HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutesSenior Planner Kuenzel stated that the nearest residential area is the adjoining trailer park,
residents of which. opposed "The Globe" night club located to the east of this. center. There is
currently. no parking problem within the shopping center due in part to the fact that many of the
lease spaces in the center are vacant. The. total square footage leased to theaters,: restaurants, and
night clubs in the center will be restricted. to 25% of the total leasable space. Parking therefore
should not become a problem in the future.
Chairman Hawthorne opened the .public hearing. Seeing no one to speak in favor of or in
opposition to the conditional use perrrut request,: he closed the public hearing.
For the purposes. of discussion, Commissioner .Hall .moved to approve the conditional use permit
for the expansion of the existing .:bar.. located at 2501 Texas Avenue South, Suite D-101,
Penthouse Billiards. Commissioner Lane seconded the motion.
Representative of the owner, John Sleeper approached the Commission and stated .that the
property is currently owned by the Resolution Trust Corporation. However, a group out of
Houston by the name of A. K. Ten, Limited is in the. process of .purchasing the property. Mr.
Sleeper informed the Commission that the tenants of Penthouse Billiards have been responsible
tenants and will continue to do so in the. future.
At the request of the Commission, applicant_James Vanya approached the Commission to explain
the proposed expansion. He stated that a 20' x 20' dance floor will be added along with a big
screen television and an activities area. There may be times when a two or three piece band will
perform at the bar; however, the hours of operation will remain the same, 2:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Commissioner Hall expressed concern with the noise of the enlarged facility and its impact on the
adjacent residents. If a dance. floor is being.. added and. bands will be allowed to perform, the noise
will be significantly louder than the previous billiards use.
Mr. Vanya stated that the addition is such a small space that the music should. not be any louder
than the existing facility. The back wall will be an 8" wall with insulation between the sheet rock
and the concrete wall.
.Manager of the adjacent mobile home `park, Ava Williams, approached the Commission stated
that she is concerned with the noise as patrons of the bar leave the parking lot. There is also a
natural creek that runs behind the property that always has garbage in it. Ms. Williams stated that
when the Baja Yacht Club was in operation, the back doors were left open during business hours
which created security and noise~problems'for the mobile homepark.
Commissioner Ha11 requested to withdraw his motion to approve the conditional use permit. He
suggested that the item be tabled to allow the applicant to work with staff on soundproofing the
building. Commissioner Lane agreed to withdraw thepositive motion.
Commissioner Hall moved to table the conditional use permit request until the applicant has
worked with staff on the actual details of soundproofing the building. Commissioner Lane.
seconded the. motion which passed (4 - 2); Chairman Hawthorne and Commissioner Lightfoot
voted in opposition to the motion.
AGENDA ITEM NO. 3: Consideration. of a proposed sign for the Wolf Pen Creek
Amphitheater located on the southeast corner of the Holleman and. Dartmouth. intersection.
(95-808)
Senior Planner Kuenzel informed the Commission that .the Parks Department has submitted a
request for a sign that will promote Wolf Pen Creek Park functions. .The Zoning Ordinance
provides for any proposed new sgnage to be reviewed by the Design Review Board (DRB) and
the Planning and Zoning Commission.
P & Z Mimrtes Augzrst 17, 1995 Page 2 of 4
Senior Planner Kuenzel stated that the DRB reviewed the sign today and recommended denial of
the proposed signage by a vote of 5 - 2. The Board had concerns that the sign has a "billboard"
appearance and does not meet the intent of the ordinance. The Board was also concerned that the
proposed sign did not meet the same standards as signs approved for private development within
the Wolf Pen Creek Corridor. The proposed sign meets the restrictions for commercial. signage in
terms of height and area. It will have an area of 60 .square feet, roughly half of which contain
changeable letters. The messages must be limited to non conunercial language (such as "welcome
back,. Aggies") or to messages that promote park activities.
Assistant Director. of Parks and Recreation Ploeger approached the Commission and presented
color samples of the proposed sign.
Parks Board Member Greg Taggart informed the Commission that the proposed sign is important.
to the' City in keeping the citizens informed of events at the park. He explained that. the Parks
Department has a difficult time getting information to the public about events at the amphitheater.
The purpose of the proposed sign is visibilrty to vehicular traffic in the area and a low profile sign
will only attract pedestrian traffic.
Chairman Hawthorne stated that he likes the overall idea; however, the design is much like the
sign at the Junior High School. The proposed sign does not adequately reflect the standards or
expectations of Wolf Pen Creek.
Commissioner Gribou informed the Commission that he served on the Wolf Pen. Creek Design.
Review Board when the standards for development were established. He stated that there is no
consistency between the sign and the. park area except for the color of the sign. Commissioner
Gribou stated that the size of the sign is acceptable; however,. the high quality standards expected
in the'Wolf Pen Creek Corridor are lacking.
Director of Parks and Recreation Beachy approached the Commission and stated that their first
option was an electronic sign that was easily programmed for different events; however, the cost
of that particular sign is approximately $25,000. He stated that $8,000 is available from the rest
room facilities that were constructed in the park and he hopes that the savings can be spent on a
much needed sign.
Commissioner Gribou recommended that he consider designing. a permanent and unique base that
an electronic reader board could be plugged in at a later date when the. funds are .available. It is
essential that the base of the sign incorporate elements of the park area and meet the standards of
the Corridor.
Commissioner Lightfoot expressed concern with. consistency throughout the corridor. He stated
that it may be a benefit to the City to have a reader board to advertise events but it may also be
beneficial to Wolfe Nursery to have a reader board to advertise plant sales. The Commission
must be consistent with standards in the Corridor especially between private and public
development.
Commissioner Hall requested that Council Liaison McIlhaney explore the possibility of carrying
over the $8,000 to next year's budget. He suggested that a fund be established for the sign until
enough money is saved to build. a quality sign.
Council Liaison McIlhaney suggested that Parks and Recreation Director Beachy take the issue
up with the City Manager o determine if the problem can be addressed internally or if Council
action is necessary.
P ~ Z Minutes Azrgirst 17, 1995 Page 3 of 4
Commissioner Gribou moved to deny the proposed freestanding sign for the Wolf Pen Creek
Amphitheater located on the southeast corner of the Holleman and Dartmouth intersection.
.Commissioner Lightfoot seconded the motion.
Chairman. Hawthorne stated that he is in favor of the motion; however, a sign is needed for the
park area. He suggested that the .minutes of this item be forwarded to the City Council for their
information.
The motion to deny the proposed sign passed unopposed (6 - 0).
AGENDA ITEM N0. 4: Other business.
Commissioner Lightfoot expressed concern' of the trees that were cut down in the Park Place
shopping center. He suggested that the Commission encourage .and advise the City Council to
establish a format to prevent this from happening in the future.
Chairman Hawthorne stated that he is concerned with. someone representing that they meet the
landscape criteria and then later change .the aesthetic value of the area. He requested that star
place this item on the next available agenda for further discussion..
AGENDA ITEM NO. S: Adjourn.
Commissioner Gribou moved to adJourn the meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Commissioner Lightfoot seconded the motion which passed unopposed (6 - 0).
APPROVED:.
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P & Z Minutes August 17, 1995 Page 4 of 4