Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/17/1995 - Minutes - Planning & Zoning CommissionMINUTES Planning & Zoning Commission CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS August 17, 1995 7:00 P.M. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chairman Hawthorne and Commissioners Lane, Gribou, Hall, Lightfoot and Smith. COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Commissioner Garner. STAFF PRESENT: Assistant City Engineer Morgan, Graduate Civil Engineer Homeyer, Planning Technician Thomas, Senior Planner Kuenzel and Assistant City Attorney Reynolds, Director of Parks and Recreation Beachy and Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Ploeger. (Council Liaison McIlhaney was in the audience.) AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: The Consent Agenda consists of non-controversial or "housekeeping" items required by law. Items may be removed from the Consent Agenda by any citizen, City staff member, or Commissioner by making such a request prior to a motion and vote on the Consent Agenda. (1.1) Approval of minutes from the meeting of August 3, 1995. (1.2) Consideration of a final plat of the Carter Lake Acres Subdivision. (95-227) (1.3) Consideration of a final plat of the Crystal Park Subdivision. (95-229) Consent agenda items 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 were approved unanimously by consent. AGENDA ITEM NO. 2: Public hearing to consider a conditional use permit request for the expansion of the existing bar located at 2501 Texas Avenue South, Suite D-101, Penthouse Billiards. (95-708) Senior Planner Kuenzel presented the staff report and informed the Commission that the proposed expansion is from 6900 square feet to 9100 square feet. The previous use of this lease space was • Click's, another pool hall. Click's was an established use when the ordinance was changed to require conditional use permits for night clubs, therefore the existing use was grandfathered. The existing lease space is located on the western end of the last building on the south side of the shopping center, adjacent to the dry cleaners. Senior Planner Kuenzel stated that the nearest residential area is the adjoining trailer park, residents of which opposed "The Globe" night club located to the east of this center. There is currently no parking problem within the shopping center due in part to the fact that many of the . lease spaces in the center are vacant. The total square footage leased to theaters, restaurants, and night clubs in the center will be restricted to 25% of the total leasable space. Parking therefore should not become a problem in the future. Chairman Hawthorne opened the public hearing. Seeing no one to speak in favor of or in opposition to the conditional use permit request, he closed the public hearing. For the purposes of discussion, Commissioner Hall moved to approve the conditional use permit for the expansion of the existing bar located at 2501 Texas Avenue South, Suite D-101, Penthouse Billiards. Commissioner Lane seconded the motion. Representative of the owner, John Sleeper approached the Commission and stated that the property is currently owned by the Resolution Trust Corporation. However, a group out of Houston by the name of A. K. Ten, Limited is in the process of purchasing the property. Mr. Sleeper informed the Commission that the tenants of Penthouse Billiards have been responsible tenants and will continue to do so in the future. At the request of the Commission, applicant James Vanya approached the Commission to explain the proposed expansion. He stated that a 20' x 20' dance floor will be added along with a big screen television and an activities area. There may be times when a two or three piece band will perform at the bar; however, the hours of operation will remain the same, 2:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Commissioner Hall expressed concern with the noise of the enlarged facility and its impact on the adjacent residents. If a dance floor is being added and bands will be allowed to perform, the noise will be significantly louder than the previous billiards use. • Mr. Vanya stated that the addition is such a small space that the music should not be any louder than the existing facility. The back wall will be an 8" wall with insulation between the sheet rock and the concrete wall. Manager of the adjacent mobile home park, Ava Williams, approached the Commission stated that she is concerned with the noise as patrons of the bar leave the parking lot. There is also a natural creek that runs behind the property that always has garbage in it. Ms. Williams stated that when the Baja Yacht Club was in operation, the back doors were left open during business hours which created security and noise problems for the mobile home park. Commissioner Hall requested to withdraw his motion to approve the conditional use permit. He suggested that the item be tabled to allow the applicant to work with staff on soundproofing the building. Commissioner Lane agreed to withdraw the positive motion. Commissioner Hall moved to table the conditional use permit request until the applicant has worked with staff on the actual details of soundproofing the building. Commissioner Lane seconded the motion which passed (4 - 2); Chairman Hawthorne and Commissioner Lightfoot voted in opposition to the motion. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3: Consideration of a proposed sign for the Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater located on the southeast corner of the Holleman and Dartmouth intersection. (95-808) Senior Planner Kuenzel informed the Commission that the Parks Department has submitted a request for a sign that will promote Wolf Pen Creek Park functions. The Zoning Ordinance • provides for any proposed new signage to be reviewed by the Design Review Board (DRB) and the Planning and Zoning Commission. P & Z Minutes August 17, 1995 Page 2 of 4 Senior Planner Kuenzel stated that the DRB reviewed the sign today and recommended denial of • the proposed signage by a vote of 5 - 2. The Board had concerns that the sign has a "billboard" appearance and does not meet the intent of the ordinance. The Board was also concerned that the proposed sign did not meet the same standards as signs approved for private development within the Wolf Pen Creek Corridor. The proposed sign meets the restrictions for commercial signage in terms of height and area. It will have an area of 60 square feet, roughly half of which contain changeable letters. The messages must be limited to non commercial language (such as "welcome back, Aggies") or to messages that promote park activities. Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Ploeger approached the Commission and presented color samples of the proposed sign. Parks Board Member Greg Taggart informed the Commission that the proposed sign is important to the City in keeping the citizens informed of events at the park. He explained that the Parks Department has a difficult time getting information to the public about events at the amphitheater. The purpose of the proposed sign is visibility to vehicular traffic in the area and a low profile sign will only attract pedestrian traffic. Chairman Hawthorne stated that he likes the overall idea; however, the design is much like the sign at the Junior High School. The proposed sign does not adequately reflect the standards or expectations of Wolf Pen Creek. Commissioner Gribou informed the Commission that he served on the Wolf Pen Creek Design Review Board when the standards for development were established. He stated that there is no consistency between the sign and the park area except for the color of the sign. Commissioner Gribou stated that the size of the sign is acceptable; however, the high quality standards expected in the Wolf Pen Creek Corridor are lacking. • Director of Parks and Recreation Beachy approached the Commission and stated that their first option was an electronic sign that was easily programmed for different events; however, the cost of that particular sign is approximately $25,000. He stated that $8,000 is available from the rest room facilities that were constructed in the park and he hopes that the savings can be spent on a much needed sign. Commissioner Gribou recommended that he consider designing a permanent and unique base that an electronic reader board could be plugged in at a later date when the funds are available. It is essential that the base of the sign incorporate elements of the park area and meet the standards of the Corridor. Commissioner Lightfoot expressed concern with consistency throughout the corridor. He stated that it may be a benefit to the City to have a reader board to advertise events but it may also be beneficial to Wolfe Nursery to have a reader board to advertise plant sales. The Commission must be consistent with standards in the Corridor especially between private and public development. Commissioner Hall requested that Council Liaison McIlhaney explore the possibility of carrying over the $8,000 to next year's budget. He suggested that a fund be established for the sign until enough money is saved to build a quality sign. Council Liaison McIlhaney suggested that Parks and Recreation Director Beachy take the issue up with the City Manager to determine if the problem can be addressed internally or if Council action is necessary. • P & Z Minutes Az~g7sst 17, 1995 Page 3 of 4 • L~ :~ Commissioner Gribou moved to deny the proposed freestanding sign for the Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater located on the southeast corner of the Holleman and Dartmouth intersection. Commissioner Lightfoot seconded the motion. Chairman Hawthorne stated that he is in favor of the motion; however, a sign is needed for the park area. He suggested that the minutes of this item be forwarded to the City Council for their information. The motion to deny the proposed sign passed unopposed (6 - 0) AGENDA ITEM NO. 4: Other business. Commissioner Lightfoot expressed concern of the trees that were cut down in the Park Place shopping center. He suggested that the Commission encourage and advise the City Council to establish a format to prevent this from happening in the future. Chairman Hawthorne stated that he is concerned with someone representing that they meet the landscape criteria and then later change the aesthetic value of the area. He requested that staff place this item on the next available agenda for further discussion. AGENDA ITEM NO. 5: Adjourn. Commissioner Gribou moved to adjourn the meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission. Commissioner Lightfoot seconded the motion which passed unopposed (6 - 0). ATTES P anni g Technician, atalie Thomas P & Z Minutes APPROVED: ~ ~~ ~cTr~J hairman,~~~ei~e /NlL'~ (,~4~t1E CN t@-~JSENeE' i August 17, 1995 K}~iE's Page 4 of 4 i• [, • 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. IS. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 2~ ~~annin~ ~' Zoning Commission Guest ~,e~ister Date ( ~ 4