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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes- , Minutes Planning & Zoning Commission August 6, 1.981 Page 3. • AGENDA ITEM NO 4 - 81-124, A public hearing on the question of rezoning Lot 1, Block 2 of the Woodstock Addition; Section I, located at 900 Harvey Road from Apartment District R-6 to Planned Commercial District C-3. The application is in the name of I~ Thomas F Hodge, Jr and Stephen Coslik, 1408 Fort Worth National Bank Bldg., Fort Worth, Texas. Jim Callaway presented the following information to the commission for its consideration. The Commission and City Council adopted the Comprehensive Plan Revision in 1977 which indicates that commercial development along Harvey Road should be limited to large com- mercial areas rather than small"sites. The Commission has twice denied a plat which would create a similar lot along the north side of Harvey. Road. In Januar}~ and Febru- ary of 1980-the Commission and Council reviewed a request for C-1 zoning on this lot; the request was denied. The present request for C-3 diff ers from the previous C-l request and a wo7-kable site plan has. been forwarded by the PRC to the Commission. Staff is unable to support this request for the following reasons: (1) The request for small site commercial. development along Harvey Road is not in compliance with the City`s plans and policies for develop- ment along this major arterial.. (2) _There are a number of vacant C-1-sites along Harvey Road which. would accommodate this development: • Members of the commission discussed the access and traffic flow proposal which has been developed by the City Traffic Engineer and the site plan. Chairman Behing stated the question at hand to rezone or not rezone; i=he site plan would be 'reviewed as a later agenda item depending on the vote of the commission on this question. The Public Hearing wa opened. Thomas Hodge, Jr., applicant for the rezoning request, addressed the commission in favor of the rezoning. He described this commercial development as being one which would..serve retailers which do not desire to locate in the regional mall because of the cost of space,`but would off er a convenient retail service to residential develop- ments in-the area. He described the retailers proposed for this development as low traffic generators offering services which are not'suited to large mall sites. He stated that C-1-zoned parcels :in the area are not available to them from tlae present owners of such parcels. Commissioner Gardner asked what type of :retailers are class if ied as low traffic generator Mr. Hodge listed Wallpapers To Go; Emmon's TV; Suzan's' (ladies apparel); Pay Less Shoes and national insurance companies as possible tenants... He stated this type of retail development fits the new C-3 zoning which has been approved by the City and serves the purpose of C-3: zoning.: ® Chairman Behling read .from the Zoning Ordinance the uses permitted in C-3 zoning. Commissioner.. Gardner restated his previous opposition, to C-3 zoning. Commissioner Kelly asked if ,the entrance to the center could be moved east. ~,. ry Minutes Planning & Zoning Commission. August 6, 1981 Page 4. ® Mr. Hodge pointed out the proposed traffic flow which had been developed for the site and stated-they would make whatever changes were desired by the City. Commissioner Hall asked the distance between the entrance and the Munson intersection and Mr. Hodge stated 250 Commissioner Hall asked what-would be done to screen the residential areas from the rear of this commercial development.. Mr. Hodge reported a`fence was planned for the rear; -landscaping or shrubs could be .planned, however, it would be on the outside of the fence and he could foresoe future maintenance problems. He stated they~nuld build the fence at whatever height: was requested by the City.. Chairman Behling asked what was the construction material for the rear. of the building and Mr. Hodge stated it was light stucco. Commissioner Hazen asked the height of the building 'and Mr. Hodge reported it will be 17'. The Public Hearing was closed. Commissioner :Hazen stated that she is not happy with expanding commercial zoning in this area, but this project seems to satisfy the intent of the C-3 zoning which has .been passed. Al Mayo stated the C-3 zoning was not developed for this type use. The question at issue • in this case is whether you wish to continue strip zoning on Hwy. 30. Commissioner Gardner stated one-of the major problems with this is the traffic generated on a street that cannot handle much traff ic. Commissioner Hazen stated this'is a small site and traff is will, be generated by any development. in the area, including-apartments. Commissioner Hall stated his feeling the traffic plan could be redesigned in a manner to provideacceptabletraffcf low. Al Mayo sta ed the traffic genera.ted:by apartments will be far less than that: generated by this type of project. He stated intersections in the area have and "E".and "F" rating by the highway department which is.-very low .and not suitable to good planning. He further stated this is not a commercial project which will spec ifical'ly serve a single residential area ike`Woodstock; this project will draw traf£ic from the entire customer service area. Commissioner Gardner tated he had been informed by the applcants.for this project that they 'do not want .a restaurant or drug,-store type retailer-in this project. The only reason they want to be in this location is because of its nearness to the mall. The point to,consider is, is there. some better use for this property, such as apart- '..., merits rather than commercaa Commissioner Hall stated his feeling this is the type of development C-3 zoning was • created to handle. Commissioner Hazen moved for approval of the zoning request,; second was given by Com- e missoner Hall and the motion for approval was passed by the following.vote. In Favor: Chairman Behling, Commissioners Hall and Hazen:. Opposed,: Commissioners Kelly and Gardner. r ~ - s~. a - - Minutes Planning & Zoning Commission August 6, 1981 Page 5. Al Mayo pointed out that in .the past the P & Z Commission had recommended this land not be developed into apartments. _ The owner came back and requested a C-1 zoning which was turned down and Councilman Dozier and Mayor Halter were on the council at that time. It was considered to be strip zoning which is archaic in planning. We are now faced with the same situation other than C-3 is a little better situation than C-l. It is bad planning and he expressed his certainty that_the new comprehensive plan will reflect the same idea. AGENDA ITEM NO 5, 81-411, Consideration of a Parking area Plan for a commercial center to be'-located on Lot 1, Block 2 Woodstock Addition, Section I,_ located at 900 Harvey Road Application is in the name is in the name of Thomas F. Hodge, Jr. and ,Stephen Coslik'. Al Mayo stated there are no objections to the site plan other than the stipulation that parking spaces are to be 20' deep; the major entrance to the site should be increased in-width; end islands to parking rows in the northeast portion of the site should be added; £ire lanes are to be approved by the fire marshal. There was further discussion by Commissioner Hall about relocation of entrances into the site to provide better access and by Commissioner Hazen who expressed concern over not having good exit .flow from the site. Commissioner Hall asked if it is possible to relocate the curb cuts in order to better align thetraff is flow from and to Highway 30. • Chairman Behling refreshed the commissions' memory by stating that curb cuts are es- tabiished and approved solely by the City Engineer. His decision for location and number of curb cuts is absolute. Commissioner Hazen moved for approval o'f the site plan with stipulations by staff; subject to review by the City Engineer and subject to approval by the City Council of rezoning the parcel o C-3; second was given by Commissioner Hall and the motion was approved by the following vote< In favor: Chairman Behling; Commissioners Hazen and Hall. Opposed: Commissioners Gardner and Kelly. AGENDA ITEM'N0. 6, 81-SOZ, Consideration of a Site Plan Permit request for'the con- structon of-a multifamily residential project, North Park Phase iI t_o be located on the east side .of Meadowland Street, approximately 1,000 feet north of University Dr. Application is in the name of Homef finder Realty, Inc"., 1055 Texas Avenue, College Station, Texas. Marj Freund, a representative of Homefinder Realty, spoke `in favor of the approval of the .site plan. ::She described the parcel as a 2 1/2 acre tract which h~a been land- docked for a period of 4-years. It is located ,between Texas Avenue and the University student housing. A great amount-of planning time-and--money for improvements .has been spent-during the past years. A street to the-.area has been constructed and the plan presented tonight has been developed to provide additional student housing in the area. The problem which has arisen is the construction of the project which, as presented, lacks three feet in meeting the 8' separation between the parking area and public right- of-way. The amount available for this separation is 5'. She presented before and after pictures of the area which reflect the improvements which have.been made. by Homefinder. Commissioner.Hall asked if there had been any consideration to redesigning the project to allow for the required $_' separation.' MINUTES .. City of College Station - ;, Planning and Zoning CommiSSion Meeting -- January 3 ` 19$0 7:00 'P.~~1. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Watson; Commissioners Etter, Behling, Sweeney,.;,. Bailey, Hazen, .Sears; City Council Liaison, Mayor. Bravenec: MEMBERS ABSENT.: None STAFF PRESENT: Director of Planning Mayo,_Zoning Official Callaway;;. City Engineer Ash, Planning Assistant Longley. AGENDA ITEM N0. 1 -- Ap royal of minutes -meeting of December 20, 1979. Commissioner Etter moved that the minutes be approved. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Sears and unanimously approved. AGENDA.ITEM N0. 2 -- Hear visitors. Mr. Chris Mathewson of the Zoning 'Board of Adjustment: poke on the problem~of the lack of parking spaces in the Northgate area. He related`actons taken b ' ~r y the Zoning Board of Adjustment on a recent change of use. application in one of the existing structures in the area. Chairman Watson suggested-that a workshop session be held with the landowners in the Northgate area. Commissioner Etter suggested tha the Commission hold a-workshop session to discuss some. suggestions to present to the landowners. The Commission decided>~to place the question on a workshop agenda. AGENDA STEM N0. 3 -- A public hearn on the question of rezoning -Lot 1, -B~lock='2--.. of the Woodstock Addition from Apartment Building District R-6.to General°Com- mercial District C=1. The ap-lication'is in the name of Mr .A B Syptak, Jr. Mr. Mayo showed the location of the tract and the apartment project now under construction adjacent to_ it. He noted that .a condominium groj~.eet'~had.been ap- proved on the two lots adjacent `to .and south of the tract. The public hearing wasogened. Mr. Jerry Bishop, Project Engineer presented a conceptual plan for the development of the tract. Commissioner Etter asked what justification the applicant could give for requesting a zone change which was not in compliance with the Comprehensive.Plan. Mr. Bishop said that he felt the Comprehensive Plan should~.be used as an over- vew of the City and that commercial development in the area of the request made it reasonable. He also poin ed'out that, :if apartments were developed on the site, a very similar layout would: have to be used. 1"111VU'1'~5 Page 2 y .,, -,.~'.~, Planning and Zoning Commission January 3, 1980 7:00 P.M. Mr. Chris Mathewson, 1607 Glade, spoke in opposition to-the request.. He sug- gested that the Commission consider that they could be recreating East 29th Street by encouraging "strip commercial" development. The public hearing was closed. The Commission discussed the compliance of the request with the Comprehensive Plan and the concept and suitability of "strip commercial development". Commissioner Behling-asked City Engineer Ash i£ the development would cause traffic problems on Highway 30. Mr. Ash stated that traffic problems would occur on Highway 30 and that the speed limit would probably never fall ,below 40 m.p.h. He added .that signals would probably be needed at the intersections of Dartmouth, Munson and Highway 30. But that the traffic problems, would be no worse than those in other growing cities. Mr. Ash also noted that, if the property were deeper, more access could be taken from Dartmouth. He pointed out,. however, 'that if the land were developed as zoned, .access would still be necessary on Highway 30. Mr. Mayo pointed out that a commercial development would generate more trips per. day. than an apartment project and that additional depth could provide room for decelleraton lanes. Mr. Ash s ated that .the problems in the area could have been prevented several years ago if Munson had been improved and extended to University :Drive. and Dartmouth aligned .with Munson.: Commissioner Behling stated that he felt this was a logical loca ion four the .proposed developement and moved that the Commission recommend approval of the re- quested rezoning. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Sears and failed by the following vote: .For: Chairman Watson,.. Commissioners.Behing, Sears Against: Commissioners Hazen, Etter,; Sweeney, Bailey. AGENDA ITEM N0. 4 -- Consideration of a parking plan for. the College Station Bank located at the intersection of Domink and Texas Avenue. Mr. Mayo presented the proposed-plan and pointed out that the builder.s~ and architects on°the project had worked out the design with the City Staff,. Mr. Watson asked when construction would begin on the permanent structure. Mr. Jim Miller, representative of the bank, stated that construction should begin in February of 1980. Commissioner Sweeney asked if a"sign location was shown on the g1an. Mr. Miller stated that no sign was shown but that it would be designed. and located as: required by .the .City ordinances. The Commission discussed the location of the dumpster and asked Mr. Mi17Ler to work out the-final location with the Director of Public Services.