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Colleyville Council Adopts Changes Letting Many Residential Carports Be Built Without a Special-Use Permit
Summary
Council approved amendments to the land development code that ease approval for certain residential carports, with corner lots remaining subject to special-use review.
The Colleyville City Council on March 11 adopted an amendment to Section 3.27 of the land development code that removes the requirement for a special-use permit in some residential carport cases, while retaining special-use review for corner lots.
Ben Bridal, Colleyville's director of community development, told the council the change clarifies when a carport can be permitted by right. He said the revised language allows residential carports that are either completely behind the house or not visible from the street to be installed without a special-use permit, subject to other standards such as a maximum height no greater than the primary structure and paved parking surfaces under the roof. "If the intent is to park a vehicle of some kind underneath it, then it is a carport," Bridal said as he described the distinction from patio covers.
Bridal said the change switches the prior requirement that both conditions be met (behind the house and not visible) to an OR standard: meeting either one will allow a carport by right, except on corner lots, which will still require special-use review because of visibility concerns. He told council staff believes this change will eliminate roughly half of recent special-use requests while preserving council oversight on visually sensitive lots.
Council members noted homeowners associations can still prohibit carports; Bridal and council members reminded residents that HOA rules supersede city ordinances. The Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed the amendment on Feb. 10 and recommended approval by a 6-0 vote. No public speakers came forward during the council public hearing on the ordinance.
Mayor Pro Tem Bridal Elder moved to approve ordinance O-25-2320; Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Richardson seconded. The motion carried 5-0.
The code amendments retain material and design standards, including pitched roofs and post treatments, and require paved parking surfaces beneath carports. Staff said corner-lot review remains necessary due to unique visibility and neighborhood character issues.
Council directed staff to implement the change subject to the ordinance language and to continue to advise residents to check HOA restrictions before pursuing carport permits.
