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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-12-04 Main Street District CommitteeMinutes of the Regular Meeting of the Main Street Committee July 12, 2004 CALL TO ORDER. The meeting was called to order by Bill Manning, Chairperson. 2. ROLL CALL Member of the Committee Present: Nick Finan, Debra Dye, Gloria Lair, Bobby Schlenk, Brenda Brown, Bill Manning, Vickie Campise, Deborah Johnson, Doug Martin, Paul Berner Others present: Sherry Bailey, Rita Zaborowski 3. CONSIDER APPROVAL OR OTHER ACTION OF THE JUNE 28 2004 MAIN STREET COMMITTEE MINUTES The minutes will be considered at the next meeting. 4. DISCUSS PARKING AND HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS The committee tabled the discussion on height requirements for the next meeting. The committee discussed parking requirements. • New construction should provide a parking spot for each employee, and a minimum of two parking spots. • Offsite parking will be allowed for meeting requirements • Parking in the alley will be acceptable, utilizing it for the turning lane • Screening of dumpsters will be required if visible from a public street, but not from an alley. • No parking lots, etc. will be allowed along Main Street other than on the street itself. Will be allowed to park behind buildings and offsite. This is to encourage retail infill in empty lots and to provide a safer, more pedestrian friendly shopping experience for everyone. 5. DISCUSS PRESERVATION MATERIAL Mr. Finan briefed the committee. 6. REVIEW LATEST CHANGES ON BOUNDARIES The committee reviewed changes on the boundaries of Main Street. The changes were approved by the committee. CONSIDER TAKING ACTION ON RECOMMENDING CREATION OF NEW DISTRICT AND REGULATIONS FOR MAIN STREET AREA All items on the "Main Street Committee Summary" sheet was accepted and voted on with the exception of the height and preservation/architectural issues which will be addressed at a later time. Bill Manning made the motion to approve, and Deborah Johnson seconded the motion, approval was unanimous. 8. DISCUSS SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING The committee determined they would stillliketo holdtheir ownpublic meeting before ----.-- taking their recommendations to P & Z and City Council. The schedule was established August 2, Main Street Committee Public Hearing September 19, P & Z October 11, City Council DISCUSS HOW TO PREPARE FOR PRESENTATION Bratten Thomason from the Texas Historical Commission will be here to discuss "Various Levels of Preservation to Consider" on July 19. 10. STAFF REPORT ON MORATORIUM AND REQUESTS The committee received a report on the moratorium. 11. The meeting adjourned. • • Main Street Committee Summary Boundary Overlay —146 to Kansas alley (except one block south on Broadway to "B" along alley and Virginia north one block to Polk) Overall —146 to Kansas plus one block south (1st & W. "B" to Virginia and back up to E. 'W). Include Mr. Bailey and Mr. Skelton properties in overall section. Mixed Use: Commercial and all residential activities Except warehousing and storage — owner or incidental to primary business would be allowed. Setbacks: Overlay - Front 0' Side 0' Rear 20' Overall - Front Average of existing properties on same side of street (same block) or adjacent property's existing structure setback. Side 5' Rear 20' Lot Coverage: Overlay - Overall - Landscaping: Overlay - Overall 80% under roof 60% under roof N/A Current 6% Si na e: Wall - 25% Shingle —1 per business; 8' minimum clearance; 15 sq. ft. maximum/face Itinerant Vendors. Must have permit and pay tax to La Porte — Police Dept. enforce Parking Considerations for Future: ➢ Off -site ➢ Pool - one time payment ➢ No parking ➢ Require employee parking, but no customer parking (leaning toward this for new structures, not existing or expanding structures). ➢ % decrease ➢ Alley - count as driving aisle Sidewalks. No requirement for sidewalks within District Height: To be discussed with preservation/architectural Preservation/Architectural: To be determined in future. Meet with State Main Street Program representatives. Non -Zoning Issues: ■ Drainage: o Street o Alleys ■ Signage over R.O.W. ■ Traffic control: o Traffic signals on Main Street o Traffic signal on Main Street at 2nd or 3'd for Fire Dept. o Marked crosswalks ■ Sidewalks on side streets to connect to Main Street ■ Garbage maintenance ■ Alleys paved (to assist drainage and to allow rear parking) ■ Relocation of Main Street historical sign onto SH146 main lanes (not access road) ■ Public transportation — trolleys ■ Streetlights — in alleys ■ Creation of parking lots — public/private or common ■ Benches ■ Trees along street -S _ n f A�.�. I i l �� fir" © 15 gal I d .- � lit t k� r _ ..�r ..i t� �i� • µ u"Ao �3 y `�, E� 7 s r 1 di �Ar t�IC.F 6• }.� 3 r � �.� L� �� � �.� i. �- r�'t'� ti 3 r` -� 1V J,�i _�!?; .;r- Main St Overlay one Main Street Dist roads 0 �0 11 ASKINS & ARMSTRONG, P. C. ATTORNEYS AT LAW 702 W. FAIRMONT PARKWAY P.O. BOX 1218 LA PORTE, TEXAS 77572-12113 KNOX W. ASKINS JOHN D. ARMSTRONG CLARK T. ASKINS July 8, 2004 Mr. Nick Finan Acting Planning Director City of La Porte City Hall La Porte, Texas Re: Main Street District Dear Nick: RECEIVED JUL 0 0 2004 PLANNING DEPT. TELEPHONE 281 471-1886 TELECOPIER 281 471-2047 KWASKINS®AOL.COM JONN-AGSWEELL.NET CTASKINS®SWEELL.NET The City of La Porte Planning Department is working on the creation of a new Main Street District, to cover historic Main Street and adjoining properties. You have requested an opinion on the question of whether the new section of the Zoning Ordinance for the Main Street District, could lawfully contain definitions of non -conforming, pre-existing uses, and definitions for the requirements for re -building existing structures in the Main Street District, with different parameters than those contained in the existing Zoning Ordinance. Generally, under doctrines of equal protection in the law, legislation should treat similar situations in a like manner. However, in this case, since many of -:the structures on La Porte's Main Street are historical in nature, and pre -date the City's earliest Zoning Ordinance in 1958, there are many buildings which are non -conforming, pre-existing uses. As a practical matter, many of these buildings could not be re -built in conformity to the present Zoning Ordinance provisions, due to non -conformity with front and side lot lines, parking, and other requirements. In the event the Planning Department wishes to recommend to the Planning and Zoning Commission, and City Council, a Main Street District, with different definitions for non -conforming uses, and the re -building of non -conforming buildings, I would suggest that the language of the Ordinance contain findings of fact as to the existing structures within the District, and the difficulty, or, in some cases, impossibility, of re -building these structures to conform with the more modern Zoning Ordinance requirements. In my opinion, a rational basis for different parameters for the Main Street District could be established in findings of fact contained in the Ordinance, in an effort to preserve the historical character of La Porte Main Street. AIONS & ARMSTRONG, P. C. ATTORNEYS AT LAW Mr. Nick Finan July 8, 2004 Page 2 In this regard, I recommend that your office review how other cities have dealt with this situation, in their zoning ordinances. Please advise if our office can be of assistance in drafting the Main Street District provisions. Your very truly, Knox W. Askins City Attorney City of La Porte KWA:sw CC: Mr. John D. Armstrong Assistant City Attorney City of La Porte