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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/17/1987 - Minutes - Planning & Zoning CommissionMINUTES • CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS Planning and Zoning Commission December 17, 1987 7:00 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Brochu, Members Moore, Dresser, Wendler, Stewart, Sawtelle and Colson who arrived late MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Director of Planning Callaway, Senior Planner Kee, Assistant City Attorney Banks and Planning Technician Volk AGBNDA ITEM N0. 1: Approval of minutes - meeting of December 3, 1987. Mr. Wendler made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Mr. Stewart seconded the motion which carried by a vote of 5-0-1 (Sawtelle). AGBNDA ITBM N0. 2: Hear visitors. No one spoke. • AGBNDA ITBM N0. 3: 87-220: Final Plat - Birmingham Drive. Mr. Callaway explained that this plat provides right-of-way for the extension of Birmingham Drive, which is in place and provides additional access to the City's Utility Service Center, and staff recommends approval of the plat as shown. Mr. Stewart made a motion to approve the plat as shown. Mr. Moore seconded the motion which carried unanimously (6-0). AGBNDA ITBM N0. 4: 87-805: A public hearing on the question of revising Section 8.12 of Ordinance No. 1638, the Zoning Ordinance for the City of College Station, specifically affecting conditional uses by adding funeral homes to the list of conditional uses. Mrs. Kee explained that in 1980 the P&Z considered a request for the proper zoning classification for funeral homes because they were not then listed in any zoning district. The Commission determined that the C-1 district was the appropriate district for that use. She continued explaining that in the past year or so there have been several inquiries concerning the possibility of allowing funeral homes in other districts as conditional uses, with the most recent request going to the Mayor's office which staff responded to with this proposed amendment to the zoning ordinance. She referred to a list included in the packets which indicates how 9 other Texas • cities address the location of funeral homes, adding that our zoning ordinance has a parking requirement for funeral homes which is like that for a church, i.e., 1 parking space per 3 seats. The public hearing was opened. No one spoke. The public hearing was closed. • Mr. Dresser said that although he is not necessarily opposed to this ordinance amendment, he is not sure that this is the proper way to handle a request. He went on to state that if the facility itself has a chapel with limited seating, the parking requirement would probably work, but there are some funeral homes which literally need several hundreds of parking spaces, and his question would be whether this type of facility would be compatible in an older residential neighborhood. Mr. Brochu agreed with this concern, adding that his office is now right behind a funeral home, and several times a week it appears that quite a bit of on-street parking is required for short periods of time. Mr. Dresser clarified by stating that he is not suggesting a change in the parking requirement, but perhaps any overflow parking could be better handled in a commercial area than it could be in a residential area. Mr. Stewart suggested that perhaps it would be wise to delete a specific parking requirement, and to determine the requirement on a case-by-case basis as part of the consideration for allowing a conditional use permit. Mr. Wendler added that in some cases the exact number of seats to be included is hard to determine, and then cited this very council room as an example. Mr. Moore asked if a funeral could be held in an elderly care center which includes a hospice. Mrs. Kee replied that she does not know the answer to that question, but is inclined to think that if holding a funeral in a facility of that nature is incidental to the major use, it would not be a problem. • Mr. Brochu stated that he is troubled that perhaps this amendment might be one of those being considered to accommodate a potential buyer for a particular piece of property, as it was indicated at the previous meeting that this request would be forthcoming, adding that he is not opposed to amending the ordinance, but he does not like to do it on a piecemeal basis. Mr. Callaway suggested that perhaps funeral homes could be allowed as a conditional use in certain specific zoning districts, rather than in all districts. Mr. Wendler said that he agrees with Mr. Brochu that the zoning ordinance should not be amended to accommodate every specific request, adding that in many cases the subject projects never materialize, citing the parking lot considered earlier this year as an example. Mr. Brochu said that he is not sure that the request to amend the ordinance is wrong, but perhaps the reason for requesting it is wrong. Mr. Dresser said he would like for staff to find out not only where other cities allow funeral homes, but he would also like to know how they function. Mr. Brochu said that perhaps they should be kept in commercial zones due to the possible impact they could have on other neighborhoods. Mr. Callaway said that the use of funeral homes is less regular than that of a church, but they do seem to cause more on-street parking. Mr. Brochu suggested perhaps other commercial zones should be considered. Mrs. Sawtelle said that she sees no reason to even consider any residential zoning district. Mr. Moore said that perhaps they should be allowed in areas where churches and schools are allowed since • they seem to function in like manner, as opposed to other commercial uses. Mr. Brochu said that he has no real strong feelings about this, and believes that the market here would be rather limited, but he would like to look to the future. Mr. P&Z Minutes 12-17-87 Page #2 Colson said that he agrees that the number of facilities would be limited, and if the ordinance would be altered somewhat, he really does not have a problem, but he is not • sure that another type of zoning should be considered. Mr. Brochu said that to add funeral homes to the list of conditional uses permitted would not disallow them in commercial districts, but rather would cause each facility to be considered on a case-by-case basis, including the impact one would have on a neighborhood. Mr. Dresser then said that he does believe this Commission has the judgment to look at each individual case, so he would move to approve the proposed amendment to the zoning ordinance as presented by staff for consideration. Mr. Moore seconded the motion which carried unanimously (7-0). AGBNDA ITEM N0. 5: 87-217: Final Plat - Basesent Abandonment and Dedication Plat - Haney Highway Six Addition. Mr. Callaway explained that the parties involved in all the various agreements which accompany this plat are not ready for the plat to be approved and filed, so would suggest that consideration of this plat be postponed until the next meeting. The Commission agreed and instructed staff to include this plat on the next agenda for consideration. AGBNDA ITBM N0. 6: Continuation of review of Goals, Objectives and Developaent Policies. Mr. Callaway referred the Commissioners to the copy of the original Citizen Participation goal and objectives, and to the draft revised goal and objectives prepared by staff following several joint workshops, and stated that this is the only topic remaining for review under goals and objectives. • Mr. Wendler stated that he likes the draft revised goal and objectives prepared by staff. Other Commissioners agreed, and Mr. Stewart made a motion to use the goal and objectives covering Citizen Participation as proposed in the draft revised document prepared by staff. Mrs. Sawtelle seconded the motion which carried unanimously (7- 0}. AGBNDA ITBM N0. 7: Other business. Mr. Colson said that he had done some checking following the concerns regarding the additional parking lot at the Aldersgate church which were expressed at the last meeting, and found that the church has made a "pad" for use with a tent at the festival held this fall, and that he had not noticed it being used as a parking lot. Mr. Stewart said that he lives in that vicinity, and has observed that the gravel "pad" has been used for parking the past 2 Sundays, with empty spaces being left in the paved, approved lot. Mrs. Kee responded by explaining that following the last P&Z meeting, staff has sent a letter to the church explaining the Conditional Use Permit process, and including the deadline dates to meet several meetings of the Commission. She said if no response to this letter is received by the middle of January, staff will make contact again to see if the problem can be handled to the mutual satisfaction of all concerned. Mr. Moore stated that the right-of-way for the new Highway No. 47 is being bought now, and wondered if the City should be doing any planning for uses in the area. Mr. • Callaway replied that the Commission will be considering the Land Use Plan and the Transportation sections of Plan 2000 in the early spring, and will be including this area in its consideration. P&Z Minutes 12-17-87 Page #3 • AGENDA ITBM NO. 8: Adjourn. Mr. Stewart made a motion to adjourn after everyone wished everyone else a Happy Holiday Season. Mr. Colson seconded the motion which carried unanimously (7-0). ATTEST: ------------------------------ City Secretary, Dian Jones • • APPROVEll: Chairman, avid Brochu P&Z Minutes 12-17-87 Page #4 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION GUEST REGISTER • DATE December 17, 1987 NAME ADDRESS _ 1 t/ ~ ~ , ~~~~~ ~-`_'> k=-- ]~~~ 1'rl_~z I' ~ V~J ti-;1 V l/i. ~~i~i Ca.~ ~l,l ,1 ~ ~ l~~ {- r- 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. . 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. • 25.