request; Commissioner Dalton seconded. The motion passed unanimously, with Commissioner Duckworth recused from the item.
The approval allows the church to proceed to building-permit and civil-plan review using the approved design exhibits; staff said canopies that encroach into the build-to zone are non-occupiable elements and will be reviewed by building inspection for code compliance.
