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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMiscellaneous(409) 764-3773 MEMORANDUM TO: Sabine Kuenzel, Staff Planner ~, FROM: Ross Albrecht, Forestry Superintendent DATE: June 1, 1994 ' SUBJECT: POSSBLE TREE CONFLICT.• TEXAS AVENUE AND KRENEK TAP PROPERTY I have inspected the property on the northwest corner of Krenek Tap and Texas Avenue South. It is my understanding .that your office has been contacted on the possibility of establishing an auto dealer at that .location. I further ~ understand that the requesting party, in an attempt to save the existing trees facing Texas Avenue, inquired about utilizing gravel as the parking/show area, Due to the number, size, and overlapping root zones in the proposed area, I believe that root zone damage will occur regardless of the technique used, Initially, the gravel. would provide a permeable zone for water and oxygen exchange for the root zones, This will not be the case with time as dirt fills. in the voids. The permeability will also be severely .impacted by vehicular traffic. In addition to root zone problems, several large limbs .would likely be removed to provide site lines into the property. 'This move, along with initiating root zone problems will hamper the trees' abilities to recover from these changes, If you have any questions, please contact me at extension 3410. ~. r V ~ We provide good things in life! i __ ~~~ CITY OF COLLI/GI/ ~TATIOI~I `~ PARKS & RECREATLON POST OFFICE BOX 9960 COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS 77842-9960 TO: Planning and Zoning Commission DATE: May 13,1994 City of College Station FROM: Gerald Lassiter 1809 Quail Run College Station, TX 77845 696-4097 Dear Members: First let me say Thank You for giving. of your personal time and effort in order that our city may grow in a way that is beautiful, clean and safe for our families. I am basically requesting two variances to the current zoning ordinance although it will be numbered four because of the various additional details involving each variance. The purpose of requesting these variances is to one: save some two-three hundred year old trees and some smaller, but .not. young trees and two: preserve the current right of way into Texas Ave. .The proposed site is -the. Porterfield property on the Northeast corner of Krenek Tap and Texas Avenue. The proposed use is a Nice Used Car Lot. The up-to-code building and parking lot will all remain exactly as it is with 8-9 parking spaces fora 1300sq ft. (approx.) building. The problem is the parking of cars for inventory or display. I would naturally desire to put them on the front of the lot near Texas .Ave. and Krenek tap, which is now currently grass. In order to protect the drainageto the trees and mud to the streets I would like to put. down gravel in the front and under the trees to the point drawn on the enclosed drawings. For expediency sake these are home drawn and I hope are clear to you. If the business does well, I envision putting cars diagonally down the side of the lot on Krenek Tap as well, where there are more trees, but not at present. I believe to put down any other surface would kill the trees and really destroy the "look"'_of that corner leading to the city park. In keeping with this I would like to ask a variance to put Railroad Ties as replacements for cement blocks as parking stops and also to keep the gravel contained. The next issue is the right. of way into Texas Ave or the "curb:-cut". It is presently 122.9 feet from the center of Krenek Tap and 212.3 feet from the next. driveway to the Church. There are no other openings onto Texas Ave. from the other side because the Cemetery is there. The current cut is at the edge of this property and the culvert is finished with cement. I understand this does not meet with the code ffor the distance, but I pray that,you will allow this current cut to remain as it is the only way into the lot from Texas Ave. and the other entrance on Krenek Tap is not visible from Texas Ave.. I believe your purpose for the distance from the corner is safety and with 8 children I am all for that and my wife & I'have gone in and out several times during heavy traffic and found that in this stretch of Texas there was not a problem what-so-.ever. Third, in keeping with the "look" here and',preserving the trees. I would like to ask a variance to keep the driveway, coming from the 'above cut along the side of the property that is lined with trees, to remain gravel. I understand that many different companies have proposed to come in to this location and just mow everything down and then bring things;into code, but I pray that you would consider heavily in granting these variations, that these three hundred year old trees and lots of grass will be preserved and yet a business could still use the land and current building. Thank you. again for your time and thoughtful consideration of this request. Gerald and Patricia Lassiter MEMORANDUM TO: Planning and Zoning Commission FROM: Sabine Kuenzel, Staff Planner Veronica J.B. Morgan, Asst. City Engineer DATE: May- 25, .1994 RE: Lassiter Proposal for the property located at the corner of Krenek Tap Road and Texas Avenue The above .referenced proposal is a request to vary from the City standards for pavement and curbing as contained within the Zoning Ordinance. In order to protect and save the existing trees on site, they would like to provide a pea gravel parking lot with railroad. ties or concrete blocks for wheel stops . The site is being proposed as a used car dealership, which is allowed under the current zoning of the property. Staff has concerns with .providing pea gravel as a driving surface for several reasons. Pea .gravel does not withstand constant .traffic loading;- tends to` "wash away" and would therefore become a high maintenance item in a highly visible area. The proposed wheel stops would do little to contain the pea gravel on site and are not aesthetically pleasing for such a highly visible site. Although the reasoning for providing such a facility is worthwhile, there is some question as to if this proposal would truly .save the trees once traffic loading, is .allowed over the root systems. Staff is currently. reviewing the chances of tree survival with the .Parks Forester and will have results from those discussions at the Planning. and Zoning Commission meeting. Staff is also concerned with the .precedent that a facility of this type would .set. Even if the Planning and Zoning Commission places maintenance conditions on the approval it would in the long run become a cost burden to the City with regard to enforcement. Staff would therefore not recommend approval of this variance. °"Building better City in .Partnership with You"