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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/18/1995 - Regular Minutes - Zoning Board of Adjustments• MINUTES Zoning Board of Adjustment CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS April 18, 1995 7:00 P.M. • • MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Birdwell, Members Sawtelle and Rife and Alternate Member Alexander and Ochoa. MEMBERS ABSENT: Members Hollas and Poston and Alternate Member Blackwelder. STAFF PRESENT: Senior Planner Kuenzel, Planning Technician Thomas, Staff Planner Dunn and Assistant City Attorney Shively. AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Call to order -explanation of functions of the Board. Chairman Birdwell called the meeting to order and explained the functions and limitations of the Board. AGENDA ITEM N0.2: Approval of minutes from the meeting of March 21, 1995. Mr. Ochoa moved to approve the minutes from the meeting of March 21, 1995 as written. Mr. Sawtelle seconded the motion which passed unopposed (5 - 0). AGENDA ITEM N0.3: Consideration of a special exception request to allow for the expansion and reconstruction of an existing non-conforming use at Soil Analytical Services, Inc., 415 Graham Road. Applicant is Vickie Deuel for Soil Analytical Services, Inc. Staff Planner Dunn presented the staff report and stated that the current use of the property is a soils laboratory. The subject property is non-conforming in terms of current parking and landscaping standards. A portion of the parking and driveway surfaces consists of gravel without curbing, striping or landscaping. The property was annexed into the City in 1992, at which time the existing conditions and standards retained non-conforming status, or were "grandfathered" until further expansion or changes were proposed. The applicant is proposing an expansion of 1,144 square feet totaling 18.6% of the total area. The market value of the existing building B proposed for reconstruction is estimated by a professional appraiser to be $75,000. The reconstruction cannot exceed 60% of this value or $45,000. The Zoning Board has the authority to grant a special exception to allow the expansion of anon-conforming use or structure when the Board finds that the expansion is necessary and does not exceed 25% of the existing area of non- conformity. The Board also has the authority to allow the reconstruction of an existing non- conforming structure, when it finds that the reconstruction does not incur a cost exceeding 60% of its appraised value. Special conditions and hardships need not be found to grant a special exception. Ten surrounding property owners were notified with one inquiry. Chairman Birdwell opened the public hearing. Applicant Vickie Deuel approached the Board and was sworn in by Chairman Birdwell. Estimates for the proposed reconstruction of building B are still being obtained; however, the metal siding for the building is estimated at $7,000. Ms. Deuel stated that reconstruction includes metal siding, floor tiles, air conditioning system, roof and relocation of interior walls. The reconstruction should be well under the lirrut of $45,000. The existing gravel parking lot will probably be paved with the improvement of the site. There are thirty-two employees at Soil Analytical, twelve are full time and the remaining are students. Ms. Deuel stated that the company deals mainly with larger companies so there is little customer traffic. She stated that she has no objection to complying with the landscape ordinance if required; however, no one else in that area has complied. Ms. Deuel informed the Board that she submitted a final plat for the property as required by ordinance. Chairman Birdwell closed the public hearing. Mr. Sawtelle expressed concern of not requiring the applicant to at least comply with the landscape ordinance and the minimum number of parking spaces. The Board should require the property to be brought into compliance and to the standards of the City since it is now a part of the City. Mr. Sawtelle stated that there is a residential neighborhood near this property and the Board should help in establishing an acceptable blend between industrial and residential uses. It will be in the best interest of the applicant to bring the property up to code and will help them in establishing higher property values in the future. Mr. Sawtelle stated that the Board should also see the estimates and appraisals for the property to determine if the project complies with the limits outlined in the ordinance. Chairman Birdwell stated that he sees no basis for turning the special exception request down since it meets the provisions of the ordinance. Mr. Ochoa moved to authorize the enlargement of a building devoted to anon-conforming use where such enlargement is necessary and incidental to the existing use of such building and does not increase the area of the building devoted to anon-conforming use more than 25% and does not prolong the life of the non-conforming use or prevent a return of such property to a conforming use; and, to allow the reconstruction of anon-conforming structure on the lot • occupied by such structure as the cost of reconstruction is less than 60% of the appraised value of the structure not to exceed $45,000 and because the reconstruction would not prevent the return of such property to a conforming use or increase the non-conformity. Mr. Rife seconded the motion which passed (4 - 1); Mr. Sawtelle voted in opposition to the motion. AGENDA ITEM NO. 4: Other business. There was no other business. AGENDA ITEM NO. S: Adjourn. Mr. Rife moved to adjourn the meeting of the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Mr. Ochoa seconded the motion which passed unopposed (5 - 0). APPRO hairman, Dick Birdwell TT P g ec m ian, at ie T omas ZBA Minutes Apri118, 1995 Page 2 of 2 Zoning Board of Adjustment Guest Register i Date Name Address 1. ~ ~u~ 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. • 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.