Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-20-2000 Regular Meeting and Public Hearing of the La Porte Planning and Zoning Commission • PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES OF JANUARY 20, 2000 Members Present: Betty Waters, Melton Wolters, Dottie Kaminski, Hal Lawler, Jim Zoller Members Absent: Sandie Staniszewski City Staff Present: Planning Director Doug Kneupper, Planning Coordinator Masood Malik, Assistant City Attorney John Armstrong, Planning Secretary Peggy Lee I. CALL TO ORDER. Meeting called to order by Chairperson Waters at 6:00 PM. 11. APPROVE MINUTES. OF THE DECEMBER 16, 1999 REGULAR MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING. Motion by Melton Wolters to approve the minutes of December 16, 1999. Second by Dottie Kaminski. All were in favor and the motion passed. 111. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE FINAL PLAT OF FAIRMONT PARK EAST SECTION SEVEN, LOCATED AT FAIRMONT PARKWAY AND DRIFTWOOD DRIVE. Masood Malik presented staff's report. Eddie Gray submitted an application for Final Plat approval for Section Seven of the Fairmont Park East Subdivision. Section Seven consists of 68 lots on 15.4191 acres. Staff recommended approval of the plat with several conditions. Motion by Melton Wolters to approve the Final Plat for Section Seven of the Fairmont Park East Subdivision with the provision that the plat not be released for recordation until the following items have been completed: 1. All construction improvements shall be complete. 2. Payment of $11,900 shall be made to the City in lieu of parkland dedication. 3. Payments of $6,663.68 and $438.91 shall be made to the City for street lighting (initial installation and 1 year operation) and street signage installation respectively. 4. It shall be stated in writing on the Final Plat that the Developer is responsible for construction and installation of sidewalks. Motion seconded by Jim Zoller. All were in favor and the motion passed. Planning and Zoning Comm~n • Minutes of January 20, 2000 Page 2 of 2 IV. STAFF REPORTS Mr. Malik reported: A public hearing will be scheduled for the next meeting regarding shipping containers. Upcoming City construction projects include a storage facility for City records and a community library. Citizens in need of assistance completing the Census 2000 questionnaire can contact Masood or Martha Gillett at City Hall; Linda at the Neighborhood Center; or Lorraine at the Library. V. ADJOURN Motion by Melton Wolters to adjourn. Second by Dottie Kaminski. Chairperson Waters adjourned the meeting at 6:15 PM. ly submitted, Planning and Zoning Commission Approved on February 17, 2000. Be W ers Chairpe son Planning and Zoning Commission • Outside Storage of Shipping Containers Zoning Ordinance Amendment • Staff Report February 17, 2000 Outside Storage of Shipping Containers Zoning Ordinance Amendment City Council has directed the Planning and Zoning Commission to assess and make recommendations regarding zoning ordinance regulations relating to the outside storage of shipping containers. Planning Dept. Staff presented this item to the Planning and Zoning Commission for discussion on December 16, 1999. The following report was developed from discussions and comments of that meeting. Existing Requirements: Zoning -Outside storage of shipping containers is currently an allowable principal use in the Light Industrial (LI) and Heavy Industrial (H>) zoning districts. Use of shipping containers as accessory buildings is allowed in all zoning districts except the three residential districts (R-1, R-2, and R-3). Lastly, shipping containers can be used for temporary material storage at construction sites. Again, with the exception of the three residential zones. Setbacks -The table for Industrial area requirements stipulates that outside storage of shipping containers would need setbacks of Front-20', Rear-10', and Side-5'. Shipping containers used as accessory buildings would adhere to the setback requirements established for the individual zoning districts. Landscaping /Screening -For the outside storage of shipping containers that is adjacent to public right-of--way, there is required screening. A planting strip four feet wide with evergreen plants that are a minimum height of four feet and within two years grow to six feet in height is required. When shipping containers are used as accessory buildings the ordinance simply states they shall be screened from public view. Maximum Height -There is no specific reference to a height limitation for outside storage of shipping containers. However, staff has recognized and used the maximum height of 45' in other industrial districts as the maximum height for shipping containers. Recommended Requirements: Zoning -Outside storage of shipping containers, as a principal use, should be allowed only in the Heavy Industrial (HI) zoning district. There is currently vacant land with access to Barbours Cut /North Broadway, North 16~` Street, and Fairmont Parkway at the UPRR that is zoned HI. Use of shipping containers as Planning & Zoning Comm~n February 17, 2000 Shipping Containers Zoning Ordinance Amendment Page 2 of 3 accessory buildings should be eliminated completely. The use of shipping containers as temporary, material storage facilities at construction sites should be allowed to continue in all zoning districts except the three residential zones (R-1, R-2, and R-3). Setbacks -Outside storage of shipping containers should adhere to the minimum setbacks already established for the HI zone of Front-50', Reaz-50', and Side-30'. In addition, when HI zoning districts are adjacent to residential inning districts, setbacks of Front-100', Reaz-150', and Side-150' are already stipulated by the ordinance and should apply to outside storage of shipping containers as well. It should be noted that other outside storage activities could occur (i.e. trucks, trailers, equipment, etc.). There is already setback criteria for this other outside storage which is Front-20', Rear-10', and Side-5'. It is recommended that this particular provision of the ordinance not change. The setbacks for shipping containers used for material storage at construction sites should follow the criteria already established within the relevant zoning district. Landscaping /Screening -Shipping container developments should be screened from view from the public right-of--way as currently stated in the zoning ordinance. However, a more effective technique needs to be employed that actually achieves this objective. This could be accomplished in a number of different ways. 1) the property owner could leave in place existing trees, vegetation, underbrush, etc. to provide a thorough and effective visual screening of the shipping container development. 2) the property owner could use earthen berms with a combination of trees, shrubs, and groundcover that after 3 years growth will be at least 20 feet in height and creates a continuous visual screen. 3) the property owner could develop a screening plan that would be approved by the City that includes a combination of trees, shrubs, and groundcover that after 3 yeazs growth will be at least 20 feet in height and creates a continuous visual screen. For shipping container developments the frontage of the development along with a portion of the side yard areas should utilize one of the listed options. The side yazd portion might be limited to the first 50' beyond the required front yazd azea. It should be noted that any required screening be adjusted away from overhead power lines to allow for the full maturity of the trees without unnecessary trimming or topping of the trees. Along with the screening requirement, a minimum percentage of landscaping should be stipulated within the ordinance. 6% is recommended to be consistent with current requirements in industrial and commercial zoning districts. The required screening would count toward the minimum landscaping requirement. Mazimum Height -Shipping containers come in a wide variety of lengths but most aze fabricated to be between 8-1/2' and 9' in height. Shipping containers should be stacked no more than 4 high which results in an overall height of Planning & Zoning Comm February 17, 2000 Shipping Containers Zoning Ordinance Amendment Page 3 of 3 approximately 36' above grade. Although a fifth shipping container could be stacked and stay within the 45' height limitation established in other industrial zoning districts, this is not recommended due to structural stability and safety concerns. However, if engineering certification can be provided that demonstrates shipping containers stacked 5 high will withstand Building Code wind load criteria, then 5 high with a maximum of 45' in height should be allowed. Also, a pyramid stacking scheme should be utilized. This concept would be applied to the frontage azea only. It would require the initial row to be only 2 containers high with each successive interior row gaining one container in height up to the maximum allowed. The primary benefit from this stipulation is addition visual relief along the frontage of the facility. For the sides (beyond the front azea) and the reaz, the pyramid stacking scheme would not be applied. In staff's opinion, the reduction in container storage space along the rear and sides could not be justified by any benefit provided to the adjacent property owner or the public in general. Conclusions: The above stated recommendations aze based on Planning Dept. staff research and direction provided by the Commission during the December 16, 1999 meeting. It is staff's opinion that the recommendations allow for reasonable development of shipping container storage facilities while introducing stipulations that provide compatibility with adjacent property and the general public. The development and review of the City's Comprehensive Plan Update has demonstrated that beautification efforts and the City's overall image are important factors that must be addressed immediately.