HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-20-16 Regular Meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission
City of La Porte Planning and Development Department
Established 1892 Tim Tietjens, Director
City of La Porte
Planning and Zoning Commission Agenda
Notice is hereby given of a Regular Meeting of the La Porte Planning and Zoning Commission to be held
on Thursday, October 20, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall Council Chambers, 604 West Fairmont Parkway,
La Porte, Texas, regarding the items of business according to the agenda listed below:
1. Call to order.
2. Roll call of members.
3. Consider approval of meeting minutes: July 21, 2016.
4. Consider approval of meeting minutes: September 15, 2016
5. Consider approval or other action of a Major Development Site Plan #16-83000002; a request by
the Port of Houston for the proposed warehouse/railyard, at 400 N. L, legally described as a 55.106
th
Street
th
and 6 Street all closed by order of the Commissioners Court of Harris County, save and except
GH&SA Railway ROW and save and except 1-1/2 acres of the northwest side of Lot 27, Nebraska
Syndicate an addition to the City of La Porte.
6. Administrative reports.
7. Commission comments on matters appearing on the agenda or inquiry of staff regarding specific
factual information or existing policy.
8. Adjourn.
A quorum of City Council members may be present and participate in discussions during this meeting;
however, no action will be taken by the Council.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, The City of La Porte will provide for reasonable
accommodations for persons attending public meetings. To better serve attendees, requests should be
received 24 hours prior to the meetings. Please contact Patrice Fogarty, City Secretary, at 281-470-5019.
CERTIFICATION
I certify that a copy of the Thursday, October 20th, 2016, agenda of items to be considered by the Planning
and Zoning Commission was posted on the City Hall bulletin board on the _____ day of
____________________, 2016.
Title:
City of La Porte 604 W. Fairmont Parkway Phone: (281) 471-5020
Planning and Development La Porte, TX 77571-6215 Fax: (281) 470-5005
www.laportetx.gov
Planning and Zoning Commission
Minutes of July 21, 2016
Commissioners Present: Richard Warren, Nick Barrera, Hal Lawler, Lou Ann Martin, Wyatt Smith,
Trey Kendrick, Mark Follis
Commissioners Absent: Larry Stockham, Helen LaCour
City Staff Present: Director of Planning and Development Tim Tietjens, City Planner Eric
Ensey, Assistant City Attorney Clark Askins, and Planning Technician Ryan
Cramer
1. Call to order.
Chairman Hal Lawler called the meeting to order at 6:03 pm.
2. Roll call of members.
Commissioners Warren, Barrera, Martin, Kendrick and Chairman Lawler were present for roll call.
Commissioner Follis arrived at 6:27 pm.
3. Consider approval of meeting minutes: June 16, 2016, Meeting.
Motion by Commissioner Kendrick to approve the meeting minutes of June 16, 2016.
Second by Commissioner Barrera. Motion carried.
Ayes: Warren, Barrera, Lawler, Martin, Smith, Kendrick
Nays:
4. Open a public hearing to receive input on a request for approval of Replat #16-97000004 by the
Port of Houston for the proposed Barbours Cut Industrial Park Subdivision, a replat of a 55.106
acre tract legally described as Lots 22, 23, 25, 26, 27 and a por
Street and 6th Street all closed by order of the Commissioners Court of Harris County, save and
except GH&SA Railway ROW and save and except 1-1/2 acres of the northwest side of Lot 27,
Nebraska Syndicate an addition to the City of La Porte.
Chairman Lawler opened the public hearing at 6:05 pm.
a. Staff Presentation
City Planner replat #16-97000004. Staff recommended
approval of the plat with the condition the applicant be required to add a driveway for
emergency access.
Planning and Zoning Commission
Minutes of July 21, 2016
Page 2 of 4
b. Applicant Presentation
Karen Rogers of M2L Associates noted that the Port of Houston Authority was ready to
comply with any requirements placed upon them by the City.
c. Public Comments (for, against, or questions)
There were no public comments.
d. Question and Answer
The Commission did not have any questions.
5. Close public hearing
Chairman Lawler closed the public hearing at 6:15 pm.
6. Consider approval or other action on replat request #16-97000004.
Motion by Commissioner Warren to approve Replat #16-97000004 by the Port of Houston for the
proposed Barbours Cut Industrial Park Subdivision, a replat of a 55.106 acre tract legally described as
Lots 22, 23, 25, 26, 27 and a portion of Nort
of the Commissioners Court of Harris County, save and except GH&SA Railway ROW and save and
except 1-1/2 acres of the northwest side of Lot 27, Nebraska Syndicate an addition to the City of La
Porte.
Second by Commissioner Kendrick. Motion carried.
Ayes: Warren, Lawler, Barrera, Kendrick, Martin, and Smith
Nays:
7.
Map removing Spencer Highway from 16th Street to Underwood Road.
Map be adopted and City Council had just approved an amendment to the map. Commissioner
Kendrick asked if City Council had approved it unanimously and City Planner Ensey confirmed
that it had.
Motion by Commissioner Kendrick to approve
Road Map removing Spencer Highway from 16th Street to Underwood Road.
Second by Commissioner Barrera. Motion carried.
Planning and Zoning Commission
Minutes of July 21, 2016
Page 3 of 4
Ayes: Warren, Lawler, Barrera, Kendrick, Martin, and Smith
Nays:
8. Consider approval or other action on a recommendation to the La Porte City Council on Bylaws
for the Planning and Zoning Commission.
City Planner Ensey gave a description of the Bylaws proposed by a subcommittee staffed by
Commissioners Smith and Kendrick.
Commissioner Follis suggested changing wording in Section 6.9
Commissioners discussed the use of parliamentary procedure
in meetings.
Commissioner Smith asked what he was and was not allowed to discuss with an applicant outside
of a P&Z meeting. It was determined that a Commissioner could talk about the agenda item but
could not indicate which way they were going to vote. Due to this conversation the Commission
Motion by Commissioner Stockham to recommend to City Council approval of the proposed
Bylaws for the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Second by Commissioner Follis. Motion carried.
Ayes: Warren, LaCour, Barrera, Follis, Stockham, and Lawler
Nays:
9. Administrative reports.
Planning Director Tim Tietjens notified the Commission that their recommendation on the Warwick
Homes rezone did not pass with City Council.
Commissioner Follis said that they need to look into some of the NAICS codes that are allowed in
certain zones, possibly even splitting car repair shops, veterinarians and the like by type so 18
wheeler repair shops cannot locate in General Commercial zones.
10. Commission comments on matters appearing on the agenda or inquiry of staff regarding specific
factual information or existing policy.
Commissioner Follis said that it may be time to look at the Future Land Use Map and discuss the
usefulness of the Neighborhood Commercial zone.
11. Adjourn.
Motion by Commissioner Martin to adjourn.
Planning and Zoning Commission
Minutes of July 21, 2016
Page 4 of 4
Second by Commissioner Smith. Motion carried.
Ayes: Warren, LaCour, Barrera, Follis, Stockham, and Lawler
Nays:
Chairman Lawler closed the meeting at 7:14 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Ryan Cramer
Secretary, Planning and Zoning Commission
Passed and Approved on __________________ ______, 2016.
Hal Lawler
Chairman, Planning and Zoning Commission
Planning and Zoning Commission
Minutes of September 15, 2016
Commissioners Present: Richard Warren, Nick Barrera, Hal Lawler, Lou Ann Martin, Larry
Stockham, Helen LaCour
Commissioners Absent: Wyatt Smith, Mark Follis, Trey Kendrick
City Staff Present: Director of Planning and Development Tim Tietjens, City Planner Eric
Ensey, Assistant City Attorney Clark Askins, and Planning Technician Ryan
Cramer
1. Call to order.
Chairman Hal Lawler called the meeting to order at 5:59 PM.
2. Roll call of members.
Commissioners Warren, Martin, Barrera, Stockham and Chairman Lawler were present for roll call.
Commissioner LaCour arrived after roll call.
3. Open a public hearing to receive input on an application for a Special Conditional Use Permit
#16-91000003, a request by Kenneth and Joanne Humphries to allow for construction of a
secondary dwelling unit on the property located at 2711 Crescent Drive, legally described as
Tract 1, Crescent View Subdivision.
Chairman Lawler opened the public hearing at 6:00
a. Staff Presentation
Planning Technician Ryan -91000003. Staff
recommended approval of the SCUP with conditions that the applicant must produce all
documents necessary to receive a building permit, the building must meet all applicable
laws and the building must be used strictly for residential purposes.
Commissioner Warren asked if the water heater in the unit would be electric or gas,
Commissioner Martin and Planning Technician Cramer agreed the Building Department
would make sure all applicable codes would be followed.
b. Applicant Presentation
Kenneth Humphries confirmed that the house would be used as a place for family and
friends to gather on the weekends and holidays. He also affirmed there were no plans for
it to be used as a rental property.
Planning and Zoning Commission
Minutes of September 15, 2016
Page 2 of 3
c. Public Comments (for, against, or questions)
There were no public comments.
d. Question and Answer
The Commission did not have any questions.
4. Close public hearing
Chairman Lawler closed the public hearing at 6:09
5. Consider approval or other action on Special Conditional Use Permit request #16-91000003.
Motion by Commissioner Barrera to recommend approval of Special Conditional Use Permit #16-
91000003, to allow for construction of a secondary dwelling unit on the property located at 2711
Crescent Drive, legally described as Tract 1, Crescent View Subdivision.
Second by Commissioner Martin. Motion carried.
Ayes: Warren, Lawler, Barrera, Martin, Stockham, LaCour
Nays:
6. Administrative reports.
Planning Director Tim Tietjens and City Planner Eric Ensey bid farewell to the Commission as both
are leaving their positions with the City.
7. Commission comments on matters appearing on the agenda or inquiry of staff regarding specific
factual information or existing policy.
Commissioner Warren asked if the City of La Porte was still sending a group to the APA Conference
in San Antonio, City Planner Ensey confirmed the City would.
All the Commissioners gave their farewells to Planning Director Tietjens and City Planner Ensey
8. Adjourn.
Motion by Commissioner Warren to adjourn.
Second by Commissioner LaCour. Motion carried.
Ayes: Warren, LaCour, Barrera, Martin, Stockham, and Lawler
Nays:
Planning and Zoning Commission
Minutes of September 15, 2016
Page 3 of 3
Chairman Lawler closed the meeting at 7:20 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Ryan Cramer
Secretary, Planning and Zoning Commission
Passed and Approved on __________________ ______, 2016.
Hal Lawler
Chairman, Planning and Zoning Commission
City of La Porte, Texas
Planning and Zoning Commission
October 20, 2016
AGENDA ITEM 5
Consider approval of a Major Development Site Plan (#16-83000002)
to allow for construction of a new Warehouse/Rail Yard Facility
for the property located between N. L Street and the rail yard to the east of Highway 146 (400 N. L
Street).
Applicant: Port of Houston Authority
wǤğƓ /ƩğƒĻƩͲ tƌğƓƓźƓŭ ĻĭŷƓźĭźğƓ
tƌğƓƓźƓŭ ğƓķ 5ĻǝĻƌƚƦƒĻƓƷ 5ĻƦğƩƷƒĻƓƷ
/źƷǤ ƚŅ \[ğ tƚƩƷĻͲ Ļǣğƭ
Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting
October 20, 2016
Major Development Site Plan Port of Houston Authority
Planning and Development Department
Staff Report
ISSUE
Should the Planning and Zoning Commission approve a request by Port of Houston
Authority for a Major Development Site Plan for a new warehouse/rail yard facility
located at 400 North L Street?
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends approval of the proposed Major Development Site Plan subject to the
following condition:
1. Before the site plan is executed, the applicant shall resolve the remaining review
comments by the Chief Building Official and Utilities Superintendent.
2. Before the site plan is executed, the applicant shall record the approved plat for
.
DISCUSSION
Applicant/Property Owner:
Port of Houston Authority
:
The applicant is seeking to construct a new warehouse/rail yard facility, which is
referred to as rs Cut Industrial Park. The proposed facility will be a 457,833
square foot building with associated development, including a rail yard, parking,
drainage, utilities, landscaping, etc. The subject site currently has a one story building
that will be removed. The attached Exhibit A is the proposed site development plan and
other information provided by the applicant.
Background Information:
The subject site is 55.106 acres in size, and is proposed to be platted as Unrestricted
Reserve A, Barbours Cut Industrial Park plat. This plat has been approved by the City,
but at the time this staff report was written, it has yet to be recorded with Harris
County. The site is north on N. J; east of State Highway 146. The attached Exhibit C is an
Area Map showing the location of the subject property.
1
Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting
October 20, 2016
Major Development Site Plan Port of Houston Authority
The site is split zoned LI and HI, Light Industrial and Heavy Industrial, and is partially
developed with one building in the LI portion and one with a container yard in the HI.
The attached Exhibit D is the Zoning Map for the site.
The proposed use, warehouse/rail yard distribution, is permitted in the LI zone. The City
Plan identifies the part of the parcel in which the building will sit
as LI. Exhibit E is a Land Use Map exhibit showing the subject site and surrounding
properties. The following table summarizes the surrounding zoning and land uses:
Zoning Land Use
bƚƩƷŷ LI, Light Industrial Southern Pacific Railroad Company
{ƚǒƷŷ LI, Light Industrial & HI, Heavy Undeveloped property
Industrial
ĻƭƷ BI, Business Industrial & PUD, Existing warehouse building and storage yard (1400 &
Planned Unit Development 910 Hwy. 146 N.)
9ğƭƷ HI, Heavy Industrial Existing building (300 N. J St. #32)
Analysis:
This site development plan was reviewed according to the provisions of Chapter 86-7
(c). Because the overall site is greater than 10 acres in size, it requires consideration by
the Planning and Zoning Commission. The site plan is also subject to all applicable
requi
Ordinances). Planning staff has reviewed the proposed site development plan and
concluded that the application complies with all applicable code requirements. The
following is a description of various considerations:
{źƷĻ LƒƦƩƚǝĻƒĻƓƷƭ͵
The site will include a 457,833 square foot building, new parking lots with a total of 64
automobile parking spaces, truck loading docks on the south side of the building, site
circulation, utility connections, landscaping, and drainage improvements for lease by the
Port of Houston Authority.
\[ğƓķƭĭğƦźƓŭ.
The site development plan includes proposed landscaping in accordance with the
provisions of Section 106-800 of the Code of Ordinances. The applicant is proposing
planting shade trees and shrubs along N. J Street
frontage. The applicant is proposing trees and shrubs in planters within the parking lot
areas in order to visually break up the parking lot as well as provide future shade relief.
Staff has reviewed the landscaping proposed and finds that it is consistent with the
landscaping required in Section 106-800 of the Code of Ordinances.
2
Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting
October 20, 2016
Major Development Site Plan Port of Houston Authority
tğƩƉźƓŭ ğƓķ ĭźƩĭǒƌğƷźƚƓ.
Section 106-839 of the Code of Ordinances
warehouse/distribution uses. The requirements are as follows for this development:
4 minimum, plus 3 per 1,000 S.F. of office space plus 1 per non-office employee.
In this case a total of 56 parking spaces are required by code. The applicant is proposing
a total of 64 parking spaces with the development. The applicant is also providing the
necessary ADA parking spaces required.
The proposed driveways comply with all separation, width, radius and other dimensions
outlined in Section 106-835, Figure 10-3. This is a standard practice for all development
in the city.
/ƌĻğƩźƓŭ͵
The applicant received a clearing permit on 11/9/15. It was determined they would have
to replace 240 trees, whether through planting new trees or paying $250 per tree to the
tree fund. The most recent site plan shows the applicant planting 26 trees, in turn this
means that they will have to pay $53,500 to the tree fund before a building permit can
be issued.
9ğƭĻƒĻƓƷ 5ĻķźĭğƷźƚƓ͵
The applicant has granted an emergency access easement for the asphalt strip that
th
circles the building as well as a public utilities easement going up the former N. 6 and
in the N. L St. R.O.W. These rights-of-way were vacated many years ago.
5ƩğźƓğŭĻ ğƓķ ķĻƷĻƓƷźƚƓ.
Harris County Flood Control District has reviewed and approved the drainage plan for
this site.
ƷźƌźƷźĻƭ.
There are sufficient public utility facilities in proximity of this site to meet the needs of
the proposed development. The site will tap into an existing 8-inch sanitary sewer and
water lines in the N. L St. R.O.W.
Department has reviewed the site plan and has no objection
water and sewer lines as proposed.
Conclusion:
Based on the analysis above, staff finds that the proposed Major Development Site Plan
for the Port of Houston railyard building complies with the various applicable code
requirements and should be considered for approval subject to resolution of any
building and utilities comments resulting from the latest review of the site plan which is
included as Exhibit B.
3
Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting
October 20, 2016
Major Development Site Plan Port of Houston Authority
ATTACHMENTS
Exhibit A: Application Form
Exhibit B: Port of Houston Authority Railyard Site Plan
Exhibit C: Area Map
Exhibit D: Zoning Map
Exhibit E: Land Use Map
4
EXHIBITA
EXHIBITB
EXHIBITB
EXHIBITB
EXHIBITC
AREA MAP
L
L ST
UT BLVD
BOURS C
W BAR
1 inch = 600 feet
EXHIBITD
ZONING EXHIBIT
LI
L
E L ST
L ST
HI
PUD
BI
Legend
GENERAL COMMERCIAL
GC
BUSINESS INDUSTRIAL
LIGHT INDUSTRIAL
UT BLVD
BOURS C
W BAR
HEAVY INDUSTRIAL
PLANNED UNITY DEVELOPMENT
1 inch = 600 feet
EXHIBITE
FUTURE LAND USE EXHIBIT
OUT
BI
LI
PI
L
L ST
HI
COM
Legend
LOW-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL
COMMERCIAL
BUSINESS INDUSTRIAL
LIGHT INDUSTRIAL
UT BLVD
BOURS C
W BAR
HEAVY INDUSTRIAL
LDR
PUBLIC / INSTITUTIONAL
1 inch = 600 feet