HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/06/1983 - Special Minutes City Council (2)M I HUTES
SPECIAL NORTHGATE COHHITTEE HEETIrlG
College Stat ion, Texas
April 6, 1983
10:OO A.M.
Council members in attendance: Pat Boughton, Lynn Nemec Hcllhaney & Council Elect
Vicky Reinke
Planning & Zoning members: Roy Kelly, Gerald Miller & E. Murl Bailey
Zoning Board of Adjustment members: Dan MacGilvray, dack Upham, Vi Cook, and
Mary Kaye Donahue
Staff members: Jim Callaway, Jane Kee & Shirley Volk
In addition to the above, there were numerous others, including merchants, media, land-
owners and residents of College Station in attendance.
A group of citizens numbering approximately 45 met at the Presbyterian Church to discuss
problems in the Northgate area and possible solutions to these problems.
Chairman of the Northgate Study Committee, Dan MacGilvray opened the meeting, identified
himself and listed as four major problems of the area, Traffic, Parking (student parking
and lack of parking in the business area), Restrictions in the Current Zoning Ordinance
and Maintenance (streets, trash accumulation, lack of curb and gutters, sidewalks). He
then opened the meeting for discussion.
Possible solutions to problems addressed included establishment of tax assessment (incre-
ment) districts, no parking signs in clogged areas, street repairs, creation of a special
zoning district, more parking on campus at the University, better enforcement of parking
regulations, better enforcement of maintenance (streets, trash, weeds; both public & pri-
vate), additional public trash containers, wider sidewalks (thereby disallowing parking
on streets in certain areas), creation of an ordinance to prevent open containers of al-
coholic beverages on the streets which would also allow sidewalk cafes, extension of
"walk" time on pedestrian lights at College Main and University Drive, relax landscaping
requirements which take up parking spaces, relax setback requirements, relax off-street
parking requirements, and appeal to the University for shuttlebus stops in Northgate.
Further discussion followed, with the suggestion of creating a special zoning district
or an ordinance which would outline exceptions to the regular ordinance in a specified
area (Nagle to railroad tracks). One other suggestion which was offered was that if a
variance would be required to pay money to a special account to help provide parking lots
and street repairs in this Northgate area. This idea was likened to developers in new
subdivlsions who are requJred to dedicate parkland to the City or pay money in lieu of
land.
One citizen expressed an opinion that the City ignores Northgate and wishes it would go
away, but other citlzens stated the City had been as cooperative as possible while working
with an ordinance which does not suit an area as old as Northgate. Another person said
the real question is whether or not the Northgate area should grow, and still another
suggested that problems be addressed one at a time, and a decision should be made as to
what is wanted in the future before the growth takes place.
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Northgate
4-6-83
page 2
It was discovered that in many cases, solving one problem for a particular merchant
creates other problems for the entire area.
Discussion waned and due to the hour of the day, (nearly noon), the meeting broke up
as the people in attendance disbursed.
SUBMITTED BY: REVIEWED & APPROVED BY:
Shirl~.y J. I~1~ Planning Technician
ATTEST:
i)'ian Jones(~'ty Secretary
Pat Boughtq~i, City Council
O03R. z, 6