Oak Gateway Area Plan

Summary

On January 15, 2019, the City Council approved a Resolution accepting the visions, goals, recommendations, and implementation strategies proposed in the Oak Gateway Area Plan.  The Oak Gateway Area Plan provides the vision, goals, and priority recommendations for the entire planning area, as well as specific visions, goals, and recommendations for each three (3) sub-areas.  Refer to the Sub-Area Map and the Public Hearing Presentation below for more information on the Area Plan.

• Sub-Area Map (PDF)
• Public Hearing Presentation (PDF)

Refer to the approved Resolution for the visions, goals, recommendations, and implementation strategies proposed in the Oak Gateway Area Plan.

• Resolution (PDF)

The Area Plan was developed for the neighborhoods surrounding the University of North Texas campus to help guide anticipated growth and investment over the next 20 years. The area is home to one of the largest universities in Texas, two of the City of Denton's most historic neighborhoods, as well as a variety of commercial and residential uses.  The intended purpose of the Area Plan is to:

• Enhance neighborhoods
• Preserve historic assets
• Guide appropriate infill development
• Accommodate traffic-vehicles, bike, and pedestrian-to and through the area
• Address parking needs

The planning team worked with property owners and stakeholders to obtain community input. A community workshop to provide initial input and direction for the plan was held in February 2018, with an open house in April 2018 to allow for feedback on the draft vision and early recommendations for the Plan. A final open house was held in June 2018 to review draft plan recommendations for needed adjustments prior to beginning the adoption process. In December 2018, a Public Hearing for the Planning and Zoning Commission was held and in January 2019 the City Council considered and approved the Area Plan.

Background

On January 26, 2016, City Council directed staff to update the Fry Street Small Area Plan. Upon further evaluation, it was determined that the area affected by development pressures was broader, which resulted in an expansion of the planning area from approximately 97 acres to approximately 1,200 acres.  The planning area is primarily comprised of single-family and multi-family residential uses, with retail and commercial development along major roadways. In addition, the Oak Hickory Historic District, West Oak Historic District and the University of North Texas (UNT) campus are situated in the planning area.

On May 2, 2017, the City Council directed staff to solicit and recommend a professional services agreement to the City Council for consultant services to develop an area plan. On August 1, 2017, the City Council approved an ordinance authorizing an agreement for professional planning services with Fregonese Associates related to the development of the Oak Gateway Area Plan and implementation strategy.

On September 13, 2017 the Oak Gateway Area Plan work began with a kickoff meeting with the project management team, a meeting with the Technical Advisory Committee, and then a tour of the planning area. Following the kickoff meeting several stakeholder interviews were held with members of City Council, Planning and Zoning Commission, Historic Landmark Commission, residents, property owners, business owners, City Management, City Departments, DCTA representatives, DISD representatives, business owners, students, bicyclists, the development community, and other stakeholders.

On October 10, 2017, the City Council determined that it would be advisable to create a Steering Committee composed of appointed individuals. On November 7, 2017, the City Council approved a resolution authorizing the creation of the Oak Gateway Area Plan Steering Committee and appointed 24 Committee members.

On February 22, 2018, the City hosted a Community Workshop for the Oak Gateway Area Plan where over 125 people attended the event. The purpose of the workshop was to gather as much information from the community on the following six (6) topic areas:

• Sub-area 1
• Sub-area 2
• Sub-area 3
• Mobility Solutions
• Parking Solutions
• Streets and Corridors

On November 15, 2018, the City hosted a Public Open House on the Oak Gateway Area Plan in the Calhoun Middle School cafeteria.  Following the Public Open House, the goals and recommendations were updated, and the Oak Gateway Area Plan implementation strategies were drafted. The draft implementation strategies provide the vision, goals and priority recommendations for the entire planning area, as well as specific visions, goals and recommendations for each three (3) subareas. The implementation strategy lists the priority recommendations; the recommended implementation timing for the recommendations (short-, medium-, or long-term); the implementing agency; the cost (where available) and which projects are catalyst projects.  Goals and recommendations are provided for each sub-area, and include the following topics: Land Use, Community Design, Mobility, Parking, and Services. 

On November 29, 2018 and December 6, 2018, the Oak Gateway Area Plan Steering Committee reviewed the draft visions, goals, and recommendations, and implementation strategy and recommended approval (11-0).