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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/04/1974 - Minutes - Planning & Zoning Commission 1 MINUTES Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting 410 February 4, 1974 7 :00 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT: Acting Chairman George Boyett; Commissioners Tom Chaney, Ed Miller, Chris Mathewson; Council Liaison Don Dale; Director of Public Works Louie Dulaney; Assistant Director of Public Works George Ford; City Planner Bill Koehler. MEMBERS ABSENT: Chairman Calliham; Commissioners John Longley and James Wallace. VISITORS PRESENT: See Guest Register The meeting was called to order at 7 : 00 P.M. at City Hall. Agenda Item No. 1 - Approval of minutes of December 10 meeting. On motion by Commissioner Chaney seconded by Commissioner Mathewson, the minutes of the December 10 meeting were unanimously approved. Agenda Item No. 2 - P&Z Case 1-74. Revised Final Plat of Southwest Village. The City Planner explained that this plat was for the purpose of relocating an easement, that no construction was involved, and that the staff had reviewed the plat and recommended approval. Com- missioner Chaney moved and Commissioner Mathewson seconded that the plat be approved. The motion was approved unanimously. Agenda Item No. 3 - P&Z Case 3-74 . Vacating Plat of Country Place Subdivision. The City Planner pointed out that this plat vacated an existing subdivision which had been incorporated into extra- territorial jurisdiction limits subsequent to its original filing, and that the vacating plat had been referred to the City for approval prior to its consideration by the County Commissioner ' s Court. Commis- sioner Mathewson asked if there were more than one owner. The City Planner answered that the persons whose names appeared on the plat were all of the owners involved. A motion by Commissioner Mathewson seconded by Commissioner Chaney that the plat be approved, passed by unanimous vote. Agenda Item No. 4 - P&Z Case No. 4-74. Preliminary Plat of Pooh' s Park, Section Two. The City Planner pointed the location of the subdivision and called the Commission' s attention to the variances requested by the developer. Acting Chairman Boyett read and explained the variances. Commissioner Mathewson asked about the locations of existing and proposed utilities and asked the proposed use of the land. The developer, Mr. Dale, pointed out the location of utilities and answered that the lots were intended for warehousing, wholesale sales, and certain professional offices. 411 Mrs. Hazen questioned the safety of children walking to the Pooh' s Park Amusement Park in view of the requested waiver of sidewalk requirements. Acting Chairman Boyett replied that the amusement park would no longer exist when the subdivision was constructed MINUTES, Planning and Zoning Commission Page 2 and that through pedestrian traffic would be unlikely due to the uses of adjoining land and surrounding physical barriers. Commissioner Mathewson asked about the connection of Parksdale Street to Hollemann Drive and Acting Chairman Boyett explained that this subdivision plat did extend to the right of way of Hollemann through Pooh' s Park, Section One. Dr. Gardner asked about the necessity for sidewalks to serve internal pedestrian traffic. Mr. Dale replied that the lack of retail businesses in the area would make pedestrian traffic unlikely. Commissioner Mathewson moved for the approval of the plat with the variances as requested. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Chaney and unanimously approved. Agenda Item No. 5 - P&Z Case No. 5-74 . Final Plat of Lake Village Place Subdivision. The City Planner presented the plat and showed the points of difference from the preliminary plat. Discussion followed concerning the changes. Council Liaison Dale questioned the phrase "Unrestricted Reserve" which appears on the plat. The owner' s representative, J. W. Wood, said that this wording would be removed. Mr. Richard Smith, owner of the property adjacent to this subdivision, pointed out that if access to Lakeside Drive South from his property 411 could be obtained by a land trade, there would be no need of that portion of Rhett Butler Drive through the proposed park site. Acting Chairman Boyett suggested that the City Engineer co-ordinate with the two parties to such an agreement. Further discussions concerned alternate means of access to the Smith property. Commissioner Chaney questioned the purpose of the flared rights of way at Lakeside Drive South and the southwest property line and at River Oaks Boulevard and the southwest property line. Mr. Wood said that they were not necessary as long as there would be no intersection there. Council Liaison Dale asked the reason for the excess street widths proposed. Mr. Ford said that the extra width was proposed by the developer and that the City is not to participate in the cost of the excess width. Acting Chairman Boyett remarked that the City should not force a developer to use minimal street widths. Dr. Gardner inquired about the need for sidewalks. Commissioner Chaney agreed that they should be required in the apartment areas . Commissioner Chaney made the motion that the plat be approved subject to the following conditions: 1. The right of way of River Oaks Boulevard and of Lakeside Drive South is to be extended straight to the southwest property line, 410 eliminating the flared portions. -NI MINUTES, Planning & Zoning Commission Page 3 2 . The extension of Rhett Butler Drive from Lakeside Drive 411 South to the Richard Smith property is to be located as specified by the City Engineer. 3. Sidewalks of 4 feet minimum width are to be constructed along both sides of Rhett Butler Drive, Scarlet O'Hara Drive, River Oaks Boulevard, Lakeside Drive South and Lakeside Drive North. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Miller and unanimously approved. Agenda Item No. 6 - Review of Subdivision Ordinance and Zoning Ordinance Amendments. Acting Chairman Boyett read the Planner' s memorandum on amendments to Ordinance No. 690 which have been passed by the Council as Ordinance No. 899 and amendments to Ordinance 850 which are to be considered by the Council at a public hearing on February 25, 1974 . Dr. Gardner and Ms. Hazen questioned the removal of the requirement for sidewalks. Council Liaison Dale pointed out that the change in the ordinance did not remove the requirement but did preclude the indiscriminate requirement for sidewalks in places where they were not needed. City Planner Koehler said that the specific requirement for the sidewalks when the Planning Commission determined the need would be more likely to encourage compliance. Dr. Gardner asked how a watercourse was to be defined without an easement. Council Liaison Dale and Assistant Director of Public 411 Works Ford pointed out some of the problems and expense of maintenance and preservation of drainage easements . The City Planner pointed out the proposed amendments to Ordinance No. 850. Dr. Gardner questioned the procedure being followed. Acting Chairman Boyett replied that the Council was amending the ordinance on its own initiation as provided for in the ordinance and that while comments on the amendments would be recorded in the minutes and made available to the council, no official recommendations would be made by the Planning Commission. Commissioner Mathewson questioned the adequacy of the 10 foot clear space requirement at the rear of commercial buildings in an emergency situation. The example was presented of the impossibility of an ambulance passing a pumper truck in a 10 foot space. Dr. Gardner proposed that the Council consider other changes such as a requirement for a use permit for apartment or commercial buildings over a particular size in order to allow the Planning Commission some control over the site planning and layout of such projects. He pointed out that a 300 unit apartment project would contain enough people to consititue a community. Commissioner Chaney stated that large project permits in College Station should be subjected to careful review of all City departments concerned. Council Liaison Dale reminded the Commission that the present Ordinance 850 had been under review for many years before its passage MINUTES, Planning & Zoning Commission Page 4 and that at the time of its adoption it was realized that there 411 would be flaws which would have to be found and corrected as the ordinance was applied. He suggested that the best means of doing this was to consider specific changes one at a time rather than to attempt a massive revision. Acting Chairman Boyett pointed out that he and Commissioner Mathewson constituted a committee of the Planning Commission to consider and recommend Zoning Ordinance changes, and that the committee welcomed and invited the partici- pation and advice of Dr. Gardner and other knowledgable persons in their consideration of further changes. Acting Chairman Boyett directed that copies of the changes in Ordinance No. 690 and proposed changes in the Zoning Ordinance be sent to the Commission members who were absent. Agenda Item No. 7 - Other Business . City Planner Koehler announced that the Corps of Engineers had completed their Flood Plain Study and that representatives of the Corps would be at a public meeting at 1: 30 P.M. on Wednesday, February 6 at the Medallion Room of the Bryan Utilities Building to present the results of the study and to answer questions. Agenda Item No. 8 - Hear visitors. Ms . Gloria Martinson requested that a "Slow" or "Watch for Children" sign be posted on Dexter Drive. Commissioner Chaney added that similar signs were needed on Fairview. This matter was referred to the Assistant Director of Public Works. Mr. Richard Smith inquired about flood plain definition and construc- tion restrictions therein. City Planner Koehler answered that the Flood Plain Study rendered its information in sufficient detail to permit its application to large scale mapping and location on the ground. Acting Chairman Boyett said that the present Zoning Ordinance forbade building in the flood plain but that a draft of an amendment to this provision was under study by his committee. Agenda Item No. 9 - Adjourn. Upon motion for adjournment by Commissioner Mathewson seconded by Commissioner Chaney and unanimously approved, the meeting was adjourned. APPROVED OK /414,44---' Chairman ATTEST Secr ary r -11 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING February 4, 1974 7 :00 P.M. 0 PLEASE SIGN BELOW: 1. /( , � � 15. 2. '15//1r444A 16 . 3 . r � 17 . 4. 4e/"4-118 . 5. , f" 19 . 6 . 6tV4 L A20 . 411 21. 64 8. 22. 9 . 23 . 10. 24 . 12. 25. . 13 . • 14 .