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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/16/1990 - Regular Minutes - Zoning Board of Adjustments\J MINUTES • CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS Zoning Board of Adjustment October 16, 1990 7:00 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Henry, Member Yarbrough, Alternate Members Phinney and DeOtte. (Council Liaison Gardner was in the audience.) MEMBERS ABSENT: Vice Chairman Baker, Members Cronan and Lane, Alternate Members Kennady, Gaston and Webb. STAFF PRESENT: Assistant City Attorney Coates, Planning Assistant Kuenzel and Planning Technician Rosier. • Assistant City Attorney Coates made a brief presentation on an aspect of parliamentary procedure which occurred at the last meeting. The instance involved audience members who wished to address the Board after a motion had been made and seconded. He said that if the Chairman has called the question, the motion and second cannot be withdrawn; the motion must be voted on. AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Call to Order - explanation of functions and limitations of the Board. Chairman Henry called the meeti~~q to order and opened the public hearing. AGENDA ITEM NO. 2: Approval of minutes - meeting of October 2, 1990. Hearing no corrections to the minutes as submitted, Chairman Henry stated that the minutes were approved. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3: Consideration of a request for a variance to the sign regulations at 1401 FM 2818. Application is in the name of Doux Chene-Apartments. • Planning Assistant Kuenzel presented the staff report. She said that the subject property is comprised of approximately 15 acres. She said that the surrounding land uses include the following: single family residential, empty lot, Post Office, 4-plexes, apartments, and College Station Business Park. She stated that Doux Chene Apartments contains ZBAMinutes to-t6-9o Page 2 LJ frontage on 4 streets, noting that the sign is proposed • along Valleyview. Kuenzel said that the request is to allow more than one freestanding sign. She pointed out that the sign will comply with all other requirements such as setback distance. Kuenzel showed slides depicting the proposed sign location and the neighboring apartment complex, Golden West. She mentioned that Doux Chene currently has a few directional signs. Kuenzel presented one slide which demonstrated the sign to be duplicated for this project. She stated that the sign will be 6'7" in height. In conclusion, she said that Staff mailed 21 notices to surrounding property owners, two of which responded in inquiry, not opposition. Chairman Henry asked Ms. Kuenzel to elaborate on the Plantation Oaks sign variance which was previously approved by the Board in 1976. Ms. Kuenzel explained that the variance was to allow copy to be put on both sides of the brick walls which would • otherwise not be considered signs. Mr. Henry asked about buffering between Doux Chene and the residential area to the north. Ms. Kuenzel remembered a fence being in existence. Mr. Videl Jones of 2011 Angelina came forward and was sworn in. He expressed concern that the visibility .from Angelina onto Valleyview could be hindered by the sign. He added that on-street parking already creates a problem. Jones said that the height of the sign corresponds to the height of his van window. He said that he would like to see more information presented, before the Board approves the request. He believed that the other side of Valleyview might be more acceptable. Mr. Henry said that the site could contain many directional signs since there are numerous curb cuts. Peggie Barstow of 2006 Angelina came forward and was sworn in. She expressed concern that the certified letters of notification may not have been received by all of the surrounding property owners in time for this meeting. She expressed a desire for more information for all interested • parties. Chairman Henry asked Ms. Kuenzel if the applicant had a more precise location proposed for the sign. Ms. Kuenzel presented the information which was faxed from the applicant. It satisfied the Board as to a specifically requested location of the sign. I r ZBA Minutes to-t6-9o Page 3 • The Board determined that the sign would be parallel to Valleyview and its purpose is to distinguish Doux Chene from Golden West. Ms. Kuenzel explained that the location would be "pin pointed" at the time of issuance of a sign permit. Mr. Jones came forward again. He said that he does not think this situation is the same as the 1976 case involving Plantation Oaks. Ms. Yarbrough pointed out that Staff presents past case history as an informational source for the Board. Mr. Jones also believed that Doux Chene Apartments are easily distinguished from Golden West. He said that other alternatives are available to serve the applicant's need for advertisement. • Mr. DeOtte said that since Valleyview does not truly run east to west, the applicant may be proposing to set the sign at an angle. Ms. Yarbrough believed that the directional signs would serve the applicant's purposes. Chairman Henry said that the applicant may return with another request if this location is denied. Ms. Kuenzel reminded the Board that the item could be tabled. Mr. DeOtte said that he did not believe that there are sufficient grounds for granting a variance. ~.. Ms. Yarbrough agreed. She favored directional signs. Mr. Phinney noted that the applicant was not present to identify the hardship to the Board. Mr. DeOtte made a motion to deny the request for a variance. Ms. Yarbrough seconded the motion. Ms. Kuenzel requested that the Board specify why they are denying the request. Mr. Phinney asked if the Board could stipulate conditions of the denial. Staff said that they could not indicate an automatic approval. ZBA Minutes 1o-t6-9o Page 4 Mr. DeOtte amended his motion to "deny a variance to the sign regulations from the terms of this ordinance as it will be contrary to the public interest, due to the lack of unique special conditions not generally found within the City: based on inadequate demonstration of hardship since there are other alternatives available for addressing the problem and because a strict enforcement of the provisions of the Ordinance would not result in substantial hardship to this applicant, and such that the spirit and intent of this ordinance shall be preserved and general interests of the public and the applicant served. Henry explained the process for appealing the Board's decision. Ms. Yarbrough seconded the amendment. Chairman Henry called for a vote on the amendment which passed unanimously (4-0). • The motion as amended carried in a vote of 4-0. AGENDA ITEM NO. 4: Other Business. Assistant City Attorney Coates said that he would follow up on the Board's request for more parliamentary procedure study. Ms. Kuenzel mentioned that the Board will have a meeting on the first Tuesday of November. AGENDA ITEM NO. 5: Adjourn. Mr. Phinney made a motion to adjourn. Ms. Yarbrough seconded the motion and the meeting was adjourned. ATTEST: APPROVED: Chairman, Br t Henry City Secretary, Connie Hooks