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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/15/2001 - Minutes - Planning & Zoning CommissionMINUTES Planning and Zoning Commission CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS March 15, 2001 7:00 P.M. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Commissioners Mooney, Happ, Harris, Warren, and Floyd. COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Commissioners Williams and Horlen. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Winne Garner. STAFF PRESENT: Economic Development Director Kim Foutz, Staff Planners Jimmerson, Assistant City Engineer Mayo, Graduate Engineer Vennochi, Assistant City Attorney Nemcik, Senior Planner Kuenzel, Development Services Secretary Macik, and Staff Assistant Grace. Chairman Mooney called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: None. AGENDA ITEM NO. 2: None. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3: Hear Visitors. Public Comment for the Record. Consent Agenda. The following items were approved by common consent 3.1 Approved Minutes from the Regular Meeting held on February 15, 2001. 3.2 Approved the Final Plat for the Pounders Subdivision, consisting of 1 lot located on Kemp Road in the ETJ on approximately 4.02 acres. (01 -49) 3.3 Moved the Preliminary Plat for Heritage Townhomes consisting of 54 PDD -H Planned Development District - Housing lots located at 3500 Harvey Road on approximately 6.629 acres. (01 -48) P &Z Minutes March 15, 2001 Page 1 of 6 REGULAR AGENDA 3.3 Consideration of a Preliminary Plat for Heritage Townhomes consisting of 54 PDD -H Planned Development District - Housing lots located at 3500 Harvey Road on approximately 6.629 acres. (01 -48) This item was removed from the consent agenda during the workshop for discussion and additional information at this time. Commissioner Warren asked Graduate Engineer Vennochi about sidewalks and fencing for the area. Mr. Vennochi stated that the fence would be a rock fence that will surround the front and both sides of the townhomes. Along the back will be an iron fence with foliage and trees. Sidewalks are not on the plan and therefore not included in the report. Commissioner Happ expressed traffic safety concerns at the intersections in this area. Mike McClure, project engineer, stated that this will be a gated community, therefore sidewalks were not planned internally. The wall will be at least a 6 feet high masonry wall along the front and two sides with a wrought-iron fence along the back, allowing the residents to view the wooded area directly behind the townhomes. Regarding the traffic, the spacing is such that in the future it could be signalized making the intersection appropriate at this time. Commissioner Warren asked if the access onto Harvey Road as it is widened that there would be adequate room for the flange of that opening. We intend for that to primarily be an exit from the subdivision. Linda Lane is the entrance. It has been approved as both an ingress /egress onto Highway 30. Commissioner Mooney asked if the gate would be automated. Mr. McClure stated that it would be and we are designing it so residents would enter off of Linda Lane. Commissioner Happ stated that the 6 -foot masonry fence would restrict the view of the traffic. Mr. McClure said that the wall would be angled to allow for safe viewing. Mr. McClure stated that their concern was having two entrances and exits to the subdivision. He closed by stating that they are in compliance with all of the city's requirements. Commissioner Harris motioned for approval. Commissioner Happ seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 -0. AGENDA ITEM NO. 4: None. Consider request(s) for absence from meeting. AGENDA ITEM NO. 5: Public hearing and consideration of a Conditional Use Permit and Site Plan for the City of College Station Lick Creek Waste Water Treatment Plant Expansion located at 14802 Rock Prairie Road at Lick Creek Park (01 -27) Jessica Jimmerson presented the staff report and opened by stating that Staff recommends approval with Staff Comments 92. The applicant has submitted a revised site plan that meets all of the review comments. The expansion will occur on approximately 23 acres of land dedicated for P &Z Minutes March 15, 2001 Page 2 of 6 water /wastewater treatment within the city's 515 -acre Lick Creek Park. This expansion will only utilize approximately 13 acres of the 23 acres. The existing facility on the property was built in 1987 to treat the wastewater from the Pebble Creek Subdivision and other developments in southern College Station. Recent and projected growth in this area necessitates a larger wastewater facility in order to meet the Comprehensive Plan objective of "serving all developed parcels within the City limits with City sanitary sewer service ", and "to provide the highest level of sanitary sewer service." The expansion will enable the plant to treat an increased amount of wastewater and do so in a safer and more effective method than currently exists. The plant takes access from a private drive. It is a gated service road off of Rock Prairie Road. Because of the curves in the service road and the dense forestland surrounding the plant it is not visible from Rock Prairie Road. The plant is approximately 2000 feet from Rock Prairie Road and 5700 feet from the nearest Pebble Creek Neighborhood. The plant, with the exception of one side of the Operations Maintenance Building, will be fenced with chain link and barbed wire. The actual entrance off of Rock Prairie Road will also be gated. The area is heavily forested and large stands of existing canopy and non - canopy trees will be preserved in order to mitigate any potential negative impacts. Commissioner Floyd asked what the roadway material is and would there be parking available on the south side. Ms. 7immerson stated that the road is asphalt and that a major portion of the road would be fire lane but additional parking along the existing facility would be available. Mr. Swoboda, Project Engineer, stated that the project is necessitated by the rapid growth in the southern part of the City. The four areas serviced by the Lick Creek plant have been studied and in the analysis, it has been recommended that areas one and two be immediately converted to flow to the Lick Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion once it is completed. Mr. Swoboda cited several reason for this. One as being that the lift stations currently in place in these two areas are reaching their capacity which calls for either modifications and /or expansion. The most cost - effective approach is to convert these two areas to flow, by gravity rather than by pumping, to the Lick Creek Plant. Area three is estimated to meet capacity in approximately 10 years and would also be converted to the Lick Creek Plant. There are approximately 2,000 connections currently in the Lick Creek service area. By the year 2020, it is projected that the city will have approximately 12,000 connections. This equates to about 500 additional connections per year in this service area. The increase in flows, based on these connections, would yield, in approximately the year of 2002, to approximately .5mgd. The current plant has a maximum capacity of .5mgd. We would be exceeding the capacity of the currently existing treatment plant. The proposed plant has a capacity of 2mgd and has been designed for further expansion to 4mgd when the need arises. The design has taken into consideration several safety and maintenance operational issues as well, such as the use of an ultra - violet light dis- infection system rather than chlorine, a hazardous chemical. Additionally, there are back -up systems for operational maintenance also. Improvements regarding noise pollution has also been reduced. Also, other design features have been added to control light pollution. Finally, odor control improvements have also been designed. The plant location is fairly isolated from the nearest neighborhood and street as well. The landscaping ordinance has been met with a minimum 17,700 landscaping points. Much of the natural vegetation will be untouched. Commissioner Warren asked how the upgrade in the technology that will be used compare to that of other cities of our size. Mr. Swoboda stated that we are in -step with that of similar size cities and that they too are facing the same sort of problems. Commissioner Warren asked how odors are measured and what is the expected output with regard to clean air standards. Mr. Swoboda stated that he could P &Z Minutes March 15, 2001 Page 3 of 6 not answer this specifically, but said that at the Carter's Creak Plant where similar types of measures have been in place and are planned for the new plank employees report a drastic reduction in odors. Chairman Mooney clarified that the area south of Greens Prairie Road has not been addressed, but that this plant is designed to accommodate this area when and if it begins to expand. Mr. Swoboda stated that the new plant is designed to easily increase from 2mgd capacity to 4mgd capacity to accommodate more future growth in the southern area of the city. Chairman Mooney closed the public hearing. Commissioner Floyd motioned to approve. Commissioner Warren seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 -0. AGENDA ITEM NO. 6: Public hearing and consideration of a Conditional Use Permit and Site Plan for Holy Cross Lutheran church located at 1200 Foxfire Drive at Sebesta Road. (01 -37) Staff Planner Jimmerson presented the staff report. Unless the public hearing brings to light any new information indicating potential negative impacts, Staff recommends approval of the proposal with Staff Review Comments #2. Ms. Jimmerson pointed out that churches may be permitted as conditional uses in any district upon approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission. She stated that the applicant is requesting approval to expand their church facilities at the existing site at the corner of Sebesta Road and Foxfire Drive. The new addition will include a gathering hall and classrooms, and the sanctuary capacity will be increased. The church already has excess parking, so no additional parking is required. The property does not currently meet landscaping and streetscaping requirements, so these items will be brought into compliance as part of the expansion project. Ms. Jimmerson continued by stating that the church was originally constructed in 1988, before the site was within the city limits, which was annexed in 1992. The Planning and Zoning Commission approved a conditional use permit for a church expansion and parking lot expansion and upgrade in 1995. That permit eventually expired when the improvements were not made. Virtually the same conditional use permit and site plan were approved again in 1997, and the improvements were made at that time. Commissioner Floyd asked for further explanation of the landscaping and streetscaping issue since the property does not currently meet those requirements. Ms. Jimmerson stated that because the church facility was built prior to being annexed into the city limits, landscaping and streetscaping was not required at that time. The church has agreed to meet those requirements for the expansion area. Bruce Boettecher, the architect for the project stated that the staff report was correct and there is no issue with bringing the landscape up to compliance with the city's requirements as indicated by staff. Chairman Mooney closed the public hearing. Commissioner Harris motioned for approval, which was seconded by Commissioner Floyd. The motion passed 5 -0. P &Z Minutes March 15, 2001 Page 4 of 6 AGENDA ITEM NO. 7: Consideration of a Master Development Plan for the Crowley Tract consisting of approximately 351.92 acres located near the northwest quadrant of the intersection of State Highway 6 and Greens Prairie Road. (01 -52) Planner Jimmerson opened by stating that she will present Agenda Item No. 7 and No. 8 simultaneously. However, because these are two separate items, two actions by the Commission will be required. Staff recommends approval of the master development plan and the rezoning with the condition of a buffer between Tract IA, proposed as C -1 and the existing property to the north which is currently A -O. The applicant reflects this condition on the master development plan. Ms. Jimmerson stated that the applicant is proposing to modify the master development plan that was approved by Council in 1998. She pointed out that the primary changes include showing the regional detention facility and removing the proposed creek crossing of the east -west collector. Removal of the crossing was discussed extensively by City staff, the developer, his design professionals and State conservation officials. She indicated that Staff supports the proposal. Additionally, Ms. Jimmerson stated that the property south of Greens Prairie Rd., which bounds the subject track is outside the City Limits. Also, there is some residential usage in this area. While west of the subject tract is the proposed SH40 and the recently approved Castlegate, the land to the north is mostly vacant, and SH6 is to the east of the subject tract. Ms. Jimmerson said that the proposed master development plan and rezoning are in compliance with the previously approved master plan, with the exceptions noted above. She indicated that the conditions in the area have not significantly changed since the previous master development plan was approved. This plan is in compliance with the City's Comprehensive Plan. She pointed out that this master development plan will set aside approximately 90 acres for parkland dedication, greenway areas and a conservation easement and that the conservation easement for the Navasota Lady's Tresses is approximately 38 acres out of the total. The subject property is currently zoned A -O and C -1 and Ms. Jimmerson added that most of this area was annexed in 1995. The developer began discussions with the City for the Master Development Plan soon after. The Plan was originally approved by Council in 1997 and then modified in 1998. Last year development began on the portion of the tract west of the proposed SH40, namely with the rezoning and subsequent platting of the Castlegate Subdivision. Ms. Jimmerson reports that the Parks Board reviewed the proposal on February 13 2061. They approved the plan in concept with four conditions. However, the plan may go back to the Parks Board during the master preliminary plat stage for final approval. Chairman Mooney asked Ms. Jimmerson about the traffic at Decatur and Baron Road and the proposed State Highway 40. She explained that according to TXDOT plans, the feeder /frontage roads would be built first and the highway construction to be completed several years later. Subdivision issues can be addressed at that time she said. Ms. Jimmerson added that Decatur is currently listed as a major collector. The applicant, Mr. Crowley, ,stated that TXDOT and the U.S. DEPT. of Fish & Wildlife have tweaked the conservation zone. He explained that the green- spaces have been moved slightly from the original master development plan based upon the approval of the Army Corp of Engineers dealing with the wetlands. Further, the detention areas were defined based upon the drainage needs of the entire 700 P &Z Minutes March 15, 2001 Page 5 of 6 acres. The open- space /green -space areas are slightly different in alignment and are also larger in space than the original plan. He indicated that the traffic patterns have been adjusted slightly as well, which were initiated at the request of the City's traffic department because they wanted a right turn on Decatur to create a better flow of traffic and also to preserve the greenbelts intact. Chairman Mooney opened the public hearing. Chairman Mooney closed the public hearing. Commissioner Happ motioned to approve the Master Development Plan. Commissioner Warren seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 -0. AGENDA ITEM NO. 8: Public hearing and consideration of a rezoning from C -1 General Commercial and A -O Agricultural Open to C -1 General Commercial, R -3 Townhouse, R -4 apartment /Low Density, and R1 -A Single Family Residential for approximately 355 acres in the Crowley Tract located northwest quadrant of Greens Prairie Road and State Highway 6. (01 -51) This item was heard simultaneously with Agenda Item No. 7. Commissioner Happ motioned to approve the rezoning request. Commission Harris seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 -0. AGENDA ITEM NO. 9: Discussion of future agenda items. None. AGENDA ITEM NO. 10: Adjourn. Commissioner Warren motioned to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Harris seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 -0. The meeting adjourned. APPROVED: Chairman, Karl Mooney ATTEST: Staff Assistant, Susan Hazlett P &Z Minutes March 15, 2001 Page 6 of 6