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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/03/1980 - Minutes - Planning & Zoning CommissionMINUTES City of College Station Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting January 3,-1980 7:00 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Watson; Commissioners Etter, Behling, Sweeney,: Bailey, Hazen, Sears; City Council Liaison, Mayor Bravenec. MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Director of Planning Mayo, Zoning Official Callaway', City Engineer Ash, Planning Assistant Longley. AGENDA ITEM N0. 1 -- Approval of minutes - meetin of December 20, 1979. Commissioner Etter moved that the minutes be approved. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Sears and unanimously approved. AGENDA ITEM N0. 2 -- Hear visitors. Mr. Chris Mathewson of the Zoning Board of Adjustment spoke on the problem of the lack of parking spaces in the Northgate area. He related actions taken by the Zoning Board of Adjustment on a recent change of use application in one of the existing structures in the area. Chairman Watson suggested that a workshop session be held with the landowners in the Northgate area. Commissioner Etter suggested that the Commission hold a~workshop session to discuss some suggestions to present to the landowners. The Commission decided~to place the question on a workshop agenda. AGENDA ITEM N0. 3 -- A uublic hearine on the question of rezonine L®t 1. Block-2 of the Woodstock Addition from Apartment Building District R-6 to General Com- mercial District C-l. The application is in the name of Mr..'A.B. Svvtak, Jr. Mr. Mayo showed the location of the tract and the apartment project now under construction adjacent to it. He noted that a condominium grojeCt'-had been ap- proved on the two lots adjacent to and sough of the tract. The public hearing was opened. Mr. Jerry Bishop, Project Engineer presented a conceptual plan for the development of the tract. Commissioner Etter asked what justification the applicant could give for requesting a zone change which was not incompliance with the Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Bishop said that he felt the Comprehensive Plan should .be used as an over- view of the City and that commercial development in the area of the request made it reasonable. He .also pointed out that,-if apartments were developed on the site, a very similar layout would have to be used. MINUTES Planning and Zoning Commission January 3, 1980 7:00 P.M. Page 2 ~' Mr. Chris Mathewson, 1607 Glade, spoke in opposition to the request. He sug- gested that the Commission consider that they could be recreating East 29th Street by encouraging "strip commercial" development. The public hearing was closed. The Commission discussed the compliance of the request with the Comprehensive Plan and the concept and suitability of "strip commercial development". Commissioner Behling asked City Engineer Ash if the development would cause traffic problems on Highway 30. Mr. Ash stated that traffic problems would occur on Highway 30 and that the speed limit would probably never fall below 40 m.p.h. He added that signals would probably be needed at the intersections of Dartmouth, Munson and Highway 30. But that the traffic problems would be no worse than those in other growing cities. Mr. Ash also noted that, if the property were deeper, more access could be taken from Dartmouth. He pointed out,. however, that if the land were developed as zoned, access would still be necessary on Highway 30. Mr. Mayo pointed out that a commercial development would generate more trips per day than an apartment project and that additional depth could provide room for decelleration lanes. _ Mr. Ash stated that the problems in the area could have been prevented several years ago if Munson had been improved and extended to University Drive and Dartmouth aligned with Munson. Commissioner Behling stated that he felt this was a logical location for the proposed developement and moved that the Commission recommend approval of the re- quested rezoning. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Sears and failed by the following vote: For: Chairman Watson, Commissioners Behling, Sears Against: Commissioners Hazen, Etter, Sweeney, Bailey. AGENDA ITEM N0. 4 -- Consideration of a parking plan for the College Station Bank located at the intersection of Dominik and Texas Avenue. Mr. Mayo presented the proposed plan and pointed out that the builders and architects on the project had worked out the design with the City Staff. Mr. Watson asked when construction would begin on the permanent structure. Mr. Jim Miller, representative of the bank, stated that construction should begin in February of 1980. Commissioner Sweeney asked if a sign location was shown on the g1an. Mr. Miller stated that no sign was shown but that it would be designed and located as required by the City ordinances. The Commission discussed the location of the dumpster and asked Mr. Miller to work out the final location with the Director of Public Services. MINUTES Planning and Zoning Commission January 3, 1980 7:00 P.M. Page 3 . Commissioner Sears moved that the plan be approved subject to the final location of the dumpster. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Etter. Commissioner Behling questioned the proximity of the first c~rb~c~t on Dominik to Texas Avenue. Mr. Ash pointed out that this location was within the provisions of Ordinance 608 and that the location shown provided more stacking space for the drive-in banking facility. The motion to approve the plan was unanimously approved. AGENDA ITEM N0. 5 -- Consideration of a parking plan for 707 Texas Phase 5. Mr. Mayo presented the proposed plan and pointed out that some of the parking spaces on the west end of the project were not within the platted portiofi of the 707 Texas Phase 5 property. He stated that he did not think this would create a problem but that it should be pointed out. Mr. E.W. Schultz stated that the parking spaces in question were not existing and would actually be added to the Phase 5 development, but that due to a financing arrangement, the spaces were a part of Phase 2. He stated that he was now trying to get the financial backer to release the property to Phase 5 and that if he • could not do this, he would place a note on the face of the plat to the effect that the spaces involved were a part of Phase 2. Commissioner Sweeney moved that the plan be approved subject to working out the details of ownership of the parking spaces in question. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Sears and unanimously approved. AGENDA ITEM N0. 6 -- Consideration of a revised site plan for the Oakwood Apartments. Mr. Mayo pointed out that the concerns of the Fire Marshall about the "dead-end" parking areas had been satisfied because the developer had agreed to mark fire lanes in all areas which he had designated. Commissioner Bailey moved that the plan be approved. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Etter and approved with Commissioner Behling voting against. AGENDA ITEM N0. 7 -- Consideration of number of off-street packing spaces required for a commercial arcade. Mr. Mayo explained the concept of a commercial arcade and review parking require- ments of other Texas cities. He recommended that the requirement be set at one space per 100 square feet. He noted that this would include employee parking. • Mr. John Paul Jones spoke and explained the situation involving his property in Northgate and its proposed use as an arcade. Mr. Mayo pointed out that the Commission had to consider the parking needed for MINUTES Planning and Zoning Commission January 3, 1980 7:00 P.M. Page 4 . an arcade located anywhere in the City not just for Mr. Jones' property. Mr. Jones stated that arcades required far less employees that other businesses and that very few people would drive to an arcade. He suggested that one space per 200 square feet would be more than adequate. Commissioner Behling moved that the requirement be set at one space per 150 square feet. Mr. Chris Mathewson stated that, it was his opinion that the Zoning Board of Adjustment would grant a variance to Mr. Jones for a use that did not sell beer and that he would probably be granted a variance for the arcade as proposed. The Commission discussed whether or not the setting of the parking requirement would require an amendment to the Ordinance and determined that it would not. The motion by Commissioner Behling was seconded by Commissioner Sears and approved by the following vote. For: Chairman Watson; Commissioners Sears, Behling, Bailey Against: Commissioners Etter, Hazen, Sweeney AGENDA ITEM N0. 8 -- Other business. Commissioner Sweeney asked if the 1980 census would interfere with the Comp- rehensive Plan Revision process. Mr. Mayo said that he did not feel there would be any problem because most of the information compiled by the census was information which was already known by City officials. The Commission determined to hold a workshop session on Wednesday,January 9 at 3:30 P.M. to discuss the following three items: 1. The revised schedule for the Comprehensive Plan revision. 2. The commercial development ordinance. 3. Discussion of the parking and related problems in the Northgate area. AGNEDA ITEM N0. 9 -- Adiourn. Commissioner Sears moved that the meeting be adjourned. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Bailey and unanimously approved. The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 P.M. APPROVED Chairman Attest Secretary