Title
Conduct a public hearing and consider the request for a Detailed Site Plan approval for the installation of fencing, including a Zoning Amendment request to allow said fencing within the front yard, on an approximately 2.1-acre parcel located at 13710 Hutton Drive and located within the Planned Development District No. 22 zoning district; and take appropriate action.
Body
REQUESTOR:
Planning Department
BACKGROUND:
The applicant, Greg Boss with Tubbesing, is requesting approval of a Detailed Site Plan and a Zoning Amendment to Planned Development District No. 22 (PD-22) to allow the installation of fencing within the front yard of the existing office and warehouse building located at 13710 Hutton Drive. The approximately 2.1-acre property is situated at the southeast corner of Hutton Drive and Diplomat Drive, west of Interstate 35 (IH-35E).
Tubbesing provides services related to data centers, power distribution units, generators, and related equipment. The existing office and warehouse facility is utilized to store equipment provided to its customers. To enhance site security and protect stored equipment, the applicant proposes installing eight-foot-high fencing. The proposed fencing will include 30-foot-wide driveway openings along both Diplomat Drive and Hutton Drive to prevent disruption to ingress and egress.
The subject property is currently zoned PD-22. The City’s Code of Ordinances currently prohibits fencing within the front yard for all properties citywide; therefore, a Zoning Amendment to PD-22 is required to allow the proposed fencing.
In addition to permitting front-yard fencing, the proposed amendment clarifies screening requirements within PD-22. Ordinance No. 2512, which currently governs the district, requires masonry wall screening for areas used for loading or outdoor storage and states that the type and location of screening shall be shown on the site plan. However, the ordinance does not clearly define the approval process for screening or distinguish between loading areas and outdoor storage areas, which may create ambiguity regarding permitted materials.
The proposed amendment will:
• Clarify screening requirements for loading areas versus outdoor storage areas.
• Allow the option of installing a wrought iron fence in lieu of a masonry wall for loading areas only.
• Maintain the requirement that outdoor storage areas must be screened by a masonry wall.
• Clearly delineate the site plan approval process for all screening installations within PD-22.
• Allow fencing within the front yard, specifically as a method of screening under PD-22.
Given that PD-22 is predominantly comprised of office and warehouse uses, staff identified an opportunity to provide flexibility for similar businesses within the district that may face comparable security concerns in the future. The proposed amendment would therefore not only address the applicant’s request but also establish clearer and more consistent standards for screening and security fencing within PD-22.
At their February 9, 2026, meeting, the Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval of this request.
DISCUSSION:
The City Council will consider whether to approve the requested Detailed Site Plan and associated Zoning Amendment to PD-22.
In evaluating the request, the following key considerations may be taken into account:
• Consistency with PD-22: The applicant’s office and warehouse use aligns with the industrial character of PD-22, and the request supports the operational need to secure specialized equipment.
• Site Improvements: Additional landscaping along the fence perimeter will help soften its appearance and enhance the property.
• Consistent with the Farmers Branch 2045 Plan: The site’s Industrial Future Land Use designation supports the existing business, and the proposed fence is ancillary to that use.
• Security Benefits: The fencing would provide added protection for equipment and business operations.
• District-Wide Flexibility: The amendment would clarify screening standards and offer flexibility for other PD-22 businesses with similar security needs.
DISTRICT:
District 1
FISCAL IMPACT:
None
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Ordinance No. 3990
2. Information Memorandum
3. Additional Documents
4. Presentation