10-11-07 Special Called Meeting and Public Hearings of the Planning and Zoning Commission

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Staff Report January 17,2008 Rezoning of Tracts along Fairmont Parkway Workshop Back2round: The Chairperson of the Planning and Zoning Commission requested staff to schedule a workshop to discuss the possibility of rezoning tracts which abut residential neighborhoods along Fairmont Parkway from General Commercial (GC) to Neighborhood Commercial (NC). A copy of the chairperson's memo to staff is attached for ready reference. The list of uses (attached) quoted as objectionable, are currently permitted in GC but not allowed in NC zoning districts. Recently, there was an issue of a hotel/motel being constructed along Fairmont Parkway at Driftwood Drive. At the April 19, 2007, Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, residents of the Fairmont Park East Homeowner's Association expressed concern over the location of this hotel/motel along Fairmont Parkway near Driftwood Drive adjacent to Section 5 of the Fairmont Park East Subdivision. These concerns prompted the Planning and Zoning Commission and Staff to review the ordinance requirements pertaining to hotels/motels located in General Commercial (GC) zoning districts when adjacent to residential zones within the City. Staff researched and presented this item for discussion as a workshop item at the May 22, 2007, meeting. Finally, a public hearing was held on June 21, 2007, to consider making a formal recommendation to the City Council for an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 106) of the Code of Ordinances imposing restrictions on the placement of hotels and motels within the General Commercial (GC) zoning districts when adjacent to residential zoned property. City Council, at the July 23,2007, meeting, approved an ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of La Porte, Section 106-441, Table A, Commercial Uses, by making Hotels and Motels located within General Commercial zoning districts a Conditional Use when adjacent to residential zoned districts. Analvsis: As per current ordinances and guidance provided by the Comprehensive Plan, when a commercial property is adjacent to residential zoned districts, screening, landscaping, and buffering mechanisms are required. Building setbacks are Front 20', Rear 20', and Sides 10' adjacent to residential uses. A 20' rear setback area requires screening from view of adjoining residential buildings in compliance with Section 106-444(a) of the Code of Ordinances. Landscaping/screening should create an opaque fence with plant height reaching at least eight feet within two years from the time of planting trees/shrubs in the rear setback or landscape easement. E~\ ri i D I j