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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/05/1978 - Minutes - Planning & Zoning CommissionMINUTES Regular Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting January 5,r1978 7:00 P.M. Members Present: Chairman Stover; Commissioners Bailey, Mathewson, Etter, Sweeney; City Council Liaison Gardner; City Planner Mayo, City Engineer Ash, Community Development Planner Callaway, Planning Assistant Longley. Members Absent: Commissioners Burke, White. Agenda Item No. 1 -- Approval of Minutes - meeting of December 15,___1978. Chairman Stover stated that the minutes had not been prepared in time for inclusion in the Commission's agenda packets. Agenda Item No. 2- Hear visitors. No one spoke. Agenda Item No. 3 -- A public hearing on the question of granting a conditional use permit for the construction of an apartment project to be located at the southwest corner of Longmire Drive and Brother's Boulevarde. The public hearing was opened. Mr. Gary Nelson asked what the exact location of the project was. Mr. Ash pointed out the location. Project Architect, Tim Keneipp, explained that the density of the project was less than 24 units per acre. Mr. Bob Dewers asked what the zoning was on the property across Brother's. Mr. Mayo explained that the property was zoned R-6, but could also be developed as a duplex project. The public hearing was closed. Commissioner Mathewson asked that future submissions indicate the project density. He also suggested that, on this project, the two lots be replatted as one lot. Mr. Mathewson moved that the use permit be granted on the condition that the property be replatted as one lot. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Bailey. Commissioner Bailey questioned the legality of requiring the replotting. Commissioner Etter suggested that if each of the two phases of the project were to have a different lender, this replatting could cause a problem. Mr. Mathewson withdrew his motion. MINUTES, Regular Planning and Zoning Commission January 5, 1978 7:00 P.M. Commissioner Mathewson moved that the use permit be granted. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Sweeney. Page 2 Mr. Stover suggested that the width of the walks and the project density be shown on the plan. Mr. Keneipp stated that he would do this. Councilman Gardner requested that the developers be asked to provide a colored copy of proposed projects. Commissioner Mathewson's motion passed unanimously. Agenda Item No. 4 -- A public hearing on the question of granting a conditional use permit for the construction of an apartment project to be located at the intersection of Southwood Drive and Airline Drive. The public hearing was opened. Mr. Mayo pointed out that the proposed units' garages were placed on the rear property line and that the Zoning Board of Adjustment had granted a variance to the rear setback requirement. Chairman Stover suggested that the Board of Adjustment did not have the power to grant a variance when there are no natural constraints on the property which would make such a variance necessary. He also pointed out that there were no such constraints on this property. Larry Landry, applicant, pointed out that the 50 foot area to the rear of this property was a common open area and that this was one of the reasons the variance had been granted. Mr. Stover noted that the problem could also be solved be platting the lots 20 feet deeper. Mr. Mayo pointed out that this would also allow the driveways to be at least 20 feet deep and provide better vehicular access and circulation on the site. The public hearing was closed. Commissioner Mathewson moved that the use permit be denied for the following reasons: 1. The units were designed on the rear property line, thus violating the rear set- back requirement. 2. The 10 foot drive and access easement was too narrow to allow for proper vehicular maneuvering. 3. North was shown down on the plan. 4. The property should be replatted to provide an additional 20 feet of lot depth. ''' The motion was seconded by Commissioner Etter. Chairman Stover suggested that the item be tabled rather than denied. • • • MINUTES, Regular Planning and Zoning Commission January 5, 1978 7:00 P.M. ~,.~~ Page 3 The motion to deny the use permit failed with Commissioner Mathewson voting for. motion. Commissioner Etter moved that the item be tabled until the problems listed in the previous motion could be solved, and that an agreement on maintenance of the common areas be worked out by the owners. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Sweeney and approved with Commissioner Mathewson voting against the motion. Mr. Mathewson stated that he felt this action was the same as denying the permit and that denial would have required that the plan go back to P.R.C. Agenda Item No. 5 -- A public hearing on the question of granting a conditional use permit for the construction of an addition to the A&M United Methodist Wesley Foundation located at 200 Tauber Street. The public hearing was opened. Mr. Mayo pointed out that there was very little off-street parking provided for the existing facility and that this addition was provideng no additional spaces. Mr. Rodger Feldman stated that 90% of the foundation's activities were held at night and on Sundays, so that the parking propblem was no worse than that faced by other churches and stores in the Northgate area. He also stated that the church owned one half of an adjacent, vacant, lot and planned to convert this into a parking area. Mr. Les Hawkins of the Church's Building Committee spoke in favor of the request. He noted that when the funds became available, the vacant lot would be developed for parking. Mr. Gene Marquis stated that many of the persons using the foundation got to it either on bicycles or on foot. Mr. Leon Williamson stated that the addition would not increase the number of persons using the facility, but only add more space for the existing membership. The public hearing wasclosed. Commissioner Mathewson moved that the use permit be granted. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Bailey and approved with Chairman Stover voting against the motion. Mr. Stover stated that he felt additional off-street parking should have been provided on the plan. Agenda Item No. 6 -- Consideration of a Master Preliminary Plat - Timber Ridge Addition, located between Plantation Oaks, Munson, and Dominic Drives. Mr. Mayo pointed out that the plat reflected the recommendations of the Commission the City Council and the residents of the area. Commissioner Mathewson pointed out that either University Oaks or Plantation Oaks Drive would have to be renamed since they would now connect. MINUTES, Regular Planning and Zoning Commission Page 4 January 5, 1978 7:00 P.M. Mr. Ash recommended that Plantation Oaks be changed since there were no addresses on this street at this time. Chairman Stover suggested that access to Lots 1 and 24 of Blocks 1 and 2 be to Post Oak and Forest Drive and not to Munson. Mr. Gardner suggested that some provision be made for pedestrian access from this development to the Dominic Street area. Commissioner Mathewson asked how the lots with the gas line easement were to be developed. A representative of the developer stated that on the final plat, these lots would be combined into larger, single lots. Mr. Thomas Kozik asked for certain assurances from the developer of the majority of the tract before he would dedicate his property for the construction of Forest Drive. The developers stated that they were working to accomplish what Mr. Kozik had requested of them. Commissioner Mathewson moved that the plat be approved. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Sweeney. Chairman Stover noted that it should be made clear to all concerned that the devel- opers should work out an agreement with Mr. Kozik and Mr. Fisher to make sure that no part of Forest Lane was ever platted as a half-street. The motion to approve the plat passed unanimously. Agena Item No. 7 -- Consideration of a revised preliminary plat - Woodstock Section I. a Mr. Mayo pointed out that all revisions had been made as recommended except that the alleys had not been changed to access easements. Mr. Wood stated that he would change these areas to read as "access easements." Commissioner Mathewson suggested that the20 foot easement between the cul-de-sac and the loop streets be designated as a fire lane. Mr. Wood stated that this would be no problem. Mr. Ash suggested that the lower portion of the loop street be extended to Harvey Road. Chairman Stover statedthat he would like to see the loop street and the cul-de-sac connected and the streets built to a 29 foot section. Commissioner Mathewson moved that the plat be approved with the following conditions: 1. Lots 1 - 9, Block 1 have no direct access to Harvey Road or Dartmouth Avenue. 2. Lots 1 & 27, Block 3 and Lot 1, Block 4 have no direct access to Dartmouth, 3. That the access easement between the cul-de-sac and the loop streets be designated a fire lane. MINUTES, Regular Planning and Zoning Commission January 5, 1978 7:00 P.M. Page 5 The motion was seconded by Commissioner Etter and approved with Commissioner Sweeney abstaining. Agenda Item No. 8 -- Reconsideration of a request to rezone Lots 21 and 22 of the Meadowland Addition and two adjacent and unplatted lots from Apartment Building District R-6 to General Commercial District C-1. Mr. Brad Crane presented a document stating the the University had offered a 14 foot wide strip along Avenue D to the City in return for maintenance of the street. Mr. Ash pointed out that the City had never accepted this right-of-way and could not, therefore, grant access to the street. Mr. Crane stated that the University had refused to grant him access to the street. Mr. Stover pointed out that if access could not be obtained to Avenue D, the only access would be to Texas Avenue and Meadowland Street, and neither of these would be advisable. The Commission discussed whether or not the proposed U-Haul facility was suitable for the site andt he location. It was noted that the owners planned to keep a 3 man work crew on the job on a 24 hour basis. The .Commission asked Mr. Crane what the function of this crew would be. Mr. Crane stated that he eas not sure what this crew would be doing. Commissioner Mathewson moved that the Commission recommend denial of the request unless the City were to accept control of Avenue D. The motion failed for lack of a second. Commissioner Mathewson moved that the Commission recommend denial of the request. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Etter and unanimously approved. Agenda Item No. 9 -- Discussion of methods of preparing an annual report of Commission activity. Chairman Stover supplied Mr. Mayo with copies of examples of annual planning activity reports for his consideration. Agenda Item No. 10 -- Other business. Mr. Mayo advised-the Commission of the proposed development of a large shopping center on the property located at the intersection of Harvey Road and the East Bypass. He noted that the developers has asked to eliminate or relocate the section of Scarlett O'Hara Drive located on their property. The Commission felt there would be no problem with this request. Mr. Stover noted that the developers might also request the rezoning of an additional 6 acres to C-1. ~. The Commission stated that they were agreeable to such a request. MINUTES, Regular Planning and Zoning Commission Page 6 January 5, 1978 7:00 P.M. Mr. Mayo asked that the Commissioners clarify their position on the use of private access easements and alleys in commercial projects versus their use in residential projects. Chairman Stover suggested, that in the case of Mr. Wood's plat, the important point was to deny access to Harvey Road and Dartmouth, and that direct access to the local streets was of no great concern. Mr. Mayo suggested that the requirement of a 39 foot wide section for any street serving 30 or more units be put back into Ordinance No. 608. Mr. Stover pointed out that street length should also be considered in this requirement. He also suggested that in future projects, the main concern of the Commission should ` be to deny access to major arterial and secondary arterial streets rather than local streets, and that access easements should be considered as a way of accomplishing this. Councilman Gardner advised the Commission that a Capital Improvement program was being developed. He stated that he felt it was unwise that no input had been requested from the Commission. Mr. Ash stated that, as Director of Capital Improvements, he felt that the Commission should be the body to make the decisions regarding capital improvements. He pointed out that the Council had chosen to appoint a Citizen's Committee for this function. Mr. Ash invited the members of the Commission to the regular Monday afternoon meetings of the committee and stated that their input would be greatly appreci~~ted. Agenda Item No. 11 -- Adjourn. Commissioner Bailey moved that the meeting be adjourned. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Mathewson and unanimously approved. APPROVED Chairman Attest, Secretary •