HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-20-12 Special Called Meeting of the La Porte Planning and Zoning CommissionPlanning and Zoning Commission
Minutes of March 20, 2012
Members Present: Hal Lawler, Richard Warren, Mark Follis, Phillip Hoot, Lou Ann Martin, Danny
Earp, and Doretta Finch.
Members Absent: Les Bird and Helen LaCour.
City Staff Present: City Manger, Steve Gillett; Assistant City Manager, Traci Leach; Planning
Director, Tim Tietjens; City Planner, Masood Malik; City Attorney, Clark Askins;
Planning Assistant, Shannon Green;
1. Call to order
Meeting called to order by Vice Chairman Danny Earp at 6:02p.m.
2. Roll Call of Members
Vice Chairman Danny Earp asked for a roll call of members.
Hal Lawler, Helen LaCour, and Les Bird were not present.
3. Consider approval of January 19, 2012, and February 16, 2012, meeting minutes.
Motion by Lou Ann Martin to approve the January 19, 2012, meeting minutes. Second by
Richard Warren. Motion carried.
Ayes: Richard Warren, Mark Follis, Lou Ann Martin, Danny Earp, and Doretta Finch.
Nays: None
Abstain: Phillip Hoot
Motion by Phillip Hoot to approve the February 16, 2012, meeting minutes. Second by Mark
Follis. Motion carried.
Ayes: Richard Warren, Mark Follis, Phillip Hoot, Lou Ann Martin, Danny Earp, and
Doretta Finch.
Nays: None
Abstain: None
4. La Porte Comprehensive Plan Update
Tim Tietjens, Planning Director addressed the Commission. Mr. Tietjens stated, per
Commissions recommendation, Staff has called a Special Called Meeting to clarify how the plan
interacts with the regulatory ordinance.
Chairman Hal Lawler arrived at the meeting at 6:13pm. Vice Chairman Earp stepped down as
Chairman.
Matt Bucchin of Kendig Keast, provided Commission with a presentation and provided
introduction to the comprehensive plan, basis for preparing and updating comprehensive plan
and implementation tool. Plan update consists of six chapters. With a revised project schedule,
chapters 1, 3, 4, 5 will be delivered March 23rd. Commission formed subcommittees to review
these chapters separately. Written comments, suggestions, and edits will be incorporated into the
draft plan. While, chapters 2 (Land Use) and chapter 6 (Implementation) will be reviewed
thoroughly by the whole Commission.
Commission voiced concern with moving forward with the Comprehensive Plan Update without more
information. Commission asked for its legality and authority for implementation.
Consultant informed the Commission that Chapter 213 of the Texas Local Government Code
provides governing body of a municipality to adopt a comprehensive plan for the long range
development of the municipality.
Planning and Zoning Commission
Minutes of March 20, 2012
Page 2 of 3
The Comprehensive Plan is a legal document setting forth goals, objectives and policies for guiding
future development — standards and proposed locations for land use, infrastructure, special
elements, or short term action programs. Planning and Zoning Commission is a guardian of this
document. While, City Planner and Planning Director are a liaison and advisor respectively to the
Commission on behalf of the City to coordinate all matters pertaining to the Commission towards
planning and development of the City.
It also provides the relationship between a comprehensive plan and development regulations and
may provide standards for determining the consistency required between a plan and development
regulations.
On the Commission's concern of rewrite, not just an update, staff and consultant informed that by law
Planning Commission is a reviewing authority and may chose to review at five year interval. Current
comprehensive plan had its first review in 2005-06 now this one is a ten year review, which is
substantial. Additional meetings have been arranged to accommodate concerns and feedback to
ensure Commissioners are comfortable for making their recommendation to City Council.
On the question of zoning, by law, a comprehensive plan shall not constitute zoning regulations or
establish zoning district boundaries. Commission was informed that City Council has approved
contract amendment to conduct land use study for the purpose of analyzing and refining the
proposed future land use plan. This will provide existing pattern of land use and zoning, the nature
and extent of conformity or nonconformity of existing uses and consistency with the classification of
future land use. Staff will provide a list of all zoning permits with SIC code to evaluate land use
inventory.
Commission requested current comp. plan and the revised put on the website and asked if any
changes to PUDs, owners of the property must be informed accordingly.
Staff went over the future meetings chart. The deliverable will be available to Commission
Members April 91h. The Commission will review and redline their changes or concerns.
Commission agreed to form sub -committees and meet on the following chapters.
Chapter 5, Phillip Hoot, Lou Ann Martin, and Hal Lawler
Chapter 4, Danny Earp, Phillip Hoot and Lou Ann Martin
Chapter 3, Mark Follis, Doretta Finch, and Richard Warren
Chapter 1, Mark Follis and Doretta Finch.
Chapter 6 and 2 will be reviewed at a Special Called Planning & Zoning Meeting.
Staff will provide the dates and attend the sub -committee meetings.
Staff will email the absent Commission Members and see if they would like to sign up for a sub-
committee.
Staff will post the updated Comprehensive Plan update Schedule on the City's Webpage.
5. Administrative Reports
Masood Malik — the Northside Neighborhood Plan Update conduct a third and final meeting
March 29, 2012, at 6:OOpm at the Jenny Riley Center.
6. Commission Comments on matters appearing on agenda or inquiry of staff regarding
specific factual information of existing policy.
Commission Member Doretta Finch is looking forward to working on the Comprehensive Plan.
Commission Member Warren asked how the meetings will be arranged.
Commission Member Hoot is happy with the way things were going.
Commission Member Martin excited about the sub -committee meetings.
Commission Member Follis requested staff provide a color copy of the '84 Comprehensive Plan.
Planning and Zoning Commission
Minutes of March 20, 2012
Page 3 of 3
Vice Chairman Earp thanked staff for their response to questions asked at the last meeting. Vice
Chairman Earp added, he has lived in La Porte most of his life and would like to see the Commission
do what's in the best interest of La Porte.
7. Adjourn
Motion to adjourn by Richard Warren. Second by Phillip hoot. The motion carried. The meeting
adjourned at 8:24p.m.
Ayes: Hal Lawler, Richard Warren, Mark Follis, Phillip Hoot, Lou Ann Martin, Danny
Earp, and Doretta Finch..
Nays: None
Abstain: None
Ibmitted by
Shannon Green
Planning Assistant
Approved on this _ �� day of No 2012.
It
v ,
Hal Lawler
Chairman Planning and Zoning Commission