Some businesses in the Main Street and Central Expressway district in Richardson will now be allowed to place accessory buildings in the rear of their properties after City Council unanimously approved new regulations July 27.
The new regulations will allow businesses to place accessory buildings at the rear of their property if it is adjacent to an alley, senior planner Derica Peters said.
The gist
Often associated with restaurants, Peters said these can include storage buildings, patio covers, walk-in coolers and dumpster enclosures. Outdoor storage does not qualify as an accessory building.
Peters said city staff have received multiple requests from business owners in the Main Street area asking the city to allow them to place accessory buildings adjacent to an alley on the rear or side of their properties.
According to the city’s comprehensive zoning ordinance, an accessory building or structure is located on the same lot but detached from the principal building. The accessory building also must have an “incidental and subordinate” use to the primary building.
A closer look
“Many of these buildings in the downtown area are smaller and constrained due to them being smaller lots,” Peter said. “The principal building [takes] up the majority of each lot, leaving little room for accessory improvements or expansion.”
Peters said the city will reduce rear setback regulations to zero feet for businesses that back up to an alley on the rear side of their property. This will provide space for an accessory building adjacent to the alley if needed, while the alley still provides a buffer between properties.
Applicants must have their site plan and planned usage for an accessory building reviewed and approved by the city manager and the development services department.
Also of note
Council also approved updates to flag, corporate and logo signage regulations in the Main Street/Central Expressway development code, consistent with new regulations approved in April.
In response to state legislative changes, these regulations introduced quantity, height, size and location restrictions for flags and flagpoles, with different regulations for residential and nonresidential areas.
Council also approved corrections to exhibit references in the code, which Peters said were incorrectly applied in the original administration section.
