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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report STAFF REPORT Prepared by: Trey Fletcher, AICP, Project Manager Report Date: 11-7-2005 Email: tfletcher@cstx.gov Meeting Date: 11-17-2005 Item: Public hearing, presentation, discussion and possible action on a Comprehensive Plan Amendment for an area consisting of 26.3 acres located at the intersection of Arrington Road at Greens Prairie Road to amend the Land Use Plan from Institutional and Regional Retail to Regional Retail. (05-0500177) Applicant: J. L. Gant, Property Owner Item Summary: The property owner is requesting to amend the Land Use Plan prior to processing a rezoning request for C-1 General Commercial because the UDO requires that zoning map amendments must be in compliance with the Comprehensive Plan. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the request. Item Background: The Comprehensive Plan, adopted in 1997, projected that College Station would continue to grow in a linear pattern to the southeast along the SH 6 corridor. Still, few roadways exist to handle increasing traffic and most of the burden continues to be handled by SH 6, Texas Avenue, and Wellborn Road. Each of these facilities is currently being improved by TxDOT. Rapid population growth in south College Station has led to an increase in development pressure for non-residential development; so too has future SH 40 that will connect SH 6 to FM 2154. The adopted land use plan was based on the development of preferred development scenario. The Preferred Scenario proposed future commercial/retail in close proximity to future residential to the south to help minimize additional traffic congestion in existing high-traffic areas. Thus the Land Use Plan should provide adequate locations for the development of support retail and business services in proximity to future residential developments in order to decrease the need of traveling to the existing "core" of College Station for those services. The applicant's request may be summarized as follows: Existing Proposed Existing Percent of Overall Total Comprehensive Land Use Institutional 22.8 0 693.7 2.58 Regional 3.5 26.3 1616.3 6.01 Retail The Comprehensive Plan defines Regional Retail as areas permitting regional scale development of tax-generating developments such as retail centers, service commercial, restaurants, etc. These uses are generally dependent on good access to highways and major arterials. The existing Institutional designation is generally regarded as a "holding" designation noting the future need within developments such as schools, churches, hospitals, and other quasi public uses and represents approximately 22 acres in the request. These are usually neighborhood scale developments from 5 to 10 acres and use local streets for access. A rural fire station exists at the corner of Arrington and Greens Prairie but this site would be incorporated into the overall development as Arrington will be rerouted. Arrington Road is shown as a Major Collector on the City's Thoroughfare Plan. It is not yet built to this standard but is beginning to function as a Minor Arterial being the only artery for north south transportation in this part of the community. With the construction of SH 40, Arrington Road will be realigned to intersect with SH 40 further to the west, at grade, but is projected for a grade separation. In January 2004, acreage to the south along SH 6 was amended to reflect Regional Retail. The location of the request has frontage to Greens Prairie Road and the future SH 40 as well as the existing alignment of Arrington Road. Relationship to Strategic Plan: • We will promote a well-planned community. Related Board Actions: N/A Commission Action Options: The Commission acts as a recommending body on this issue, which will be ultimately decided by the City Council. The Commission's options are: 1. Recommend approval of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment as submitted; 2. Recommend denial; 3. Table indefinitely; or, 4. Defer action to a specified date. Supporting Materials: 1. Location Map 2. Aerial Map 3. Application Budgetary and Financial Summary: N/A NOTIFICATION: Legal Notice Publication(s): The Eagle; 11-1-2005 and 11-30-2005 Advertised Commission Hearing Dates(s): 11-17-2005 Advertised Council Hearing Dates: 12-15-2005 Number of Notices Mailed to Property Owners within 200': 12 Response Received: Eight phone calls with general questions. CITY OF COLLEGE STATION Planning tr Development Services CITY OF COLLEGE STATION PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES 1 101 Texas Avenue South, PO Box 9960 College Station, Texas 77842 Phone (979)764-3570 / Fax (979)764-3496 TO: J.L. GRANT FAX: 979-764-7676 FROM: Lisa Lindgren, Staff Assistant DATE: November 14, 2005 RE: Agenda &Staff Report P&Z Meeting,November 17, 2005 Following this coversheet is a copy of the Staff Report that was prepared for the above referenced project. Please keep in mind that staff's responsibility is to provide the Planning & Zoning Commission with all pertinent facts of a development case, but that staff is not acting as an advocate for the applicants. Therefore, it is in the applicant's best interest to send a representative to the Planning & Zoning Commission meeting to speak on behalf of the proposal. This item is scheduled for the November 17, 2005, Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting. This meeting will begin at 7:00 P.M. in the City Hall Council Chambers., 1101 Texas Avenue. I have included a copy of the agenda for this meeting. Please contact our office at (979) 764-3570 if you should have any questions. Thanks.