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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/28/1996 - Minutes - Planning & Zoning CommissionMINUTES Planning & Zoning Commission CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS March 28, 1996 6:00 P.M. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chairman Hawthorne, Commissioners Lightfoot, Gribou, Smith, Hall, Garner and Lane. COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: Senior Planner Kuenzel, Assistant City Engineer Morgan, Planning Technician Thomas, Staff Planner Dunn, Development Coordinator Volk, Graduate Civil Engineer Homeyer a~ld Public Services Director Mark Smith. AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Public hearing to consider a conditional use permit request by Dr. • Sims for the site plan of a Veterinarian Clinic to be located in an existing building at 2668 Barron Road. The Commission previously approved the use only of the clinic on January 8, 1996. (96-700) Senior Planner Kuenzel informed the Commission that the change of use of the propert}~ triggers compliance with the parking lot standards as laid out in the Zoning Ordinance. Before the actual conversion can take place, the site plan must be presented to the Commission for approval. The parking requirement for the new clinic would be two parking spaces. All parking lots other than for single family development are required to be paved and curbed. If a different standard is to be used other than asphalt or concrete, the Commission has the option to grant a variance to the standards. Dr. Sims has the two parking spaces in front of the garage but is requesting that a variance be granted to allow gravel in place of the asphalt/concrete and for landscape timbers in place of the concrete curbing. T:he area is developed as rural agricultural with all of the driveways and even many of the streets in the area are gravel. The applicant projects that only about 2S% of her business will be conducted on site with no outside activities such as boarding or animal training. Any significant changes in the business would need to come before the Commission for further review. Staff recommended approval of the: requests due to the character of the area and the low impact of the change in use. Commissioner Hall expressed concern that Dr. Sims meet the same requirements that other veterinarian clinics have had to comply with in the past in order to be fair. Senior Planner Kuenzel stated that because the area is rural in nature and many of the roads and • driveways in that area are gravel, the proposed gravel and landscape timbers should blend in with the surrounding neighborhood. Chairman Hawthorne opened the public hearing. Dr. Kellie Sims approached the Commission and explained that she needs the proposed facility for the few clients that come to her home and for surgery on animals. She requested that the gravel drive be • allowed to remain and that it is in compliance with the surrounding neighborhood. Dr. Sims stated that 75% of her clients will not come to her home, she will go to them. Chairman Hawthorne closed the public hearing. Commissioner Gribou moved to approve the conditional use permit request by Dr. Sims for the; site plan of a Veterinarian Clinic to be located in an existing building at 2668 Barron Road with the requested driveway variance and the condition that if the building expands by 25% or more, the use permit will require further review and consideration by the Commission. Commissioner Lane seconded the motion which passed unopposed (7 - 0). AGENDA ITEM NO. 2: Other business. There was no other business. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3: Adjourn. Commissioner Lightfoot moved to adjourn the meeting of the Planning and Zoning Cormission. Commissioner Smith seconded the motion which passed unopposed (7 - 0). • --__ Chairman, Kyle Hawthorne AT T: ~~ ; Y. lan 'ng Technicran, Natalie Thomas • P & Z Mirnrtes Ma~•ch 28, 1996 Page 2 of 2 MINUTES • Joint City Council & Planning & Zoning Commission CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS March 28, 1996 6:15 P.M. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chairman Hawthorne, Commissioners Lightfoot, Gribou, Smith, Hall, Garner and Lane. COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None. COUNCILMEN PRESENT: Mayor Pro Tempore McIlhaney and Councilmen Fox, Kennady, Mariott, Hickson and Crouch. COUNCILMEN ABSENT: Mayor Ringer. • STAFF PRESENT: Senior Planner Kuenzel, Assistant City Engineer Morgan, Planning Technician Thomas, Staff Planner Dunn, Development Coordinator Volk, Graduate Civil Engineer Homeyesr, Public Services Director Smith, City Secretary Hooks, City Attorney Locke, Assistant City Attorney Shively, City Manager :voe, City Planner Kee, Senior Assistant City Attorney Nemcik, Assistant City Attorney Reynolds, Director of Economic and Community Development Ash, Acting Director of Development Services Callaway, Transportation Planner Hard, Assistant City Manager Brymer and Fire Chief Kennedy. AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Public hearing to consider a rezoning request of 4.4 acres from R-6 Apartments High Density to C-1 General Commercial, located in the East Gate Square Addition. (96-101) Senior Planner Kuenzel presented the staff report and stated that the requested rezoning will remove two strips of R-6 zoning that are surrounded by existing C-1 zoning. The original zoning was created many years ago and the property is not likely to develop under that zoning. The request will effectively place the entire area up to Texas Avenue in a C-1 classification with the East Gate Square commercial subdivision and prepare the area for redevelopment. Staff recommended approval of the request in order to consolidate the current strips of virtually undevelopable lots, due to the configuration and the • location of the zoning lines, and to encourage centralized commercial development in an area of the city that is in need of redevelopment. Approximately twenty-eight surrounding property owners were notified with no response. • Mayor Pro Tempore McIlhaney opened the joint public hearing. Applicant Paul Clarke approached the Council and Commission and stated that the rezoning request will bring the two R-6 tracts into compliance with the existing and proposed land use plan. He offered to answer any questions pertaining to the rezoning request. Oran Nicks of 901 Munson informed the Council and Commission that the subject property is suitable for development of some kind; however, traffic is a major concern especially to the existing residents. He questioned whether Lincoln would become a major thoroughfare for the proposed commercial area. There are currently over 8000 cars per day at the intersection of Munson and Lincoln that cause congestion problems in the College Hills area. Senior Planner Kuenzel stated that impact studies and access will be addressed at the time of the final plat. Staff will look to see that the focus point is on Texas Avenue. Access to Lincoln will not be precluded because the City's Driveway and Access Ordinance will allow access to Lincoln. Transportation Planner Hard stated that in looking at a future traffic impact study, staff will look at the difference between the existing R-6 zoning and the C-1 zoning, both of which allow high traffic generating uses. Traffic can be looked at as part of the platting or site planning process. David Scarmardo informed the Council and Commission that he was denied duplex zoning along Lincoln primarily due to traffic concerns. Since there will be more residential development along • Lincoln, the traffic created from the subject property will have a negative impact on the residences. Mayor Pro Tempore McIlhaney closed the joint public hearing and allowed the Commission to make a recommendation on the rezoning request. Commissioner Lightfoot moved to recommend approval of the rezoning request of 4.4 acres from R-6 Apartments High Density to C-1 General Commercial. Commissioner Gribou seconded the motion which passed unopposed (7 - 0). Councilman Fox moved to approve the rezoning request of 4.4 acres from R-6 Apartments High Density to C-1 General Commercial located in the D. A. Smith Subdivision. Councilman Hickson seconded the motion. Councilman Crouch questioned staff concerning the Eisenhower extension. Is the extension on the City's Thoroughfare Plan and will the street be built by the developer? Transportation Planner Hard stated that the Eisenhower extension is on the City's Thoroughfare Plan. The extension will be discussed with the developer and become part of the negotiations. The primary access to the development will be onto Texas Avenue with secondary access onto Lincoln. The motion to approve the rezoning request passed unopposed (6 - 0). • P & Z / CC Minutes March 28, 1996 Page 2 of 5 AGENDA ITEM NO. 2: Public hearing to consider a rezoning request of 1.71 acres of M-1 Planned Industrial and 0.54 acres of A-O Agriculture/Open to A-P Administrative Professional, • located on the northeast corner of Emerald Parkway and Highway 6 intersection. (96-10:3) Senior Planner Kuenzel presented the staff report and stated that the request is for consolidation of two remnant pieces of property to be in conformance with an existing 16.8 acre tract that has been :coned A- Psince the late 1970's. The two subject tracts are zoned M-1 along most of the Emerald Parkway frontage and A-O along the rest of the non-residential frontage. The M-1 was a remnant tract that used to be part of the Agency Records Control tract across Emerald Parkway and the A-O is a part of the abandoned right-of--way. Both remnants were created with the relocation of Emerald Parkwa}~ to align with the F.M. 2818 extension. Due to the fact that the rezoning will consolidate development for a more comprehensive approach to development, staff recommended approval of the request. Mayor Pro Tempore McIlhaney opened the joint public hearing. Applicant Allen Swoboda explained that the overall plan is to develop the entire corner property into an office park. At the present time, there are two potential clients who are interested in two of the lots. One is proposing a 12,000 square foot building and the other is proposing a 50,000 square foot building. Mr. Swoboda stated that he is still working with the adjacent property owners on the purchase of additional buffer areas. Official Spokesman of the East Bypass Home Owners Coalition Ray Martyn of 7803 Appomattox stated that the Coalition is offering its conditional support of the proposed rezoning request because of two reasons: • (1) the rezoning is somewhat of a housekeeping change that should have been cleared up in the past; and, (2) the proposed zoning is an upgrade zone rather than a downgrade zone going from M-1 to A-P. Mr. Martyn stated that the Coalition has met with Mr. Swoboda to discuss his plans and potential tenants of the property and agree that they are compatible with the East Bypass. There is still concern that under the A-P zones there are not restrictions for buildings height, etc. The Coalition requested that if and when a preliminary plat and site plan are submitted, the City require the developer to comply with any new building restrictions that may be proposed or adopted under the new buildings .along the East Bypass to include adequate buffering, restricted hours of operation and limiting the building height to two stories. Emerald Forest Homeowners Association President Calvin Boykin of 8407 Shadow Oaks stated that the proposal was included in the quarterly newsletter. After that, the annual meeting was held in which Mr. Swoboda presented the development proposal. There has been no opposition to the proposal and the Homeowners Association recommends approval of the rezoning request. Mayor Pro Tempore closed the joint public hearing and allowed the Commission to discuss and make a • recommendation on the rezoning request. P & Z / CC Minz~tes March 28, 1996 Page 3 of S • Commissioner Gribou moved to recommend approval of the rezoning request for 2.25 acres located on the northeast corner of the Emerald Parkway and Highway 6 intersection from A-O Agriculture Open and M-1 Planned Industrial to A-P Administrative Professional. Commissioner Smith seconded the motion which passed unopposed (7 - 0). Councilman Kennady moved to approve the rezoning request for 2.25 acres located on the northeast corner of the Emerald Parkway and Highway 6 intersection from A-O Agriculture Open and M-1 Planned Industrial to A-P Administrative Professional. Councilman Mariott seconded the motion which passed unopposed (6 - 0). AGENDA ITEM NO. 3: Consideration of a final plat for 4.4 acres of Brandon Heights Phase H Subdivision. (96-207) Assistant City Engineer Morgan presented the staff report and stated that beginning in 1995, staff met with the Brandon Heights Homeowner's Association, at their request, to discuss an agreement and transfer of the homeowner's interest in the detention pond area within the Brandon Height's Subdivision. The purpose of this replat is first to subdivide the corner lot area at Honeysuckle and Westchester; and second, to dedicate the existing detention pond and drainage facilities in the remaining "Common Area" to the City of College Station. The exterior boundaries are remaining the same, and the detention pond area, originally called Common Area, is now being designated as a "Public Utility and Drainage Right-of--Way" and the corner of Honeysuckle and Westchester is being retained as a "Common Area" for the purpose of maintaining signage. Staff recommended approval of the final plat • with the condition that the maintenance agreement be filed with the final plat. Mayor Pro Tempore McIlhaney opened the joint public hearing. Engineer Chris Galindo of 3107 Rolling Lane in Bryan stated that he prepared the final plat and will answer any questions concerning the drawing. Mayor Pro Tempore closed the joint public hearing and allowed the Commission to discuss acid make a recommendation on the final plat. Commissioner Smith moved to recommend approval of the final plat of the Brandon Heights Phase II Subdivision with staff recommendations. Commissioner Lightfoot seconded the motion. Commissioner Hall expressed concern that a few years ago, the City adopted this new paradigm to unload the burden of drainage areas to the home owner's associations so that they could bear the maintenance costs. At that time, the City said they could not afford the maintenance responsibility of anymore drainage easements and now a few years later, the City is willing to take over the m~iintenance of an existing facility. He stated that the City needs a consistent policy with regard to drainage easements. It is not fair for the City to take over the maintenance responsibility of this facility and not take over the many remaining drainage easements currently maintained by various home owner's associations. • P & Z / CC Mir7utes March 28, 1996 Page 4 of S Public Services Director Mark Smith stated that as far as maintenance on this particular pond, the maintenance agreement outlines the responsibilities of the homeowner's association. The pond is a • public facility and benefits properties down stream to slow the flow of water to keep from impacting properties outside of this development. The landscape maintenance and improvements is more of a neighborhood function so the agreement states that the association is responsible for the landscape maintenance and improvements. The City's maintenance level will stay the same and City staff will make sure the pond functions and does not become a swampy eyesore. The motion to recommend approval of the final plat passed (5 - 1 - 1); Commissioner Hall voted in opposition to the motion and Chairman Hawthorne abstained. Councilman Crouch moved to approve the final plat of the Brandon Heights Phase II Subdivision with staff recommendations. Councilman Fox seconded the motion which passed unopposed (6 - 0). Mayor Pro Tempore McIlhaney called a brief recess and excused the Planning and Zoning Commission. The City Council continued with their regular agenda. APP OVED: . ~`_ .~ C7 ATT ~.._. _ r' ._ _ ~l ,, anning ec nician, Natalie Thomas Chairman, Kyle Hawthorne APPROVED: c ayor Pro empore ynn McIlhaney T EST: 1~,~~~ City Secretary, Connie Hooks L~ P & Z / CC Minutes March 28, 1996 Page S of S