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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/06/1979 - Minutes - Planning & Zoning CommissionMINUTES City of College Station Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting September 6, 1979 7:00 P.M. • MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Watson; Commissioners Etter, Sears, Stover, Sweeney, Behling; Council Liaison Ringer; Director of Planning Mayo, City Engineer Ash, Zoning Official Callaway, Planning Assistant Longley. MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioner Hazen. AGENDA ITEM N0. 1 -- Approval of minutes - meeting of August 16, 1979. Chairman Watson pointed out a letter from Commissioner Hazen asking if the error in the Zoning Ordinance which did not allow townhouse projects in the R-4 zone had been corrected. Mr. Mayo stated that he planned to take the question to the Zaning Board of Adjustment and ask them to rule this an error in the ordinance. Commissioner Etter moved that the minutes be approved. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Sears and unanimously approved. AGENDA ITEM N0. 2 -- Hear visitors. No one spoke. (at the request of the applicants, Item 4 was considered before Item 3) ITEM N0. 4 -- A public hearing on the question of ranting a Conditional Use Permit to the. Alpha Phi Fraternit Inc. for the expansion of its existing sor- ority house located at 1302 Munson Avenue. Mr. Mayo~~pointed out that he had received a letter from Mr. Tim Coppinger, a resident of Dominik Street, stating his opposition to the request. He also noted that Mrs. Hazen had sent a letter stating her opposition to the request. The public hearing was opened. Mr. Tom Caffal, project architect, presented slides, site plans and data sup- porting the proposed expansion. Mrs. Murphy, House Mother at Chi Omega, explained the function of the house mother and the standards of conduct expected of the gills living in the house. Mrs. Mary Newton, of Alpha Phi, spoke in favor of the request. Mrs. Eleanor Cox, Gilchrist Street, stated that she was no longer opposed to the project as proposed and would like to see Alpha Phi proceed. Mr. Lane Stephenson, Dominik Drive, spoke in favor of the request. Mr. John Sutherland, Gilchrist Street, spoke in favor of the request. MINUTES Page 2 Planning and Zoning Commission September 6, 1979 7:00 P.M. Mr. Jack Upham, 1209 Munson, spoke in opposition to the request. The public hearing was closed. Commissioner Stover stated that the plan would not leave anything on the site except house and parking lot and that the applicants were trying to put too much on the site. Mr. Caffal suggested that if they were allowed to-use the R-6 zone parking require- ments, 10 parking spaces could be eliminated. Mr. Stover stated that the parking was needed but that the resulting coverage of the site was a bad design. Commissioner Sweeney stated that after looking closely at the site, he had changed his mind and felt that the proposal would be a positive factor in the development of the sorority area. Chairman Watson stated that he felt the large house would be an appropriate exten- sion of the sorority area concept and that the proposed addition would be better than having seven or eight girls living in a three bedroom house. Commissioner Stover stated that some expansion was possible and appropriate, but that the proposal represented an overuse of the site. Commissioner Sweeney moved that the permit be granted. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Sears. City Engineer Ash questioned the proximity of the fence on the Alpha Phi property to the curb line on Munson. He pointed out that a jog in the right-of-way line occured at this point and that the fence might be too close to the curb line in the event that Munson were ever widened at this point. He stated that the fence should be at least 11 feet from the curb and that the site plan presented did not adequately show the location of the fence or the curb line. Mr. Ash stated that, although the fence was necessary for the compatible development of the tract, the fence could cause a serious sight distance problem at the intersection of Dominik and Munson if it were located too near the curb. Mr. Caffal asked if approval could be granted at this point and allow him to work out the fence location with City Staff. Commissioner Stover pointed out that relocation of the fence would result in re- location of the parking lot which would greatly alter the overall plan and that final approval should not be given until the fence location was tied down. Commissioner Sweeney withdrew his motion to approve the permit and moved that the item be tabled until the question of the fence location could be resolved. Commissioner Sears seconded the new motion. The motion was approved with Commissioner Behling abstaining. Commissioner Etter asked that the minutes show that the action taken did not imph.y approval of the permit. MINUTES Planning and Zoning Commission September 6;~ 1979 7:00 P.M. Page 3 The Commission took a straw vote on the item assuming the fence location was resolved. Chairman Watson advised tha# the result would be four in favor with three in op- position, considering the opposition stated in Commissioner Hazen's letter. The Commission advised Mr. Caffal to present a plan showing the detailed location of the fence and the curb line and an approved dumpster location. AGENDA I Use Perm eration Mr. Mayo asked Mr. Caffal to show the exact location of the 6 inch curb shown on the plan. Mr. Caffal indicated that the 6 inch curb would be built around the entire parking lot. Mr. Mayo pointed out .locations where raised curb islands were needed. Mr. Caffal indicated that these islands would be built at the beginning of parking rows. The public hearing was opened. Mr. Mayo added that the Fire Marshal had requested that ..the two parking spaced located at the front door of the structure be designated as a fire lane. Mr. Caffal stated that this would be done. Commissioner Stover pointed out that the site plan lacked several necessary dim- ensions. He asked what the width of the sidewalk along the parking lot was as well as the overall width of the parking bay. Mr. Caffal stated that the sidewalk was 6 feet wide and the the overall width of the parking was was 60 feet. Ms. Judy Richards, of Zeta Tau,spoke in favor of the request. The public hearing was closed. Commissioner Sweeney moved that the permit be granted with the following conditions: 1. A fully dimensioned site plan be provided to the staff. 2. That the dumpster location be approved by the Director of Public Services. 3. That raised islands be provided as shown on the plan and required by the Commission. 4. And that the two parking spaces in front of the house be made a 6 inch raised island and that the curb be marked as a fire lane. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Sears and unanimously approved. MINUTES Planning and Zoning Commission September 6, 1979 7:00 P.M. Page 4 AGENDA ITEM N0. 5 -- Consideration of a landscape/parkin la out for Motel 6. Mr. Don Clark, site planner for Motel 6 spoke for the plan. Commissioner Sweeney aksed what the location of the sign would be. Zoning Official Callaway stated that a sign contractor was working on the plan and that the sign and its location were well within the requirements of the sign ordinance. Commissioner Stover complimented Mr. Clark on the site plan. Mr. Mayo advised that an additional dumpster location might be needed and that Mr. Clark should check this out with Mr. Ford. Commissioner Stover moved that the plan be approved with the provision that an additional dumpster be provided if required by the Director of Public Services. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Etter and unanimously approved. AGENDA ITEM N0. 6 -- Consideration of a Master PreYiminar Plat - Williamsberg Addition located on the East Bypass and south of Raintree Drive • Mr. Mayo stated that the developers intended to build the subdivsion as a P.U.D. of townhomes and patio homes and had requested that the Commission consider this plat only to give their opinion of the concept of the development. He advised that the developers intended that the main part of the street system would be dedicated public streets and that the smaller streets would be pri~vatefstreets. Mr. Mayo explained the P.U.D. approval process. The Commission discussed the proposed project with Mr. Don Garrett, the project engineer. Commissioner Stover questioned the commercial strips along the frontage road. Mr. Garrett stated that the developers would not object to eliminating the smaller of the two tracts and leave the larger ell shaped tract. Mr. Ash expressed his concern with the way in which drive openings on Williamsberg and Constitution streets would be handled if these were public streets. He stated that with the 25 foot wide lots, the curb openings could almost eliminate the entire curb. He suggested that the developer consider using rear access to the lots. Commissioner Sears moved that the concept represented by the plat be approved. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Stover. Commissioner Sweeney stated that he felt the project was too dense. Mr. Garrett pointed out that the density would be slightly less tan sipgal family density. MINUTES Planning and Zoning Commission September 6, 1979 7:00 P.M. Page 5 The motion to approve was approved with Commissioner Behling voting against. Commissioner Behling stated that the Commission should wait until a final prelominary plat was submitted. Commissioner Sweeney suggested that the homeowners restrictions be written in a fashion to eliminate the absentee ownership problem. AGENDA ITEM. NO. 7 -- Consideration of a final plat - Resubdivision of Lots 12, 13 and 14, Block 28; Southwood Valle Section 9. Mr. Mayo explained that the plat only involved Lots 13 and 14 and that the title of the plat had allready been changed. Mr. Ash pointed out that City Council had abandoned a 10 foot utility easement on the old lot line between lots 13 and 14 on the understanding that the ease- ment would be replaced when the property was replatted. He noted that the easement had not been shown on the plat. Mr. Larry Wells, project engineer stated that the easement would be added to the plat. Commissioner Behling moved that the plat be approved with the stipulation that a 10 foot utility easement be centered on the line between lots 13R and!14R. i The motion was seconded by Commissioner Etter and unanimously approved. AGENDA ITEM N0. 8 -- Consideration of a final plat - Resubdivision of Lots 1,2,3; Block E and part of Block G; College Hei~c~hts Addition; Part of Lots 1,2,3, Block A; College Vista Addition and Part of Lot 21; D.A. Smith Addition. Mr. J.W. Wood, project architect, presented a proposed development plan for the tract showing a small commercial center. Commissioner Stover asked if access to the center would be possible from Turner Street. Mr. Wood stated that there would be an entrance to the center from Turner Street. Commissioner Stover moved that the plat be approved. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Sears and unanimously approved. AGENDA ITEM N0. 9 -- Consideration of a final plat - Resubdivision of Lots 2,3, 4 and 5, Block 2; Universit Oaks Section 1. Mr. Mayo stated that the main objection to this plat was that it would create a shallow lot on Highway 30 and would not be suitable for commercial development. Mr. Bill Shelly, representing the subdivider, Mr. Drapella~ stated the there was no intention to ask for commercial rezoning and that the property was to be divided only for financing purposes. He said that Tract A was owned by a partner- ship and that Mr. Drapella owned Tract B individually and that this plat would define his ownership. ~_ MINUTES Planning and Zoning Commission September 6, 1979 7:00 P.M. Page 6 Mr. Mayo stated that the problem of the shallow lot on Highway 30 would still exist whether the tract were developed commercially or as apartments. Commissioner Sotver pointed out that the tract would be very hard to develop properly as apartments are as a commercial use. Mr. Mayo stated that Mr. Drapella had created the problem by not developing the entire tract when he built the apartment project. Commissioner Behling stated that Mr. Drapella should have planned for the use of the entire piece of property rather than waiting until this time. Commissioner Sweeney pointed out that even if Mr. Drapella had not intention of rezoning the tract, the next owner might. Mr. Mayo pointed out that when the P&Z approved the plan on the larger tract, they asked Mr. Drapella what his intentions were for the small tract and he indicated that he would wait and see. Commissioner Stover moved that the plat be denied. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Etter and approved with Commissioners Behling and Sears abstaining. AGENDA ITEM N0. 10 -- Other business. Mr. Mayo advised the Commission that the members of the Citizen's Committee of the Comprehensive Plan had been contacted. Commissioner Behling pointed out the problems created by the closing of Holik Street at the Oakwood School. Mr. Ash stated that it would take people some time to get used to the new circulation pattern. AGENDA ITEM N0. 11 -- Adjourn. Commissioner Behling moved that the meeting be adjourned. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Stover and unanimously approved. The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 P.M. APPROVED Chairman ATTEST Secretary