05-15-08 Regular Meeting,Public Hearing and Workshop of the La Porte Planning and Zoning Commission

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Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes of May 15, 2008 Page 4 of 8 · City Hall putting out confusing information; cannot get a consistent story for plans for the park and north towards Seabreeze. · The hotel development is not off the table just because the City did not receive any responses to the RFQ. · Met with Sylvia Garcia, the City Manager and City Secretary at Ms. Garcia's office; there was discussion about lack of responses to the RFQ due to economy going south, but as soon as things turn back around there are a couple of interested hotel developers. · Zoning change at this time is to accommodate development of the hotel. · Sylvia Garcia does not want to save the pavilion; she favors public/private partnerships. · Difficult to get information out of City Hall; need to hold public officials accountable and demand they be consistent and honest. Mark McBride (introduced wife Kathy McBride), 1200 Bayshore Drive · Built their home and relied upon zoning to protect them. Questioned why his property is involved with this rezoning. An unidentified speaker · Inquired as to why she did not receive a letter that this was going to happen. Bobby Schlenk · This is just the beginning of what will occur with Main Street and other areas in La Porte. Inquired as to whether all parks could be done this way. · Property owners should not have to worry about their property being pulled in on things like this. · People aren't getting proper notification. Randa Spence, 3126 Fondren · Thought her property was grandfathered. · Inquired as to why the City wants to rezone the park. · Inquired about what needs to be done to stop this from moving forward. Chairperson Muston asked Planning Director Tim Tietjens to speak on public/private partnerships. Mr. Tietjens noted the bait shop at Sylvan Beach is a public/private partnership. He added there have been well documented cases where public/private partnerships have enhanced a park's value, for example, Discovery Green in Houston. The parkland at Sylvan Beach is intended to remain parkland enhanced by public funds. Margaret Holloway, owner of two acres on Grove · Purchased property approximately 10 years ago to build a home. · Heard about the rezoning through hearsay. · If rezoned, crime will increase An unidentified speaker · Stated that Ms. Holloway was approached by a developer about selling her property. · Inquired as to the possibility of future imminent domain proceedings Paul Quinn, 1211 Bayshore Drive · Been around the area since the age of 10. · Free boat ramp, Sylvan Beach Pavilion, fishing, and grassy area behind the bait stand area all accessible to the public and should not be changed. Michael Tutt, 212 Hazel for 18 years · Sounds like the City already has its mind made up. Stephanie Blue, LPHS student · Loves Sylvan Beach Day and doesn't like the idea of a hotel, including strangers working construction at the hotel and the increased traffic. · Experienced many memorable times at the pavilion. · Get the community involved with restoring the pavilion.