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Chairman Lawler opened the public hearing at 6:50 PM. <br /> a. Staff Presentation <br /> City Planner Eric Ensey presented staff's report on a Special Conditional Use Permit <br /> Application by Priority Towing. <br /> City Planner Ensey noted that the tract was zoned General Commercial and in order for a <br /> wrecker yard to go into a GC zoned property it must acquire a Special Conditional Use <br /> Permit. Staff did have some concerns with the wrecker yard being off of Spencer Highway, <br /> this is magnified by the fact that the land zoned Planned Unit Development to the south is <br /> zoned residential in the Future Land Use Plan,which would put a wrecker yard directly <br /> adjacent to residential. <br /> Commissioner Smith asked if there was going to be any fixing of vehicles there and City <br /> Planner Ensey indicated that the City believed the lot would only be used for storage. <br /> b. Applicant Presentation <br /> Joe Davis, 1522 Porter Drive Katy,Texas, gave the applicant's presentation.The applicant <br /> noted that the City of La Porte asked if his company could do some commercial vehicle <br /> towing but he needed to have a yard in the City in order to get in the rotation. <br /> Commissioner LaCour asked if there was going to be a structure on the site and the <br /> applicant said no. <br /> Commissioner Follis asked if there was going to be hazardous cargo stored there,the <br /> applicant said there would be little traffic and 90%of tows go back to the vehicle owner's <br /> yard. <br /> c. Public Comments <br /> Larry Cernosek,4527 Red Bluff, Pasadena,Texas 77503; has owned a tow truck service for <br /> 41 years and said that the onus for wrecker yard laws falls on local governments.They have <br /> to be mindful of any possible loopholes tow truck companies could exploit. <br /> Rick Helton, 345 Josh Way La Porte,Texas; spoke on behalf of the Spencer Landing <br /> Homeowners Association. He said that an 8'fence could not hide an 18 wheeler and <br /> questioned whether they could stack containers there. <br /> Charlie Hinds, 11521 N. L St., La Porte,Texas; owns a tow truck service in various cities <br /> around the community. Mr. Hinds noted that he left the 18 wheeler wrecker business <br /> because so many of them were stolen and they were difficult to get rid of. He also said that <br /> there was not enough work in La Porte to bring in another wrecker yard. <br /> Richard Thompson, 1320 W.Tyler, La Porte,Texas; works for Apple Towing and said that <br /> they just added another heavy duty wrecker to help meet the City's demands so there is not <br /> enough work for another towing service. <br />