05-16-1996 Special Called Meeting and Public Hearing of the La Porte Planning and Zoning Commission (2)

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Page 2 of 3 . • Planning & Zoning Commission Minutes of May 16, 1996 Mr. Ebow opened the Public Hearing at 6:05 PM. Mr. Rankin reported that Bryan and David Moore (applicants) have applied to rezone Lots 17-32; Block 64, from Low Density Residential to General Commercial. The property currently has four warehouses with concrete drives within a fenced area. The applicants would like to rezone the north side of the property. Mr. Rankin noted that the applicants would like to expand apre-existing, non-conforming use by building five new miniwarehouses on the northern twenty feet of Lot 24 and Lots 25-32. If approved, General Commercial zone will be extended into a residential single family neighborhood. Mr. Rankin noted that the applicants feel that the expansion of a non-conforming use would have no impact on the community. Mr. Rankin informed the Commission that the City had recently received a $250,000 grant from the Harris County Community Development Agency to build single family housing on the north side of the City. The recommendation from staff was to deny the rezoning request. A. PROPONENTS Peter Barnhart, on behalf of Byzance, Inc. , the company interested in purchasing the property, spoke in favor of the request. Jim Johnson, real estate broker representing Byzance, Inc., noted that the proposed use conforms well within a residential setting. David Moore, the applicant, stated the property was originally zoned Commercial. When the Zoning Ordinance was adopted, he failed to protest the zoning that was assigned to the property. Mr. Moore feels that renovation and expansion of the miniwarehouses would be an asset to the community. H. Carlos Smith spoke in favor of the request. B. OPPONENTS Councilman Deotis Gay asked the Commission not to grant the rezoning. Johnny Vann, of 216 N. 3rd, lives across the street from the property in question. Mr. Vann does not want the property to be commercial. He wants it to remain residential. Ernest Brown asked that the property remain residential.