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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/02/1999 - Regular Minutes - Zoning Board of AdjustmentsMINUTES C. • • Zoning Board of Adjustment CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Alexander, Murphy, Hill, Happ & Alternate Member Hausenfluck & Searcy. MEMBERS ABSENT: Board Member Warren, Alternate Members Lewis, Lanier & Bailey. STAFF PRESENT: Senior Planner McCully, Staff Assistant Grace, City Attorney Cargill, Assistant City Attorney Robinson & City Secretary Hooks. AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Call to order -Explanation of functions of the Board. Chairman Alexander called the meeting to order and explained the functions of the Board. AGENDA ITEM N0.2: Approval of minutes from the February 16,1999 meeting. Mr. Searcy made correction to the motion statement on page 6. The corrected sentence should read: Dr. Bailey seconded the motion which passed (3-2). Mr. Hill made to motion to approved the mi.~utes as corrected. Mr. Happ seconded the motion which passed (5-0). AGENDA ITEM N0.3: Consideration of a variance to an interior parking island at 409 Holleman. Applicant is St. Matthew's Baptist Church. Senior Planner McCully stepped before the Board and presented the staff report. Ms. McCully stated that the variance is to an interior parking island to allow for the improvement of the parking area without loss of a parking space. The church has been in existence at this location for a number of years and predates most of the city's development requirements. The site is therefore legally nonconforming in terms of parking (number of spaces) and parking lot layout. The church is not requesting a change or expansion to the sanctuary; therefore, the number of parking. spaces is not coming under review at this time. Only those areas that are changing are required to meet current requirements. Due to the fact that the existing gravel parking lot is to be replaced with an asphalt parking lot, the new lot must meet all current requirements. The site plan that has been submitted shows compliance with current requirements, except that an interior island is required at 180 square feet for every 15 parking spaces. The new parking lot will only provide 19 spaces, and the applicant is reluctant to diminish the number of spaces provided by the one island that would be required. March 2, 1999 6:00 P.M. The Board could consider specific site features, such as the relatively small size of the site, the age of the site, etc. ZBA Minrdes March 2,1999 Page l oj4 The Board may wish to consider that provision of the parking island would reduce the number of available parking spaces by 5%. • Landscaping islands serve two purposes: traffic control and green space to soften the visual impact of a parking lot. The Zoning Board has peen reluctant to grant island variances in the past. Before the construction of the HEB store at Holleman and Texas, the Board denied a variance that would have allowed HEB to delete all of the required interior islands. The applicant did not present special conditions specific to the property in that case. Before the construction of the Golden Corral Restaurant at the Village Shopping Center, the Board heard an island variance that was needed so that the restaurant could meet its parking requirement. The Board chose to grant a parking island instead of the island variance. The Board could require additional landscaping requirements across the front of the church to help soften the visual impact of the new asphalt parking lot. Mr. Hausenfluck asked how many parking spaces would the parking island take up. Ms. McCully that it would be one parking space. Mr. Hill stated that it has been mentioned that additional landscaping will be added to the site in lieu of the parking island, but would landscaping be required regardless. Ms. McCully replied yes. The entire site is not coming under review because only half the site is being proposed for a change. The • landscaping requirement is being applied to that half of the site but it could be dispersed to other parts of the site. Mr. Hill asked if there has been any discussion as to how much additional landscaping is required to compensate for the variance. Ms. McCully stated that it has been discussed in general terms. Ms. McCully added that additional streetscape requirements would be required across the frontage of the property based on the amount of frontage they have. That would result in a couple of street trees but also the parking row would have to be screened with some shrubs. So what ever additional landscaping is being offered, it would be over and above the requirement. Mr. Happ asked if there was any design that would allow them to meet the requirement of the island and still get the same number of required parking spaces with the amount of property that is available. Ms. McCully replied that she does not see any way that could be accomplished. Mr. Happ asked Ms. McG~lly if parking could be placed in front of the building. Ms. McCully replied that there might be enough room to put in additional parking but not to meet the full standards of an 18 - 20 $ parking space plus a 23 ft. circulation isle. Chainman Alexander opened the public hearing for those wanting to speak in favor of the variance. DeAnna Ordonez stepped before the Board and was sworn in by Chairman Alexander. Ms. Ordonez told the Board that she is a graduate engineer for Garrett Engineering and she has been working on the site plan for the church. Ms. Ordonez stated that the landscaping for this site has been upgraded to include over 100 points above the requirement. ZBA Mutes March 2,1999 Page 2 oj4 Larry Johnson stepped before the Board and was sworn in by Chairman Alexander. Mr. Johnson told the Board that he is a member of the church. Mr. Johnson explained to the Board that the church is • trying to accomplish several things. Mr. Johnson spoke about site improvements and making the church and the property more aesthetically pleasing. Another concern is to get as many cars as possible off the street. Mr. Johnson told the Board that on Sunday mornings it is pretty crowded. Thomas Hall stepped before the Board and was sworn in by Chairman Alexander. Mir. Hall told the Board that he is also a member of the church. Mr. Hall explained that he has be working with Garrett Engineering on this project. Mr. Hall stated that he has been visiting with most of the area residents who received notifications about the meeting. Mr. Hall stated that he did not find anyone in opposition of the variance. Mr. Hall told the Board that they are not trying to get out of the landscape requirements. Mr. Hall stated that the church is trying to accomplish the improvements with limited finances. Chairman Alexander asked if anyone wanted to speak in opposition of the request. With no one stepping forward Chairman Alexander closed the public hearing. Mr. Happ moved to authorize a variance to the parking requirements from the terms of this ordinance as it will not be contrary to the public interest, due to the following special conditions: the original lot was constructed prior to present design requirements being established and the additional landscaping proposed would enhance the property for more than an island located well back in the lot; and because a strict enforcement of the provisions of the ordinance would result in unnecessary hardship to this applicant being: there isn't additional property available to provide the number of parking spaces required for the building located on the property; and such that the spirit of this ordinance shall be • observed and substantial justice done. Mr. Hill seconded the motion which passed unopposed (5-0). AGENDA ITEM N0.4: Discussion and possible action on the provisions outlined in Ethics Ordinance No. 2358. City Secretary Hooks introduced herself and City Attorney, Harvey Cargill Jr. to the Board. Ms. T~Tooks briefed the Board on the history of the ethics ordinance. Ms. Hooks told the Board that they were there to familiarize the Board with the information, answer questions and receive any comments. The goal is the take comments back to the City Council and let them know what the feelings are of this Board and how this ordinance will affect each person. Ms. Hooks told the Board that the comments from each Board going through these meetings concerning the ethics ordinance review will go back to Council probably in April. Mr. Cargill went through the packet of ethic ordinance information supplied to each member prior to this meeting. Some of the comments and concerns were: having *.o identify all trips is very inclusive. reporting trips & commissions very time consuming. intrusive to the point of being ridiculous. Mr. Searcy suggested that the appropriate thing to do is to write a letter to the Council Members expressing their comments and concerns. Ms. Hooks stated that the Mayor has asked that a good way • to communicate to her would be to write a letter. Mr. Dill encouraged everyone to do that. ZBA Manutes March 2,1999 Page 3 oj4 AGEiVDA ITEM NO. S: Adjourn. • Mr. Dill made the motion to adjourn. It was seconded by Mr. Murphy which passed unopposed (5-0). ATTEST: Staff Assistant, orah race • ZBA MINUTES March 2,1999 OVE . Chairman, Dav Ale ande Page 4 oj4 • Zoning Board of Adjustment i~ • • Guest Register Date ,K~~eX~a. ~~_ L 1 Name 1. ~l one ~' ~ /~3 ~ ~ 2 3 4 5 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. Address f?D.~~~~3 ~~/~~~ ~V ~ ~~ ~ ~ 7~~ it ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTNI1:~iT FORMAT FOR POSITIVE MOTION Variance from Section 15, Ordinance Number 1638. _ I move to authorize a variance to the yard (Section 8.~ lot width (Table A) lot depth (Table A) minimum setback _~ parking requirements (Section 9) I• from the terms of this ordinance as it will not be contrary to the public interest, due to the following special conditions: • ~G D~~~ ~ G(litS C01G'~'~N~ ~124~' Leo 1~?~~G~t,1`!~JS~y H'A'IL /fi'+ ~ ,c~.e~cl,L_ i~ ~aus~ 'strict enforcement of the provisions of the ordinance would result, in unnecessary hardship to this applicant being: i Z~iGl~ ~ .ri~~ ~ . ~~ ~ ~~ ch t spin this ordinance shall be observe and substantial justice done subject to the following limitations: Motion made by Seconded by_ ~ Chair Siana Date Voting Results S - y~tssa.DOc