HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-05-30 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.
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1. CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Meza called the meeting to order at 5:02 P.M.
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• 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.
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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".
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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.
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® 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.
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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.
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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.
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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: