Kennedale Board of Adjustment approves setback variance for 600 W. Kennedale Parkway development

The Kennedale Board of Adjustment on Oct. 27 approved a variance to reduce the minimum rear yard setback from 20 feet to 5 feet and to reduce the minimum side-yard setback from 50 feet to 5 feet at 600 West Kennedale Parkway, a parcel owned by the Kennedale Economic Development Corporation.

The request was presented by Mr. Hall, a representative of the city and the Kennedale Economic Development Corporation. "The Economic Development Corporation currently owns that property at 600 West Kennedale Parkway," he said. He described a conceptual plan for three 5,000-square-foot commercial buildings and said the developer has a letter of intent for a drive-through restaurant or coffee-shop tenant for the first building.

"The 3 80 agreement allows 18 months for each building to develop," Mr. Hall said, describing the timeline the EDC and developer discussed; the transcript records that structure as allowing roughly an 18‑month window per building and an overall, multi‑year rollout for the three-building center. Mr. Hall said the first building is the priority and that two letters of intent already exist for the initial space.

Board members asked about parking, pedestrian safety near a nearby private school and emergency access. Mr. Hall said civil plans had not been completed and that the parking layout shown in the concept places parking adjacent to the buildings rather than along the street. He also said there are crosswalks and sidewalks at the private school and intersection and that the project team had met with the fire inspector and fire marshal; a hydrant is located in front of the building and, as described in the record, the hydrant and planned layout would allow required hose reach and emergency access.

During the hearing board members discussed design control. Mr. Hall noted that state law limits the city—s ability to require particular building materials for private developments but said the EDC-owned parcel allows the city to set expectations under its development agreement.

Chair read the variance request into the record and the board assigned BOA case number "20Five-ten." A motion to grant the variance was made and seconded; the chair called for a vote and said, "The motion passes." The transcript does not include the names of the motion's mover or seconder, nor does it record a roll-call tally.

The approved variance affects the property described in the record as Woodley Acres Addition, Block 1, Lot 8, 600 West Kennedale Parkway, Tarrant County. The Board of Adjustment closed the public hearing after the vote and adjourned the meeting.