08-19-2004 Regular Meeting, Public Hearing, and Workshop Meeting of the La Porte Planning and Zoning Commission

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_ Preserve at.Taylor Bayou. • • _ September 16, 2004 Page 5 of 7 . - nature preserve- is. to be made to the City.. While the- issues - are being worked towards resolution, several questions remain. While the City maintains an interest, a concept. of dedicating "The Preserve" to the City .. of . La Porte • must be considered in light ' of the. City's Parks . Master. Plan 2002.. The concept needs to be presented in more detail, including the layout, clearing of tallow trees and other brush, trail materials used; other structures being built (ag. decks, benches etc., if any), estimated yearly maintenance costs and possible control of hours of operation to see if the- acquisition is in line with the City's projected: budget The. City would -also require a detailed, .formal ..dedication instrument including all Army Corps mandates to. review before considering final acceptance of the concept' The City. of La Porte remains a party to facilitating any dedication to Harris County or. other agency..These issues may. be coordinated. and approved in the dedication instrument. Last month, -the applicant visited -with Oliver Spellman, Parks Director. - for the Harris County. The County was interested in the "gift" idea but - concern is that it would be repetitious to the Armand Bayou Education enteI.heeyW .ntisnot-intrested, it'is.ticipated that the Cr: `..`-Preserve'.'_wiII .beset up..with.another conservator agency, e.g. Legacy }'Trust: • . Famil-:Regulatian s --At the present time, changes from the, __previous.:-.submitfal :. make. Ahis. General Plan conform • to the.' �:regulationsa:; -' Army'Corps of.Engineer.'Issuess ➢ US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) issued a-perriiit-on Feb .1.4, 2000, to fill 9.6 acres of wetlands to construct an apartment complek. - This area must be shown. on the plan. According the applicant, this Individual Permit(IP) is valid _ until. December; 2005. .. ➢ This permit is for a single. and; complete project that would include all minor deviations mandated by the City. ➢ USACE agreed with NAI environmental assessment that if the lift station is moved slightly west, along with the force main, on the north end; and a slight alteration of the force. main: on the south' end to miss wetlands, .then no :alteration 'of the permit would be required. The applicant's Engineer, David Sepulveda, is working on with the City engineering staff. Based -on the above analysis; staff believes that the current submittal has merit, .and recommends approval . of the SCUP.. and GP.. Staff will continue - further coordination in the. areas of utility planning and Preserve dedication.. :We solicit the • Commission's input while- considering the following preliminary conditions:..: : .