HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/06/2004 - Regular Minutes - Zoning Board of AdjustmentsMINUTES
Zoning Board of Adjustment
January 6, 2004
CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS
6:00 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Leslie Hill, John Richards, Ward Wells, Graham Sheffy &
Rodger Lewis.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Alternates Jay Goss & John Fedora (not needed).
STAFF PRESENT: Staff Assistant Deborah Grace, Staff Planners' Jennifer Reeves, Jennifer
Prochazka, Planning Intern Lauren Harrell, City Attorney Carla
Robinson, Development Review Manager Natalie Ruiz & Action Center
Representative Regina Kelly.
AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Call to order -Explanation of functions of the Board.
Chairman Hill called the meeting to order.
AGENDA ITEM N0.2: Consideration, discussion and possible action of absence requests.
There were no requests to consider.
• AGENDA ITEM NO. 3: Consideration, discussion and possible action on approval of meeting
minutes from December 2, 2003
Mr. Sheffy made the motion to approve the minutes. Mr. Richards seconded the motion, which
passed unopposed (S-0).
Mr. Wells made a note for record concerning the variances at 1503 Fairhaven Cove in Nantucket. He
told the Board that he was there when the slab was poured. The string lines had to be reset three times
because two surveyors could not get them right. The builder ended up realigning the strings himself
because he knew the importance. Chairman Hill stated that in that case common sense over rode the
surveyors.
AGENDA ITEM NO. 4: Consideration, discussion and possible action to rehear a variance at
1400 Texas Avenue South (Corner of George Bush and Texas Avenue South) in the Redmond
Terrace Subdivision. Applicant is Heights Joint Venture Architects L.L.P. Jerry Tipps, Project
Manager, Senior Associate.
Staff Planner Jennifer Reeves told the Board that the applicant is requesting a rehear after being denied
for a sign variance at the November 18 meeting of the Board. A letter has been submitted to the Board
on behalf of the applicant for the Texas Avenue Crossing Shopping Center. Ms. Reeves informed the
Board that the applicant has not provided any new information that was not discussed at the previous
meeting.
Chairman Hill outlined the requirements needed in order to approve the rehear from the Board's Rules
• and Procedures.
ZBA Minutes January 6, 2004 Page 1 of 3
Ms. Robinson told the Board that they might want to open with a motion to help promote the
discussion.
Mr. Richards made the motion to deny the request to rehear. Mr. Sheffy seconded the motion.
i r cit and he is certain that it will
Mr. Richards stated that he is very pleased this development is n ou y
be very successful. He added that by following the entire city ordinances would not affect the project.
Mr. Richards quoted the last sentence in the letter from Height Joint Venture "Granting the variance
does not effect the profitability of the proposed utilization."
Mr. Wells stated that it is hard to read the new letter and find new information that has not been
covered. He added that in this particular case the hardship should have to do with what is the purpose
of the sign and that they are not able to achieve that purpose because of the ordinance or that there is
some physical issue relative to that. He stated that he has not heard an argument relative to that yet
from a hardship standpoint. Mr. Wells ended by saying he does not feel any new information is being
presented.
Mr. Sheffy stated that the staff report states it plain and simple that the applicant has not provided any
new information.
Chairman Hill stated after reading through the letter he sees no new information. The letter puts
different emphasizes on parts of the information, but he does not see any new information.
Mr. Wells added that it is a new proposal but it is not speaking to the issue of a hardship
Mr. Lewis stated that he would favor a rehearing. In looking at the letter submitted and comparing it to
the minutes from the previous meeting, the request last time was fora 35-foot tall sign 25-feet from
the curb. This request is fora 35-foot tall sign, 48-feet 8"from the curb. Also a quarter of the property
is in the floodplain and that was not discussed at the previous meeting. He stated that is clearly a
special condition. In the letter it also states safety issues concerning maneuvering vehicles around the
the parking lot if the sign was placed somewhere else. That was not discussed at the last meeting. Mr.
Lewis ended by saying again that there is new information and it is relevant to special conditions of
this property.
Mr. Wells responded that there is no information on what the intention of the sign is. The one thing
that seems to be critical to the applicant is that the sign be 35-feet no matter where it is placed.
Mr. Richards stated that both sign variance requests do not meet the city ordinance. He added that he
went to the parking lot and parked and backed up and the problem is no different on one isle then it is
on another. Mr. Richards ended by saying that in his observation it would not effect where the sign is
placed and they could come into compliance.
Chairman Hill stated that he would agree with Mr. Lewis concerning part of the property is in part of
the floodplain, that information was not exactly stated at the previous meeting. He added that he did
not feel that it was necessarily pertinent to the hardship. As far as the other issues he mentioned he
feels they were discussed very well.
With no further discussions Chairman Hill called for the vote on the motion to deny to rehear. The
Board voted (4-1). Mr. Lewis voting to rehear the case.
ZBA Minutes January 6, 2004 Page 2 of 3
AGENDA ITEM NO. 5: Discussion of Administrative Adjustments approved by city staff.
,., 901 San Saba
.., 234 Stuggart Circle
401 University Drive
305 Stoney Hills Court
Mr. Lewis noted that the builder for 305 Stoney Hills Court has been before the Board twice last year
for variances.
Mr. Wells stated that the Board has discussed the need to look at some kind of financial penalty for
encroachments and they may need to move forward with further discussions.
Chairman Hill stated that that could be something to put on a future agenda item to discuss and forward
a recommendation to the City Council.
Ms. Ruiz responded to Mr. Lewis's comment saying that Mr. Templin did talk to the builder and told
him that Administrative Adjustments are not an automatic relief. In the future if he comes back they
can send him to the ZBA.
AGENDA ITEM NO. 6: Consideration, discussion and possible action on future agenda
items.
Chairman Hill asked to add an item to discuss and possibly recommend penalties for setback
encroachments.
• AGENDA ITEM NO 7: Adjourn.
The meeting was adjourned.
ATTEST:
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"--~` Deborah Grace, Staff Assistant
•
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Leslie Hill, Chairman
ZBA Minutes January 6, 2004 Page 3 of 3
11/12/03 WED 12:39 TEL 4096963290 PDPF,
•
City of College Station
Absence Request Form
For Elected and Appointed Officers
Na1ne Rodger Lewis
Request Submitted on
Date: Nov. 12, 2003
1 will not be isl attendance at the meeting of Dec. 2, 2003
ZBA for the reason(s) specified: (Date)
Job re ui~-ement. Final meeting of a class I'm teaching this semester.
•
Signature
This request shall be submitted to Deborah Grace one week prior to
meeting date. Fax 764-3496. City of College Station, IY01 Texas Avertree,
College Station, Texas 77840 Attn: Deborah Grace
v: cou nci 1 'a bsenreq-doe
fool
~ ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTIt~ENT
GUEST REGISTER
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