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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/17/1994 - Minutes - Planning & Zoning CommissionMINUTES Planning & Zoning Commission CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS March 17, 1994 7:00 P.M. • • COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chairman Hawthorne, Commissioners Marion, Smith, Lane, and Gribou. COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Commissioners Hall and Herring. STAFF PRESENT: City Planner Kee, City Engineer Pullen, Planning Technician Thomas, Staff Planner Kuenzel and Development Coordinator Volk. (City Councilman Crouch was in the audience.) AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Approval of minutes from the meeting of March 3, 1994. Commissioner Gribou moved to approve the minutes from the meeting of March 3, 1994 as written. Commissioner Lane seconded the motion which passed unopposed (5 - 0). AGENDA ITEM NO. 2: Public hearing to consider a rewning request of 2.8 acres located on the southeast corner of F.M. 2818 and Welsh intersection, lot A-1 of Southwood Valley Section 30, from GN Neighborhood Commercial to G3 Planned Commercial (94107) Chairman Hawthorne informed the Commission that he could not consider this agenda item due to a conflict of interest. Staff Planner Kuenzel presented the staff report and stated that the City's Comprehensive Plan states that commercial property should be located at intersections of major roadways. The proposed rezoning would not conflict with this policy. The Land Use Plan reflects the subject tract as high density residential; however, since the adoption of the Plan, the property has been rezoned. In 1983, the Commission and Council heard the request to rezone this area from R-1 to C-1. The Cily Council decided at that time that the two more limited commercial zoning districts would be more appropriate due largely to traffic concerns. GN allows the followin~T: - convenience stores - sale of beer and wine - take out restaurant - personal service shops - offices - retail C-3 allows the followin~7: - car washes - commercial garages - alcoholic beverage sales - repair shops - mini storage - cleaners - personal service shops - offices - retail Staff Planner Kuenzel stated that the C-3 district does not specifically list service stations as permitted uses; however, the Planning and Zoning Commission does have the discretion to approve • those uses that are similar to those already listed in this zoning district. Fuel pumps have come to be a typical ancillary use to convenience stores, which are listed as permitted uses in the C-3 district. All C-3 uses must first obtain Commission approval. The applicant is requesting that the Commission not only recommend approval of the C-3 zoning, but that the Commission approve the fuel pumps as well. There is some concern for traffic on both Welsh and F.M. 2818; however, the traffic issue can be addressed through the site planning process. Staff recommended approval with the condition that access drives from Welsh and F.M. 2818 be controlled through strict adherence to the Driveway Access Location and Design Ordinance. Twenty surrounding property owners were notified with one letter received in opposition to the proposed rezoning request from the John P. Rouse of the College Station Independent School District. Commissioner Mariott opened the public hearing. Representative of the applicant Jeff McDowell of 1105 Peach Creek approached the Commission and stated that when the original rezoning request was considered by the City Council, the owners of the property felt like the direction was to come back with another rezoning request that would more appropriately fit into the surrounding neighborhood. The proposed C-3 zoning should satisfy the concerns of the Council and the shared access points along F.M. 2818 and Welsh should mitigate any traffic concerns. Kenny Broach of Zip 'N Food stores approached the Commission and gave a slide presentation of similar convenience store sites that are planned for the subject property. A marketing study was conducted by Quantative Market Research which found that the market for the subject site is defined by a two mile radius. Over fifty percent of business will occur between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., not during high school hours. Approximately forty-seven percent of total sales will occur on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and not during the week on school days. With the current traffic l7ow along F.M. 2818, it is projected that approximately five percent of traffic will come from this arterial with a total average of thirty-two customers per hour. Commissioner Mariott closed the public hearing. Commissioner Smith moved to recommend approval of a rezoning request of 2.8 acres located on the southeast corner of the F.M. 2818 and Welsh intersection, lot A-1 of Southwood Valley Section 30, from C-N Neighborhood Commercial to C-3 Planned Commercial. Commissioner Lane seconded the motion. Commissioner Gribou expressed concerns with traffic and the sale of alcohol within close proximity to the high school. The area appears to be headed for commercial development; however, traffic control still seems to be a major consideration at this intersection. It is an unrealistic expectation to assume that additional traffic will not be generated once the subject property is developed. Commissioner Gribou concluded that strip development should not be encouraged to continue along this corridor much like Texas Avenue. The motion to recommend approval of the rezoning request passed (3 - 1); Commissioner Gribou voted in opposition to the motion. The Commission agreed that if the C-3 zoning is granted, then fuel pumps should be allowed with the convenience store use; however, the site should be designed to have as little impact on traffic as possible. Chairman Hawthorne informed the Commission shat he lives near the subject property and it seems • that the tract lends itself to commercial development. He stated that speaking as a member of the public, he would like to see a development that blends with the surrounding neighborhood and is aesthetically pleasing. P&Z Minutes March 17, 1994 Page 2 AGENDA ITEM NO. 3: Public hearing to consider a conditional use permit request for a proposed restaurant and bar to be located at 303 University Drive West, formerly T~vo Pesos, in the . Northgate caning district. (94-700) Staff Planner Kuenzel presented the staff report and informed the Commission that the subject site has been used in a manner similar to the one proposed for several years. The Flying Tomato offered not only food and beer but also nightly entertainment. The net impact of use of this site as proposed should be minimal. Fifteen surrounding property owners were notified with one inquiry. Chairman Hawthorne opened the public hearing. Applicant and future operator, Richard Benning approached the Commission and stated that outdoor seating and a reception area will be available. Approximately thirty percent of sales will come from food and the remainder from drinks. The subject building seats almost 200 people. Part owner of the property, George Boyett of 702 Lee, informed the Commission that the building was originally constructed in 1929. Since it was converted from apartments in 1979, the building has functioned as a night club and in harmony with the surrounding uses in the Northgate area. There are twenty-three parking spaces on site including adrive-in window that enters from Patricia Street. Chairman Hawthorne closed the public hearing. Commissioner Mariott moved to grant a conditional use permit for a restaurant and bar to be located at 303 University Drive in the Northgate zoning district. Commissioner Smith seconded the motion which passed unopposed (5 - 0). AGENDA ITEM NO. 4: Discussion of setting parameters for the City Engineer to follow when granting variances to the Driveway Access and Location Ordinance. • City Engineer Pullen presented the decision guidelines to follow when granting single family and duplex driveways. Considerations in the order of priority are safety, fairness, on street parking and quality of life. When safety is not a prohibiting factor and all other location criteria are met such as corner clearance and minor street classification, the following options are available: (1) One drive opening per single family or duplex lot with all exceptions presented to the Commission. (2) The number of driveway openings could be based on lot frontage with all exceptions presented to the Commission. City Engineer Pullen concluded that one of the main questions seems to be should on street parking be preserved. If multiple driveway points are allowed, the number of on street visitor parking spaces will be limited. Chairman Hawthorne stated that he would prefer to encourage parking in driveways instead of on the street. Circular driveways should be allowed unless there is a safety issue involved. Commissioner Gribou stated that a circular driveway seems to be safer because it allows for traffic to pull head first into the street instead of backing out. Since there is no clear policy addressing on street parking, multiple access points should be allowed as long as a safety problem is not created. In areas where there are bikeways and bike lanes, on street parking is not allowed. The Commission agreed that circular driveways on single family and duplex lots should be allowed as long as the duplicity of driveways does not create a worsened safety situation over a single driveway. There is not a concern with the separation of the driveways to provide on street parking unless the spacing creates a safety concern. P&Z Minutes March 17, 1994 Page 3 AGENDA ITEM NO. 5: Other business. • There was no other business. AGENDA ITEM NO. 6: Adjourn. Commissioner Mariott moved to adjourn the meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission. Commissioner Lane seconded the motion which passed unopposed (5 - 0). (___~, -(j--,_,~ ~ ~~~,~~ Chairperson, Kyle Hawthorne TTFS -~ _. Planning Technician, Natalie Thomas • • APPR~~p / \ \~ P&Z Minutes March 17, 1994 Page 4 Registration Form • (For persons who wish to address the Commission) Date of Meeting = ~ + 7 Agenda Item No. Name ~ ~~ , -`~~~, i1'i.~~ ~ ~ . Address I I~`~ hc~c a c ~,~_~-~:... i `.« t ~- ~~it~-h ~~_ ~ If speaking for an organization, Name of organization: Speaker's official capacity: ~~~l~~:~r'~ +1 Subject on which person wishes to speak: Please remember to step to the podium as soon as you are • recognized by the chair, hand your completed registration form to the presiding officer and state your name and residence before beginning your presentation. If you have written notes you wish to present to the Commission, PLEASE FURNISH AN EXTRA COPY FOR PLANNING FILES. Registration Form • (For persons who wish to address the Commission) Date of Meeting ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ `~ Agenda Item No. ~, Name k ~~ ~~~`}-i ~~ :... at~_,.~1 Address If speaking for an organization, Name of organization: Speaker's official capacity: eject on which person wishes to speak: Please remember to step to the podium as soon as you are recognized by the chair, hand your completed registration form to the presiding officer and state your name and residence before beginning your presentation. If you have written notes you wish to present to the Commission, PLEASE FURNISH AN EXTRA COPY FOR PLANNING FILES. I~ ~~annin~ ~' Zonine Commission Guest register ~~ ~ n ~, mate ~~~ ~ ~~~,~~~~~ `7, l ~~~-~'--~ - ~/ame ,/~ ;~1 cfrfress 2. ~ 4. 5. 6. ~. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. IS. 16. 17. 18. 19. zo. 21. 22. 23. 24. 2S.