Commissioners briefed on reduced Hampton Road character-code boundary, public outreach and next hearings

Planning staff and the city's economic development director briefed the DeSoto Planning and Zoning Commission on Jan. 14 on a reduced boundary for the Hampton Road character code and the outreach and regulatory work needed before the commission's scheduled public hearing on Jan. 28, 2025.

What staff presented Director Renard Brewer and planning staff summarized the history and intent of the Hampton Road character-code initiative, said staff has run public meetings (three in December and one the prior Saturday, with two more scheduled on Jan. 16), and described an interactive online map residents can use to see current and proposed zoning for parcels within the reduced focus area. Staff said the reduced boundary narrows earlier, larger proposals to emphasize commercial corridors on Hampton Road and the Belt Line/Pleasant Run node while leaving the larger original boundary in place as a long-term vision.

Key technical and regulatory notes - Nonconforming parcels: Staff identified 21 parcels within the reduced focus area that would be nonconforming under the proposed zoning changes and said they are preparing targeted notices for owners and tenants. Staff cited a recently discovered procedural point in the city zoning ordinance that allows property owners to seek relief via the Zoning Board of Adjustment for certain rebuilding thresholds (Chapter 7, subsection 7.6…