HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/10/2004 - Regular Minutes - Design Review Board
CITY OF COLLEGE STATION
Planning 6' Development Services
Minutes
Design Review Board
December 10, 2004
10:30 AM
Board Members Present: George McLean, Richard Benning, Alan King, Fred
Patteson, Scott Shafer, and Nancy Sawtelle.
Board Members Absent: Bill Trainor
Staff Present: Planning and Development Services Director Joey Dunn,
Economic Development Director Kim Foutz, Staff Planners
Molly Hitchcock, Jennifer Prochazka, and Staff Assistant
Mandi Alford
Others Present: Larry Haskins and David Slattery
AGENDA ITEM NO.1: Call to order.
Chairman Shafer called the meeting to order at 10:38 AM.
AGENDA ITEM NO.2:
Consider absence requests.
- Bill Trainor
Mr. King motioned to approve the request. Ms. Sawtelle seconded the motion, which
passesd unopposed (6-0).
AGENDA ITEM NO.3: Discussion, consideration and possible action to approve
meeting minutes for November 12, 2004.
Ms. Sawtelle motioned to approve the minutes. Mr. Benning seconded the motion,
which passed unopposed (6-0).
AGENDA ITEM NO.4: Discussion, consideration and possible action on
proposed lighting elements for Wolf Pen Ice Rink, located at 400 Holleman Drive
East in the Wolf Pen Creek Design District. (JP 03-316)
Staff Planner Prochazka presented the staff report stating that this is a review of the Wolf
Pen Creek Ice Rink lighting details. Ms. Prochazka stated that the Design Review Board
earlier this year had approved the site plan, landscaping plan and all other elements. The
proposed lighting meets the requirements of Section 5.6.A.4, Wolf Pen Creek Lighting,
and Section 7.10 Lighting of the Unified Development Ordinance.
Mr. Benning questioned why the Design Review Board was seeing this case. Ms.
Prochazka explained the Design Review Board would see cases if they do not meet the
standard lighting already approved for Wolf Pen Creek. Mr. Slattery explained the
reasoning for choosing the lighting was that it fit best with the buildings architectural
design.
Mr. Benning motioned to approve the lighting elements as presented, Mr. McLean
seconded the motion, which passed unopposed (6-0).
AGENDA ITEM NO.5:
Discussion of Northgate Ordinance (KFoutz).
Economic Development Director Foutz presented the board with handouts that described
the proposed vision for Northgate / Northgate Ordinance and sample provisions to
implement the plan. Ms. Foutz went through the process of implementing the plan. Onsite
meetings will be held for property owners on January 12, 2005 in Northgate, for
merchants on January 14,2005 in Northgate, and an accumulative of the two will be held
on January 18, 2005 at the City Conference Center if there are not any scheduling
conflicts with the Merchants Association. After the meetings the, ordinance will go
through work shops and then it would go to the Planning and Zoning Commission and
finally to City Council.
Mr. Benning asked how the merchants and property owners would be notified of
the meetings. Ms. Foutz stated that tax records are used to notify the merchants and
property owners and a database from previous leaders of the Merchants Association is
also used. There would also be poster put up the district advertising the meetings.
Ms. Foutz stated that the look they are trying to acquire in all Northgate Districts is urban
and dense type of development. This will continue to emphasize pedestrian orientation,
and mixed use. Architectural standards provisions would be somewhat similar to what is
in the Unified Development Ordinance for the non-residential standards. However, some
of those things are not applicable, such as parking, and some building articulation
because it is being looked at from a different scale. Building orientation is important to
accomplish the overall redevelopment plan which is trying to focus everything internal to
Church Avenue, Un.iversity Drive and the Promenade. There will be tree-lined streets and
wider brick paved sidewalks. There will be specific provisions that if all requirements are
met that accomplish the theme of the district, then the administrator could approve the
application. However, if the applicant diverges in any respect to any of the provision then
the Design Review Board will hear the appeals of the provision. It is recommended
because Northgate is a pedestrian oriented area that there will be a limitation on the size
of retail tenants.
The following are proposed visions for NG-l Core Commercial. NG-l will still
primarily remain commercial but will allow mix uses. There will be some limitations on
residential being on the first floor. There will be a maximum of 10,000 sq. ft. per single
retail except with a variance. Zero lot line development and minimum two stories with
minimum floor to area ration will still be allowed which already exists in the ordinance.
NG-2 is a transitional area. The area could be commercial only as it currently stands or it
could be mixed use. The maximum sq. ft. allowed is 50,000 feet per single unit. All new
development would have a requirement of a 20 foot high building. There would be
certain uses prohibited in the NG-2 area such as drive-thrus. However, there would be a
strong grand fathering clause for drive-thrus. There may be restrictions added to that.
There would be a maximum setback, but the number would be higher than the other NG
districts.
In NG-3 there will be mixed used allowed with limited commercial. The maximum sq. ft.
allowed for a single retail tenant is 5,000 feet. Zero lot line will and minimum two stories
with minimum floor to area ration will be allowed, which is already in the ordinance.
Mr. Shafer suggested to Ms. Foutz that maybe the wording on the handouts to read as a
vision statement.
Ms. Foutz suggested that the districts may need to be renamed because of the mix used
nature. Mr. Shafer agreed as well as Mr. King.
Mr. Benning expressed his concerns about parking, if there is not parking then the
consumer or businesses will not come to Northgate. Ms. Foutz stated that there is an
evaluation in progress to allow on street parking back in certain areas.
Ms. Foutz went over some of the provisions for the Northgate Ordinance that applies to
all Northgate Districts. There would be build to lines, primary entrance fac;ade orientation
would have to do with the major streets for instance Church Street, and University Drive
which has two orientations Church St. or the Promenade depending on how the building
is situated. Mr. Shafer suggested that dual facades be encouraged and some how be
written in the ordinance.
Architectural standards would be similar to the Unified Development Ordinance Non-
residential Standards pedestrian scale. Ground floor transparency for commercial uses on
facades abutting right of ways will be encouraged. When there is multi-family and the
park fees have to be paid, the parks fees that have been collected have not been
reinvested into the Northgate area. Ms. Foutz explained that the funds will be lost ifthey
are not spent. Mr. Shafer suggested watching a film that talks about small urban spaces.
The film gives suggestions on how to plan small places so people can use them. The
Social Life of Small Urban Spaces is the name of the film.
After some discussion it was determined that the Design Review Board should try
and meet with the Parks Board on January 11, 2004 if there is room on the agenda.
AGENDA ITEM NO.6: Discussion and possible action on future agenda items -
A Planning and Zoning Member may inquire about a subject for which notice has
not been given. A statement of specific factual information or the recitation of
existing policy may be given. Any deliberation shall be limited to a proposal to place
the subject on an agenda for a subsequent meeting.
~ January 11, 2005 meeting with the Parks Board
AGENDA ITEM NO 7:
ADJOURN.
Mrs. Sawtelle motioned to adjourn the meeting which was seconded by Mr. Benning,
and passed unopposed (6-0).
'1
Scott Shafer, Chairman