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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutesCommissioner Gribou stated that he originally moved to recommend approval of the rezoning request for 15 acres with the condition that special attention be paid to step down zoning with the remainder of the property. .However, noC all of the integrity issues have been addressed between the developer and the surrounding neighborhoods. A comprehensive study of the traffic patterns and land uses should occur: Commissioner Gribou stated that buffering still might. work with. the commercial development; however the proposed step down zoning is not adequate. The adjacent A-0 property between 'the subject property and the 'Foxfire Subdivision should also be considered.- Commissioner Hall expressed .concern with a .comment 'in the staff report that ,single. access subdivisions 'should be avoided; however, there are many subdivisions in College Station that have :only one. access. Even with improvement and widening.. of Sebesta Road, it would Still not be adequate. to handle the: additional traffic created by apartment and .commercial developments. There are seriaus traffic problems in' this area that must be addressed before high traffic generating developments canoccur: Commissioner. Lightfoot stated that there are problems with the proposed rezoning plan; however, there must be more objectivity on everyone's .part because the property must be developed eventually: It makes sense that there would be some sort of commercial activity in this, area since no one would like for their home to be located along.. the frontage road. Commissioner Lightfoot encouraged the various homeowner's. associations work together and :discuss future development alternatives of the subject :property: Chairman Hawthorne stated that the rezoning plan presented is good and meets the development policies of the Comprehensive Plan. ` However,. there is a need for more planning in this area with special attention to the traffic problems. The property will eventually develop ,and traffic will be a problem whether the property's zoned R-1 or C-l. Chairman Hawthorne stated that in reading the City Council minutes, there were some directions .about looking at this area from a long term aspect and that still has not .been done. thoroughly. The motion to recommend denial of the rezoning request passed unanimously, (6 - 0). AGENDA ITEM N0.3: `.Public hearing to consider a rezoning request for 3.09 acres located on the northwest corner of Harvey Road and Rhett Butler, lots 1, 2'and 3 of the Timber Ridge Third Installment Subdivision from C-N Neighborhood Commercial and R-6 High Density Apartments to C-1 General Commercial. (94-118 StaffPlanner Kuenzel presented the staff report and recommended denial of a C-T land use due to noncompliance ` with.: the Land Use Plan and traffic concerns.. However, a G3 Planned Commercial, which has no building size restrictions :but which would allow ow intensity commercial uses, would be acceptable because it is ..not more 'intense than the existing. zoning. The Land Use Plan: reflects this property as high density residential with high. density residential to the east, north, and west. Surrounding properties have developed in compliance .with this plan. Development Policies. reflect a preference for commercial property to be located at the intersection of major roadways, and Rhett Butler does not qualify as a major road: However, while the request. is not `in line with these .goals, it is not in conflict with .surrounding land uses because Development Policies indicate that high density residential land uses are compatible with commercial uses. The change in zoning would change the possible uses of the property from convenience-oriented commercial uses to more intense uses such as restaurants; theaters, and perhaps nightclubs. The more intense :uses. may cause more traffic on Rhett Butler than it is designed to handle. The concern here is that a more intense use could present a situation similar to the one that: was created on Jane Street when the Black-eyed Pea was built: The C-N lots are larger than would normally be expected of a GN use. Most building in a C-N .district are restricted to 2000 square feet. The lots could accommodate much more building area than the present zoning would ailow~. Seven surrounding propertyownzrs werenotified with .two letters received in opposition of the proposed rezoning request. P c~: 7_ 1lilirurles Sc~p~etaiher 1, 1~9-~ f'cr~re ~ of 8 ,} J~ Chairman Hawthorne opened the .public hearing. Applicant Paul Clarke approached the Commission and formally requested that the rezoning request be changed to C-3 instead of C=I as recommended. by staff. The majority of property along Harvey :Road is commercial: Jay Don Watson of 609 Bob White in Bryan informed the Commission that. he is an atnorney representing the owner of the Post Oak Village and Post Oak Square shopping centers. He stated that the. owner of the shopping centers are opposed to he rezoning request primarily due to the traffic congestion .that it will create. The proposed 18,000 square foot building will increase traffic along Harvey Road. and in the neighboring subdivision: Mr: Watson stated that. the owner of the shopping centers previously requested a rezoning to G1 for the Post Oak Village shopping center and .withdrew this request because,. staff would not recommend approval because of the increased traffic: Ellen Benson of 445 Carter. Creek #14 in Bryan informed the Commission that she is representing the Kappa Delta sorority that owns the property located diagonally from the subject property. She stated that once a chapter is established at Texas A&M University,. the sorority would like to build. their .house on the existing vacant property: Ms. Bensen stated that with the proposed rezoning, there will be little .buffering between the commercial development and. the sorority house.. Traffic congestion and safety are other issues that should be considered before granting the proposed rezoning Manager of the Briarwood .Apartments, Carol Cienega of 1301 Harvey Road #253 .presented a letter to the Commission in opposition to the rezoning request. She stated that there are existing traffic and parking problems in the area that will only be increased if the- rezoning request is granted.. Chairman Hawthorne. closed he public- hearing Commissioner .Hall moved: to recommend denial of a rezoning request for 3.09 acres located on the northwest corner of Harvey Road and Rhett Butler, lots 1, 2 and 3 of the Timber Ridge Third Installment Subdivision from: C-N Neighborhood Commercial and R-6 _High Density Apartments to C-3 Planned Commercial Commissioner Garner seconded the motion. Chairman Hawthorne stated that he does not .see traffic as a major issue with this particular rezoning case. The traffic .situation is existing and should have been addressed with the C-N zoningthat is in place now. The existing zonings would create as much traffic as the propo>ed C- 3 zoning.. Applicant Paul Clarke stated that the parking problem in the area results from inadequate parking for the existing apartments. The motion to recommend: denial of the rezoning request failed (0 - 6). Commissioner Lightfoot moved to recommend approval of the rezoning. request from C-N Neighborhood .:Commercial and R-6 High Density .Apartments to C-3 .Planned. Comrt~ercial. Commissioner Smith seconded the motion which .passed. unopposed (6 - 0). AGENDA ,ITEM N4. 4: Public hearing to consider a conditional use permit request for a tutoring service to be located at 700 University Drive. Suite 102, in The village Shopping Center.. (94-709). StaffPlanner Kuenzel presented the staff report and recommended approval of the conditional use .permit. request with the condition that "main. operating hours do not' overlap with those of the majority of the uses in the center. P ~ 7_ Mitrr~~es Se1~teEnGc~r 1, 199-1 f'cr~e 6of ~ ~, A; -~ City Council Regular Meeting ' Thursday, September 22, 1994 Page 9 Marianne Oprisko, 2425 Barron Road expressed concern about the city's major expense to upgrade Barron Road, if annexed. Mayor Protem McIlhaney verified the dates for the annexation public hearings: November 10, November 16, and December 8. Staff identified areas for. annexation this calendar year. Councilman Fox made the motion to approve Resolution No. 9-22-94-07 to direct staflFto initiate annexation proceedings. Councilman Crouch seconded the motion which carried unanimously, 5-0. Agenda item No. 8 -Public hearing and consideration of a rezoning request for three acres on the northwest corner of Flarvey Road and Rhett Butler from C-N and R-6 to C-3. (94-118) Staff Planner Sabine. Kuenzel explained the rezoning request. The proposed use is a bookstore in a building of 18,000 square feet. She presented slides of the subject tract and ;~` ~,_.' surrounding areas. Staff recommended approval and Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval. Mayor Protem McIlhaney opened the public hearing The applicant Paul Clarke representing Flagship Development presented his views towaxd the request. Councilmembers asked questions about the current development and traffic impact. Ted Pittman, buyer of the property introduced himself and entertained questions from the Council. He recognized projects in other cities similar to this anticipated project. Charles Laningham, General Partner of Sundance Apartments identified the .location of his properties. Concerns related to traffic problems at the intersections of Munson/Harvey Road and Rhett Butler/Harvey Road and the fact. that the new development will aggravate the existing traffic situation. He presented a petition to Mayor Protem in opposition of the rezoning as submitted to 'the city. J ,, . City Council Regular Meeting Thursday, September 22, 1994 Page 10 Chris Kling representing the owners of Post Oak Square and Post Oak Village. The owners requested denial of the rezoning based on the traffic generated from additional businesses along Harvey Road. He reiterated that the proposed use would be inconsistent with the present use of surrounding. property. Mr. Kling pointed out that Rhett Butler will not accommodate the increase traffic generated with the development. The owners are also concerned with the. additional traffic problems for Harvey Road. Mayor Protem McIlhaney closed the public hearing at 10:25 p.m. Councilman Crouch moved approval of Ordinance No. 2092 to rezone three acres on the northwest corner of Harvey Road and Rhett Butler. from C-N and R-6 to C-3. Councilman Kennady seconded the motion which carried unanimously, 5-0. - Agenda Item No. 9 -Consideration of streetscape items and other improvements 1:0 be funded by the City as part of the State's planned widening of Texas Avenue. Staff recommended funding of entire project of $635,800. - ,, Transportation Planner Edwin Hard presented information requested by Councilmembers from the workshop meeting. Councilman Fox made. the motion to approve the staff recommendations and improvement alternatives listed below: Walton improvements (B), $54,000 Eastgate South Area (A), $58,000 Eastgate North Area (A), $54,000. The motion was seconded by Councilman Kennady which carried by a vote of 3-2. FOR: Mayor Protem McIlhaney, Councilmembers Kennady and Fox AGAINST: Councilmembers Crouch and Mariott Agenda Item No. 10 -- Consideration to award construction contract to Young Contractors in the amount of $199,147 for street improvements necessary for the conversion. of Tarrow and E. Tarrow streets into one-way operation. Streetscape improvements as part of this project were included as bid alternates. Councilman Crouch moved to award a construction contract to Young Contractors in the amount of $199,147 for street improvements necessary for the .conversion of Tarrow and E. Tarrow streets into one way operation. The motion was seconded by Councilman Kennady which carried, 5-0.