The property is generally located north of Allen Commerce Parkway and west of U.S. Highway 75. The property to the north is zoned Community Facilities. To the west, the property is zoned Planned Development No. 124 - Corridor Commercial. The properties to the south (across Allen Commerce Parkway) are zoned Planned Development No. 78 - Corridor Commercial. The property to the east is zoned Corridor Commercial.
The property is currently zoned Planned Development No. 129 - Corridor Commercial. Planned Development No. 129 was approved by City Council in May 2017 for a Data Center Use. The applicant is requesting to amend the Development Regulations of the Planned Development as well as the Concept Plan, Screening Plan, and Building Elevations. In addition to the previously approved data centers for DFW II, this Planned Development amendment would add two buildings for a Micro Data Center. The Micro Data Center will provide similar services as a traditional data center, but with a smaller building footprint. This continues to be classified as a Data Center use.
The Planned Development amendment would add a 450± square foot equipment shelter, a 450± square foot storage/multi-purpose shelter, and a power center. It also includes the necessary alterations to the fire lane on the eastern side of the property. The amended Concept Plan reflects the previously approved Concept Plan and only proposes changes necessary to support the addition of the Micro Data Center.
There is no minimum parking requirement for a Data Center use, and no additional parking is proposed with this facility. Due to security concerns, employees and prospective clients will not access the Micro Data Center through the main vehicular entrance on the property. Prospective clients will park in the general visitor parking at the Compass Data Center development and use the pedestrian access on the existing and proposed five-foot sidewalk to access the Micro Data Center.
The applicant is proposing to secure and screen the Micro Data Center with a combination of screening that is similar to the previously approved Screening Plan. The amended Screening Plan, attached, includes an eight-foot-tall security fence around the Micro Data Center. Additionally, there will be an eight-foot-tall masonry screening wall on the southern side of this addition to screen the mechanical equipment. The landscaping is to remain on the eastern perimeter of the existing and proposed fences.
The Building Elevations, attached, include the approved and proposed elevations. The elevations for the Micro Data Center show a maximum height at 12 feet and building materials consisting of concrete and steel. The elevations from the previous ordinance show 26-foot-tall buildings made of precast concrete panels.
The Planned Development request has been reviewed and meets the standards of the Allen Land Development Code.
On June 19, 2018, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the request.
LEGAL NOTICES
Public Hearing Sign - June 8, 2018
Public Hearing Letters - June 8, 2018
Newspaper Notice - June 20, 2018