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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes • MINUTES Planning and Zoning Commission CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS May 16, 2002 7:00 P.M. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Commissioners Floyd, Hawthorne, Kaiser, McMath, and Williams. COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Commissioner Trapani. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Council Member Maloney. STAFF PRESENT: Staff Planner Hitchcock, Assistant City Attorney Robinson, Director of Development Services Templin, City Planner Kee, Senior Planner Battle, Development Review Manager Ruiz, Traffic Engineer Picah, Senior ED Analyst Wood, Action Center Representative Steptoe, and Staff Assistant Hazlett. AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Hear visitors None. AGENDA ITEM NO. 2: Public Comment for the Record None. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3: Consent Agenda The following items were approved by common consent. 3.1 Approved the Minutes from the Workshop Meeting held on March 21, 2002. 3.2 Removed the consideration, discussion, and possible action on a Final Plat for Gardens of Castlegate consisting of 30 lots on 9.226 acres located off of Castlegate Drive, east of the future intersection with Victoria. (02 -75) P &Z Minutes May 16, 2002 Page 1 of 6 Commissioner Kaiser asked what the implications are of this annexation in regards to sewer lines. Mr. Templin explained that there is a topographic change. Beyond the IG &N right of way proximity, there would be difficulty in serving any of the area to the west of that without a number of pump stations and devices. Chairman Floyd opened the public hearing. The following spoke in opposition to the amendment: Jay Goss, 306 Lee Avenue Ann Hays, 11862 Old Wellborn Road Bob Strawn, 3072 North Graham Road Edzel Jones, 131 Ridgewalk Keersa Hopkins, 11720 Old Wellborn Road Randall Pratt, 3100 Haupt Road Hartzell Elkins, property owner, Cain & Wellborn Road Brian Kotrla, 12900 Old Wellborn Road Chad Bohne, TxDOT, reiterated the information earlier given by Dale Picah as being correct. He added that TxDOT is currently pursuing State Highway 40. Right of ways are being acquired and TxDOT is developing plans construction to begin in a year or two from the Greens Prairie Road intersection at State Highway 6 over to Wellborn Road, just south of Graham Road. Another roadway that will move traffic from a north/south manner is intended to take the place of Wellborn Road in the event that Wellborn Road is not able to handle the capacity. Chairman Floyd closed the public hearing. Commissioner Kaiser motioned to table the item. Commissioner McMath seconded the motion. Chairman Floyd stated that the Commission would have preferred a different planning process for this project. He stated that it is important that the citizens are not surprised by actions taken by the city, particularly where property values will be affected. He stressed that more discussion is needed. Chairman Floyd called the question. The motion carried 4 -0 -1, with Commissioner Hawthorne abstaining. AGENDA ITEM NO. 7: Public hearing, discussion, and possible action on an Amendment to the City of College Station's Comprehensive Plan for Whites Creek Road. (02 -88) Development Services Director Templin presented the Staff Report. Mr. Templin prefaced his comments by stating that Thoroughfare Plans are traditionally conceptual plans and that the exact alignments for thoroughfares are generally settled at time of platting. In working with the legal department and other departments within the city, Staff has tried to narrow the possible alignments of thoroughfares. Whites Creek Road is a proposed minor collector that is located southwest of the TAMU campus between FM 60 and Hopes Creek Road. Staff has identified two primary issues that will make it difficult to construct the proposed Whites Creek Road thoroughfare. To construct the proposed thoroughfare as currently aligned on the Plan, three creeks would have to be bridged, one of which actually coincides with the proposed alignment for approximately five hundred feet. This alignment P&Z Minutes May 16, 2002 Page 3 of 6 along the creek involves many issues including flooding and soil erosion. He added that realigning the thoroughfare to the west to avoid University property proved to be unfeasible due to Whites Creek and it's tributaries, Brazos River floodplain and existing developments. The second issue involves the necessary crossing of TAMU property. However, this option is not acceptable to TAMU because of flooding issues, construction and maintenance costs, and erosion and drainage problems. In addition to this, security concerns are also an issue since the thoroughfare would provide a secondary access to Easterwood Airport and the TAMU wastewater treatment plant. In closing, Mr. Templin stated that Staff recommends the thoroughfare plan be amended to realign or eliminate the proposed Whites Creek Road minor collector. Mr. Templin indicated, at the Commission's request, that the preference would be to eliminate the proposed Whites Creek Road minor collector. He pointed out that the filing of a plat is what prompted the investigation of this area and the need of the realignment or elimination of the minor collector. Chairman Floyd abstained from this item. Commissioner Hawthorne opened the public hearing. Commissioner Hawthorne closed the public hearing. Commissioner Williams motioned to amend the Thoroughfare Plan by removing the Whites Creek Road. Commissioner Kaiser seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 -0 -1, with Chairman Floyd abstaining. AGENDA ITEM NO. 8: Public hearing, discussion, and possible action on a rezoning from R 1, Single Family Residential, PDD -B, Planned Development District - Business, and R &D, Research & Development and Light Industry to C -1, General Commercial for the Wal -Mart Super Center located at 2400 Harvey Mitchell Parkway. (02 -76) City Planner Kee presented the Staff Report. Ms. Kee stated that Staff recommends denial of the rezoning. The request involves 34.323 acres located generally on the south side of Harvey Mitchell Parkway at the intersection of State Highway 6. The current R -1 zoning was placed on the property upon annexation as an interim designation assignment. Ms. Kee cited three reasons for her recommendation for denial. (1) Land Use Plan Ms. Kee read the definition of Mixed Use as defined in the Comprehensive Plan. She stated that in her opinion, the 34 acres for C -1, General Commercial, for a stand -alone big box development does not meet the definition. (2) Impact/Pressure for Future Rezoning in the Area Ms. Kee pointed out the existing zoning districts in the area. She explained that the approval of this rezoning request would place great pressure to rezone the remaining tracts to some commercial classification. (3) Other Areas for Large Retail Users With the recent adoption of the Rock Prairie /Greens Prairie Plan by the City Council that amended the Comprehensive Plan, Ms. Kee explained that there is an area of some 70 acres at the intersection of Rock Prairie and State Highway 6 for regional retail uses. Additionally, there is also a 30 -acre tract of C -1 zoning recently approved near the intersection of Greens Prairie Road and State Highway 6. Both pieces of property would accommodate the type of P &Z Minutes May 16, 2002 Page 4 of 6