HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/17/2000 - Special Minutes - City CouncilMayor
City Council
Lynn McIlhaney
James Massey
Mayor Pro Tempore
Ron Silvia
Larry Mariott
Winnie Garner
City Manager
Dennis Maloney
Thomas E. Brymer
Anne Hazen
MINUTES
Special Workshop Meeting
College Station City Council and
College Station Planning and Zoning Commission
August 17, 2000 at 4:30 p.m.
College Station Conference Center
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor McIlhaney, Mayor Pro Tern Mariott, Council members
Hazen, Silvia, Massey, Maloney, Silvia
Planning and Zoning Commissioners Mooney, Floyd, Horlen,
Warren, Happ, Williams, Harris
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Brymer, Assistant City Manager Brown,
Development Services Director Callaway, City Planner Kee, City
Attorney Cargill, Jr., Senior Planner Kuenzel, Development
Services Coordinator Ruiz, Neighborhood Services Coordinator
Battle, Staff Assistant Hazlett, City Secretary Hooks
Mayor McIlhaney and P&Z Chairman Mooney called the meeting to order at 4:40 p.m.
Director of Development Services Jim Callaway introduced Lee Ensweiler from Duncan
and Associates. Mr. Ensweiler is the consultant hired by the City to review the existing
zoning and development codes and make recommended changes. He stated that this
meeting is a critical step in the code review process. Additional meetings.are planned.
This meeting is the first opportunity for the policy makers to hear from the consultants
and make comments. Mr. Callaway pointed out that the consultant, staff, council, and
planning and zoning commission should consent to the same direction in terms of
drafting this document.
Mr. Ensweiler commented that the existing ordinances have not been updated in some
time and the zoning ordinance is not user friendly. The primary intent of his work is to
recommend tools to streamline the format and organize the document to make it
understandable to anyone. Substantial improvements to the document in terms of
indexing, layout, as well as inclusion of illustrations will be made to appease the average
user.
Mr. Ensweiler made general comments about the use of incentives for good development
in the community. He also commented about smart growth issues in terms of
sustainability.
Council/P&Z Workshop 8/17/2000
Page 2
It is hoped that this document will be established on the Internet for access to the public
and remain updated.
Mr. Ensweiler discussed the description of uses. He proposed to present broader use
categories and a use matrix and description of common review procedures.
Feedback was provided by the Commissioners and Council members. They identified
particular areas of concern as follows:
• Specify more clearly the standard landscape ordinances.
• Identify common standards for development to assist in eliminating
different interpretations to the specific details for a particular development
• The zoning district may not accommodate the neighborhood.
• Account for lifestyles in the ordinances
• Public input to neighborhood development
• Vagueness about the P&Z/Council's goals and/or vision.
• Utilize staff expertise and standards
• Standards derived from East Bypass neighborhood strategic planning
process
• Park locations
• Tree preservation plan
• Standards for all multi -family users (students, family, seniors)
Councilmembers expressed the importance of public input.
Mr. Ensweiler offered a proposal that would provide staff with the authority to make
decisions on non -discretionary matters that have measurable factors. It is a policy
decision about what the rules are and how they should be applied.
The meeting recessed for fifteen minutes and resumed at 6:15 p.m.
The following list outlines additional items of interest to the members.
• Conditional use permits
• Parking and traffic flow in residential neighborhoods
• Questions on landlord licensing requirements
• Proactive enforcement
• PDD Zoning District
Concluding remarks were made about the timeline for implementation. The consultant
proposed a 12-18 month timeline to finalize the document. Inclusive in this process is
numerous workshop sessions with council and planning and zoning commission, and one
to two public hearings (by statute). Additional public hearings may be desired.
Mr. Ensweiler will provide the members a copy of the preliminary draft.
Council/P&Z Workshop 8/17/2000 Page 3
Prior to adjournment, Councilman Massey announced that the Joint Legislative
Committee met and a topic of interest expressed from both the Bryan City Council and
the College Station City Council was to encourage the Planning and Zoning Commission
to meet with the Bryan Planning and Zoning Commission on mutual issues.
No action was taken. The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 28th day of September, 2000.
APPROVED:
Cavdt Lynn Mcllhaney
ATTEST:
Pom�✓d�trk.�
pity Secretary Connie Hooks
O: group/council/minutes2000hnin8-17. doc