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Home My WebLink About09-17-15 Regular Meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission CityofLaPorte PlanningandZoningCommissionAgenda Noticeisherebygivenofa RegularMeeting oftheLaPortePlanningandZoningCommissiontobeheldon Thursday,September17,2015at6:00p.m.atCityHallCouncilChambers,604WestFairmontParkway,LaPorte, Texas,regardingtheitemsofbusinessaccordingtotheagendalistedbelow: 1.Calltoorder. 2.Rollcallofmembers. 3.Openpublichearingtoreceiveinputonpossiblemodificationsand/orrepealingofSection106801(Tree Preservation),Section106802(TreeReplacement),andSection106803(TreeFund),oftheCityofLa tƚƩƷĻ͸ƭCodeofOrdinances. a.StaffPresentation b.PublicComments(for,against,orquestions) c.QuestionandAnswer 4.Closepublichearing. 5.ConsiderrecommendationtoCityCouncilonamendmentsand/orrepealingvariousprovisionsofChapter 106ͻƚƓźƓŭͼconcerningtreepreservation,treereplacementandthetreefund. 6.Administrativereports. agendaorinquiryofstaffregardingspecificfactual 7.Commissioncommentsonmattersappearingonthe informationorexistingpolicy. 8.Adjourn. AquorumofCityCouncilmembersmaybepresentandparticipateindiscussionsduringthismeeting;however,no actionwillbetakenbytheCouncil. IncompliancewiththeAmericanswithDisabilitiesAct,TheCityofLaPortewillprovideforreasonable accommodationsforpersonsattendingpublicmeetings.Tobetterserveattendees,requestsshouldbereceived24 hourspriortothemeetings.PleasecontactPatriceFogarty,CitySecretary,at2814705019. CERTIFICATION IcertifythatacopyoftheThursday,September17,2015,agendaofitemstobeconsideredbythePlanningand ZoningCommissionwaspostedontheCityHallbulletinboardonthe_____dayof____________________,2015. Title: CityofLaPorte604W.FairmontParkwayPhone:(281)4715020 PlanningandDevelopmentLaPorte,TX775716215Fax:(281)4705005 CityofLaPorte,Texas PlanningandZoningCommission September17,2015 AGENDAITEM3 Discussiononpossiblemodificationsand/orrepealingof Section106801(TreePreservation),Section106802(TreeReplacement), andSection106803(TreeFund)oftheĭźƷǤ͸ƭCodeofOrdinances. 9ƩźĭW͵9ƓƭĻǤͲ/źƷǤtƌğƓƓĻƩ tƌğƓƓźƓŭğƓķ5ĻǝĻƌƚƦƒĻƓƷ5ĻƦğƩƷƒĻƓƷ /źƷǤƚŅ\[ğtƚƩƷĻͲĻǣğƭ PlanningandZoningCommissionRegularMeeting September17,2015 DiscussiononModificationstoSections106801,106802,and106803 PlanningandDevelopmentDepartment StaffReport DISCUSSION Asameansofbackgroundonthisitem,thePlanningandZoningCommissionreviewed variousmodificationstoChapter106(Zoning)inearly2015andrecommendedtothe CityCouncilsomemodificationsattheJune18,2015meeting.Oneofthose modificationswastotheĭźƷǤ͸ƭtreepreservationregulations(Section106801)by providinganexclusionforindividualsinglefamilydetachedresidentialfrombeing requiredtomitigatetheremovaloftreesonresidentiallots. Thetε͸ƭrecommendationwasforwardedtotheCityCouncilandtheitemheardat theirJuly13,2015meeting.TheCouncilrequestedthattheissueoftreepreservationbe returnedtotheP&Zforfurtherdiscussion.City/ƚǒƓĭźƌ͸ƭactionwasbasedonconcern fortheimpactthattheserequirementswouldhaveondevelopment.Therewas discussiontorequesttheP&Zconsiderfurthermodificationsorevenrepealingthe provisionsaltogether. Tofacilitatethe/ƚƒƒźƭƭźƚƓ͸ƭdiscussiononthisitem,staffdevelopedthreedifferent optionsforconsideration.TheoptionsincludehighlightsandstrikeƷŷƩǒ͸ƭidentifyingthe variousmodificationsproposed.Followingthisdiscussion,staffwouldforwardthe /ƚƒƒźƭƭźƚƓ͸ƭrecommendationtotheCityCouncilinordinanceform. OPTION #1 – This is the language previously recommended to the City Council as part of amendments to Chapter 106 in June. This option includes an exclusion from these regulations for tree removal on individual single family lots. Sec.106801.Treepreservation. (a)Itistheintentofthissectiontoencouragethepreservationofexistingtreeswithinthecityandto prohibittheirunwarranteddestruction.Thecityencouragessiteplanningwhichfurthersthe preservationoftreesandnaturalareasbythefollowingmethods:Toprotecttreesduring construction;tofacilitatesitedesignandconstructionwhichcontributestothelongtermviabilityof existingtrees;andtocontrolprematureremovaloftrees;requireonsitereplacementoftreesthat mustberemovedandrequireoffsitereplacementoftreesthatcannotbereplacedonsite,either bydirectplantingasoutlinedinsection106803(Treereplacement)orthroughacontributiontothe (Treefund)ofthischapter.Itisthefurtherintentofthis treefundestablishedinsection106803 sectiontoachievethefollowingobjectives: (1)Protecthealthytreesandpreservethenatural,environmental,andaestheticqualitiesofthe citytothedegreepossible. 1 PlanningandZoningCommissionRegularMeeting September17,2015 DiscussiononModificationstoSections106801,106802,and106803 (2)Protectandincreasethevalueofresidentialandcommercialpropertieswithinthecity. (3)Discourageprematureclearcuttingofproperty. (4)Maintainandenhanceapositiveimagefortheattractionofnewdevelopmentstothecity. (b)Itshallbeunlawfulforanypersontocauseorpermitthedestructionofanyhealthynativetree withinthecityifsuchtreehasatrunkwhichexceedssixinchesindiameter(or18.84inch circumference)atapoint18inchesabovethenaturalgroundlevel.Provided,however,itshallnot beaviolationofthisprovisionifatreeisremovedand/ordestroyedifthetreeisobviouslydiseased ordeterminedtobediseasedbyanarboristorintheopinionoftheplanningdirectororhis designatedrepresentative,saidtreeconstitutesahazardtopedestrianand/orvehiculartrafficalong anysuchrightofway. (c)Noperson,firmorcorporationdesirousofdevelopingorimprovinganyparcelofproperty,shall removeorcausetheremovalofanytreefromsaidpropertywithoutfirstobtainingaclearingpermit wouldallowclearingofbuildableareasonly. which (d)Theprovisionsofthissectionarenotrequiredonindividualsinglefamilylots. Sec.106802.Treereplacement Atreedispositionplanortreesurveymustbesubmittedandapprovedpriortotheremovalor destructionofanyqualifyingprotectedtree.Intheeventthatitisnecessarytoremoveaprotectedtree, asaconditionofabuildingpermitissuance,applicantshallberequiredtoreplacethetree(s)being removedwithreplacementtreesasfollows: (a)Numberofreplacementtrees.Treedispositionconditionsandtreepermitauthorizingremoval ofordamagetolargetreesorprotectedtreesshallnormallyrequirereplacementbyoneor morenewlyplantedtreesonthesamesubjectsite.Ifthisisnotfeasible,theowneror developermustplantandmaintainoffsitereplacementtreesinreasonableproximitytothe subjectsite. (b)Minimumsize.Replacementtreesmustnormallyhaveatrunkcaliperofatleasttwoinches measuredsixinchesfromtheground.Theenforcementofficermayprescribeaproportionally smallertrunkcaliperforcertainspeciesoftrees,i.e.CrepeMyrtle. (c)Qualifiedtrees.Tobea"qualifiedtree",atreemustcomplywiththerecommendedtreelist "nativeorprotected"ofthecity. (d)Standardofreview.Theenforcementofficershallusereasonablebesteffortstodeterminethe typeandnumberofreplacementtreesrequiredinanattempttominimizeundueburden resultingfromthissection. (e)Treesinstreetarea.Beforeauthorizingestablishmentormaintenanceoftreeordecorative landscaping,suchaslightingorawateringsysteminastreetarea,thebuildingofficialmustbe satisfiedthatTex.Trans.Code,Chapter316hasbeencompliedwithandalsoconfirmsthere wouldbenoviolationoftheprovisionsrelatingtovisibilitytrianglesandfutureoverhead obstruction. treesshallbeplantedonthesubjectsiteinorderto Asufficientnumberanddiameterofreplacement equalthetotaldiameterinches,asdeterminedabove.Ifthisisnotfeasible,theapplicantmay,upon approvalbythedirector,plantandmaintainoffsitereplacementtreesinaccordancewiththissection. 2 PlanningandZoningCommissionRegularMeeting September17,2015 DiscussiononModificationstoSections106801,106802,and106803 Sec.106803.Treefund. Thereisherebyestablishedatreefund,whichshallbeadministeredbythedirectorofparksand recreationorhis/herdesignee.Allrevenues,mitigationfees,andpenaltiesreceivedpursuanttothis section,orfortheenforcementthereof,andanydonationsorgrantmoniesreceivedtoachievethe purposeoftreepreservationorreplacement,shallbedepositedintothetreefund.Moniesinthetree replacementbutmaynotbeusedinanymannerthat fundmaybeusedtopurchasetreesrequiredfor willprofitthegrantee.Treereplacementfeeshallbecalculatedattherateof$50.00percaliperinchof treeotherwiserequiredorshallbeperiodicallyadjustedasthemarketvalueofreplacementtrees warrants.Theamountpaidtothetreefundshallbeappliedatamaximumof$5,000peracre(orfraction thereof)withamaximumtotalpaymentof$100,000perdevelopment. Theownerordeveloperofanylotortractoflandrequiredtoreplacetreesinaccordancewiththis chaptermay,asanalternative,anduponapprovalbythecity,payaprescribedfee/amountintothetree fundinaccordancewiththefollowingconditions: (1)Residentialandnonresidentialsiteplans/plats.Paymenttothetreefundmustbereceivedby thecitypriortothesubmissionofthedevelopmentsiteplanand/orfinalplatapprovalbythe planningandzoningcommission. (2)Buildingpermitsnotrequiringsiteplans/plats.Paymenttothetreefundmustbereceivedby thecitypriortotheissuanceofabuildingpermit. htLhbϔЋΑ Thisoptionmaintainsthesinglefamilyresidentialexclusion.Inaddition, thequantityofreplacementtreeshasbeenmodifiedfromreplacingtreesbasedona percaliperinchbasistoaoneforonereplacement.Thiswouldmeanthatifonetreeis removedfromaproperty,thenthattreeisreplacedwithanotheroneonthesite. Recommendationisalsotomodifythetreereplacementfee,shouldtheapplicantdesire tomakepaymentintothetreefundasopposedtoplantingonsite.Thereplacementcost pertreewouldbe$250tocovertheplantingofareplacementtreeelsewhereinthe community,uptoamaximumof$2,500peracreor$100,000fortheoverallproject area.Thismodificationwouldstillmaintainsomerequirementformitigationofremoved trees,especiallyifthecitydesiredtoparticipateinTreeCityUSAinthefuture.One requirementofparticipationofTreeCityUSAisatreepreservationordinance. Sec.106801.Treepreservation. (a)Itistheintentofthissectiontoencouragethepreservationofexistingtreeswithinthecityandto prohibittheirunwarranteddestruction.Thecityencouragessiteplanningwhichfurthersthe preservationoftreesandnaturalareasbythefollowingmethods:Toprotecttreesduring construction;tofacilitatesitedesignandconstructionwhichcontributestothelongtermviabilityof existingtrees;andtocontrolprematureremovaloftrees;requireonsitereplacementoftreesthat mustberemovedandrequireoffsitereplacementoftreesthatcannotbereplacedonsite,either bydirectplantingasoutlinedinsection106803(Treereplacement)orthroughacontributiontothe (Treefund)ofthischapter.Itisthefurtherintentofthis treefundestablishedinsection106803 sectiontoachievethefollowingobjectives: (1)Protecthealthytreesandpreservethenatural,environmental,andaestheticqualitiesofthe citytothedegreepossible. (2)Protectandincreasethevalueofresidentialandcommercialpropertieswithinthecity. 3 PlanningandZoningCommissionRegularMeeting September17,2015 DiscussiononModificationstoSections106801,106802,and106803 (3)Discourageprematureclearcuttingofproperty. (4)Maintainandenhanceapositiveimagefortheattractionofnewdevelopmentstothecity. (b)Itshallbeunlawfulforanypersontocauseorpermitthedestructionofanyhealthynativetree withinthecityifsuchtreehasatrunkwhichexceedssixinchesindiameter(or18.84inch circumference)atapoint18inchesabovethenaturalgroundlevel.Provided,however,itshallnot beaviolationofthisprovisionifatreeisremovedand/ordestroyedifthetreeisobviouslydiseased ordeterminedtobediseasedbyanarboristorintheopinionoftheplanningdirectororhis designatedrepresentative,saidtreeconstitutesahazardtopedestrianand/orvehiculartrafficalong anysuchrightofway. (c)Noperson,firmorcorporationdesirousofdevelopingorimprovinganyparcelofproperty,shall removeorcausetheremovalofanytreefromsaidpropertywithoutfirstobtainingaclearingpermit whichwouldallowclearingofbuildableareasonly. (d)Theprovisionsofthissectionarenotrequiredonindividualsinglefamilylots. Sec.106802.Treereplacement Atreedispositionplanortreesurveymustbesubmittedandapprovedpriortotheremovalor destructionofanyqualifyingprotectedtree.Intheeventthatitisnecessarytoremoveaprotectedtree, asaconditionofabuildingpermitissuance,applicantshallberequiredtoreplacethetree(s)being removedwithreplacementtreesasfollows: (a)Numberofreplacementtrees.Treedispositionconditionsandtreepermitauthorizingremoval ofordamagetolargetreesorprotectedtreesshallnormallyrequirereplacementbyoneor morenewlyplantedtreesonthesamesubjectsite.Ifthisisnotfeasible,theowneror developermustplantandmaintainoffsitereplacementtreesinreasonableproximitytothe subjectsite. (b)Minimumsize.Replacementtreesmustnormallyhaveatrunkcaliperofatleasttwoinches measuredsixinchesfromtheground.Theenforcementofficermayprescribeaproportionally smallertrunkcaliperforcertainspeciesoftrees,i.e.CrepeMyrtle. (c)Qualifiedtrees.Tobea"qualifiedtree",atreemustcomplywiththerecommendedtreelist "nativeorprotected"ofthecity. (d)Standardofreview.Theenforcementofficershallusereasonablebesteffortstodeterminethe typeandnumberofreplacementtreesrequiredinanattempttominimizeundueburden resultingfromthissection. (e)Treesinstreetarea.Beforeauthorizingestablishmentormaintenanceoftreeordecorative landscaping,suchaslightingorawateringsysteminastreetarea,thebuildingofficialmustbe satisfiedthatTex.Trans.Code,Chapter316hasbeencompliedwithandalsoconfirmsthere wouldbenoviolationoftheprovisionsrelatingtovisibilitytrianglesandfutureoverhead obstruction. Foreachqualifyingprotectedtreeremovedfromthesite,onereplacementtreemustbeplantedonthe subjectsite.Asufficientnumberanddiameterofreplacementtreesshallbeplantedonthesubjectsitein ordertoequalthetotaldiameterinches,asdeterminedabove.Ifthisisnotfeasible,theapplicantmay, uponapprovalbythedirector,plantandmaintainoffsitereplacementtreesinaccordancewiththis sectionorcontributetotheĭźƷǤ͸ƭtreefund. 4 PlanningandZoningCommissionRegularMeeting September17,2015 DiscussiononModificationstoSections106801,106802,and106803 Sec.106803.Treefund. Thereisherebyestablishedatreefund,whichshallbeadministeredbythedirectorofparksand recreationorhis/herdesignee.Allrevenues,mitigationfees,andpenaltiesreceivedpursuanttothis section,orfortheenforcementthereof,andanydonationsorgrantmoniesreceivedtoachievethe purposeoftreepreservationorreplacement,shallbedepositedintothetreefund.Moniesinthetree replacementbutmaynotbeusedinanymannerthat fundmaybeusedtopurchasetreesrequiredfor willprofitthegrantee.Treereplacementfeeshallbecalculatedattherateof$250pertree$50.00per caliperinchoftreeotherwiserequiredorshallbeperiodicallyadjustedasthemarketvalueof replacementtreeswarrants.Theamountpaidtothetreefundshallbeappliedatamaximumof$2,500 $5,000peracre(orfractionthereof)withamaximumtotalpaymentof$100,000perdevelopment. Theownerordeveloperofanylotortractoflandrequiredtoreplacetreesinaccordancewiththis chaptermay,asanalternative,anduponapprovalbythecity,payaprescribedfee/amountintothetree fundinaccordancewiththefollowingconditions: (1)Residentialandnonresidentialsiteplans/plats.Paymenttothetreefundmustbereceivedby thecitypriortothesubmissionapprovalofthedevelopmentsiteplanand/orfinalplat approvalbytheplanningandzoningcommission. (2)Buildingpermitsnotrequiringsiteplans/plats.Paymenttothetreefundmustbereceivedby thecitypriortotheissuanceofabuildingpermit. htLhbϔЌΑ Thethirdoptionwouldstriketheentiretreepreservationandassociated sectionsofChapter106(Sections106801through106803).Thisoptionisbeing presentedforconsiderationattherequestofacouplemembersofCityCouncil.This optionwouldeliminatetheneedorencouragementforanydevelopmentinthe communitytopreservequalitytreesonasite.Theideahereisthatthecitywouldrelyon applicablelandscapingrequirementsinSection106800oftheCodeofOrdinances. Sec.106801.Treepreservation. (a)Itistheintentofthissectiontoencouragethepreservationofexistingtreeswithinthecityandto prohibittheirunwarranteddestruction.Thecityencouragessiteplanningwhichfurthersthe preservationoftreesandnaturalareasbythefollowingmethods:Toprotecttreesduring construction;tofacilitatesitedesignandconstructionwhichcontributestothelongtermviabilityof existingtrees;andtocontrolprematureremovaloftrees;requireonsitereplacementoftreesthat mustberemovedandrequireoffsitereplacementoftreesthatcannotbereplacedonsite,either bydirectplantingorthroughacontributiontothetreefundestablishedinsection106803(Tree fund)ofthischapter.Itisthefurtherintentofthissectiontoachievethefollowingobjectives: (1)Protecthealthytreesandpreservethenatural,environmental,andaestheticqualitiesofthe citytothedegreepossible. (2)Protectandincreasethevalueofresidentialandcommercialpropertieswithinthecity. (3)Discourageprematureclearcuttingofproperty. (4)Maintainandenhanceapositiveimagefortheattractionofnewdevelopmentstothecity. (b)Itshallbeunlawfulforanypersontocauseorpermitthedestructionofanyhealthynativetree withinthecityifsuchtreehasatrunkwhichexceedssixinchesindiameter(or18.84inch circumference)atapoint18inchesabovethenaturalgroundlevel.Provided,however,itshallnot beaviolationofthisprovisionifatreeisremovedand/ordestroyedifthetreeisobviouslydiseased 5 PlanningandZoningCommissionRegularMeeting September17,2015 DiscussiononModificationstoSections106801,106802,and106803 ordeterminedtobediseasedbyanarboristorintheopinionoftheplanningdirectororhis designatedrepresentative,saidtreeconstitutesahazardtopedestrianand/orvehiculartrafficalong anysuchrightofway. Noperson,firmorcorporationdesirousofdevelopingorimprovinganyparcelofproperty,shall (c) removeorcausetheremovalofanytreefromsaidpropertywithoutfirstobtainingaclearingpermit whichwouldallowclearingofbuildableareasonly. Sec.106802.Treereplacement Atreedispositionplanortreesurveymustbesubmittedandapprovedpriortotheremovalor destructionofanyqualifyingprotectedtree.Intheeventthatitisnecessarytoremoveaprotectedtree, asaconditionofabuildingpermitissuance,applicantshallberequiredtoreplacethetree(s)being removedwithreplacementtreesasfollows: (a)Numberofreplacementtrees.Treedispositionconditionsandtreepermitauthorizingremoval ofordamagetolargetreesorprotectedtreesshallnormallyrequirereplacementbyoneor morenewlyplantedtreesonthesamesubjectsite.Ifthisisnotfeasible,theowneror developermustplantandmaintainoffsitereplacementtreesinreasonableproximitytothe subjectsite. (b)Minimumsize.Replacementtreesmustnormallyhaveatrunkcaliperofatleasttwoinches measuredsixinchesfromtheground.Theenforcementofficermayprescribeaproportionally smallertrunkcaliperforcertainspeciesoftrees,i.e.CrepeMyrtle. (c)Qualifiedtrees.Tobea"qualifiedtree",atreemustcomplywiththerecommendedtreelist "nativeorprotected"ofthecity. Standardofreview.Theenforcementofficershallusereasonablebesteffortstodeterminethe (d) typeandnumberofreplacementtreesrequiredinanattempttominimizeundueburden resultingfromthissection. (e)Treesinstreetarea.Beforeauthorizingestablishmentormaintenanceoftreeordecorative landscaping,suchaslightingorawateringsysteminastreetarea,thebuildingofficialmustbe satisfiedthatTex.Trans.Code,Chapter316hasbeencompliedwithandalsoconfirmsthere wouldbenoviolationoftheprovisionsrelatingtovisibilitytrianglesandfutureoverhead obstruction. Asufficientnumberanddiameterofreplacementtreesshallbeplantedonthesubjectsiteinorderto equalthetotaldiameterinches,asdeterminedabove.Ifthisisnotfeasible,theapplicantmay,upon approvalbythedirector,plantandmaintainoffsitereplacementtreesinaccordancewiththissection. 803.Treefund. Sec.106 Thereisherebyestablishedatreefund,whichshallbeadministeredbythedirectorofparksand recreationorhis/herdesignee.Allrevenues,mitigationfees,andpenaltiesreceivedpursuanttothis section,orfortheenforcementthereof,andanydonationsorgrantmoniesreceivedtoachievethe purposeoftreepreservationorreplacement,shallbedepositedintothetreefund.Moniesinthetree fundmaybeusedtopurchasetreesrequiredforreplacementbutmaynotbeusedinanymannerthat willprofitthegrantee.Treereplacementfeeshallbecalculatedattherateof$50.00percaliperinchof treeotherwiserequiredorshallbeperiodicallyadjustedasthemarketvalueofreplacementtrees warrants.Theamountpaidtothetreefundshallbeappliedatamaximumof$5,000peracre(orfraction thereof)withamaximumtotalpaymentof$100,000perdevelopment. 6 PlanningandZoningCommissionRegularMeeting September17,2015 DiscussiononModificationstoSections106801,106802,and106803 Theownerordeveloperofanylotortractoflandrequiredtoreplacetreesinaccordancewiththis chaptermay,asanalternative,anduponapprovalbythecity,payaprescribedfee/amountintothetree fundinaccordancewiththefollowingconditions: Residentialandnonresidentialsiteplans/plats.Paymenttothetreefundmustbereceivedby (1) thecitypriortothesubmissionofthedevelopmentsiteplanand/orfinalplatapprovalbythe planningandzoningcommission. (2)Buildingpermitsnotrequiringsiteplans/plats.Paymenttothetreefundmustbereceivedby thecitypriortotheissuanceofabuildingpermit. 7