Modification of Standards in the CD: Conservation Overlay District
The CD: Conservation overlay district in the City of Fort Worth serves as a supplemental layer of regulation that applies in addition to the rules of an underlying base zoning district. While the base zoning determines permitted uses, the specific design standards adopted for a CD: Conservation overlay district prevail in any instance of conflict with general City of Fort Worth zoning regulations. Notably, these overlay standards are prohibited from restricting building height to less than two stories over the entire footprint of an original structure.
Relationship to Base Zoning Districts
The CD: Conservation overlay district is a zoning overlay that supplements the primary underlying zoning district classification. The City of Fort Worth applies the regulations of the CD: Conservation overlay district to each property within its boundaries in addition to the regulations of the base underlying zoning classification where the property is located [Section 4.400(b)(1)].
Any zoning district in the City of Fort Worth followed by the suffix “/CD” indicates that the property is subject to the use and development regulations of both the designated base district and the specific conservation district design standards [Section 4.400(b)(3)].
Precedence and Conflicts
In the City of Fort Worth, the specific standards of the overlay take priority over general code. If there are any conflicts between the adopted design standards of a specific CD: Conservation overlay district and any other provision of the City of Fort Worth zoning ordinance, the provisions of the adopted design standards of the conservation district shall apply [Section 4.400(b)(6)]. If conflicts exist between the general provisions of Article 4 (Overlay Districts) and any other provision of the zoning ordinance, the most restrictive regulation shall apply unless a specific directive states otherwise [Section 4.400(b)(7)].
Regulated Physical Elements
Each CD: Conservation overlay district established by the City of Fort Worth city council must have a conservation plan that includes objective design standards. These standards modify how property is developed or rehabilitated regarding several physical characteristics.
Mandatory and Optional Design Elements
The City of Fort Worth requires that every conservation district include standards for specific mandatory elements, while other features are optional.
| Element Category | Specific Features Regulated | Requirement Status |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Characteristics | Building height, number of stories, lot coverage, lot size, front yard setbacks, side yard setbacks, driveways, and hardscape covering [Section 4.400(e)(3)]. | Mandatory |
| Site Planning | Building orientation and general site planning (primary and ancillary structures) [Section 4.400(e)(4)]. | Optional |
| Access and Infrastructure | Garage entrance location and right-of-way (exceeding public works standards) [Section 4.400(e)(4)]. | Optional |
| Design and Form | Height of fences and walls, principal elevation features, building form, and street trees [Section 4.400(e)(4)]. | Optional |
Building Height Limitations
The City of Fort Worth imposes a strict limitation on how much the CD: Conservation overlay district can restrict height. No conservation district can restrict height to less than two stories over the entire footprint of the original structure [Section 4.400(b)(5)].
Administrative and Review Modifications
The CD: Conservation overlay district modifies the standard City of Fort Worth permitting process by requiring an additional layer of review for certain activities.
Certificate of Appropriateness
In a designated CD: Conservation overlay district, no building permit shall be issued for new construction or any alteration or addition to the street facade of an existing building or structure without the submission and approval of design plans and the issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness by the City of Fort Worth director of planning and development or a designee [Section 4.400(i)].
Signage Regulations
Signs located within the boundaries of a City of Fort Worth conservation district must comply with the regulations set forth in Section 4.400. The code specifies that the most restrictive sign regulations between the base district and the overlay shall be followed [Section 6.407(d)].
Sections Cited
- Section 2.102, Urban Design Commission
- Section 4.100, Districts Established
- Section 4.400, Conservation (“CD”) Overlay District
- Section 6.407, Relation to Zoning Districts