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Home My WebLink About07/06/2010 - Regular Minutes - Zoning Board of AdjustmentsCITY OF COLLEGT? STATION Home of Texas A&M University' MINUTES ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT July 6, 2010 CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1101 Texas Avenue 6:00 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Jay Goss, Josh Benn, John Richards, Rodney Hill and Melissa Cunningham. MEMBERS ABSENT: Dick Dabney. STAFF PRESENT: Staff Assistant Kristen Hejny, Staff Planner Matt Robinson, Staff Planner Lauren Hovde, Assistant Director Lance Simms, First Assistant City Attorney Mary Ann Powell, Action Center Representative Kerry Mullins. AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Call to order - Explanation of functions of the Board. Chairman Jay Goss called the meeting to order at 6:05 PM. AGENDA ITEM NO. 2: Consideration, discussion and possible action of Absence Requests from meetings. ❖ Dick Dabney - July 6, 2010 Mr. Hill motioned to approve the absence requests. Mr. Richards seconded the motion, which passed unopposed (5-0). AGENDA ITEM NO. 3: Discussion of requested Administrative Adjustments. • 1712 Southwest Parkway, Suite 103 - 9.84% reduction (six parking spaces) to the required number of parking spaces. Approved. Case # 10-00500091 (BB). • 800 George Bush Drive - 6% reduction (three parking spaces) to the required number of parking spaces. Approved. Case# 10-00500106 (JS). Staff Planners Matt Robinson and Lauren Hovde gave the Board a brief explanation of the requested adjustments. AGENDA ITEM NO. 4: Consideration, discussion and possible action to approve meeting minutes. • June 1, 2010 meeting minutes. Mr. Richards motioned to approve the June 1, 2010 minutes. Mr. Benn seconded the motion, which passed unopposed (5-0). AGENDA ITEM NO. 5: Presentation, possible action, and discussion on a request for a variance to the Unified Development Ordinance, Section 5.2 Residential Dimensional Standards regarding minimum lot depth for 501 & 503 Corredigor Drive and 2021 & 2023 Legacy Lane, Lots 17 & 18, Block 1 of the Legacy Addition Subdivision. Case# 10-00500082 (MR). Staff Planner Matt Robinson presented the staff report and stated that the applicant is requesting a reduction of 17 feet 3 inches to the minimum lot depth requirement of 100 feet in order to subdivide two duplex lots into three duplex lots. Staff went on to state that the applicant's stated special condition is that the density of the lots are unequal to the opposite side of the street. Staff recommended denial of the variance request because the applicant did not demonstrate that a special condition or hardship exists for the subject properties. It was staff's opinion that the lot density on one street does not necessitate that other streets maintain that same lot density. In addition, staff stated that adding an additional duplex lot would increase the number of cars taking direct access to Holleman Drive and could increase the safety risk. Chairman Goss opened the public hearing for those wanting to speak concerning the variance request. Speaking in favor of the variance requests were: Jim Loveless, 7050 Wood Oak Drive, College Station, TX. - Stated the 100-foot lot depth minimum to subdivide inhibits parking where he would like to put parking on the side of the lot. Mr. Loveless went on to state that the lot sizes in question are twice the size of surrounding lots and therefore is plenty of room to subdivide as the back lots are not being used to their advantage. Mr. Loveless stated that they were proposing to put a two-story building as it would fit in the vacant area. Kathy Loveless, 7050 Wood Oak Drive, College Station, TX - Stated that staff s opposition regarding adding extra traffic to Holleman, would only increase by six cars. Those speaking before the Board were sworn in by Chairman Goss. Chairman Goss closed the public hearing. Mr. Benn moved to authorize the variance, subject to lot size hardship and replat. The motion failed due to the lack of a second. Mr. Hill motioned to deny the variance request due to the lack of any special conditions. Motion was seconded by Mr. Richards. Chairman Goss called for the vote for the motion to deny the variance. The vote was (4-1) Mr. Benn voting in opposition. The motion was approved. AGENDA ITEM NO. 6: Public hearing, presentation, and possible action, and discussion on variance requests to the Unified Development Ordinance Section 7.4 "Signs" for 4401 State Highway 6 South, Lots 6, 9, 11-13, Block 1 of the Spring Creek Commons Subdivision. Case# 10-00500127 (LH). Staff Planner Lauren Hovde presented the three sign height and area variances: a Low Profile Sign, a Vehicular Directional Sign and an Entrance Directional Sign for the St. Joseph's emergency room and medical center. The property is currently within the allowed signage which is one free standing sign, attached signage on the building, one low profile sign per pad sight (with a condition), directional traffic control signs and exempt non-visible signage. Low Profile signs are capped at four feet in height. Directional Control Signs are allowed one per curb cut (this property has four curb cuts) at a max of three square feet in area with a maximum of 50% copy or logo. The applicant is requesting a three-foot variance to give an overall height of seven feet from the Low Profile sign to replace the existing, urgent care sign with a low profile sign to accompany the free standing sign. The applicant is requesting two traffic directional signs with a variance of four feet eight inches (4'8") on the entrance sign giving an overall height of 8'8" and the Vehicular Directional Sign variance of six feet four inches (6'4") for an over-all height of 10'4". The applicant is also requesting a sign-area variance on directional signs of 38.2 square feet for the entrance sign, and a 31.2 square-foot variance for the Vehicular Directional Sign. Requested is also an unlimited copy/logo percentage on directional signs (which is now limited to 50%). Staff recommends denial based on lack of strong hardship and lack of unique conditions for this sight. Chairman Goss requested that the three sign variances be voted on separately to avoid confusion separated by Low Profile Sign height variance; Vehicular Directional Sign height and area variance; and Entrance Directional Sign height and area variance. Chairman Goss opened the public hearing for those wanting to speak concerning the variance request. Speaking in favor of the variance requests were: Veronica Morgan, Mitchell & Morgan, 511 University Drive East #204, College Station, TX. - Stated that the low profile sign is too small for drivers on the road to see when passing the slope of the land. Hardships such as a public utility easement and power pole placement inhibit visual reading from the wide road. The property contains a medical facility that if passed, requires drivers to travel a long distance to return. Mrs. Morgan asked for the Vehicular Directional Signs to be exempt completely and resized to 10'4" (6'4" variance) height and a 31.2 square foot area variance. She stated that the lettering height must be larger to be seen from longer distances away, stating that studies show that readable height from distances makes COCS half of the readable size. Mrs. Morgan asked for the Entrance Directional sign text height to be raised to 12" logo height and a lettering text height of 4.5". She also requested a variance to a height of 4'8", a 50% copy variance and a 38.2 square foot area variance. David Hall, 3922 Park Meadow Lane, Bryan, TX - Based on a 50% percent copy limitation, 50% is still not going to allow many tenant names to be placed on the sign, as the text will have to be small enough to fit all names and therefore will not be legible to drivers. Shanna Hall, 3922 Park Meadow Lane, Bryan, TX - Mrs. Hall stated that during construction she has seen many people come and go asking for directions to other parts of the medical plaza, therefore more and bigger directional signs are needed, especially for the elderly patients. Mr. Hill motioned to approve the requested height variance of the Low Profile Sign with a three- foot berm due to a special condition of the slope of the land. The motion failed due to the lack of second. Mr. Benn motioned to approve the requested height variance of the Low Profile Sign with a three-foot (3') variance because of the stated hardships. The motion was seconded by Ms. Cunningham. Chairman Goss called for the vote for the motion to approve the height variance. The vote was (4-1); Mr. Hill voting in opposition. The motion was approved. Ms. Cunningham motioned to approve the requested height and area variance for the Vehicular Directional Sign limited to one sign as requested in the variance. The vote was seconded by Mr. Richards. Chairman Goss called for the vote for the motion to approve the height and area variance for the Vehicular Directional Sign variance. The vote was (4-1); Mr. Benn voting in opposition. The motion was approved. Mr. Benn motioned to approve the requested height and area Entrance Directional Sign of 38.2 square feet and a 4'8" height limited to one sign. The motion was seconded by Mr. Richards. Chairman Goss called for the vote for the motion to approve the height and area variance. The vote was (4-0); Mr. Hill was not present for vote. The motion was approved. AGENDA ITEM NO. 7: Consideration and possible action on future agenda items - A 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. There were no items addressed. AGENDA ITEM NO.: Adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 7:35 PM. Q:3v VED: os s, airman AT ES Kristen 11 ejny, Staff st CITY OF COLLEGE STATION Planning er Development Services FORMAT FOR POSITIVE MOTION VARIANCE TO SIGN REGULATIONS: - FROM SECTION 7.4 OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE 4W & 6 W 6.4 X I move to approve a variance to the sign regulations from the terms of the ordinance, as it will not be contrary to the public interest, due to unique special conditions not generally found within the City: LL and because a strict enforcement of the provisions of the Ordinance would result in cubstanti,~l hardship to this applicant beir g: w i v"l 4V a ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT and such that the spirit and intent of this Ordinance shall be preserved and the general interests of the public and applicant served subject to the following limita/ions: a,.e- s Motion made by ex~ u Seconded by It, kvx !L Voting Results Chair Signature Date ko CITY OF COLLEGE STATION Planning & Development Services ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT FORMAT FOR POSITIVE MOTION VARIANCE TO SIGN REGULATIONS: - FROM SECTION 7.4 OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE I move to approve a variance to the sign regulations from the terms of the ordinance, as it will not be contrary to the public interest, due to unique special conditions not generally found within the City: and because a strict enforcement of the provisions of the Ordinance would result in substantial hardshi 7, 7 to this applica t being: I " 0/P and such that the spirit and intent of this Ordinance shall be preserved and the general interes of the~ ublic an/c~ /applicant served sub' z t to/th following limitations: 1`'w' ~l~ h liJ r~ea oil 4 (;J _ Motion made by Seconded by F / Voting Results' Chair Signature",,,ttL-PbA % j .Jo S k ~ ~ ~ ~ SiI- ~---u w•,~; n.~ Ez Date 7/6//i) CITY OF COLLEGE STATION Planning & Development Services ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT FORMAT FOR POSITIVE MOTION VARIANCE TO SIGN REGULATIONS: - FROM SECTION 7.4 OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE I move to approve a variance to the sign regulations from the terms of the ordinance, as it will not be contrary to the public interest, due to unique special conditions not generally found within the City: and because a strict enforcement of the provisions of the Ordinance would result in substantial hardship to this applicant being: / / J.'- a /r. /)/I (..C- /=.7 - ,:-vta7 ,"J Lt' / ,/L W , e / , r c , and such that the spirit and intent of this Ordinance shall be preserved and the general interests of the public And applicant served subject to thePllolwing limitations: /~,F'✓c~f~6 ~iG~/'~~l i✓1~ GAP L- -AM J`iS"/ `"J Motion made by Seconded by Voting Results ( ` y_ ~~6~7Z Chair Signature - Date 1 /((1 CITY OF COLLEGE STATION Planning er Development Services ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT FORMAT FOR NEGATIVE MOTION VARIANCE FROM SECTION of the Unified Development Ordinance. I move to not authorize a variance to the Yard (Article 5) Lot Width (Article 5) Lot Depth (Article 5) Height (Article 5) Minimum Setback (Article 5) ,/Residential & Non-Residential Dimensional Standards (Article 5, Sections 5.2 & 5.4) Parking Requirements (Article 7) Design District Dimensional Standards (FAR) Floor to Area Ratio (Article 5.7) from the terms of the Ordinance as it will be contrary to the public interest, due to the lack of any special conditions, and because a strict enforcement of the provisions of the ordinance would not result in unnecessary hardship to this applicant, and such that the spirit of the ordinance shall be observed and substantial justice done. Motion made by Seconded by Voting Results Chair Signature A ff a lt'o k 0~Ortjf