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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/02/1991 - Minutes - Planning & Zoning Commission• M I N U T E S Planning and Zoning Commission CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS 7:00 P.M. May 2, 1991 MEMBERS PRESENT: Vice Chairperson Dresser, Members Michel, Colson and Esmond. MEMBERS ABSENT: Chairperson Sawtelle and Members Gentry and Hall. STAFF PRESENT: City Planner Callaway, Assistant to the City Engineer Morgan, Planning Technician Thomas, and Senior Assistant City Attorney Bailey-Graham. Ar;FNnA TTFM Nn. ~~ Approval of Minutes - meeting April 18, 1991. Commissioner Michel moved to approve the minutes of the meeting of April 18, 1991 as presented. Commissioner Esmond seconded the motion . which passed unopposed (4 - 0). gC;RNDA TTFM Nn. ~~ Final Plat - Merker - Strawn Subdivision (E.T.J.). (91-210 ) Assistant to the City Engineer Morgan presented the staff report recommending approval of the subdivision located within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City. The purpose of this final plat is to subdivide this property into two lots and provide utility easements within the property. A plat identical to this final plat was recently approved by the County Commissioners. The City of College Station does not serve this property with any utilities, therefore all utility easements shown on this plat are for utility companies other than the City. Commissioner Esmond moved to approve the Final Plat of Merker - Strawn Subdivision as submitted. Commissioner Colson seconded the motion which passed unopposed (4 - 0). j~(;RNnA TTFM Nn" ~: Final Plat - Brandon Heights Phase II. (91-211) Assistant to the City Engineer Morgan presented the staff report recommending approval with conditions as stated in the Presubmission Conference Report. Two minor changes have been made to the plat since its preliminary approval that do not pose any problems: (1) the relocation of two drainage easements, and (2) the deletion of one drainage easement. • Staff has met with the applicant to encourage the inclusion of screening fences along Welsh Avenue. The applicant has agreed to provide a vegetative screen fence along both sides of Welsh. The area where Welsh Avenue cuts through has a line of large trees that the applicant would like to work into the vegetative screen. Their desire is to put in the vegetative screen on the east side of Welsh with this final plat and complete the screen on the west side of Welsh when that side develops. The applicant is agreeable to providing a maintenance agreement for this screen fence similar to the maintenance agreement they have on Rock Prairie Road. Welsh Avenue was identified as an oversize eligible street in a 1990 agreement with the developer. The amount of oversize will be established as a part of a development agreement which is currently being drafted to take to Council. The extension of Welsh Avenue is shown as an extension of a minor arterial through this plat area and is included as a part of this plat. Commissioner Esmond expressed several concerns over the proposed final plat: (1) The plat does not clearly define who is responsible for maintaining the various easements. Applicant should make a general note that all common area easements will be privately owner maintained. Subdivision Regulations define utility and drainage easements as public and does not address private • easements. (2) Suggested clarifying the distinction between private and public easements by bringing the property line to the center of the easement. (3) Questioned whether a Homeowner's Association agreement had been completed. Since this was a condition of approval on the Preliminary Plat, the agreement should be complete prior to final plat approval. (4) General note #7 suggests that more than one sidewalk will be installed along Westchester. The note should either be removed or reworded to clarify number of sidewalks and locations. (5) General note #8 is confusing. Since this is a final plat, all utility easements should be shown including the additional 5' required for street light circuits. (6) The elementary school should participate more in drainage control. Instead of creating a "big ditch", the City should develop the property fronting Welsh as a park. The City is missing the opportunity to establish a City park in this area that could include • much needed soccer fields. P & Z Minutes May 2, 1991 Page 2 {'7} Long range maintenance of the proposed vegetative screening along Welsh. The vegetative screening along Rock Prairie in Phase I looks like it may require high maintenance. {8) The narrowing width of Westchester will cause traffic congestion and safety hazards. With the addition of two new schools in this area, Westchester should be widened to absorb some of the traffic flow. Mr. Bensimon of Myrad Real Estate approached the Commission and stated that he is currently working with staff on a Homeowner's Association agreement between the developer and the City. He understands that the agreement is a condition of approval and will complete and recorded the agreement prior to filing the final plat. Mr. Bensimon agreed with Commissioner Esmond that the area should be developed as a park and maintained by the City. He informed the Commission that the vegetative screening along Rock Prairie Road in Phase I is irrigated through a drip system and is maintained by the landscape company on a monthly basis. Once the plants are more mature and developed, less maintenance will be required. The Homeowner's Association will maintain this same type of vegetative screening proposed along Welsh. Mr. Bensimon explained that Westchester is curved in order to preserve trees and that once the area is completely developed, Westchester will no longer serve as a collector street. • City Planner Callaway reassured the Commission that staff verifies that ali conditions of approval are met prior to filing of the final plat. General note number 8 is a standard note used by the electrical department and is hardly ever drawn or reflected on a plat. Mr. Callaway also informed the Commission that the Parks Board and other municipal groups would probably prefer not to receive the drainage common area as a park due to maintenance. Commissioner Colson moved to approve the Final Plat of Brandon Heights Phase II with the condition that. the applicant add a general note stating that the common area is privately owned and maintained by a Homeowner's Association and delete general note number seven regarding sidewalks. Mr. Michel seconded the motion which passed unopposed {4 - 0). Other business. Commissioner Esmond suggested that staff revise the Subdivision Regulations to address and define private easements. He said that the City seems to be dumping these easements on the public. The City is creating another form of government called the Homeowner's Association that has little power in enforcing maintenance. Staff should research the authority of a Homeowner's Association to establish what powers they do have, how they are established, and if this is the direction the City wants to take. The City should retain maintenance responsibilities and avoid creating a separate entity. P & Z Minutes May 2, 1991 Page 3 • Commissioner Colson stated that Homeowner's Associations will work; however, they are voluntary boards and have no power if association fees are not paid. Assistant to the City Engineer Morgan informed the Commission that the revised Drainage Ordinance will address and define private easements. The Planning and Zoning Commission will review the document prior to Council consideration. ~jp~-bKtE ~5 Commissioner Michel suggested that Frank -~r?~~~?~~- name be removed from the Brandon Heights Phase II final plat and replaced by the newly elected County Clerk, Mary Ann Ward. g~EtjjT1A TTRM BiCl_ ~+ ~ Adjourn . Commissioner Colson moved to adjourn the meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission. Commissioner Michel seconded the motion which passed unopposed (4 - 0). APPR ED: h irper on, Nancy Sawtelle TTES ;~~~ ~ j i Planning Technician, Natalie Thomas r~ P & Z Minutes May 2, 1991 Page 4 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION GUEST REGISTER DATE ~, , ~ L~i _~ ~ ~,~. NAME 1 ADDRESS . 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. to. tl. 12. 13- 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. ~5 -