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Home My WebLink About1979-05-30 Special Meeting• • MINUTES - SPECIAL MEETING OF THE LA PO RTE CITY COMMISSION, LA PORTE, TEXAS MAY 30, 1979 5:00 P.M. MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION PRESENT: Mayor J. J. Meza; Commissioners John Tomerlin, I. J. Kibodeaux, Virginia Cline, and Tom C. Simons. MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION ABSENT: None. OTHER CITY OFFICIALS PRESENT: J. R. Hudgens, City Administrator; Margie. Goyen, City Clerk; Knox Askins, City Attorney; H. F. Freeman, Chief of Police; Paul Hickenbottom, Fire Inspector. Planning & Zoning Commission Members: Pat Muston, Chairman; • Lindsay Pfeiffer, Mose Davis, Walter Springall, and D. E. Wright. OTHERS PRESENT: David Pugh and Dr. Virgil Stover of Texas A & M; Builders and Developers: Mr. and Mrs. M. D. Rose; Decker Mr Kim, Eddie Gray, Carlos Smith,. Fred Beck, and Dan Matthews. PRESIDING: Mayor J. J. Meza. + + + 1. CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Meza called the meeting to order at 5:02 P.M. + + + • • Special Meeting 5/30/79 2 2. JOINT MEETING WITH COMMISSION, PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION, AND REPRE'SENTAT'IVES'OF TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY TO DISCUSS REVISIONS TO ZONING AND SUBDIVISION ORDINANCES - The City Administrator stated that Dr. Virgil Stover and David Pugh were present to present some preliminary land use information and get guidance from the Commission. He then turned the meeting over to Dr. Virgil Stover. Dr. Stover presented charts projecting the population growth of La Porte. Presently approximately 11,400 for 1979; 1985, approximately 16,600; 1990, approximately 20,400. Existing Land Use Chart: Residential, 28.8$, La Porte having approximately 42~; Commercial, 3.0$; Industrial., 25.2$, La Porte having 13$; Public/Quash Public, 11.8; Streets, 31.28, La Porte having 28~. Dr. Stover stated that the older area of La Porte being the southern area had remained stirred. Development is moving in the east/west area and would probally continue. He stated that we have strip type commercial zoning and should • continue to encourage stip commercial development. Dr. Stover stated that there were be two different areas that A & M would be working on: A Comprehensive Plan; and then Zoning and Subdivision Plan. David Pugh asked what La Porte would like in the way of development. Mayor Meza stated that the industrial growth was established; there is concern in multi-family dwelling. Commissioner Tomerlin felt there was a need for a buffer zone between residential and multi-family. The City Attorney felt there was a need for sub-classifications; something for service companies for the industrial companies; container storage, freight handling. David Pugh stated that he proposed to combine the Subdivision and Zoning Ordinances into one loose leaf document and call it the La Porte Land Development Code. It could be easily amended and then just change the pages. There was a brief discussion regarding different types of zoning. • • Special Meeting 5/30/79 There was a brief-discussion regarding apartments, problems they cause utility overloading, etc. Commissioner Tomerlin asked what the basic analysis of what the City of La Porte had done, helter skelter or normal. Dr. Stover replied, "Both". 3 There was a discussion on three basic units: Single, duplex, and apartments. Mayor Meza -felt a pie would be divided: Single family, 75$, Apartments, 15$; and Duplex, 10$. Commissioner Tomerlin felt: Single family, 70$; Apartments, 15~; and Duplex, 15~. Pat Muston felt the main problem in regard to zoning was that apartments could only be built on highways .without rezoning. Commissioner Simons stated that in Clear Lake all apartments were on the main highways. The biggest problem with apartments in town are children playing. • There was a discussion regarding the discretionary zoning, P.U.D., planned unit development. Commissioner Cline stated that in the older section of town, any zoning other than residential, forget it. She further stated that we should look at the vacant property; decide how many apartments we wanted and where we wanted them. David Pugh stated Texas had an amortization law which would all us to get rid of non conforming uses by amortization. There was some discussion regarding the Barbour's Cut Port, the problems involved and the need for flexibility to accom- modate it. Planning and Zoning felt there should be more study involving port service areas. David Pugh asked what the developers particularly disliked about the zoning and subdivisions ordinances. Eddie Gray disliked the fact that the developer was required to pay for everything; and felt most people felt a buffer zone should be wide open spaces or fields. There was a brief discussion on multi-family development: residential, patio, duplex, four-plex and apartments; the need for multi-family on outer extremities so they don't create traffic problems through the residential areas. • • ® Special Meeting 5/30/79 4 Carlos Smith felt another problem:was there are no standards on streets, materials, etc. for development; problems with set back lines. There was some discussion regarding set back lines, front yards, utility line locations; average lot size being 5,000 to 8,000 sq. feet; average lot size for duplex; flood plane areas. The attorney felt that. our present ordinance allows too much density for apartments. Dr. Stover felt that it should allow 18 units per acre; preferably 14 to 16 units. The attorney felt much attention should be given to apartments and flood zones. Commissioner Kibodeaux ask what Dr. Stover.'s personal .view would be toward closing of alleys. Dr. Stover felt that alleys had little use, were costly to maintain and that easements served same purpose. Mayor Meza asked Planning & Zoning Commission if they had any more questions? There were none. ® Eddie Gray asked for an over-all plan for park sites. Dr. Stover said that the parks would be covered in the comprehensive plan in general but not specific. There was a discussion on developers being required to put 5~ of they land aside for parks, placing funds in lieu of land; home owners associations maintaining park facilities in individual areas of subdivisions; concern for maintenance after a certain period of time, if maintained by home owners association; mill tax, etc. Planning & Zoning felt there needed to be more clarification and classifications on residential and industrial. Commissioner Cline asked what the feel on split zoning was? Dr. Stover felt ideally, that the entire block should be one zone or the street should divide the zones. It was determined that the zoning would be three components: Map, documents, and an administrative program. There was a brief discussion on the time table. Dr. Stover felt that the work should be done by the end of August. The Commission would appreciate no rezoning requests until after that time. I • Special Meeting 5/30/79 5 There was a brief discussion regarding modular housing; average housing costs from $54,000 to $55,000 in La Porte; Houston, $65,000 and College Station, $50,000; smaller lot sizes; buildings built very near front lot line with hardly any set back. The Administrator asked if A & M had received the guidance needed. David Pugh expressed appreciation for the candor. + + + 3. EXECUTIVE SESSION - V.A.T.S. - ARTI • 6252-17 - SECTION 2 - ~ AND PERSONNEL - by Commissioner Kibodeaux Motion carried AYES: Commissioners Tomerlin, Kibodeaux, Cline, and Simons. NAYS: None. The meeting recessed at 7:20 P.M. The meeting reconvened at 8:14 P.M. + + + 4. ADJOURNMENT - Motion by Commissioner Tomerlin, seconded by Commissioner Kibodeaux that the meeting adjourn. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: Commissioners Tomerlin, Kibodeaux, Cline, and Simons. NAYS: None. The meeting adjourned at 8:15 P.M. 0 Margie oyen, Cit rk • Passe n roved this the 6th y of Jun 1979. i J. J. Meza, Mayor that the meeting recess for an executive session. by the following vote: