Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutesMINUTES Planning and Zoning Commission CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1101 Texas Avenue March 20, 2003 7:00 P.M. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT Commissioners Floyd, Williams, McMath, Shafer, Trapani and Hall Commissioner White. Mears and Maloney. STAFF PRESENT: Assistant City Manager Brown, Development Services Director Templin, City Planner Kee, Development Manager Ruiz, Assistant Development Manager George, Assistant City Engineer McCully, Civil Engineers Thompson and Cotter, Senior Planner Battle, Staff Planners Fletcher, Reeves and Flanery, Transportation Planner Fogle and Transportation Engineer Picah, Assistant City Attorney Nemcik, Economic Development Director Foutz, Planning Intern Harrell, Development Services Senior Customer Service Representative Rogers and Customer Service Representatives Stanley and Elmendorf, Action Center Representative Kelly, and Staff Assistant Hazlett. Chairman Floyd called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:00 P.M. AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Hear Citizens. AGENDA ITEM NO. 2: Public Comment for the Record. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3: Consent Agenda. 3.1 Approved the Minutes for the Joint Workshop Meeting held on March 6, 2003. 3.2 Approved the Minutes for the Workshop Meeting held on March 6, 2003. 3.3. Approved the Minutes for the Regular Meeting held on March 6, 2003. 3.4 Approved the Final Plat for the Pebble Creek Subdivision Phase 9B consisting of 60 residential lots on 36 acres located at 1299 Royal Adelaide. (03 -11) Regular Agenda. 4. Consideration, discussion, and possible action of request(s) for absence from meetings. Commissioner Trapani motioned to approve the absince of Commissioner White. Commissioner Williams seconded the motion. The motion was approved. 5. Consideration, discussion, and possible action on items removed from the Consent Agenda by Commission action. None. P &Z Minutes March 20, 2003 Page 1 of 8 11. Public hearing, discussion, and possible action on an ordinance and a resolution amending the City of College Station's Comprehensive Plan for the area generally bound by the proposed State Highway 40, State Highway 6 South, FM 2154, and Peach Creek. (03 -22) Staff Planner Fletcher presented the South College Station Thoroughfare Plan Update proposals. The City Council's Strategic Plan has identified various aspects of how the Comprehensive Plan should be updated. One of this year's points of emphasis has been to focus on areas that are in critical need of Thoroughfare Plan Updates. He reported that Staff has been developing proposals for this update with direction from the Planning and Zoning Subcommittee, residents, and property owners in the study area. Mr. Fletcher reviewed the goals and objections and the various public input opportunities used to develop the plan. He also touched on some of the existing conditions and trends, pointing to the future transportation needs in the study area. He stated that the primary goal is to create and maintain a balanced transportation system for various modes of transportation. The proposed Thoroughfare Plan improves connectivity, mobility, and access while preserving neighborhood integrity. Transportation Planner Fogle presented planning considerations for the development of the proposed Thoroughfare Plan. He stated that roadways, spacing, traffic volume, land use considerations, trip generations, and physical barriers were considered in the planning. He added that the plan is created with a 20 -year window for implementation. He added that as conditions change in the area there is opportunity to revise the plan. He pointed out the changes to the existing plan and the major concerns discussed during the meetings with the property owners. Mr. Fogle stated that Staff is confident with the proposed plan and recommends its approval, but added that some revisions were made to the plan as a result of these meetings in order to address the concerns of the property owners. Development Services Director Templin stated that none of the property in the area has been condemned in order to make any of the proposed roadways. Mr. Fogle stated that neighboring subdivisions were contacted, including the Home Owners' Associations. Chairman Floyd opened public hearing. The following citizens spoke in opposition to the proposed plan citing issues of concern: — Bill Harris, 1207 Mariners Cove ✓ Integrity of the community ✓ Roads not designed for the heavier usage that will accompany the proposed plan -- Gerald Atmar, 4590 Barnstable Harbor ✓ Recommends priority given to developing Arrington Road — Ward Wells, 1415 Harpers Ferry • Placement of roads • Should recognize the behavior of people in the subject area • Access to the area from those living without • Adjacency traffic patterns — Penny Holmes, 4707 Scrimshaw Lane • Neighborhood Integrity • Proposal contradicts objective • Stats of personal 12 Hour Traffic Study • At maximum build -out; additional traffic would present a hazard — Karen Weir, 4599 Sandpiper Cove • Move the east collector • Priority of undeveloped areas over developed areas -- Patricia Chulupsky, 1403 Harpers Ferry • Existing neighborhoods should be preserved • Buffering of neighborhood from future expansions approaching the established residential area • Reduction of use intensity of nearby developments in regards to their subdivision P &Z Minutes March 20, 2003 Page 4 of 8 • Protect, preserve, and enhance existing neighborhood by minimizing intrusive and incompatible land uses and density • Encroachment by putting a road in the heart of the subdivision • Property value regarding safety? -- Mike Rabins 4587 Cricket Pass ✓ Traffic speed ✓ Neighborhood integrity — Chris Kling, 1511 Wayfarer Lane ✓ Traffic funneling from an undeveloped area into an existing residential neighborhoods ✓ Streets are adequate; do not need street planning for existing neighborhoods ✓ Focus should be on access to Arrington and Greens — Don Bugh, 4575 Sandpiper Cove • Intersections and traffic congestion at Greens Prairie, Highway 6 and the additionally increased traffic from Highway 40 = recipe for very congested intersection • Neighborhood integrity will be destroyed Maury Dennis, 1410 Harpers Ferry ✓ Rural subdivision with high pedestrian usage -- Kathleen Gose • Equestrian rural subdivision • Integrity at stake • Children on horseback at risk • No sidewalks available • Roads are built to county standards • Breeches the trust of the stated land use goals • Traffic is incompatible with the personality of the neighborhood -- Joe Holmes, 4707 Scrimshaw Lane • A collector by definition; collector used as arterial; design as such is necessary for the proper use • Offset intersections are not measured at over several thousand feet — John Bryant, 1929 Arrington • Right -of -Way • Speed control /recommended speed bumps and stop signs • Minimum lighting and mini warehouses are a concern — Glenn Reirson, 16805 Calumet Drive ✓ Additional ingress into the subdivision which would create a public safety issue ✓ Public Safety i.e. increased vandalism and crime ✓ More penetration to private lake area which will increase insurance liability based on risk factors — James Wallace, 16177 Woodlake ✓ Reiterated comments already made — Matt Wagner, 16474 Riva Ridge • Open space and rural value is critical • Private Lake and habitat for wildlife -- Linda Huff, 16630 Woodlake • Property turnover rate is quick because of the rural setting • Maintain the neighborhood integrity ✓ Crime rate concerns — Diane Oswald, 15889 Woodlake • Preserve the rural lifestyle i.e. horses, farm animals and abundance of wildlife • Maintain peace, quiet, and security P &Z Minutes March 20, 2003 Page 5 of 8 • Endangered way of life with plan as proposed • Rejects being a new driveway for a developers new subdivision — Marque Mathis, 16454 Woodlake ✓ Home would be affected by the newly proposed roadway — Sara Jane Jordan, 16400 Woodlake • Driveway backing • No guarantee of development density • Increase number of buses; possibly city buses in years to come • Bike routes not necessary • Natural vegetation and wildlife habitation Paul Leming 1615 Harpers Ferry ✓ Economics ✓ Safety Chris Noynaert, 3620 Preakness George Rogers, 16630 Riva Ridge ✓ Traffic channeling through 20 -year old subdivision — Janie Harris, 1207 Mariners Covet -- Terry Larson, 4610 Midsummer Lane • Road width and thickness concerns • Major cost issue to replace the roads • Maintain integrity and lifestyle of residents — Nona Wolf -Hager ✓ Additional roads will bring additional unwanted traffic ✓ Additional road proposed will cut through approximately 10 of her 35 acres and that of other homeowners in the area Chairman Floyd closed the public hearing. There was a brief recess before reconvening at 9:55 p.m. Commissioner Trapani motioned to approve and was seconded by Commissioner McMath. Commissioner McMath explained that the Commission is charged with planning and zoning matters for the City's future. College Station is a growing City and growth is coming to people of rural areas. The matter of having two ingress and egress points in developing neighborhoods has been a priority of the Commission for safety reasons. Commissioner Williams expressed concern regarding the existing roads and if there were plans to widen them and install sidewalks. She also asked why we were planning existing neighborhoods in the ETJ rather than planning roads in the undeveloped areas. Transportation Planner Fogle stated that the roadways do not meet City standards but that there is no intention to widen the road or install sidewalks. The proposed plan is to provide an additional ingress and egress for emergency evacuation, school and public service uses, and connectivity by providing more than one route to access different areas. Commissioner McMath added that the proposed plan is a planning document. He stated that it is critical to have some form of plan in place in order to estimate and modify over the years as conditions change and development occurs. Some roadways on the plan may or may not come into play either in their current existence or as shown to be in the future on the plan. It is just practical to have a plan of some kind that you can work with. In closing, Commissioner McMath stated that in terms of the overall goal of the City, it is paramount that a plan be in place. P &Z Minutes March 20, 2003 Page 6 of 8 Commissioner Shafer agreed that growth is occurring and that the Commission wants the best for the citizens of College Station. He asked clarification regarding the direct route to the back of the Nantucket subdivision. Mr. Fogle explained that the route is an alternative plan. He added that growth is going to happen with or without the approval of the Thoroughfare Plan. He pointed out that it is difficult to handle traffic control with the additional drives and that a direct route is safer than offset intersections. This would present problems that are already experienced at Southwest Parkway and Glade. Chairman Floyd, a strong proponent of providing for multiple ingress and egress to neighborhoods, does not support the proposed plan citing the preexisting conditions in these two established neighborhoods. He proposed moving some of the proposed through streets in order to protect the neighborhood integrity and lifestyles of the residents. Commissioner Trapani amended his motion to move the offset entrance to Nantucket to the north or south and to desolve the additional entrance proposed to Woodlake and to cancel out the additional entrance at Harpers Ferry. Commissioner McMath seconded the amendment to the motion. Mr. Fogle clarified for the Commission that TxDOT drives the interchange at the bypass area. Chairman Floyd called the question. The motion to approve as amended by the Commission carried 5 -1. FOR: Floyd, Trapani, Williams, Shafer, and Hall. AGAINST: McMath. 12. Public hearing, discussion, and possible action to consider a Land Use Plan Amendment for properties labeled Mixed -Use on the City's Land Use Plan. Chairman Floyd moved this item forward on the agenda and heard prior to Agenda Item No. 6. Lee Battle presented the staff report. He explained that the Mixed -Use study was initiated to analyze opportunities for mixed -use development in College Station and determine if any changes to the City's policies or Land Use Plan are needed to help implement or encourage this development pattern. The study also developed a definition. The study identifies three opportunities for mixed -use development that are likely to occur in the city: • Historic Mixed -use - primarily describes the Northgate area. • Single -use Conversions - the development or redesign of shopping centers and retail strip centers into mixed -use developments that accommodate pedestrians, integrate compatible uses and transition into surrounding neighborhoods. • Master Planned Developments - new development on larger undeveloped tracts of land. Not all Master Planned Developments will be Mixed -use, but they are all the best opportunity for mixed -use development on undeveloped land. Mr. Battle pointed out that it is not required to show a designation of any of the mixed -use development on the Land Use Plan in order to be implemented. Mr. Battle stated that Staff recommends that the City have a policy that allows for and encourages mixed -use development, but should not force it to occur in any specific location through the Land Use Plan. Additionally, Mr. Battle stated that the study recommends that a new land use category called Planned Development be added to the Land Use Plan. This is to be used where larger areas of land may develop with a mix, or collection of uses, but not necessarily a mixed -use pattern. It emphasizes the need to master plan the area to ensure appropriate placement of different uses. In closing, Mr. Battle stated that this approach provides for mixed -use development should a developer or the market desire it without forcing it to occur where the market does not support it or where it may not be the only desirable land use pattern. Chairman Floyd opened the public hearing. P &Z Minutes March 20, 2003 Page 7 of 8