Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report STAFF REPORT Project Manager: Crissy Hart! Report Date: December 29, 2005 Email: chartl@cstx.gov Meeting Date: January 10, 2006 APPLICANT: Anthony Jones REQUEST: Landscape variance LOCATION: 3205 Earl Rudder Freeway PURPOSE: To exclude a drainage easement from area calculations for landscape point requirements. GENERAL INFORMATION Status of Applicant: Property owner Applicable Ordinance Section: Section 7.5 Landscaping and Tree Protection PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS Zoning and Land Use • Subject Property: C-1 General Commercial currently vacant • North: C-1 General Commercial used as storage buildings • West: C-1 General Commercial used as storage buildings • East: C-1 General Commercial used as Legacy Construction office building • South: R-1 Single Family Residential and R&D Research and Development currently vacant Frontage: This property has frontage on Sebesta Road and Earl Rudder Freeway. Access: The proposed office building will have access via Sebesta Road. Topography & Vegetation: Gradual slope towards concrete drainage channel with little vegetation. Flood Plain: No floodplain on this property. O:\group\deve_ser\stfrpt\zngstfrpt\honda.doc VARIANCE INFORMATION Background: In 1998, the applicant submitted a site plan application for the construction of Legacy Construction office building. The site plan included two phases for construction. The first phase included the western portion of the lot that fronts on Earl Rudder Freeway, excluding the 60' drainage easement. The second phase contained the eastern portion of the lot and the entire 60' drainage easement. Landscaping points were calculated for Phase I, and was built accordingly. The applicant has since submitted a site plan to develop Phase II and wishes to remove the entire drainage easement from the landscape and streetscape requirements; thus he is requesting a variance of 1002 landscape points and 3 canopy street trees. ANALYSIS Special Conditions: The applicant states as his special condition: "Staff, in 1998, did not want anything to incur blockage within this area. It is an offsite drainage/collection facility for Sebesta Rd and surrounding properties. We maintain, mow and clear trash in all of the drainage easement." Hardships: The applicant states as his hardship: "This is a large detention/collection facility that will handle a lot of offsite property yet to be developed. I'm respectfully requesting that the drainage area not be included with any of the landscape calculations for the new office." Alternatives: The Board may grant a lesser variance. Recommendation: Staff is recommending denial for this request. In order to meet landscaping requirements, landscaping does not need to be planted in the easement, but rather compensated throughout the site. SPECIAL INFORMATION Ordinance Intent: The purpose and intent of the landscape ordinance is to regulate the manner in which land in the City is used and developed, to minimize adverse effects on surrounding property owners or the general public, and ensure that high quality development is maintained throughout the community. O:\group\deve_ser\stfrpt\zngstfrpt\honda.doc Similar Requests: No similar requests have been made. Number of Property Owners Notified: 6 Responses Received: None as of date of staff report. ATTACHMENTS 1. Location Map 2. Aerial Map 3. Application 4. Site Plan O:\group\deve_ser\stfrpt\zngstfrpt\honda.doc