HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/18/1980 - Regular Minutes - Zoning Board of Adjustments• MTNUTES
City of College Station
Zoning Board of Adjustment
March 18, 1980
Members Present: Chairman Harper, Upham, Daughtey, Mathewson,
Wagner,Counci1 Liason Boughton
Members Absent: Burke
Staff Members Present: Zoning Official Callaway, Planning Assistant
Longley
Agenda Item No. 1 -Approval of Minutes Meetings of November 20, 1979 and
February 20, 1980.
Upham moved to approve the minutes of November 20, 1979 with the correction of
the spelling of Bill Youngkin wherever it occurred within the minutes. The
• motion was seconded by Wagner and passed unanimously.
Harper moved to approve the minutes of February 19, 1980. The motion was
seconded by Wagner and passed by the following vote:
For: Harper, Boughton, Wagner, Daughtey
Opposed: None
Mathewson abstained due to his absence on February 19.
Agenda Item No. 2 - Consideration of an Appeal of a Decision of the Zoning
Official in the name of Paul W. Conrad.
Callaway explained the case before the Board as being an appeal of the deter-
mination of his office to apply Section 6-M.1.(e), Ordinance No. 850 to include
a proposed clock-tower sign with chimes. Callaway pointed out that the proposed
location, Texas Avenue at Dominik Drive, was near a neighborhood from which
complaints about noise from the adjacent commercial area have been received.
Conrad explained his proposed sign installation to the Board. After playing
a recording of the Westminister Chimes to be utilized in the proposed sign,
Conrad stated that the chimes would be played on the hour and half-hour and
that the hours of operation of the chimes could be regulated. He further
stated that the chime operation would probably be timed to correspond with the
• business hours of the adjacent shopping center.
Upham asked how the bells could be heard at the south end of the shopping center,
one half mile from the sign, and not be heard in the residential area 300 feet
from the sign .
Minutes
• March 18 , 1980 Page 2
Conrad replied that the speakers utilized were directional speakers.
Ka theleen Kenefick pointed out that the prevailing winds in this area would
carry sound from the sign .towards the residential area.
Conrad replied that the volume Leval of the chimes were adjustable and could
be lowered when necessary.
Upham asked if the amplifier system could be utilized to play tapes and as
a public address system.
Conrad replied that the system could only play pre-recorded carillion music
only available from his firm. He followed his reply by p1-eying a tape of the
music that was available.
Mathewson asked if this option was available to the bank (the proposed user of
the sign).
Conrad replied that it was.
Harper asked if there were any comments from the audience.
Katheleen Kenefick stated that the chimes could possibly disturb a small child.
• Elsie Lynch stated that the chimes would constitute just one more noise factor
which the neighborhood did not need or want.
Mathewson asked if a time limit on the hours of operation of the chimes would
offset any problems.
Upham stated that any favorable action would probable include some such time
limit.
Authur Bright stated that he had no objections to the chimes, but that he was
concerned. by any deviation from the ordinance.
Elsie Lynch said that each thing added in the area had depreciated the value
of their property.
Upham stated a concern for any precedent that might be established by a favorable
action,
Harper stated a concern for protecting the residential area along Kyle Street.
Mathewson moved to override the Zoning Officials denial of the construction of
a bell tower wfith chimes at the new bank, located at the intersection of Texas
Avenue and Dominik, with the following conditions:
• A, The hours of operation of the chimes are from 9:00 a.m, to
8:00 p,m, ;
B. The speakers oriented towards the residential area along Kyle
shall not be installed;
C. The chime music not exceed sixty minutes of any twenty-four hour
period.
Minutes
• March 18 , 1980
Page 3
Wagner seconded the motion, which failed by the following vote (four votes being
necessary for favorable action):
For: Mathewson
Opposed: Harper, Wagner, Upham, Daughtey
Agenda Item No. 3 - Other Business.
Callaway discussed the problem of not being able to issue building permits for
residential construction, remodeling, etc, when there was a non-conforming
structure on the lot.
Following a discussion of this problem by the Board, the Board moved to adopt
the policy of giving the Zoning Official discretion in approving building permits
for modification to the primary habitable structure so long as that structure
itself is not in non-conformance, and the non-conformance is due to some ansilur
or accessory structure. There being no opposition, the policy was adopted by
commom consent.
Agenda Item No. 4 - Adjourn.
• There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.
•