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Home My WebLink About02-17-2000 Regular Meeting and Public Hearing of the La Porte Planning and Zoning Commission• • PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 17, 2000 Members Present: Betty Waters, Dottie Kaminski, Hal Lawler, and Sandie Staniszewski Members Absent: Melton Wolters, Jim Zoller City Staff Present: Planning Director Doug Kneupper, .City Planner Brad Ellis, 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 JANUARY 20, 2000, REGULAR MEETING. Motion by Dottie Kaminski to approve the minutes of January 20, 2000. Second by Sandie Staniszewski. All were in favor and the motion passed. III. OPEN PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING AMENDMENTS TO THE ZONING ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO LOCATION AND/OR OUTSIDE STORAGE OF SHIPPING CONTAINERS; AND TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO THE ZONING ORDINANCE CONCERNING REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED FOR ALL OUTSIDE STORAGE OF EQUIPMENT AND OTHER MATERIALS. Planning Director Doug Kneupper presented staffs report pertaining to the outside storage of shipping containers. Staffs recommendations were based on Planning Dept. staff research and direction provided by the Commission during the December 16, 1999, meeting. 1. PROPONENTS There were none. 2. OPPONENTS There were none. IV. CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING. Chairperson Waters closed the public hearing at 6:35 PM. V. CONSIDER RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL REGARDING AMENDMENTS TO THE ZONING ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO LOCATION AND/OR OUTSIDE STORAGE OF SHIPPING CONTAINERS; AND TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO THE ZONING ORDINANCE CONCERNING REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED FOR ALL OUTSIDE STORAGE OF EQUIPMENT AND OTHER MATERIALS. Planning and Zoning Commi~ • Minutes of February 17, 2000 Page 2 of 4 Motion by Sandie Staniszewski to recommend City Council approval of the following requirements relating to the outside storage of shipping containers: Zonin ^ Outside storage of shipping containers, as a principal use, shall be allowed only in the Heavy Industrial (HI) zoning district. ^ Use of shipping containers as accessory buildings shall be eliminated completely. ^ Use of shipping containers as temporary, material storage facilities at construction sites shall 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 shall adhere to minimum setbacks already established for the HI zone of Front-50', Rear-50', and Side-30'. When HI zoning districts are adjacent to residential zoning districts, setbacks of Front 100', Rear-150', and Side-150' are already stipulated by the ordinance and shall_apply to outside storage of shipping containers as well. ^ Setbacks for shipping containers used for material storage at construction sites shall follow the criteria already established within the relevant zoning district. Landscaping / Screenins~ ^ Shipping container developments shall be screened from view from the public right-of-way and shall be accomplished in a number of different ways: 1. Leave in place existing trees, vegetation, underbrush, etc. to provide a thorough, continuous and effective opaque visual screening of the shipping container development. 2. Construct 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. Develop a screening plan that would be approved by the City that includes 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. ^ The frontage of the shipping container development along with a portion of the side yard areas shall utilize one of the listed options. ^ The side yard portion shall be limited to the first 50' beyond the required front yard area. In the event shipping container storage development occurs Planning and Zoning Comm~n Minutes of February 17, 2000 Page 3 of 4 adjacent to commercial or residential uses, screening shall be required for the entire length of the adjacent yard area. ^ All required screening shall be adjusted away from ovefiead power lines to allow for the full maturity of the trees without unnecessary trimming or topping of the trees. ^ A minimum of 6% landscaping shall be required. Required screening may count toward the minimum landscaping requirement. Maximum Height ^ Shipping containers shall be stacked no more than four (4) high, which results in an overall height of approximately 36' above grade. ^ Apyramid-stacking scheme shall be utilized and applied to the frontage area only. The initial row shall not exceed two (2) containers in height, with each successive interior row gaining one container in height up to a maximum of four (4) high. For the sides beyond the front area and the rear, the pyramid- stacking scheme would not be applied. Motion seconded by Dottie Kaminski. All were in favor and the motion passed. VI. STAFF REPORTS Design of the new library is currently underway. Mr. Kneupper introduced the project's coordinator, Carol Buttler, who is an Administrative Assistant with the City Manager's office. Ms. Buttler briefed the Commission on the activities to date and displayed an artist's rendering of the proposed building. Construction is anticipated to begin in mid- May with completion in January 2001. Approximately 2.9 to 3 million dollars have been allocated to fund the project. Mr. Kneupper shared with the Commission, the City's current plans to construct a Records Storage Building on the lot adjacent to City Hall. Bids will be opened in March with construction beginning in April. Commission Members were copied with a letter regarding the Port of Houston's landscaping plan for Barbour's Cut. Blvd. The letter, from John Joems, Assistant City Manager, was sent to property owners along Barbour's Cut Blvd. soliciting their support for the project and asking for consideration in granting a landscape easement. Mr. Kneupper reported that a meeting would soon be scheduled with the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee to allow the steering committee to hand-off to the Commission, the draft update of the Comprehensive Plan. In addition to their regular meetings, the Commission agreed to meet in workshop session on the second Thursday of every month, in order to complete review of the document in a timely manner. Draft documents will be delivered to Commission Members prior to the first meeting. Planning and Zoning Commi~n Minutes of February 17, 2000 Page 4 of 4 Chairperson Waters welcomed Brad Ellis to the City. Mr. Ellis will serve as City Planner for the City of La Porte. Chairperson Waters thanked Ms. Buttler for her presentation. Bob Klausen, of Sunbelt Commercial Builders, representing Bayport North Industrial Park, asked for a brief moment to update the Commission on the status of his project. Mr. Klausen reported that the berm that has been constructed at the site is not complete. When complete, the berm will be eight foot in height for the entire length. $100,000 is budgeted for landscaping the berm with approximately $45,000 being spent for an irrigation system. VII. ADJOURN Chairperson Waters adjourned the meeting at 7:15 PM. Respectfully submitted, Pe99Y Planning and Zoning Commission Secretary Approved on this 16th day of March, 2000. B ttY aters Planning and Zoning Commission Chairperson • • ZONE CHANGE REQUEST #R 99-005 • City o~ La Porte Established 1892 APPLICATION FOR ZONE CHANGE REQUEST Application No. • ~ ~ ' ~ OFFICE USE ONLY: FEE: $100.00 Date Received: • (d ~ ~~ ~ r1 Receipt No.: ~ 1'O ()Site Plan ()Minor Development Site Plan ()Major Development Site Plan ()General Plan ()Site Plans Submitted on Appliant's Name: l r ` f /0003 ~ Eiv~,t? .S/~.v~ Address: ~i9 G~ 7?° Ph: / ~7~ -~ ~oZ ~, Date: ~ a~ C/q Signature: ~ ~~ ~ ~.~,i2W'--~ v -- Owner's Name: E.C- ,q ,E ~ Er/E-,~i¢G ~~ i~E: ~5~9~DEi/~9 v.0 Address: _~~~,p ~%~C. ~'~;~~ Ph: ~8~) '~7/''~~07" Property Legal Description: (~ee Attached I AM THE OWNER OF THE HEREIN DESCRIBED PROPERTY AND IS AUTHORIZED TO FII,E THIS APPLICATION ON MY BEHALF. Date: Sig/nature: Zone: Requested Zone Change: / SIC No: Proposed Usage: ~~ ru ~~~9~/ T OFFICE USE ONLY 1) Planning & Zoning: (a) Preliminary Meeting - (b) Public Hearing/Mtg. - Recommendation: Applicant Notified of Date(s): () 1st b1tg. Adjoining Property Owners Notified: 2) City Council: (a) Regular Meeting - (b) Public Hearing/1~1tg. - Approved () Adopted by Amendment Ord. #1501 - ( ) 2nd Mtg. Denied ( ) ~ c~. ~„~ (I I ~ La P~•c:. Trx:r "'~i_-(i I ~ ill i1 .t~ l-~~ZO • Staff Report Zoning Change Request # R 99-005 Planning and Zoning Commission March 16, 2000 • Address Two Cajun Cafe 1003 Spencer Highway La Porte Texas 77571 Legal Description Parts of Tracts 8A, SC, and 8E, W.J. Payne Subdivision; Block 2 of the W. Jones Survey; A-d82 in the 1000 Block of Spencer Highway, LaPorte, Harris County, Te=as. Applicant Zelda Wright Co Applicant Eddie Gray Present Zoning High Density (R-3) Requested Zoning General Commercial (GG~ Acreage 5.08 acres Surrounding Zoning North Residential (R-3) _ East Residential (R-1) South Residential (R-1) West Neighborhood Commercial (NC) Land Use Mid to High Density Reside~ial and Commercial Uses Background: • The general manager of the Two Cajun Cafd has acquired pazcels of land for the purpose of expansion of the restaurant It is expected that a new building will be constructed to the north of the existing structure and additional parking will be provided to the east of the existing structure. • The additional parcels are currently zoned Residential (R-3) and a restaurant is not an allowable use in an R-3 zoning. • In addition to providing for the expansion of the restaurant the applicant and City Staff are using this oppordrnity to: a) remove some existing aon-conformity, b) rezone to a more appropriate zoning, and c) provide additional GC zoning for the vacant property adjacent to Spencer Highway. Analysis The site under consideration comprises 5.08 acres,- which includes the I.a Petite Academy, and Two Cajuns Cafe and an undeveloped pazcel. This site is caurently zoned R-3. The surrounding area is comprised of apartments to the west undeveloped land to the north, residential to the east; and south. The Two Cajuns Cafc is a nonconforming use and the proposed expansion of the restaurant is prohibited under Section 106-263 of the Code of Ordinance under its current zoning of Residential (R-3). Before any expansion of the restaurant occurs, the site must be rezoned to General Commercial (GC), where restaurant is a permitted use. The effect of the change in zoning from R-3 to GC should not have an adverse impact upon the infrastructure. The overall impact on public services should be minimal. Spencer Highway, a major thoroughfare should have the additional capacity to accommodate • • the traffic generated by the restaurant. The impact upon the public health, safety, and welfare of the City will be mirrimal. The zone change from R-3 to GC would fit into the character of the local area. A restaurant and other possible uses that ace allowed in a GC district would be compatible in an area that includes a mixture of single family, apartment and other commercial uses. The proposed zoning change would be in character with the current land use plan; which calls for either commercial or high-density residential land use for the site under consideration Conchision: The staff recommends approval of the Two Cajun Cafe rezoning request. ~a ~ ~ " ~ ~ 3«.. ~, ` 3~ ~~.z ~ ~ ~ i° opt ; ~ F N-C -~ ~ .` ~: ~~' y., .y y'"G a', ~~' ~ f~" ~~,~ ~ " ~= ~, : --~ ~ `"" x y ~ ~~ r rn ~-~ .~~ ~ ,' ' ~ ;. ~:_ &:.c t ,~ ~ ~, a ~-~ t, ,; ,. _ ~ %. ~~ ~ ~~ ~ .i . ~"~,.,e..-"... . ~~ ~ ~ .~ ~ s r~ k~ ~~ ~~ A ~ xrn~ ~ 3; ~ ~ = ~_ ~ ~~.. ~. ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~~ , ~ - ;, ~~ ~i ,U~ i~ ,rF / -,=~ .r ~~if rail, '~ ~ ~.z ~ ~ ~-- ? ~ ~ -~-~- , ,~ ~ ~~RESIDEIYTIAL'~ ~ ~ ~~ -~ 3.2,7 _~~, _r'~ ~ ~ { "~}'!. Z ~ ~~~..yilr, y ~:4 ~" ~.' , #,.. q ~,~ `<~ ~. -~ . ~ ~ z;,-"-.' 1 ` ~ - -%;, i /gyp „~ ~ ~ i y t ' ~` ° ~~" 4 - - z"W"6-~~ " ` ~a Os,~ N ~ ~.ti:6'0Bit»'~~>y.G~vr.'/•~ ~,~. .. ~ - --~--~- W. -MAIN STe r--~:- .~,-- -~ ~, z ~ ~ # , ~ ~ ~' ~ ;: ~~ .:€: i ~ is ~~' .. ' ., t F "~ ",~, • • ZONE CHANGE REQUEST #R 00-001 • • City of La Porte Established 1892 APPLICATION FOR ZONE CHANGE REQUEST Application No.: D 0 ~ ~ OFFICE USE ONLY: FEE: $100.00 Date Received: o~ - ~ `~-C~O Receipt No.: 4 ~3e9 ()Site Plan ()Minor Development Site Plan ()Major Development Site Plan ()General Plan , ()Site Plans Submitted on Appliant's Name: /~ My N /~ ~ Address: ~ ~ ~ f ~~~~ w ~~ Date: °2 "- _ o2~ ` oZOno Owner's Name: >~S Ph: ~~ ~ ~ / ~ 5 ~~~ c~-___~ n Signature: r Address: ~7s ~-T~u 3~ BL~~:3a g Ph: ~~ X11 ~ 5a- ~t ~~~ Property Legal Description: LT S ~ Tl~~ 3~ gLK ~~q ~ ()See Attached I AM THE OWNER OF THE HE_RFiN DESCRIBED PROPERTY AND IS AUTHORIZED TO FILE THIS APPLICATION ON MY BEHALF. Date: _~ - ~ ~ - ~ o v v Signature: ~~ ~ ~ '(~ Zone: C ~n~ Requested Zone Change: ~~ SIC No: ~ 012 Proposed Usage: ~ RUG l~ ~ ~ L E S OFFICE USE ONLY 1) Planning & Zoning: (a) Preliminary Meeting - (b) Public Hearing/Mtg. - Recommendation: Applicant Notified of Date(s): () 1st Mtg. () 2nd Mtg. Adjoining Property Owners Notified: 2) City Council: (a) Regular Meeting - (b) Public Hearing/Mtg. - Approved () Adopted by Amendment Ord. #1501 - Denied ( ) (,t~_ ~„~ (I I~ La P~~rte. Tesa~'+~i_'-I f l~ (71 it ~~ l-~~~?0 • Staff Report Zoning Change Request # R 00-001 Planning and Zoning Commission March 16, 2000 • Address of Future Use 300 Block Harbours Cut Legal Description of Proposed Rezoning Lots 1 through 32, in Blocks 328 through 331 of La Porte Outlots, an addition in Harris County Texas Applicant Amyn Narsi Present Zoning General Commercial (GC) Requested Zoning Business Industrial (Bn Acreage to be rezoned 9.18 acres Surrounding Zoning North Light Industrial (Ln East Business Industrial (Bn South Residential (R 2) West Business Industrial Bn Land Use Medium Density Residential Background: . The applicant proposes to establish a truck sales center at this location along Harbours Cut Blvd. It is expected that used over the road trucks will be sold there and that there will be no servicing of these trucks at ties location. The proposed truck sales is not permitted in General Commercial (GC). This would be allowed in Business Industrat (Bn. The applicant is requesting the rezoning of block 329 for the purpose of establishing of a truck sales in addition the City is proposing to rezone blocks of 328, 330 and 331 to Business Industrial to provide a more uniform zoning district along Harbour's Cut Blvd. Analysis The site under consideration comprises 9.18 acres which currently is zoned General Commercial (GC). The site for the proposed rezoning is located along Harbour's Cut Blvd., which is the main truck route for trucks transporting loads to or from the part facility. The surrounding area has numerous businesses that are located there due to the proximity to the Harbour's Cut Container Terminal. The notable exception is the residential neighborhood directly to the south of the site. The effect of the change in zoning from GC to BI should not have an adverse impact upon the infrashucture. The overall impact on public services should be minimal. Harbour's Cut Blvd. is the primary truck route for the port faality and should have additional capacity to handle the traffic generated by this site. The impact upon fire public health, safety, and welfare of the City will be minimal The zoning change from GC to BI would fit into the character of the local area. A truck sales center ar other possible uses that is allowable in a BI district would be compattble with the surrounding uses that range from industrial to residential. • • Some of the uses allowed in a business industrial district: General and heavy contractors Highway bus terminals Warehouses Wholesale trade facilities Electrical and electronics suppliers " Light machine and fabrication shops Food storage facilities Welding shops Printing and publishing shops Furniture manufactures Although not complete at this time, the Norfl~side Neighborhood Planning effort will make recommendations for buffering the residaitial areas from the commercial and industrial developments that are located along Harbour's (fit Blvd. Conclusion The staff recommends for approval of the rezoning request. t i ~F44 `~ ~ L. 't ~ 'F ~~ t r ~ ~~ f ~~~ i $ ,E ~ 5 _~ { _~ i~ i A `dd F 1~ 4 ~~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ,}~~ f-~ ?' . ~ k :t ~~; ;, ~~ I z ~_. . i ~ F ~ ~ ~ c a ~ ~ ¢ t ,. '. '~ ~~. ~~ ., F E i -tea q~ i Tss~ j4 4 g -.~. ~ i ~; L ~ ~ 1 ~ ~~ T ~`~s LL {{~~ ! / ~ ~ ~ ~ Q s ;: k F 1 9 i i ,! » } ~ i } ~ v..- 4 h t s ~ A ~y "- "~W ~ ~r 6~ ' ~ 9L ~'\ ' . •~~: i t C ~,fi ,~ ,~• ~'R f an•~ _r, i . {f f City of La Porte Planning and Zoning Commission Public Hearing March 16, 2000 ~--- . . Any person wishing to speak in OPPOSgTI~N _~o_an item being considered by this Commission must sign in. /'%i' /~ ./ .~~ '.%' /j:'~t,~. ,n%~ r'»..~ :~ y /, " .,. .~ +i.:., !!„y£%•~.. ~r......: ^::. 1. /~£.i '::~': /://~/ r'/.: c~Sr~//' ~i ...: ;/~:, ,/. max' /%„/~/~~' s/ ,:.~ ' ~///,. // ~ /., /mar; ~.'.. S~ :,. J/i~~ ";/'~~/i/~~ /:/i... ~~. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. J 1 J City of La Porte Planning and Zoning Commission Public Hearing March 16, 2000 Any person wishing to speak in°FAVOR of tan item being considered by this Commission must sign in. ,_ . -r/ / // . ,.% %r, . 1/, /~ ,:: /Ylc%i"/.: •~ ''l ;CD"/+l .// ~::%f .•~,'//2s1~:::: -,, ,,. / ~' ~/'. 1 ~ ~:: ~ i ~~ / // /~:% .ice / l';: i _;'/' /// %i "%L„' %/~//: : i fl'f: ~:j>. //i~ ' '%~ l -:%% ://.-.%////.%/. ., r4/: '/' /:.. ~/, ~//,,, 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. • • A Meeting of the La Porte Planning and Zoning Commission (Type of Meeting) Scheduled for March 16, 2000 (Date of Meeting) to Consider Rezone Request #/-00-001 (Type of Request) I have received notice of the above referenced public hearing. I am in FAVOR of granting this request for the following reasons: I am OPPOSED to granting this request for the following reasons: ~f'rU I~ i ~ ~ 1 hl ~ O ~ tra.n-, ~SO ~-/ z Z, ""b ~ ~ , dU e Name (please print) Address _ ~ ~ ~s C '~- 7' - ~ ~ ~ ,~ 7~~~~. Si City, State, Zip ~tE E VED ''LANNING