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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/03/1979 - Minutes - Planning & Zoning CommissionMINUTES City of College Station Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting May 3, 1979 7:00 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Watson; Commissioners Sweeney, Behling, Etter, Sears, Hazen; Council Liaison Adams; City Planner Mayo, City Attorney Lewis, Zoning Official Callaway., Housing Coordinator Kee, Planning Assistant Longley. MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioner Stover. AGENDA ITEM N0. 1 -- Approval of minutes, meeting of April 19, 1979. Chairman Watson pointed out that the developer referred to in Item No. 6 was Ray Criswell and not Frank Novak. Commissioner Behling moved that the minutes be approved as amended. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Etter and unanimously approved. AGENDA ITEM N0. 2 -- Hear visitors. No one spoke. AGENDA ITEM N0. 3 -- A public hearing on the auestion of rezonina Lot 23, Block 1 of the W.C. Boyett Estate from Apartment Building District R-6 to General Commercial District C-1. The application being in the name of Mr. James H. Behling. Mr. Behling advised the Commission that he was withdrawing the request because the seller of the property would not agree to sell. contingent on the rezoning being-~.ap- proved. He also explained that he was not designated to act as the owners agent. Councilman Adams suggested that the property should have been zoned for commercial use when it was annexed into the city. He also stated that all property should be zoned as it is used when annexed. Mr. Mayo pointed out that such action would cause scattered, very small C-1 tracts, and if these happened to be in an undesirable location, the city would be stuck with them. Mr. Behling stated that he would speak to the Commission about the tract in question during Other Business. AGENDA ITEM N0. 4 -- A public hearing on the question of rezoning a 9.842 acre tract located on the northwest corner of the intersection of University Drive and the East Bypass from Single Family Residential District R-1 to General Commercial District C-1. The application being in the name of Mr. F.W. Bert Wheeler. ' Mr. Mayo pointed out the location of the property. He explained that the area was going to undergo major development in the near future and that the size and location of the tract made it a good location for commercial zoning. Commissioner Hazen objected to the number of curb cuts on University Drive shown on the proposed site plan. She also noted that the development might landlock the pro- perty to the north of the tract in question. MINUTES Planning and Zoning Commission May 3, 1979 7:00 P.M. Page 2 Mr. Mayo stated that the curb cut locations could be contr©lled by site plan re- view process. He also pointed out that the site plan should not be considered at this time; that the main thing to consider was whether or not the land was suitable for C-1 zoning. The public hearing was opened. Mr. Frank Crockett, project designer, spoke in favor of the request. He stated that he would work with the staff and Commission on the final plan for the de- velopment of the tract. He also insured that he would work with the adjoining land owner to see that he had .access to University Drive. The public hearing was closed. Commissioner Etter stated that he would be reluctant to approve any site plan that did not allow the adjacent property owner access to University Drive. Commissioner Sears moved that the Commission recommend to City Council that the rezoning be granted. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Etter and .approved with Commissioner Hazen abstaining. AGENDA ITEM N0. 5 -- Consideration of a final plat, Parkway Plaza Phase 8. Mr. Mayo stated that, if the property were treated as one tract rather than 14 lots, it would be allowed 4 curb cuts rather than the 7 shown. He also suggested that the following stipulations be made in the approval of the plat: 1. The access easement would need to be shown as a""private access easement". 2. That the document providing for the easements be filled with the City and the County before the plat is filled. 3. That the portion of the property now zoned C-1 be rezoned to R-4 before the plat is filled. 4. That the private drives and driveways be built before the Certificates of Occupancy are issued. Mr. Mayo stated that the question of number of curb cuts could either be deter-, mined now or at the time of site plan review. Mr. Frank Murphy stated that the project's lenders would object to having only 4 curb cuts and might requif:e that Lots 1 - 4 be developed as commercial rather than the 4-plexes which they wanted to build. Mr. Mayo noted that just because the plat showed seven access points to Village; there was no assurance that when the site plan was reviewed a curb cut would be allowed at each of those points. The Commission discussed the number of curb cuts that should be allowed on Village Drive. Commissioner Hazen pointed out that parking should be limited on this section of Village. MINUTES Planning and Zoning Commission May 3, 1979 7:00 P.M. Page 3 Mr. Jerry Bishop, project engineer, stated that the preliminary plat had been approved showing seven access points at the locations indicated on the final plat. He also pointed out that Village Drive would be a 39 foot street and that the only traffic on the section of the street would be generated by the pro- posed development. He asked that the Commission approve the plat and consider the site plan at the proper time. Mr. Mayo stated that he did not want the developers to get the impression that showing the seven access easements to Village would insure that curb cuts would be approved at those locations. He also reminded the Commission that this was the agreement at the time the preliminary plat was approved. Mr. Murphy stated that he understood that the location and number of curb cuts would be determined at the time of site plan approval, and he had no objection to this. Commissioner Etter moved that the plat be approved with the following conditions: 1. That the access drives and curb cuts for the entire project be completed before the issuance of Certificates of Occupancy. 2. That the document providing the private access easement be filled with the City. 3. That the final number and location of curb cuts would be determined at the time of site plan approval. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Behling and approved with Commissioner Sears abstaining. AGENDA ITEM N0. 6 -- Consideration of a preliminary plat, Highlands Place located west of and adjacent to Texas Avenue and approximately 500 feet south of Pinon ve. Mr. Mayo pointed out that the property was in the E.T.J. He also noted that the name of Highlands Drive would have to be changed because of similar named streets in both cities. He also advised the Commission that the Highway Department would be purchasing 200 feet of right-of-way off of the east side of the property for the widening of Texas Avenue and that this would make lots 1 - 16 much smaller. He suggested that the plat be tabled until these plans were finalized and the property purchased. Commissioner Sweeney moved that the plat beytabled. The motion was .seconded by Commissioner Hazen and unanimously approved. AGENDA ITEM N0. 7 -- Other business. Mr. Mayo told the Commission that Mr. McKean had turned in an application to rezone his 1.0 acre tract. on Texas Avenue from A-P to C-1. He stated that the City At- torney had not yet decided whether or not the application could be accepted before 180 days had passed because the first application for C-1 had been turned down by the Commission and City Council. He said that the notification for a public hear- ing at the May 17 meeting of the Commission had been published. He advised the Commission that they could grant permission to reconsider the application before 180 days, but that if they did not grant permission, he would continue to process MINUTES Planning and Zoning Commission May 3, 1979 7:00 P.M. Page 4 the application until, and unless, the City Attorney advised him that this action would not be legal. He also pointed out that no new facts or evidence existed in the case. Mr. Mayo said that Mr. McKean's lenders would not back the proposed project unless he could obtain C-1 zoning which would allow retail sales. Commissioner Hazen stated that she could not see letting an out of town lender control the development of College Station. Commissioner Etter stated that he was not in favor of reconsidering the request. Commissioner Sweeney stated that he was against reconsideration. Chairman Watson and Commissioner Sears stated that the would be in favor of reconsidering the request. Chairman Watson pointed out that if the commercial section of the Zoning Ordinance were broken down into more districts and permitted uses, a suitable zoning cat- egory could have been found for the tract in question. Following some discussion, Commissioners Sweeney, Hazen and Sears were appointed as a subcommittee. to study revisions to the commercial sections of the Zoning Ordinance. Commissioner Behling was appointed Commission Liaison the the Parks and Recre- ation Committee. Mr. Mayo advised the Commission that the City Attorney had decided that it would be allowable for the Director of Planning to sign final plats for the Secretary of the Commission, but that the Commission should appoint a Secretary. Commissioner Etter moved that Commissioner Hazen be .appointed Secretary by acclamation. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Sears and unanimously approved. Commissioner Hazen was appointed Secretary by acclamation. Commissioner Sweeney moved that the Director of Planning be designated to sign final plats for the Secretary of the Commission. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Etter and unanimously approved. Chairman Watson suggested that the Commissoners take another tour of current projects being developed in the City. The Commission determined to take such a tour on Tuesday, May 15 at 11:00 A.M. Mr. Frank Crockett spoke to the Commission concerning the develpment and re- zoning of a tract of approximately 90 acres across University Drive from the 9.8 acre tract considered in Item No. 4. Mr. Crockett passed out a proposed development plan for the property and discussed it with the Commission. Commissioner Behling discussed the question of rezoning the lot in Northgate specified in Item No. 3. He noted that the Comprehensive Plan showed the en- tire block as commercial. He explained that the property was zoned for apart- ments but had two commercial uses on it, thus requiring that the owners go to MINUTES Planning and Zoning Commission May 3, 1979 7:00 P.M. Page 5 The Zoning Board of Adjustment to expand the pizza business. Mr. Mayo stated that he felt that the zoning in the Northgate area should be brought into conformance with the Comprehensive Plan and that the property in question should be rezoned to a commercial zone. He suggested that a complete study be made of zoning and development in the Northgate area giving special consideration to parking and circulation. Commissioner Hazen suggested that the subcommittee considering the commercial sections of the Zoning Ordinance might review the area. Commissioner Sweeney noted that this study would be intergrated into the re- visions to the .Comprehensive Plan. Chairman Watson suggested that the Commission take a "straw vote" on rezoning the lot discussed by Commissioner Behling to some type of commercial zone. It was the opinion of the Commission that some commercial zone would be ap- propriate, but not necessarily C-1. AGENDA ITEM N0. 8 -- Adjourn. Commissioner Behling moved that the meeting be adjourned. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Sweeney and unanimously approved. The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 P.M. APPROVED Chairman Attest Secretary