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Home My WebLink About03/04/1997 - Regular Minutes - Zoning Board of AdjustmentsMINUTES • Zoning Board of Adjustment CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS March 4, 1997 6:00 P.M. C7 MEMBERS PRESENT: Acting Chairman Sawtelle and Members Blackwelder, Alexander and Alternate Member Taggart. (Chairman Rife was in the audience.) MEMBERS ABSENT: Member Hollas and Alternate Member Ochoa. STAFF PRESENT: Senior Planner McCully, Planning Technician Ruiz, Assistant to the City Engineer Homeyer and Assistant City Attorney Reynolds. AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Call to order -explanation of functions of the Board. Acting Chairman Sawtelle called the meeting to order and explained the functions of the Board. He explained that since only four members were present, it would require a unanimous vote to pass the variance requests. Applicant Bill Marden agreed to continue the meeting with only four members present. AGENDA TI'EM N0.2: Approval of minutes from the meeting of January 14, 1997. Mr. Blackwelder moved to approve the minute:. •om the meeting of January 14, 1997 as written. Mr. Taggart seconded the motion which passed uno; posed (4 - 0). AGENDA ITEM N0.3: Consideratsoii cf a variance request to the parking lot and landscaping requirements at 589 Graham Road to allow for the site to be used as an auto works shop without the upgrade of an existing substandard parking area. Senior Planner McCully presented the staff report and stated that twenty-two parking spaces that meet all current standards (including curbing, subgrade, striping, detention and landscaping) are required for the proposed auto works facility. The storage area on the west side of the site is nonconforming in terms of screening. There is an area that has been recently covered with asphalt that does not meet current standards in terms of curbing, islands, subgrade, stnpmg, detention, or landscaping. This area should have been installed in compliance with those standards, but the site work was completed without city approval. The City therefore does not recognize the area to be a legal parking lot. The applicant is proposing to park the vehicles inside the building and has adequate space to do so. If the variance is not granted, the applicant would be required to bring the existing parking lot up to code and provide 22 parking spaces that he will not use. The ZBA has the alternative of granting the variance in its entirety or granting a portion of the variance. The purposes of requiring off-street parking are to eliminate the on- street parking of vehicles on neighborhood streets; to avoid traffic congestion and safety hazards; and to expedite the movement of traffic on streets in a safe manner. The subject property was annexed into the City in 1992. Shortly thereafter, in 1993, the City initiated rezoning of the Graham Road area from interim A-O to M-1 and M-2. In 1996 the site was rezoned from M-2 to C-2. If the Board chooses to grant the variance, Staff recommends that any approval be made subject to the following conditions: 1. Installation of landscaping that meets current ordinance requirements 2. That the majority of the parking remains inside the building and that any changes to the parking arrangement be reviewed as th ~ occu~•. CJ Senior Planner McCully stated that the applicant is willing to install the required landscaping; however, he is requesting some additional time before he must be in compliance. He will address the timing of the landscaping during the public hearing. Approximately ten surrounding property owners were notified of the variance requests with no response. Mr. Sawtelle opened the public hearing. The following persons spoke in favor of the variance requests: Applicant's Representative Cathy Flannery Siegert 8701 Chippendale Applicant's Representative Pat Siegert 8701 Chippendale Applicant & Future Owner Bill Marden 1702 D Ponderosa Each person was sworn in by Mr. Sawtelle and made the following comments in support of the variance requests: (1) The future owner of the building is willing to comply with the landscaping requirements if given adequate time to phase the plantings. Approximately 36 months would be needed to install all of the landscaping with one third of the landscaping installed each year. (2) The surrounding property owners are in support of the variance requests and signed a memorandum to that effect. Mr. Marden will improve the existing site, which will benefit the entire area. The property owners understand the constraints of a small businessman and have no problem phasing the required landscaping. (3) The required parking can be provided :=~ithin the building. The applicant is buying a much larger facility so that indoor parking is not a problem. Parking the vehicles inside provides a more aesthetically pleasing exterior v~nth more open space and makes the site much safer and secure. • (4) Buchanan Soil Engineers did a core sample of the existing parking lot and found that there is 7" of post oak gavel (which was an accepted standard when the building was constructed), 4" of crushed limestone and 1/2" asphalt. (5) The future owner of the building recently lost his lease and must find a new location immediately. The subject property is the only viable site in College Station. If the variances are not granted, he will be forced to relocate in north Bryan and the business may not be able to survive. (6) The auto works business will occupy approximately 10,000 square feet of the building. The remaining square footage will be used for office and storage. • Chairman Rife arrived. Mr. Blackwelder requested that he join the Board in considering the case so that the applicant has benefit of all five members. Assistant City Attorney Reynolds advised against Mr. Rife joining the Board since he missed the staff report and the public hearing. Mr. Sawtelle closed the public hearing. He stated that with the nature of the business the majority of the parking can occur within the building. However, there will be the need for some exterior parking for employees and visitors. Mr. Blackwelder moved to authorize a variance request to the minimum parking requirements and allow the applicant to bring the landscaping up to code requirements within twenty-four months. Mr. Alexander seconded the motion. Mr. Taggart stated that the parallel parking spaces shown on the site plan could be removed; however, the spaces closest to the building should be required for employee and guest parking. After discussion amongst the Board members, Mr. Blackwelder moved to amend the motion to approve the variance requests as follows: "I move to authorize a variance from Ordinance Number 1638 to the parking requirements (Section 9) from the terms of this ordinance as it will not be contrary to the public interest, due to the following special conditions: adequate parking is available inside to meet the number of parking spaces required by the ordinance; and. because a strict enforcement of the provisions of the ordinance would result in unnecessary hardship to this applicant being: time frame to continue his business in College Station; and such that the spirit of this ordinance shall be observed and substantial justice done subject to the following limitations: appropriate landscaping and screening is done within twenty-four months of occupancy including the parking lot with new spaces not less than nine within twenty-four months." Mr. Alexander seconded the amendment which passed unopposed (4 - 0). The motion as amended passed unopposed (4 - 0). AGENDA ITEM N0.4: Other business. There was no other business. AGENDA ITEM NO. S: Adjourn. Mr. Blackwelder moved to adjourn the meeting of the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Mr. Alexander seconded the motion which passed unopposed (4 - 0). 1 g echnician, at a Ruiz ZB.4 Minutes March 4, 1997 Page 2 of 2 r~ ~J ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT FORMAT FOR POSITIVE MOTION I• Variance from Section 15, Ordinance Number 1638. I move to authorize a variance to the yard (Section 8.7) lot width (Table A) lot depth (Table A) minimum setback Section 9 parlang regiurements ( ) from the terms of this ordinance as it will not be contrary to the public interest, due to the following special conditions: A 1 .~ - ~ ~ .`1 ...r- n ., .. d 5 and because a strict enforcement of the provisions of the ordinance would result in unnecessary hardship to this applicant being: '1 and such that the spirit of this ordinance shall be observed and substantial justice done subject to the following limitations: ~~ Motion made by Seconded by Chair Signature t~-~/ Date °3T /~ Voting Results ~^ Y~iRP1638.DOC ZONING BOARD OF ADJLTSTMEN'P FORMAT FOR POSITIVE MOTION Variance from Section 18, Ordinance Number 1638. I move to authorize a variance to the yard (Section 8.T) V lot width (Table A) lot depth (Table A) minimum setback parking requirements (Section 9) • from the terms of this ordinance as it will not be contrary to the public interest, due to the following special condition: 0~~ 5/1 ~i~~i U~ and because a strict enforcement of the provisions of the ordinance would result in unnecessary hardship to this applicant being: and such that the spirit of this ordinance shall be observed and substan LS j~s~ice done ~' g -limitations:-- ~ f TQ K l~l~~~ d~ ~ y1 ~ __ ~ ~,~ Motion made by ~ `~ Date • Seconded by ~` `y` `"' `~°~~ 4 ` `~ Voting Results Chair Signature Y~IRP1638.DOC