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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/07/1994 - Minutes - Planning & Zoning Commission• MINUTES Planning & Zoning Commission CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS April 7, 1994 7:00 P.M. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Commissioners Mariott, Smith, Lane, Hall, Herring and Gribou. COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Chairman Hawthorne. STAFF PRESENT: Assistant Director of Economic & Development Services Callaway, Cily Planner Kee, City Engineer Pullen, Planning Technician Thomas, Staff Planner Kuenzel, Staff Planner Dunn, Transportation Planner Hard and Project Engineer McCully. AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Approval of minutes from the meeting of March 17, 1994. • Commissioner Gribou moved to approve the minutes from the meeting of March 3, 1994 as written. Commissioner Mariott seconded the motion which passed unopposed (5 - 0); Commissioner Herring was not present during the approval of minutes. AGENDA ITEM NO. 2: Public hearing to consider a rezoning request for 17.33 acres located along the south side of Rock Prairie Road approximately 650' east of State Highway 6 from G2 Commercial Industrial to R-5 Medium Density Apartments. (94108) Staff Planner Kuenzel presented the staff report and recommended approval of the proposed rezoning. Staff originally recommended denial of the C-2 and maintains that the R-5 designation that is now requested would be preferable to the current zoning. The R-5 zoning would he a better reflection of the Land Usc Plan and would meet the recommended development policy regarding land use patterns along major roadways. The subject property was rezoned in 19f~6 from Agriculture/Open Space to the current C-2 designation. The C-2 tract located to the west of the subject property and the A-P tract to the east and south were included in the original request. At the time of the public hearing, staff pointed out that the Land Use Plan rellectcd this property as medium density residential, and that the request for the subject property was not in compliance with the Plan. The intent of the Plan is to allow commercial zoning near the Highway 6 intersection and to buffer the residential zoning to the south and east through step down zoning. The request pushed commercial use further away Gom the intersection than would be desirable under the Comprehensive Plan. As a compromise solution, the applicant offered the A-P tract to the cast and south as a buffer zone. Fifteen surrounding property owners were notified with no response. Commissioner Hall opened the public hearing. Seeing no one present to speak in favor of or in opposition to the proposed rezoning request, he closed the public hearing. • Commissioner Gribou moved to recommend approval of a rezoning request of 17.33 acres located along the south side of Rock Prairie Road approximately 650' east of State Highway 6 Gom C-2 Commercial Industrial to R-5 Medium Density Apartments. Commissioner Mariott seconded the motion which passed unopposed (6 - 0). AGENDA ITEM NO. 3: Consideration of a preliminary plat for the Springbrook Phase II • Subdivision. (94-306) City Planner Kee presented the staff report for the Springbrook -Cypress Meadow Subdivision Phase II. A presubmission conference was held on Wednesday, March 16, 1994. The extension of Longmire Drive adjacent to this property will occur with this development. It will also include the bridge structure across the creek to tie info the existing portion of Longmire Drive out to Barron Road. Eagle Avenue will be extended through this subdivision as a residential collector. There will be no access to either Longmire Drive or Eagle Avenue. Longmire Drive will have striped bike lanes. Sidewalks will be placed in accordance with the Subdivision Regulations. A variance to the turnaround requirement at the end of Longmire Drive is being requested. Staff has no prohlem with the variance request because driveway access to Eagle and Longmire is not allowed. Commissioner Gribou moved to recommend approval of a preliminary plat for the Springbrook Phase II Subdivision with staff recommendations and a variance granted to the turnaround requirement at the end of Longmire Drive and Eagle Avenue. Commissioner Mariott seconded the motion which passed unopposed (6 - 0). AGENDA ITEM NO. 4: Consideration of a final E.TJ. plat for the Snug Harbor Phase I Subdivision. (94-210) This item was withdrawn by the applicant prior to the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting AGENDA ITEM NO. 5: Consideration of a driveway variance to relocate the existing access drive for Homestead Savings at 2553 Texas Avenue South. (94-801) Project Engineer McCully presented the staff report and stated that the owner of the property is • attempting to remove a very serious traffic safety problem that is occurring with the existing driveway into the banking facility. Vehicles are lining up to use the drive through lanes which is backing up into the traffic lanes of Texas Avenue. By relocating the driveway and thereby creating more vehicle storage within the site itself, a potentially hazardous traffic condition on Texas Avenue will be removed. Duc to the limits of the existing parcel and surrounding driveways, there is no feasible way to meet the strict application of the driveway location criteria. Based on the need to reduce the safely hazard of the current situation and the inability of the site to meet the strict requirements of the ordinance, staff recommends approval of the variance request. Commissioner Gribou expressed concern with the stacking of cars in the parking lot area. Project Engineer McCully stated that other designs were explored by the architect and all oC them would block parked cars, driving aisles or store fronts. The center was developed with less parking required by current ordinances and cannot lose any parking spaces. Commissioner Herring moved to grant a driveway variance to relocate the existing access drive for Homestead Savings at 2553 Texas Avenue South. Commissioner Mariott seconded the motion which passed unopposed (6 - 0). AGENDA ITEM NO. 6: Consideration of a preliminary plat for the Two Lincoln Place Subdivision. (94-305) City Planner Kee presented the staff report and stated that since the duplex zoning was denied by the City Council, the applicant has proposed a single family development with a total of twelve lots. An accessway will be provided along the rear of the property to address the Commission, City • Council and staff concerns that each individual lot not have driveway access to Lincoln Avenue. Staff recommended approval of the preliminary plat as submitted. P & Z Minutes April 7, 1994 Page 2 Neighborhood resident Steve Miller approached the Commission and expressed concern with the overall drainage flow in the area. The proposed lot 1 on the preliminary plat locates a home in a creek bed and could cause future flooding downstream on his property. City Engineer Pullen stated that the subject development should not further complicate the drainage problems in the area. At the time of final plat, water carrying capacities will be taken into account in the design process to address the drainage of the site. Commissioner Herring questioned staff as to the dedication of the alley and street lighting that was discussed at the second Presubmission Conference meeting held on this preliminary plat. City Planner Kee stated that the plat presented tonight was revised from the second Presubmission Conference meeting so there would not be any variances requested. The developer plans to build the alley to City standards and dedicate it to the City for public maintenance. Street lighting is not something that is typically installed in public alleys. Engineer Roy Hammons approached the Commission and offered to answer any questions pertaining to the subject preliminary plat. Commissioner Gribou moved to recommend approval of the preliminary plat for the Two Lincoln Place Subdivision as presented. Commissioner Mariott seconded the motion which passed unopposed (6 - 0). AGENDA ITEM NO. 7: Public hearing to consider a Zoning Ordinance amendment to define telecommunication towers and establish use regulations thereof and clarify freestanding signs allowed in a GB zoning district. (94-800) • Staff Planner Dunn presented the ordinance amendment and stated that the City has recently received requests for telecommunication development sites. Telecommunication service providers and users are utilizing new technologies and upgrading facilities that require towers of varying heights to support necessary equipment. The current Zoning Ordinance does not address such new uses. With these new developments in tower design, there is concern for the possible impact of such towers on surrounding land uses. The Planning staff has recommended to amend several sections of the Zoning Ordinance 1638 to address telecommunications towers. First, the term °lelecommunications towers" will be added to Section 2 definitions. Secondly, telecommunications lowers will be permitted as conditional uses in the following zoning districts: A-O, A-P, C-], C-2 and M-1. The Commission will determine specific restrictions on each tower by considering the height setback from buildings on adjoining properties, the overall construction of the tower and possihlc screening of the base of the tower. Requiring a conditional use permit will allow the Commission to place certain restrictions on some of the more intensive towers on a case by case hasis. Third, telecommunications towers will be allowed as a permitted use in M-2 districts. This ordinance amendment will also provide clarification of commercial signage in C-B districts. When the C-B district was created, signage provisions and restrictions were overlooked. Under Section 12, Sign Regulations, freestanding commercial signs and attached signs will be allowed in GB districts. In Table II Summary of Sign Regulations, C-B will be added to the list of districts which allow traffic control signs, Ieestanding signs and low profile signs. Commissioner Hall opened the public hearing. Seeing no one present to speak in favor of or in opposition to the proposed ordinance amendment, he closed the public hearing. Commissioner Smith expressed concern for allowing telecommunication towers in A-O zones primarily because the majority of A-O property is located south of town and could potentially be • residential development. These towers could potentially cause a problem for future residential developments. P ~ Z Minutes April 7, 1994 Page Staff Planner Dunn explained that because a conditional use permit is required in an A-O zoning • district, the Commission will have the discretion to approve or deny a request based on surrounding development including the land use plan for that particular area. Commissioner Gribou moved to recommend approval of the Zoning Ordinance amendment to define telecommunications towers and establish use regulations thereof and clarify freestanding signs allowed in a C-B zoning district. Commissioner Herring seconded the motion which passed unopposed (6 - 0). AGENDA ITEM NO. 8: Other bus%ness. Commissioner Hall informed the Commission that he has received several comments from citizens who were present the night that the rezoning along Schaffer Road adjacent to the Edelweiss Subdivision was considered. The citizens complimented the Chairman, members of the Commission and staff for allowing each citizen to express their concerns and to get all of the information available. AGENDA ITEM NO. 9: Adjourn. Commissioner Mariott moved to adjourn the meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission. Commissioner Herring seconded the motion which passed unopposed (6 - 0). Kyle Hawthorne P ann ng Technician, Natalie omas P&Z Minutes April 7, 1994 Pale 4 i• • • ~Cannin~ ~' Zoning Commission Guest ~,e~ister Date ~ ~ ~ 1 ame ;d ddress 1. ~ ~ u `~ tip-- - S. ~` 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. IS. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.