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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes`I Crrs- or Cor.crt;t: STNFION Home of?crra A&A4 Uuiuerrity` DRAFT MINUTES PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION Regular Meeting July 19, 2012, 7:00 p.m. City Hall Council Chambers College Station, Texas COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Mike Ashfield, Bo Miles, Jim Ross, Jerome Rektorik, Jodi Warner, and James Benham COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Craig Hall CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Katy -Marie Lyles CITY STAFF PRESENT: Bob Cowell, Lance Simms, Molly Hitchcock, Alan Gibbs, Jason Schubert, Danielle Singh, Venessa Garza, Christopher Lazaro, David Schmitz, Donald Harmon, Fred Surovik, Ben Roper, Erin Provacek, Courtney Collins, Carol Thompson, Adam Falco, Brittany Caldwell, and Kerry Mullins Call meeting to order Chairman Ashfield called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Regular Agenda 8. Public hearing, presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding an amendment to Unified Development Ordinance Section 8.2.K "Sidewalks" regarding the placement and width of sidewalks along streets. Case ft 11-00500205 (JS) (Note: Final action on this item is scheduled for the August 9, 2012 City Council Meeting -subject to change) Executive Director Cowell presented the ordinance amendments regarding the placement and width of sidewalks along streets. Chairman Ashfield opened the public hearing. Dickson Clements, Executive Officer of the Home Builder's Association of Bryan/College Station, agreed that sidewalks are needed, but he said that we need to have the right number of sidewalks and they need to be the right sizes. Dale Browne, 1613 Peach Crossing Drive, College Station, Texas, stated that the Texas Accessibility Standard requirements could be met with 4-foot sidewalks by using driveways as an access to turn around or another sidewalk. Scott Shafer, 117 Pershing, College Station, Texas, spoke in favor of staffs recommendation and said that City Council has supported more sidewalks for many years and reducing the number and width of sidewalks would be taking a step backwards. He said that people look for walkable well-connected communities. July 19, 2012 DRAFT P&Z Regular Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 2 Steve Arden, 311 Cecelia Loop, College Station, Texas, expressed concern about the cost of sidewalks and said that more concrete is not attractive. Sherry Ellison, 2705 Brookway Drive, College Station, Texas, said that sidewalks need to be required on both sides of cul-de-sacs and on both sides of streets. There was general discussion amongst the Commission and staff regarding the amendments. Chairman Ashfield closed the public hearing. Commissioner Benham motioned to recommend that sidewalks not be required around the bulb of cul-de-sacs unless there is a facility to connect to. Commissioner Rektorik seconded the motion, motion passed (5-1). Commissioner Warner was in opposition. Commissioner Warner motioned to recommend that sidewalks along thoroughfares, except in Northgate, be allowed to be reduced to five feet if not on the back of the curb and if adjacent to an existing striped bike lane. Commissioner Ashfield seconded the motion, motion passed (6-0). Commissioner Miles motioned to recommend that sidewalks not be required adjacent to expressways/freeways although multi -use paths identified in the Bike, Pedestrian, and Greenways Master Plan will still be required. Commissioner Warner seconded the motion, motion passed (6-0). Commissioner Benham motioned to recommend that the Sidewalk Fund also be used for multi -use paths. Commissioner Rektorik seconded the motion, motion passed (6-0). Commissioner Miles motioned to recommend that sidewalks only be required on one side of local/residential streets. Commissioner Rektorik seconded the motion, motion failed (2-4). Chairman Ashfield and Commissioners Warner, Ross, and Benham were in opposition. Commissioner Miles motioned to recommend that sidewalks along local/residential streets not be required to exceed four feet in width. Commissioner Benham seconded the motion, motion failed (2-4). Chairman Ashfield and Commissioners Ross, Rektorik, and Warner were in opposition. 10. Adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m. July 19, 2012 DRAFT P&Z Regular Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 2 (*- DRAFT MINUTES Crrs or CoT.i I-GRSLY['ION „o,»,,f7,.<.,,,�x„u,,,,."'iV' BICYCLE, PEDESTRIAN, AND GREENWAYS ADVISORY BOARD Monday, July 2, 2012 3:00 PM City Hall Council Chambers 1101 Texas Avenue College Station, Texas, 77840 MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Blanche Brick, Vice -Chairman Sherry Ellison, Greg Stiles, James Batenhorst, David Russell, and Marcy Halterman-Cox MEMBERS ABSENT: Jeff Young VISITORS PRESENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Greenways Program Manager Venessa Garza, Executive Director Bob Cowell, Assistant Director Molly Hitchcock; Principal Planner Jennifer Prochazka, Senior Planner Matt Robinson, Staff Planner Teresa Rogers and Board Secretary Kristen Hejny AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Call to Order. Chairman Brick called the meeting to order at 3:00. AGENDA ITEM NO. 6: (Item was heard before agenda item No. 5) Presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding amendments to sidewalk requirements contained in the Unified Development Ordinance and Bryan/College Station Unified Design Guidelines. Director Bob Cowell discussed the amendments to the sidewalk requirements contained in the Unified Development Ordinance. There was general discussion. Marcy Halterman-Cox left the meeting. David Russell proposed an amendment stating that there be sidewalks on all streets on both sides with the addition that a sidewalk should wrap around the bulb of a cul-de-sac when it is longer than 200 feet. A motion to approve staff's recommendations with Russell's amendment was made by James Batenhorst and seconded by David Russell. The motion was approved (5-0). AGENDA ITEM NO. 9: Adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 5:37 p.m.