(a) Purpose and intent. It is the purpose of the medium density multifamily ("C") district to provide a specific zone for medium density multifamily development. In adopting multifamily design development regulations, it is also the intent of the City Council to encourage the most appropriate uses of land; to encourage higher quality design and materials; to provide safe and improved access to the public walkways; to install street trees and enhanced landscaping along public walkways to improve the pedestrian environment; and to provide criteria for development of land zoned for multifamily dwelling use.
(b) Uses. In the medium density multifamily ("C") district, no building or land shall be used and no building shall be hereafter erected, reconstructed, altered or enlarged, nor shall a certificate of occupancy be issued, except in accordance with the use tables in Chapter 4, Articles 6 and 8 and the supplemental use standards of Chapter 5. No permit shall be issued for construction, alteration or revision for multifamily development unless there has been a site plan approved by the development services director or an authorized representative.
(c) Property development standards.
(2) a. All multifamily residential development (three or more dwelling units) shall meet the property development standards of § 6.506, Multifamily Design Development and the minimum dimension of lots and yards shall be as shown in the accompanying table.
“C” District, Multifamily Development
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“C” District, Multifamily Development
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Open space | 45% minimum |
Units per acre | 24 maximum |
Front yard* | 20 feet minimum |
Rear yard | 5 feet minimum |
Side yard* | |
Interior lot | 5 feet minimum |
Corner lot ** | 20 feet minimum adjacent to side street |
Setback adjacent to one- or two-family residential district *** | Three feet for every one foot (3:1) as measured from slab to top of sill plate, or two feet for every one foot (2:1) in overall height when measured from lowest finished grade to the peak of the roof, whichever is greater; 30 feet minimum 1:1 setback with a 10-foot minimum setback for one-story garages and carports 20-foot minimum setback for dumpster enclosures and one-story accessory structures |
Height | |
Notes: | |
*** A five-foot bufferyard and minimum six-foot screen fence shall be placed on the property line and should be landscaped per point system, see § 6.300 (b), (d), (f), (g). This regulation shall not be required when the property in the one- or two-family district is used for utilities, waterways, railroads or other nonresidential public use or separated by a public right-of-way of at least 300 feet in width. | |
“C” District, Nonresidential Development
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“C” District, Nonresidential Development
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Lot width | 50 feet minimum |
Front yard* | 20 feet minimum |
Rear yard | 5 feet minimum |
Side yard* | |
Interior lot | 5 feet minimum |
Corner lot ** | 10 feet minimum adjacent to side street |
Setback adjacent to one- or two-family residential district*** | 20 feet minimum |
Height | |
Notes: | |
*** A five-foot bufferyard and minimum six-foot screen fence shall be placed on the property line and should be landscaped per point system, see § 6.300 (b), (d), (f), (g). This regulation shall not be required when the property in the one- or two-family district is used for utilities, waterways, railroads or other nonresidential public use or separated by a public right-of-way of at least 300 feet in width. | |
(d) Other development standards. Development in the medium density multifamily ("CR") district may be subject to a variety of general development standards, including, but not limited to the following.
(1) Signs.
a. For non-multifamily development on-premises signs are subject to the following:
i. An unilluminated nameplate bearing the family name of the occupants residing in the residence not to exceed one square foot in area; and
ii. An unilluminated sign for those uses permitted that are not residential. The sign shall not exceed 30 square feet in area, shall be no higher than six feet above grade and shall be placed a minimum of ten feet behind the property line. Such sign shall not be placed within 20 feet of drives providing ingress and egress to the property.
b. Identification signs for multifamily development shall be permitted, subject to the following provisions:
i. Signs shall be permitted to identify the use or uses of the property upon which displayed.
ii. A sign or combination of signs shall have a maximum allowable area of exposure on each dedicated street frontage of not more than one square foot of sign area for each ten linear feet of frontage along said street; provided, however, at least one sign shall be allowed having an area of 12 square feet.
iii. Signs may be illuminated, but the source of light shall not be visible and shall not be intermittent or flashing; revolving signs shall not be permitted.
iv. Not more than 50% of the total allowable sign area may be located in the required yard space along a dedicated street. However, no individual sign in such required yard space shall exceed 20 square feet in sign area.
v. Symbols which are designed as an integral part of the building structure and symbols and signs which are not visible or readable from the public street shall not be limited by the above regulations.
vi. Nothing contained herein shall exempt the owner of any multifamily building from placing identification signs on buildings as required by the City of Fort Worth fire code.
(2) Parking.
a. One- and two-family residential development shall meet the parking requirements for the selected district.
c. Multifamily development parking requirements shall be as follows:
i. No parking or driveways shall be provided between a building and a public or private street. Parking shall be provided per § 6.201. Frontage on a controlled access highway shall not be considered a street for purposes of this section.
Use | Requirement |
Multifamily Residential | 1 space per bedroom plus 1 space per 250 square feet of common areas, offices and recreation (less laundry rooms and storage); 2 spaces may be tandem if assigned to the same unit and restricted from use for storage. |
Multifamily Residential: Townhouse configuration | Two spaces per dwelling unit, located within a garage of the individual unit, having access to and from that unit, and not accessible or usable by other residential units. Plus 1 space per 250 square feet of common areas, offices and recreation (less laundry rooms and storage). |
ii. On-street parking along the lot frontage may be applied toward the minimum parking requirements only when located fully out of the travel lanes as defined in the Master Thoroughfare Plan when there is parking on both sides of the street. On-street parking that is applied toward minimum parking requirements shall be counted towards the maximum parking limitations.
(3) Accessory uses in Multifamily Design developments. In addition to other uses which qualify as accessory uses, the following shall be considered as accessory uses to Multifamily Design development:
a. Recreation areas and spaces within buildings primarily for use of the dwelling occupants;
b. Kindergarten and day care center primarily for the use of the dwelling occupants;
c. Mechanical and storage buildings necessary for operation and maintenance of the Multifamily Design development;
d. Manager's office; and
e. Garages, carports.
(4) Fences and gates.
a. One- and Two-Family residential development. Open Design fences up to five feet high in front yard and projected front yard for one-family and two-family residential dwellings per regulations in § 5.305(b)(2).
b. Multifamily development. Fences shall not be located in the area between building facades and the property line. Frontage on a controlled access highway shall not be considered a street for purposes of this section. Perimeter security fencing is prohibited; however, security fencing is permitted on interior property lines. Solid screening fences are required when adjacent to a one or two family district unless adjacent to a public park or controlled access highway when a solid screening fence is not permitted and an open design fence shall be installed, if a fence is installed.
c. Exterior security fences and gates that are located along public streets, along a public access easement, or along publicly accessible open space shall not extend beyond building facades.
d. All fences and railings shall be architecturally compatible with the character of the building and be constructed of high quality materials including: wrought iron, composite fencing, treated wood, aluminum, or metal. Chain link, barbed wire, and concertina wire material is prohibited.
e. All walls shall be architecturally compatible with the character of the building and constructed of high quality materials including stone, decorative blocks, brick, cast stone, or stucco over standard concrete masonry blocks.
f. For private residential patios and yards, a fence, railing, or low wall may extend beyond the building facade if the following requirements are met.
i. Fences, railings, and walls shall not exceed four feet (48") in total height as measured from the ground to the top of the fence, railing and/or the wall; however,
ii. For elevated residential stoops the total fence railing and/or wall height shall not exceed five feet (60") total.
(5) Façade and building orientation standards for multifamily development. The following design standards apply:
a. Building orientation. Buildings located on public streets must face the street with the longest length of the building placed parallel/adjacent to the street. Where site constraints require, the building end (shortest length of the building) may face a public street only when the same exterior quality to the building facade is provided including architecture, masonry and fenestration proportion on the side of other buildings facing the public street.
b. Facade design standards.
1. Required drawings. To illustrate compliance with the following standards, elevation drawings shall be submitted as part of the multifamily design site plan review to the planning and development department for those building facades that are oriented to:
a. Public streets.
b. Private streets and walkways that are publicly accessible through a public use easement; or
c. Publicly accessible open space.
2. Facade variation.
a. Each new building facade oriented to a publicly accessible street or open space shall incorporate each of the following scaling elements. For building facades less than 50 feet in width, a minimum of two elements are required. The following items and calculations shall be provided as part of the multifamily design submittal for review:
1. Expression of building structural elements such as:
i. Floors (banding, belt courses, etc. not less than one inch deep and four inches wide).
ii. Columns (pilasters, piers, quoins, etc. not less than one inch deep and six inches wide).
iii. Foundation (water tables, rustication).
2. At least two variations in wall plane not less than three feet in depth or projection and not less than two stories in height for multi-story buildings. Such elements could include patterns of door and window openings by utilizing sills, mullions, and other scale providing window elements, and/or more pronounced architectural features such as porches, alcoves, and roof dormers;
3. Changes in material, material pattern, or noticeable change in color or shade. Each change of material shall involve a minimum one inch variation in wall plane or noticeable change in color.
b. New building facades oriented to a publicly accessible street or open spaces shall include differentiation between the first and second level and the upper levels with a cornice, canopy, balcony, arcade, or other architectural features.
c. If a project consists of more than one block face, each sequential block of new construction shall contain a different building facade to encourage architectural variety within large projects, using the required architectural elements listed in and/or other architectural features.
3. Building materials. Not less than 70% of all new building facades (not including door and window areas) facing publicly accessible streets or open space shall be constructed of the following masonry materials:
i. Stone.
ii. Brick.
iii. Terra cotta.
iv. Patterned pre-cast concrete.
v. Cement plaster stucco.
vi. Cement board siding.
vii. Cast stone or prefabricated brick panels.
(6) Landscaping.
a. Enhanced landscaping point system requirement. Enhanced landscaping is required along all public rights-of-way, see Section (h)(4), and shall earn a minimum set of points that are awarded for providing and maintaining specific landscaping and design features. The points are accumulated as follows:
ENHANCED LANDSCAPING SYSTEM 20 points required | ||
10 of the required points shall come from the installation of street trees as described below: | ||
Public Feature | Requirement | Points Awarded |
Street Trees | Trees shall be planted within a planting strip or flush with the sidewalk surface; location and type as approved by the City Forester if within the right of way. If trees cannot be installed within the right of way, trees shall be installed in a location where the tree canopy affects the public sidewalk. Required Spacing as specified below or as approved by the City Forestry Small/Medium Canopy = 25-30 ft. on center Large Canopy = 35-40 ft. on center *Where necessary spacing exceptions may be made to accommodate mature trees, curb cuts, fire hydrants and other infrastructure elements. Street trees may be counted toward the planting requirements for the Urban Forestry required tree canopy coverage. | 10 |
Pedestrian- Scaled Lighting | *1 light post for every 60-70 ft. (based on size of street tree) of street frontage. Style to be approved by the Transportation and Public Works Department (TPW) and consistent with other pedestrian lights on the same block. | 10 |
Paved Walkway Enhancement | 1 pt. for every additional foot of sidewalk width over the city standard (up to 15 ft. wide total). | 1- 11 |
Private Feature | Requirement | Points Awarded |
Pool/Playground | 5 percent (%) of net land area with minimum area not less than 1,000 sf. | 5 for each |
Private Park/dog park | Must provide recreational facilities/amenities. May include open drainage area/easement/pond as long as amenities are provided | 5 |
Community Garden | 1 pt. for every 250 sf. with minimum area not less than 1,250 sf. | 5- 10 |
Proximity to Public Park | Within 1,000 ft. as measured from property line to property line | 5 |
Sustainable Landscaping | Xeriscaping, rain gardens, bio-swales, landscaped bio retention area. See Chapter 6, Table A
for a recommended list of native plants for landscape use in North Central Texas Landscaped bio-retention areas are encouraged for natural drainage channels to reduce runoff and increase infiltration of water into the soil. | 5 |
*If no pedestrian lights or street trees exist on the project's block face, measure from the end of the block to determine spacing. For trees, begin 40 feet from the curb intersection to accommodate public open space easement requirement. If trees or lights exist, measure from existing trees or lights. | ||
i. Points shall be awarded only one for each feature category, per project.
ii. Submittal of site plan. The location and description of decorative paving, sidewalk furniture or other decorative elements, if any, shall be indicated on the site plan.
iii. All landscaped areas shall:
1. Be located outside the perimeter of the footprint of a building or structure;
2. Protected by wheel stops, curbs or other physical barriers where adjacent to vehicle use areas; and
3. Be covered with grass, organic mulch or low maintenance groundcover.
iv. In addition to required trees, all of the open space and unpaved areas must be covered with grass, organic mulch, live groundcover, or decorative paving.
b. Landscaping in parking and driveway areas.
i. Parking lots and driveways that are located adjacent and parallel to a public street shall be screened from the public right-of-way with landscaping, berms, fences, or walls up to four (4') feet in height. Landscaping installed to comply with this section shall be shown on the site plan.
ii. Landscape islands, linear landing strips, bio-swales, or rain gardens shall be required in parking lots with 12 or more spaces. All parking areas shall provide tree canopy coverage per the Urban Forestry Ordinance, § 6.302.
c. Submission of applicable urban forestry plans for review shall follow § 6.302(g), Urban Forestry Plan/Permits.
(7) General site plan requirements.
a. Location of buildings. All buildings and structures shall be shown on the site plan with dimensions of the buildings and adequate dimensions showing distance from property lines, easements, driveways, parking spaces and other buildings.
b. Driveways and parking spaces. The location of all driveways and parking spaces shall be shown on the site plan, including ingress-egress, and all calculations for required parking.
c. Emergency access. Emergency access as required in accordance with the Fire Code and addresses approved by the Fire Department shall be shown on the multifamily design site plan.
d. Landscape and walkways. Show enhanced landscaping point chart, landscape materials, required and proposed height of perimeter walls, bufferyards and recreational facilities. Walkways shall be provided to connect to all buildings, parking areas and recreational facilities and shall be shown on the site plan. Walkways shall connect to public streets where street frontage exceeds 500 feet and to adjacent public property, commercial areas, and trails.
e. Garbage collection. Garbage collection locations shall be shown on the site plan. Such locations shall not be placed within 20 feet of adjacent one- or two-family districts. Dumpsters shall be visually screened, except from the access side, and shall not be placed within the required open space. Access shall face internally and not face upon adjacent properties or the public street.
f. Open space and recreational facilities. All open space and recreational facilities shall be identified on the site plan. Open space is the ratio of open space to net land area (see Chapter 9, Definitions).
g. Open space shall be clustered in areas upon the site to provide views and vistas for a given group of buildings. Open spaces and recreational amenities shall be designed as functional space with appropriate distribution on the total site plan. Any recreational facilities shall be used primarily by the residents and their guests. No alcohol, beer or wine shall be sold on the premises unless permitted in a district zoned for that use.
i. Except for required front yards, no space or area less than 25 feet in either dimension shall be counted as open space.
ii. Patios adjacent to dwelling units, unless enclosed, may be included as part of the open space.
h. Miscellaneous requirements.
i. The developer shall submit a site plan which shows the zoning of all adjacent properties.
ii. The submitted site plan shall include a location map, north point, scale and date.
iii. The face of the site plan shall include a table showing net land area, floor area, open space area, number of parking spaces, maximum units per acre and maximum height.
iv. The developer shall prepare and submit a checklist to accompany the submitted site plan which shall constitute an application and include a listing of those basic requirements found in the zoning ordinance, the subdivision ordinance and the plan commission rules and regulations.
(8) Site plan expiration. A multifamily development site plan submitted to the planning and development department shall expire one year from the date of site plan submittal if not approved. If approved, the site plan shall expire two years from the date of approval unless a certificate of occupancy is issued for a multifamily use building in accordance with the approved site plan.
(9) Certificate of occupancy requirements.
a. No certificate of occupancy shall be issued for a multifamily development until a final landscape plan has been approved by the development services director or a designated representative and all landscaping required by the plans has been installed.
b. During the construction phase where development regulations contained herein have not been met, construction permits may be issued, and construction may proceed, but no certificate of occupancy shall be issued until all regulations have been complied with. The city shall refuse any final connection of utilities prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy.
(Ord. 20159-04-2012, §1 (Exh. A), passed 4-3-2012; Ord. 23495-12-2018, §2, passed 12-4-2018; Ord. 24030-02-2020, § 22, passed 2-4-2020)